Page images
PDF
EPUB

make up one regular Syftem of Divine Knowledge; the Precepts form a compleat Scheme of Godlike Virtue; the Rewards a perfect State of Heavenly Happiness. Again, the Doctrines and the Precepts mutually advance the Practice of the one, and the Knowledge of the other: He that does God's Will, fays our Bleffed Saviour, fhall know of his Doctrine; and common Reason will inform us, that he who knows moft, will be best enabled, and most powerfully engaged to Practice: In like manner the Happiness of Eternity will put us upon a moft diligent Search after the Knowledge of our Duty, and a more vigorous Practice of it; and, on the contrary, a firm Belief, an extended Knowledge and a vigorous Practice of what is contain❜d in the Holy Scriptures, do, thro' God's Grace, regularly lead us on to Glory. Now fuch a beautiful and ufeful Connection as this, naturally fixes our Attention more clofely to thofe things which are here declared; refines our Notions, and facilitates our Performances, and carries our Thoughts up to that God of Harmony and Order, who weigheth all VOL. I. things

D

things in the exactest Balance of Truth and Justice.

THE majestick Plainnefs of Style under which the Holy Scriptures are promulged, is another Circumftance of Usefulness; they have God for their Author, and are therefore majeftick; they are intended for the Ufe of Man, and are therefore plain In the former refpect, they affect us with a reverential Regard, in the latter, they afford us Comfort and Satiffaction. The Truths which are here promulged, are fublime, above the highest Reach of rational Attainments; the Manner of their Promulgation condescending to the loweft of Human Infirmities: Had they not been fublime, the Learned would have defpifed them; had they not been condefcending, the Unlearned could not have known them: But as they now ftand, they are the equal, ufeful, and admired Inftructions both of the wifeft and the most illiterate of Men. And this too is an Evidence of their Divine Origin : This is the Brightness of Truth, under the Direction of the most confummate Wifdom, to make thofe things, which the

ableft

ableft Men cou'd never discover, le level to the Capacity of the meaneft.

THE Force with which thofe Sacred Writings infinuate into Mens Hearts, and the Influence they have upon their Lives, are farther Circumftances and Arguments of their Usefulness: The former of thefe, is what Men feel within themselves: The latter, is what appears in their outward Actions. With Refpect to the former, let any one, but the profane Scoffer, declare with what marvellous Subtlety they can pierce the Soul; how infenfibly they can diffuse a Tincture of Godlinefs over every Faculty; with what bright Ideas of Virtue and Happiness they enrich the Understanding; with what Heavenly Dif pofitions they poffefs the Will; with what Divine Sentiments they purify and enliven the Affections; with what Variety of Addrefs they can accommodate themselves to every Temper; breaking the Hardinefs of the Stubborn, roufing the Carelessness of the supine Offender; reviving the Spirit of the Contrite ones; encouraging the Zeal of the Vigorous and Perfevering. Let those therefore who know from

D 2

from their own Experience, declare (for those alone can declare it) what pious Ardours are hereby kindled, what Fervour of Devotion burns within them; what elevated Notions of Spiritual Enjoyments; what rapturous Perceptions of Divine Comforts: But even the Prophane and the Unbeliever may declare, if they pleafe, what Luftre is hereby fhed upon the Lives and Actions of thofe, who fincerely obey the bleffed Lessons of Holinefs which are there prefcribed; their regular Piety, their difinterested Charity, their unaffected Sobriety; the Sweetness, the Humility, the Chearfulnefs of their Behaviour: Thefe and many fuch like Inftances fet them up for burning and fhining Lights unto the World, and prove that Divinity alone muft have dictated those Inftructions, which are able to raife Men fo much above themfelves ; and that the Light with which they thus fhine among Men, is no other than the Reflexion of the glorious Gospel of Chrift, who is the Image of God.

UPON the Whole then, we fee that the Holy Scriptures are a vaft Treasury

of

N

of Divine Instruction, both in their Subftance and their feveral Circumftances, containing Abundance of Wifdom unto Salvation: But whether the Wisdom there contain'd be fufficient for our Salvation, comes now in the third and laft Place to be confidered.

be

Now the Sufficiency of the Holy. Scriptures is pointed out to us in thefe Words; That the Man of God may perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good Works: The Man of God, i. e. one who minifters in Holy Things. The Apostle is here fpeaking particularly to Timothy, whom he had left Bishop at Ephefus; and exhorts him to continue in those things which he had learn'd and been affured of, viz. those things which were contain'd in the Scriptures, they being able, as the Apostle faith, to make thee wife unto Salvation; which plainly implies the Suffi ciency of them in general for fuch Wif dom: But in the Words before us, the Apoftle is addreffing him as a Paftor of the Church, and declares that the Holy Scriptures will make him perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good Works. Here D 3

there

« PreviousContinue »