Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

Homer, Plato, Demosthenes, or Tullyupon the merits or demerits of any ancient or modern Hero-or, upon the advantages and disadvantages of the different Forms of political Government, and Constitutions? These are all ingenious trifles. But, who can tell how much may be at stake, should I reason ill in matters of eternal Interest* ?

How many are there, for instance, who deem it rational, totally to reject that

*This must inevitably be the case with any person, who does not study sacred Science; which is the lowest of all pursuits, in the calculation of Men of rank and fashion, and the last, with every Man of the world. Is this religious? Is this rational? or, are these the Characters we should either respect for their understanding, or propose for our imitation? Let us hear the judgment of a Writer, who might have divided a considerable portion of his Genius, Taste, and Intelligence, among fifty such Things, as these, and yet have retained more than they usually possess. He is speaking of that branch of Learning, which is indeed the only wisdom, as well as the essence of all literary enjoyments, when he calls it "that Learning, which the former times were not so blessed as to knowsacred and inspired Divinity-the sabbath and port of all men's labours and peregrinations." BACON.

plan of Salvation, which we have supposed to have been devised in the counsels of Heaven! How many, even to ridicule all those overtures of Grace, Mercy, and Peace, which constitute the vital parts, the very essence of Christianity! How many, to scorn the very idea of reposing all our hope of everlasting felicity upon the mediatorial undertaking of The Messiah! And, why so? “It is not rational-it is not philosophical"-say they: and flatter themselves that they reason aright*!

* It should be noted, in the strongest manner, that this is not merely false reasoning, but, as we may have an opportunity of proving more fully in another place, the most perilous, and fatal, a Man can possibly indulge→→→ when it is tried by the uncorrupted principles of Revelation. Such indeed have been the perversions and blasphemies of human Reason, that, as extremes naturally produce each other, Ignorance and Fanaticism have misled some infatuated persons, to decry it in toto, and without any discrimination at all between the use and abuse of it: though no man ever made a more exalted application of his rational powers than St. Paul. That great Apostle would not be very ambitious, I apprehend, of such disciples.

What multitudes are there, who confidently affirm-O impudentiam audacem! that it is more rational, to disbelieve the doctrines, of the Trinity-the vicarious sacrifice and obedience of the Redeemer -and the divine influences of the Holy Spirit upon the human Mind and Heart; and, that none but Bigots, Enthusiasts, mere Ecclesiastics, or characters of the like stamp, will ever defend them! And yet, if human Reason is to be the Criterion, Standard, or Measure, of revealed truth, all this may be justified.

Under the same unconscious influence of intellectual pride and depravity, there is, what a pious and elegant Historian called, a Gens, ratione furens, who talk a language with the utmost coolness, which ought to shock every man, who has not cultivated the Arts of blasphemy, and arrogance; and who, having taken leave of all moral delicacy, may be said to “glory in their shame." These are the Writers,

who tell us of a Fitness of things*, by which, the conduct of the incomprehensi

* The deliberate blasphemy, which has been obtruded on the world, under the sanction of what have been deemed great and learned authorities, respecting a certain figment, which they have styled, "the Nature, and Reason, and Fitness of things," can never be exploded with indignation too ardent. For, has it not been exhibited to us as a decisive Test, by which the proceedings of infinite Wisdom are to be tried? as a Rule, by which the Doctrine and Character of divine Revelation itself are to be determined?

In the same incautious spirit have we been taught by others, that," the Scriptures offer much better grounds. of Virtue, and Morals than any System, that ever appeared:" whereas, we ought to know, that they furnish the only grounds; and other Systems, which every man is at perfect liberty to prefer, or reject, as he pleases, none at all. Upon this account, the person, who contributes in the least degree, to confirm, and illustrate, these Scriptures, deserves better of mankind than all the moralists of reason in the world: because, there is no Foundation for Religion, Virtue, or Morality, but in Revelation. Neither will the sacred Oracles of truth be justly estimated, or duly prized, till this Principle is firmly established in the mind. Surely, if we are favoured with the τα Λογια το Θεό, σε The Oracles of God," it is very meet and right, that Nature, Reason, and Philosophy, should all rally around them, and rejoice to listen to their dictates, with silent, humble, persevering submission. Instead of which, we are very gravely, and very impiously, instructed to sit in judgment

ble Godhead is to be examined, and decided! that nothing is to be accredited, as of divine Authority, till it has passed the Touchstone, or Ordeal, of human Reason! that Salvation by Grace through faith is to be rejected, as arrant nonsense, if it accord not with our ideas of Philosophy! If this be not cum ratione insanire,

upon them! Whereas, "on these mysterious points, which human Reason can never fathom; it is in vain that we make that Reason the Umpire. That finite man, however, can form no adequate conception of these great Truths; by no means implies either absurdity or impossibility in the things themselves. This circumstance arises from the limited nature of our faculties. Christianity does not propose to mankind a theological Code, encumbered with no difficulties, involved in no perplexities. Its great mysterious doctrines are not to be solved by the light of Nature, nor scanned by the boldest flight of human Intellect. The Word of God is the sole Basis of the proofs, and solutions, of these stupendous doctrines. The Almighty has been pleased to erect mounds and ramparts, as of old at Sinai, around the abode of his incomprehensible Majesty, to ward off the dangerous curiosity of man: he hath wrapped himself in clouds, that we might not be consumed by the full blaze of that glory, which invests the eternal throne."

« ElőzőTovább »