himself;'-and, 'that an exact observation of his reasonings and inferences is the only safe guide for the right understanding of him, under the Spirit of God, that directed these Sacred Writings".' And the death of this great man was agreeable to his life. For we are informed 22, by one who was with him when he died, and had lived in the same family for seven years before, that the day before his death he particularly 'exhorted 23 all about him to read the Holy Scriptures that he desired to be remembered by them at evening prayers;' and being told, that, if he would, the whole family should come and pray by him in his chamber, he answered, he should be very glad to have it so, if it would not give too much trouble; that an occasion offering to speak ' of the goodness of God, he especially exalted the love which God showed to man, in justifying him by faith in Jesus Christ; and returned God thanks in particular for having called him to the knowledge of that divine Saviour.? ་ About two months before his death he drew up a letter to a certain gentleman 24, (who afterwards distinguished himself by a very different way of thinking and writing,) and 21 Comment. p. 17. 22 Posth. Works, p. 21. 23 Posth. Works, p. 20, 21. 24 Ibid. p. 328. left this direction upon it: To be delivered to him after my decease.' In it are these remarkable words: This life is a scene of vanity, that soon passes away, and affords no solid satisfaction, but in the consciousness of doing well, and in the hopes of another life. This is what I can say upon experience, and what you will find to be true, when you come to make up the account.' Sir ISAAC NEWTON, universally acknowledged to be the ablest philosopher and mathematician that this, or perhaps any other nation has produced, is also well known to have been a firm believer, and a serious Christian. His discoveries concerning the frame and system of the universe were applied by him, as Mr. Boyle's inquiries into nature had been, to demonstrate against Atheists of all kinds, the being of a God, and to illustrate his power and wisdom in the creation of the world.' Of which a better account cannot be given, than in the words of an ingenious, person, who has been much conversant in his philosophical writings: At the end of his mathematical principles of natural philosophy, he has given us his thoughts concerning the Deity. Wherein he first observes, that the similitude found in all parts of the universe makes it undoubted, that the whole is governed by one Supreme 25 25 View of his Philosophy, p. 405. Being, to whom the original is owing of the frame of nature, which evidently is the effect of choice and design. He then proceeds briefly to state the best metaphysical notions concerning God. In short, we cannot conceive either of space or time otherwise than as necessarily existing; this Being therefore, on whom all others depend, must certainly exist by the same necessity of nature. Consequently wherever space and time is found, there God must also be. And as it appears impossible to us, that space should be limited, or that time should have had a beginning, the Deity must be both immense and eternal,' This great man applied himself with the utmost attention to the study of the Holy Scriptures, and considered the several parts of them with an uncommon exactness; particularly as to the order of time, and the series of prophecies and events relating to the Messiah. Upon which head he left behind him an elaborate discourse, to prove that the famous prophecy of Daniel's weeks, which has been so industriously perverted by the Deists of our times, was an express prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Mr. ADDISON, SO deservedly celebrated for an uncommon accuracy in thinking and reasoning, has given abundant proof of his firm belief of Christianity, and his zeal against Infidels of all kinds, in the writings that are here published; of which it is certainly known, that a great part of them were his own compositions. I mention not these great names, nor the testimonies they have given of their firm belief of the truth of Christianity, as if the evidences of our religion were to be finally resolved into human authority, or tried in any other way than by the known and established rules of right reason: but my design in mentioning them is, 1. To show the very great assurance of those, who would make the belief of Revelation inconsistent with the due use of our reason; when they have known so many eminent instances in our own time, of the greatest masters of reason, not only believing Revelation, but zealously concerned to establish and propagate the belief of it. 2. The remembrance of this will also be a means, on one hand, to hinder well-meaning people from being misled by the vain boasts of our modern pretenders to reason; and, on the other hand, to check the inclination of the wicked and vicious to be misled; when both of them have before their eyes such fresh and eminent instances of sound reasoning and a firm faith joined together in one and the same mind. 3. Further, as these were persons generally esteemed for virtue and goodness, and, notwithstanding their high attainments, remarkable for their modesty and humility; their examples show us, that a strong and clear reason naturally leads to the belief of Revelation, when it is not under the influences of vice or pride. 4. And, finally, as they are all laymen, there is no room for the enemies of Revealed Religion to allege, that they were prejudiced by interest, or secular considerations of any kind a suggestion, that has really no weight, when urged against the writings of the clergy in defence of Revelation, since they do not desire to be trusted upon their own authority, but upon the reasons they offer; and lawyers and physicians are not less trusted, because they live by their professions: but it is a suggestion, that easily takes hold of weak minds, and especially such as catch at objections, and are willing to be caught by them. And, considering the diligence of the adversary in making proselytes, and drawing men from the faith of Christ, equal diligence is required of those who are to maintain that faith, not only to leave men no real ground, but even no colour or pretence, for their infidelity. The following Discourses, except that concerning the Evidences of the Christian Religion, were all published in separate papers some years ago, and afterwards collected into |