om our spiritual system, and by its sweet and >werful influence to attract the wandering fections of men into an orbit appointed by the ill and illumined by the favour of God. Accordg to this system, a grateful and humble afction towards God, founded on a knowledge his true character, is the principle of order nd of happiness in the moral world. The onfusion and the restlessness which we see in te world, and which we often experience in ur own breasts, give abundant testimony to me truth of this proposition in its negative rm. Ignorance and indifference about the haracter of God generally prevail; we love le creature more than the Creator-the gifts more than the giver our own inclinations more than his will. And is it not evident to eason, that an entire conformity to the Ruling Vill of the universe, is only another name for rder and happiness? and can this conformity e produced in any rational being, except by a nowledge and a love of that will? The charcter of God is manifested in the history of Jeus Christ, for our knowledge and for our love. This manifestation harmonizes with the sugestions of reason and conscience on the subect: Nay more, it gathers them up, as they e before the mind in detached fragments; it supplies the in one glor beauty. capacities shaped fo nature. is adapted a child, a of an ang this truth grow upon infinite Go produce i however ters. Th fully at one, alth I have remarks, seems to mony wh tem and out us ar explain ural fitn ject. tention t infidel, supplies their deficiencies, and unites them all in one glorious fabric of perfect symmetry and beauty. It meets the heart of man, in all its capacities and affections; its appeal is exactly shaped for the elementary principles of our nature. The glorious truth which it reveals is adapted to every mind; it is intelligible to a child, and yet will dilate the understanding of an angel. As the understanding enlarges, this truth still grows upon it, and must for ever grow upon it, because it is the image of the infinite God. Yet, great as it is, it is fitted to produce its effect, wherever it is received, however limited the capacity into which it enters. The principle of the wedge operates as fully at the first stroke as at any subsequent one, although the effect is not so great. I have endeavoured, in the course of these remarks, to give an idea of the mode which seems to me best fitted for illustrating the harmony which subsists between the Christian system and the mass of moral facts which lie without us and within us. I have endeavoured to explain the greatness of its object, and its natural fitness for the accomplishment of that object. He who has not given his earnest attention to these things, may call himself an infidel, or a believer, but he has yet to learn what that doctrine is which he rejects or admits. There is nothing new in this cursory sketch of Christian doctrines. Indeed, I should conceive a proof of novelty on such a subject as tantamount to a proof of error: But I think that the view here taken has not been sufficiently pressed as an argument in favour of the credibility of revelation; for, although an indirect kind of evidence in itself, it seems well fitted for preparing and disposing an unbeliever to examine with candour the more direct proof which arises from historical testimony. And it may also perform the no less important office of infusing into a nominal Christian, a doubt as to his sincerity in the profession of a faith which has perhaps neither made a distinct impression on his understanding, nor touched his heart, nor affected his character.. |