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ON THE

SCRIPTURES.

MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS,

ON THE

SCRIPTURES.

I Am an entire disciple of Butler. He calls his book " Analogy;" but the great subject, from beginning to end, is HUMAN IGNORANCE. Berkeley has done much to reduce man to a right view of his attainments in real knowledge; but he goes too far: he requires a demonstration of self-evident truths: he requires me to demonstrate that that table is before me. Beattie has well replied to this error, in his "Immutability of Truth;" though it pleased Mr. Hume to call that book—" Philosophy for the Ladies."

Metaphysicians seem born to puzzle and confound mankind. I am surprized to hear men talk of their having demonstrated such and such points. Even Andrew Baxter, one of the best of these metaphysicians, though he reasons and speculates well, has not demonstrated to my mind one single point by his reasonings. They know

nothing at all on the subject of moral and religious truth, beyond what God has revealed. I am so deeply convinced of this, that I can sit by and smile at the fancies of these men; and especially when they fancy they have found out DEMONSTRATIONS. Why there are Demonstrators, who will carry the world before them; till another man rises, who demonstrates the very opposite, and then, of course, the world follows him!

We are mere mites creeping on the earth, and oftentimes conceited mites too. If any Superior Being will condescend to visit us and teach us, something may be known. "Has God spoken to man?" This is the most important question that can be asked. All Ministers should examine this matter to the foundation. Many are culpably negligent herein. But, when this has been done, let there be no more questionings and surmises. My son is not, perhaps, convinced that I am entitled to be his teacher. Let us try. If he finds that he knows more than I do-well: if he finds that he knows nothing, and submits-I am not to renew this conviction in his mind every time he chuses to require me to do so.

If any honest and benevolent man felt scruples in his breast concerning Revelation, he would hide them there; and would not move wretched men from the only support, which they can have in this world. I am thoroughly convinced of the want of real integrity and benevolence in all

Infidels. And I am as thoroughly convinced of the want of real belief of the Scriptures, in most of those who profess to believe them. Die

Metaphysicians can unsettle things, but they can erect nothing. They can pull down a church, but they cannot build a hovel. The Hutchinsonians have said the best things about the Metaphysicians. I am no Hutchinsonian; yet I see that they have data, and that there is something worth proving in what they assert.t

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PRINCIPLE is to be distinguished from PREJUdice. The man, who should endeavour to weaken my belief of the truth of the Bible, and of the fair deduction from it of the leading doctrines of Religion, under the notion of their being prejudices, should be regarded by me as an assassin. He stabs me in my dearest hopes: he robs me of my solid happiness: and he has no equivalent to offer. This species of evidence of the truth and value of Scripture is within the reach of all men. It is my strongest. It assures me as fully as a voice could from heaven, that my principles are not prejudices. I see in the Bible my heart and the world painted to the life; and I see just that provision made, which is competent to the highest ends and effects on this heart and this world.

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