of little Avail to prove him the natural Go- SERM.IV. vernor) are perhaps deducible from Scripture; the only original Book that confiders the World as God's World; as under his extraordinary Providence. If we look backward to the Creation, we find a gradual Discovery of God's Will, and a whole Succeffion of Prophecies, fome darker, fome clearer, all pointing to, and centering in, the grand and ultimate Event of the Redemption, to which feveral intermediate ones refer. Add to this those of a distinct Nature, concerning the Downfall of certain flourishing Kingdoms, States, and Cities, all circumftantially foretold and exactly accomplished. And if we look forward from that Æra, we muft obferve a long continued Chain of Predictions beyond the Reach of human Knowledge; fuch as thofe relating to the Propagation and Continuation of Christianity to the End of the World; the Reign of Antichrift; the Difperfion and Restoration of the Jews; when all Kingdoms fhall become the Lord's Kingdom, and all his Enemies be put under his Feet: Several of which being already fulfilled, give us abundant Reason to expect, that the reft will, in due Time, receive their Com

SERM.IV. pletion. And, whoever attentively weighs the Internal Evidences, will perceive they outweigh the Objections from the Internal Contexture of Revelation to which if the External Proofs be added, the Scale turns with a vaft Preponderancy in Favour of Christianity. It is a ftupendous, compli cated Scheme, and fuch as could never have entered into the Head of Uninfpired Man; beginning from Eternity, carried on with great Uniformity, and ending only where all Things are loft, as to our Knowledge, in Eternity. Whatever Exceptions may be raised against this or that Prophecy; it appears upon the whole, that none could have formed, and thus far executed, fo uniform a Plan reaching throughout all Ages, but that Being alone whofe Views extend throughout all Ages, from Everlafting to Everlasting. And could we take in the whole Compafs of Providence from first to last, tracing each Link of the Chain; we might find there was not only a Confiftency, there was even a Connection between all revealed Truths. Truth, like a large Diamond, would be most beautiful could it be had by us unbroken; each Part lending a Luftre to it's neighbouring Parts,

and receiving it back, from them; and all SERM.IV. of them confpiring in a focial Union to brighten and ennoble the whole. But fuch is the Poverty of our Understanding, that not being able to be at a fufficient Expence of Thought to purchase it whole and undivided; we are forced to content ourselves with fome disjointed and independent Parts of it. But, LATON

vIIIdly, Let us fuppofe there are fome Things not strictly reconcileable to Reason, and fome Inconfiftencies in little incidental Matters and Points of no Consequence; Christianity, nevertheless, ftands upon a firm Bafis, as long as the principal Evidences for it remain unfhaken, and the weightier Matters are worthy of God.

All feeming Contradictions as to Hifto- . rical Accounts, minute Circumstances of Facts, and other incidental Paffages, have been reconciled with a Clearness really furprizing; and much more than could be reafonably expected as to Books written at such a Distance of Time; when feveral Records, which threw Light into these Matters, are entirely loft. But fuppofing this had not, or could not, be done; let it be confidered,

SERM.IV. that it was not God's Defign in giving a

Revelation, to fecure his Creatures from every Error however infignificant; but to fecure them, if not wanting to themselves, from Errors of a moral and religious Nature. God's Goodness, in publishing his Will, only obliged him to inspire the Writers fo far, as to answer all the valuable Purposes of publishing his Will. Which is effectually done by giving us, what we have in the Scriptures, a full, unerring Syftem of moral and religious Doctrines; together with a sufficient Certainty of Fact to confirm them, and fufficient Motives to enforce them.

This being once granted, though the Scriptures fhould not be universally and infallibly exact in every Point, yet they are as exact as they need to be; infallibly exact as to all the beneficial Intents of a Revelation. It is, I hope, no dangerous, tho' needlefs Conceffion, to fuppofe, that the Stewards of the Myfteries of God, like wife Managers of an ample Eftate, were punctual and careful in their Oeconomy as to the main Concern; but, amidst their great Abundance of fpiritual Riches, did not attend to every Article of frivolous Ex

pence;

pence; the Omiffion of which drew no SERM.IV. Manner of bad Confequence after it. It is not incumbent upon us in our Disputes with Deifts to prove, that Mofes, the Prophets and Evangelifts were infpired to fuch a Degree as to be to a Tittle infallible as Hiftorians. It is enough to prove that they were fo as Prophets, Lawgivers, and Perfons making known the Will of God; And that, as Hiftorians, he guided them fo far, that they should not be guilty of any momentous Escapes or Inadvertencies; it being abfurd to think, that when God gave a Religion built upon Facts, he would leave the Writers to themselves in relating those Facts upon which it is built; fo as to fall into fuch Inconfiftences as would affect the Credit of the Relators, and destroy the Credibility of the Relation.

It was no more ftrictly neceffary, that the Deity should guard against trivial Errors, than that he fhould reveal useless Truths it is enough that he hath disco→ vered Truth as far as it is important to our Happiness; and prevented Error, as far as it is of an hurtful Tendency. An extraordinary Affistance is feldom vouchsafed when fuch an Affiftance is not material: