"wards God and towards Men.

When will "that Time come, replies the Difciple; and who

" is it that will teach us this? For methinks I

C.

earnestly defire to fee and know who the "Person is that will do it. It is one, anfwers So

crates, who has now a Concern for you.

But

"in like manner as Homer relates that Miner"va took away the Mift from before Diomedes

Eyes, that he might be able to diftinguifh one Perfon from another; fo 'tis neceffary that the Mist, which is now before your "Mind, be first taken away, that afterwards

you may learn to distinguish rightly between "Good and Evil; for as yet you are not able "to do it. Let the Perfon you mentioned, "replies the Difciple, take away this Mift, or "whatever else it be, as foon as he pleases: For "I am willing to do any Thing he shall direct, "whofoever this Perfon be; fo that I may but "become a good Man. Nay, anfwers Socrates, "That Perfon has a wonderful Readiness and Willingness to do all this for you. It will be "best then, replies the Difciple, to forbear of"fering any more Sacrifices 'till the Time that

"this Perfon appears. You judge very well, anfwers Socrates, it will be much fafer fo to

do, than to run so great a Hazard of offering Sacrifices, which you know not whether "they are acceptable to God or no. Well then, replies the Difciple, we will Then make our Offerings to the Gods, when That Day comes; " and I hope, God willing, it may not be far off."

Strange! That notwithstanding all the perplexing Doubts and Uncertainties under which thefe virtuous Heathens labored, our modern Free-Thinkers, our Rational Chriftians, as they inconfiftently affect to call themselves, fhould take fo much Pains to laugh at, and redicule, that Book of Divine Revelation, the Bible. Many of them have not Learning enough to examine the Languages in which it was originally wrote; and they want Candor and Good-Sense to make proper Allowances for the unavoidable Imperfections of a literal Tranflation; for Diftance of Time, and the different Manners andCuftoms which prevailed; and for a great Variety of Circumstances to us unknown, and which arene

ceffary

ceffary to be known, in order to a full and complete Understanding of the Sacred Writings.

Others there are, who, though perhaps not unskilled in the original Languages of the Old and New Testament, yet forbear to give them a fober, candid, and serious Examination. They will read Plays, Novels, and Romances;' they will read profane History, Lives, and Memoirs, and enter into the very Spirit of them: No Time is too much; no Pains too great. And if there are any indelicate Expreffions, or unbecoming Sentiments, in the Authors with which they happen to converse, they will retail them out upon every Occafion, with all the Fire of Originals. They are pleased, they are delighted, they are satisfied.

But if these fame Perfons happen to take the Bible in Hand, that Treasure of Holy Inftruction, and True Confolation, what dull, melancholy Work it is! How ftupid, how drowsy, how feeble they grow! It is laid aside as dark, mysterious, and unintelligible. And they are ready to bless themfelves, when they can get into more cheerful Company.

Now,

.

Now, my Brethren, it is the Glory of the Bible to have fuch Adverfaries as thefe. Their Disapprobation is no small Praise. It requires in all the True Difciples of Chrift, in all Real Chriftians; and that too upon Pain of eternal Damnation; fuch Purity, fuch Self-denial, such Mortification; fuch inward Holinefs, and fuch outward Obedience, that, in the Opinion of many, 'tis a Yoke too heavy to be born. Hence fome reject the Bible entirely: Others refine its Precepts and Doctrines, into a Syftem of little better than Heathen-Morality. And no Wonder: One Man is addicted to Drunkenness; another to Whoredom; another to Covetouf nefs; another to Pleafure; another to Pride and Vanity of Understanding; and another to Carelefness and Diffipation: They read the Bible: They fee thefe, and all fuch like Sins declared to be abfolutely inconfiftent with the Favor of of God: They must therefore neceffarily take one or other of thefe Methods: Either look

upon it as an unreasonable Restraint upon the natural Liberties of Mankind, and so to be renounced as a Syftem of fpiritual Tyranny: Or,

having their Minds engroffed with worldly Cares and Pleasures, they must put off such ierious Matters to fome future, and more convenient Season: Or, they muft grant that it is indeed the Word of God; and endeavor with all their Powers to believe, and live, and obey, as the bible requires. Then, and then only, they can read it with Pleasure and with Comfort. Then, and then only, they can have a rational, well-grounded Affurance, Repofe, and Satisfaction.

Much might be faid, my Brethren, in Favor of this invaluable, though too frequently difpifed Book, the Bible. It comes recommended to us by all the Marks of Divinity, of which any Thing of the Kind is capable. It carries the Stamp of Heaven upon it. Its Predictions, its Miracles, its Doctrines, its Language; all proclaim its Divine Original. But instead of infifting upon Evidence of this Kind, permit me to lay before you the Sentiments and Opinions of fome of the moft illuftrious Perfons, who have had Occafion to speak, or write upon the Subject. This Kind of Evidence feems better a

dapted