2.

REVELATION is the only Mirrour of moral Truth, Science, and Goodness *

Ρημα θειον Κανων βιε . . . Οιαξ τε βιε ο Νόμος FB Ερευνάτε τας Γραφάς της σωτηρίας πη ένας Αγαθότητος κρηνη Μυθος Ζηνος υψις 8...

Χίλος ψυχων Ρημα θείον . . . Θεσμος συνειδησιν θίγει, και εις οδον αλυοντα επαναγεί Νεο φος φρενος αυγη αγιας γραφης διει

No person can have studied the philo sophy of universal History, and the cha

Where the divine Being himself condescends to be the Teacher, human Reason has arrived at her ne plus ultra she must submit with all becoming humility to be instructed ; nor presume, either to judge of his determi nations, or to add any thing to them, "They are all of that kind of first Principles, which give evidence to, but receive no evidence from, our conclusions." They only are the Criterion, by which to regulate our ideas of moral Truth, Virtue, and Happiness; the sole Standard of, what has been called, the Reason and Fitness of things. The Truth of things, the Reason of things, and the Fitness of things, are all to be sought for in one and the same Source Ο Λόγος τ8 Θε8. Prov. ii. 16.

Synopsis of Principles.

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racter of Man, as delineated in its various annals, with merited attention, who is not convinced of the necessity of such a Revelation. Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato, seem to have sighed after it. "Let their Attainments be what they might, they never ascribed them to their own Reason, and Sagacity-but, always lamented the darkness of their Intellect, the weakness of the human Mind, the little satisfaction they met with in their most diligent Search, and the want of a better Guide."-This was their frequent language; and, in so far, they were honest and ingenuous: qualities, in which our modern Heathens are not very proficient.

"That Pythagoras drew his knowledge from the Hebrew Fountains, is what all writers, sacred and profane, do testify and aver: that Socrates and Plato took from him the principal part of that knowledge, touching God, the Soul's immortality, and the conduct of life and manners, has been

doubted by no person of fair inquiry; and, that it went from him into the schools of Aristotle, and so derived and diffused almost into the whole world, is in like manner attested by all the really learned,"

The particular and most valuable use, which I apprchend is to be made of this Revelation, is, to regard it as the only unerring Source of moral truth, science, and goodness, and to consult it accordingly. Upon this principle alone can it be exalted and estimated, as we find it is, by all the inspired Penmen. Take a specimen from the whole hundred and nineteenth Psalm: which is no less beautiful, than instructive, in this view of it. The language is extravagant hyperbole in any other light.

3.

TRUE EXCELLENCE is the reflex Image, however faint, of the divine Nature,

Beauty, and Glory-traced on the human Soul by an almighty, though invisible, Agency.

The Devotees of human Reason, Philosophy, and Learning, are extremely apt to start back at the sound of invisible Agency, and supernatural Influence; and, without either caution, or delicacy, to pronounce it fanaticism, idiocy, and enthusiasm. A little of the decens, in this casenot to say, the verum-would direct them to use a more becoming reverence, and less precipitancy: for, few men perhaps have made more strenuous and rational efforts, to guard the human mind against every degree of false Enthusiasm, than Locke; yet, even he has ingenuously acknowledged:

"In what I have said, I am far from denying that God can, or doth sometimes, enlighten mens minds in the apprehending of certain Truths, or excite them to good Actions, by the immediate influence

and assistance of the holy Spirit. But, in such cases, we have Reason and the Scripture, to know whether it be from God, or no."-Unquestionably: for, one of the Canons of that Scripture itself is, Isa. viii. 20.

It is worthy to be noticed, that the philosophic schools of ancient Greece, and Rome, were no strangers to this ideaignorant, as they were, of the several particulars, in which the divine Image consisted still we shall find them saying, "that no man can be great, but as illuminated by some ray, or inspired by some breath, from Heaven:" that," it is not enough to enterprize that which is laudable, as if the success were in our own Power, and without need of assistance from God: no, we must implore the divine Aid: wherefore, think upon God, and call upon his holy aid and assistance, just as the poor Mariners do, in a sinking condition, upon Castor and Pollux." See Cicero, Hierocles, Xenophon, Epictetus,and others.