dent Creatures, all whofe Faculties, and the Exercife of them, are deriv'd from God; that we ought therefore to exercise a due Modefty, and practise a due Submission of Mind in Divine Matters, particularly in the Search after the Nature, and Laws, and Providence of our great Creator: A Submission, I mean, not to Human, but to Divine Authority, when once it shall be authentickly made known to us: That the humble Addressing of our felves to God for his Aid, Direction, and Blessing on our Studies and Enquiries, is one plain Inftance of fuch our Submiffion to Him; and that a ready Compliance with Divine Revelation, and a ready Obedience to the Divine Will, fo far as we have clearly difcover'd it, is another necessary Instance of the fame humble Regard to the Divine Majesty. Nor indeed, can any one who comes to these Sacred Enquiries with the oppofite Difpofitions, of Dishonesty, Partiality, Pride, Buffoonry, Neglect of all Divine Worship, and Contempt of all Divine Revelation, and of all Divine Laws, expect, even by the Light Nature, that God should be oblig'd to dif cover farther Divine Truths to him. Nor will a fober Perfon, duly fenfible of the different States of Creator and Creature, imitate Simon Magus, and his Followers, in the first Ages of the Gospel; and fet up Some Metaphyfical Subtilties, or Captious Questions, about A 3 about the Conduct of Providence, as fufficient to fet afide the Evidence of confeffed Miracles themselves; but will rather agree to that wife Aphorifm laid down in the Law of Mofes, and fuppos'd all over the Bible; That Deu. xxix. Secret Things belong unto the Lord 29. ; but Things that are revealed, to Us and to our Children, that we may do them. Now in order to the making fome Impressions upon Men in this Matter, and the convincing them, that All our Discoveries are to be de rived from God; and that we are not to expect his Bleffing upon our Enquiries, without the foregoing Qualifications, Devotions, and Obedience; Give me leave here, instead of my own farther Reasoning, to fet down from the Ancient Jewish and Christian Writers, feveral Paffages which feem to me very remarkable, and very pertinent to our prefent Purpose: Not now indeed, as fuppofing any of thofe Obfervations of Sacred Authority, but as very right in themselves; very agreeable to the Light of Nature; and very good TeAimonies of the Sense of wife Men in the feveral ancient Ages of the World to this Purpofe. And I chufe to do this the more largely bere, because I think this Matter to be of very great Importance ; because it seems to be now very little known or confider'd, at leaft very little practis'd,by feveral pretended Enquirers into Reveal'd Religion; and be 1 caufe cause the Neglect hereof feems to me a main Occafion of the Scepticism and Infidelity of this Age. The Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying; See, Ex. xxxi. I have called by Name Bezaleel, the Son 1, 2, 3, 6. of Uri, the Son of Hur, of the Tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in Wisdom, and in Underftanding, and in Knowledge, &c. And in the Hearts of all that are wife-hearted, I have put Wisdom, &c. xxviii. 15. It fhall come to pafs, if thou wilt Deut." not hearken unto the Voice of the Lord thy God, to obferve to do all his Commandments, and his Statutes, which I command thee this Day, that all these Curfes fhall come upon thee, and overtake thee: -The Lord fhall smite thee with Madness, and Blindness, and Aftonishment of Heart; and thou fhalt grope at Noon-day, as the Blind gropeth in Darkness. v. 28, 29. The Lord hath not given you an Heart xxix. 4. to perceive, and Eyes to fee, and Ears to hear, unto this Day. 12. Give thy Servant an Understanding King. iii. Heart, to judge thy People; that I may 9,10,11, difcern between Good and Bad: For who is able to judge this thy fo great a People: And the Speech pleated the Lord, A 4 that v. 28. Job xxxii. 7, 8. xxxiii. 12, 13. xxxiv. 31, 32. xxxvii. 5. that Solomon had asked this Thing. And I faid, Days fhould speak; and Multitude of Years fhould teach Wifdom: But there is a Spirit in Man; and the Infpiration of the Almighty giveth them Understanding. Behold in this thou art not juft; I will answer thee, that God is greater than Man. Why doft thou ftrive against him? For he giveth not Account of any of his Matters. Surely it is meet to be faid unto God, I have born Chastisement; I will not offend any more; That which I fee not, teach thou me; if I have done Iniquity, I will do no more. God thundreth marvellously with his Voice: Great Things doth he which we canno comprehend. With 24. With God is terrible Majefty: Touch. V. 22, 23, ing the Almighty we cannot find him out: He is excellent in Power, and in Judgment, and in Plenty of Justice: He will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: He respecteth not any that are wife of Heart. 36. Who hath put Wisdom in the inward xxxviii. Parts? Or who hath given Understanding unto the Heart? Then Job answered the Lord and said ; xlii. 1, 2, I know that thou canst do every Thing, 3. and that no Thought can be with-holden from thee. Who is he that hideth Counfel without Knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. -I have heard of thee by the Hearing of v. 5, 6. the Ear, but now mine Eye feeth thee: Wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in Duft and Ashes. The Meek will he guide in Judgment: Pfal. xxv. The Meek will he teach his Way. 9. The Secret of the Lord is with them that v. 14. fear him; and he will fhew them his Covenant. Thou through thy Commandments haft cxix. 98, made me wiser than mine Enemies; for 99, 100. they are ever with me. I have more Understanding than all my Teachers, for thy Testimonies are my Meditation. I under |