they have been overruled for good,&
rendered in various
ent to the caufe of truth and re-
ways fubfervi-

in fcripture, that many errors and falfe fentiments fhould fpring up among Chriftians. It is declared, that "falfe Chrifts and falfe proph-ligion. They have lead to a more ets fhall arife-that many fhall fol- diligent ftudy of the fcriptures and low their pernicious ways-that to a more critical examination of there must be herefies among you the doctrines of the gospel. Thus that they which are approved may the evidence or foundation of the be made manifeft-that the time truths of religion has been more will come, when they will not en- thoroughly fcanned and understood, dure found doctrine; but after their and religious light and knowledge own lufts fhall heap up to themselves increased. teachers, having itching ears, and that they fhall turn away their ears from the truth, and fhall be turned unto fables." The fcriptures alfo plainly teach the cause of these errors and falfe fentiments among those, who are favored with the gofpel-that they originate from the native depravity and oppofition of the human heart against God and divine truth. For it is declared, that "the carnal mind is enmity againft God; that men hate the light, and love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil-that their understanding is darkened, becaufe of the blindness or hardness of their heart-and that God fhall fend them ftrong delufions to believe a lie; becaufe they received not the love of the truth." Thefe confiderations eafily and fully account for the many errors and different fentiments, prevalent in the Christian world—ing evidence from this, as well as Yea, thefe errors and differing opinions are fo far from being any evidence against the Bible or Chriftianity, that they fulfil its predictions, confirm its truths or doctrines, and thus greatly increafe the proof in favor of it.

opinion have alfo moft effectually Thefe differences in fecured the fcriptures from being corrupted or altered; as the different Chriftian fects, which have exifted ever fince the days of the apoftles, have carefully watched For the Bible being spread among over one another in this respect. all the different fects, if any one fect had made any material alteration, the others would immediately have detected, and exclaim. ed against it. And none can rationally fuppofe, that all the various fects, who were at variance with each other, were scattered in many diftant countries, and who all efteemed the fcriptures to be given by divine infpiration, would univerfally agree in corrupting all the copies of the Bible by additions or alteration. This is an event morally impoffible. There is therefore the moft convincing fatisfy

from other confiderations, that we have the Bible pure and authentic, as it was left by the apoftles. Thus the unhappy divifions and diffentions, which through the pride, felfifhnefs, and depravity of mankind and the devices of Satan, have Altho, thefe differences in reliarifen in the Chriftian church, have gious fentiments among Chriftians, been the means of greatly conare in many refpects unhappy and firming the truth, and fecuring the injnrious to the caufe of Chrift-purity of the fcriptures. originate from depravity, and im

It is evident from thefe various

ply criminality in the erroneous; confiderations, that the difference yet through the wisdom of God of opinions among thofe called

ing he would make every man hap- | few months, terminated his life.

py at death whatever might have been his character in life.

The first three or four months of his fickness not apprehending him. felf dangerous, he thought little concerning death or what was to follow that event. When he did think of these things, he endeav

But though thus eagerly engaged in purfuit of this world's goods, he was disappointed in his hopes. By a train of misfortunes, he loft what little property he had acquir-ored to quiet his mind by believed, became embarraffed in his cir- ing that, fome how or other, it cumstances, and every effort which would be well with him and all The made to relieve himself was mankind; that death was the comdefeated. These disappointments mon lot of man, and that a phiinstead of inducing him to reflect lofopher fhould not be anxious reupon the uncertainty of all world- fpecting the time of its arrival. In ly things and to feek more durable fhort, he renounced all the animariches, ferved only to harden him ting profpects of the gofpel and and to increase his difrelifh for re- was faft verging towards the ligion. He indulged himself in o- gloomy, cheerless state of univerpenly murmuring and repining a- fal fcepticism. gainst the Providence of Heaven, and in envying the profperity of others. He even dared to cenfure the adminiftration of God and to arraign the wifdom and goodness of his proceedings.

Hearing of his fickness I went to vifit him. I reminded him of the fentiments which had been taught him when young, fpoke freely on his infidel principles, and afked him whether his fickness and the probability that he might foon be called to leave the world, had not led him to fear he was building upon a falfe foundation? He

About this time, Jatros became acquainted with feveral men of whom it might be faid, that they gloried in their fhame; they ridiculed the fcriptures; decried all re-replied to this effect, that he had ligion as the invention of crafty no anxiety concerning himself; men, and derided the Saviour of that he ftill confidered the fcripthe world. From their converfa-tures as the work of defigning tion, and from reading infidel men, and Jefus Chrift, if ever books with which they fupplied fuch a perfon exifted, as an impofhim, Jatros foon embraced their tor; that he was ready to die at fyftem and joined with them in any time, and that if he did not laughing at every thing ferious.- ceafe to exift, at death, he pre As a natural confequence of em- fumed that the God who had giv bracing fuch principles, he attempt- en him being would make him ed to perfuade others that there happy, as he had never done any was nothing in religion, and that thing for which he deferved to be all who pretended to ferioufnefs made miferable; that in such a bewere either defigning hypocrites or lief he meant to remain and hoped deluded enthufiafts. In this ftate to die. I faw that it was in vain of mind he continued for two or to attempt to argue with him; for three years, repining at divine though he had no regular fyftem Providence, envying his more prof- to which a reasonable man could perous neighbors, and fcoffing at confiftently truft, yet he was dereligion. At length he was at- termined not to embrace the gospel tacked with a difeafe which, in a scheme; and all I could do was in

they have been overruled for good,& rendered in various ways fubfervient to the caufe of truth and re

in fcripture, that many errors and falfe fentiments fhould fpring up among Chriftians. It is declared, that "falfe Chrifts and falfe proph-ligion. They have lead to a more ets fhall arise-that many fhall fol- diligent ftudy of the fcriptures and low their pernicious ways-that to a more critical examination of there must be herefies among you the doctrines of the gofpel. Thus that they which are approved may the evidence or foundation of the be made manifeft-that the time truths of religion has been more will come, when they will not en- thoroughly fcanned and understood, dure found doctrine; but after their and religious light and knowledge own lufts fhall heap up to themselves increased. Thefe differences in teachers, having itching ears, and opinion have alfo most effectually that they fhall turn away their ears fecured the fcriptures from being from the truth, and fhall be turned corrupted or altered; as the differunto fables." The fcriptures alfo ent Chriftian fects, which have plainly teach the cause of these exifted ever fince the days of the errors and falfe fentiments among apoftles, have carefully watched thofe, who are favored with the over one another in this refpect. gofpel-that they originate from For the Bible being spread among the native depravity and oppofition all the different fects, if any one of the human heart against God fect had made any material alterand divine truth. For it is declar- ation, the others would immedied, that "the carnal mind is en- ately have detected, and exclaimmity against God; that men hate ed againft it. And nose can rathe light, and love darkness rather tionally fuppofe, that all the varithan light, because their deeds are ous fects, who were at variance evil-that their understanding is with each other, were scattered in darkened, because of the blindness many diftant countries, and who all or hardness of their heart-and efteemed the fcriptures to be given that God fhall fend them strong by divine infpiration, would unidelufions to believe a lie; becaufe verfally agree in corrupting all the they received not the love of the copies of the Bible by additions or truth." Thefe confiderations ea- alteration. This is an event mofily and fully account for the many rally impoffible. There is thereerrors and different fentiments, fore the moft convincing fatisfyprevalent in the Chriftian world-ing evidence from this, as well as Yea, these errors and differing opinions are fo far from being any evidence against the Bible or Chrif. tianity, that they fulfil its predictions, confirm its truths or doctrines, and thus greatly increafe the proof in favor of it.

from other confiderations, that we have the Bible pure and authentic, as it was left by the apoftles. Thus the unhappy divifions and diffentions, which through the pride, feififhnefs, and depravity of mankind and the devices of Satan, have arifen in the Chriftian church, have been the means of greatly confirming the truth, and fecuring the

Altho, thefe differences in reli gious fentiments among Chriftians, are in many refpects unhappy and injurious to the caufe of Chrift-purity of the fcriptures. originate from depravity, and imply criminality in the erroneous; confiderations, that the difference yet through the wisdom of God of opinions among thofe called

It is evident from thefe various

ing he would make every man hap- | few months, terminated his life.

py at death whatever might have been his character in life.

The first three or four months of his ficknefs not apprehending himfelf dangerous, he thought little concerning death or what was to follow that event. When he did think of these things, he endeav

But though thus eagerly engaged in pursuit of this world's goods, he was difappointed in his hopes. By a train of misfortunes, he lost what little property he had acquir-ored to quiet his mind by believed, becane embarraffed in his cir- ing that, fome how or other, it cumstances, and every effort which would be well with him and all he made to relieve himself was mankind; that death was the comdefeated. These disappointments mon lot of man, and that a phiinstead of inducing him to reflect lofopher fhould not be anxious reupon the uncertainty of all world- fpecting the time of its arrival. In ly things and to feek more durable fhort, he renounced all the animariches, ferved only to harden him ting profpects of the gospel and and to increafe his difrelifh for re- was faft verging towards the ligion. He indulged himself in o- gloomy, cheerless state of univerpenly murmuring and repining a fal fcepticism. gainst the Providence of Heaven, and in envying the profperity of others. He even dared to cenfure the administration of God and to arraign the wifdom and goodness of his proceedings.

About this time, Jatros became acquainted with feveral men of whom it might be faid, that they gloried in their fhame; they ridiculed the fcriptures; decried all religion as the invention of crafty men, and derided the Saviour of the world. From their converfation, and from reading infidel books with which they fupplied him, Jatros foon embraced their fyftem and joined with them in laughing at every thing ferious. As a natural confequence of embracing fuch principles, he attempted to perfuade others that there was nothing in religion, and that all who pretended to ferioufnefs were either defigning hypocrites or deluded enthufiafts. In this ftate of mind he continued for two or three years, repining at divine Providence, envying his more profperous neighbors, and fcoffing at religion. At length he was attacked with a difeafe which, in a

Hearing of his fickness I went to vifit him. I reminded him of the fentiments which had been taught him when young, fpoke freely on his infidel principles, and afked him whether his fickness and the probability that he might foon be called to leave the world, had not led him to fear he was building upon a falfe foundation? He replied to this effect, that he had no anxiety concerning himself; that he ftill confidered the fcriptures as the work of defigning men, and Jefus Chrift, if ever fuch a perfon exifted, as an impoftor; that he was ready to die at any time, and that if he did not ceafe to exift, at death, he prefumed that the God who had giv en him being would make him happy, as he had never done any thing for which he deferved to be made miferable; that in such a belief he meant to remain and hoped to die. I faw that it was in vain to attempt to argue with him; for though he had no regular system to which a reasonable man could confiftently truft, yet he was determined not to embrace the gofpel scheme; and all I could do was in