ever intended. Little minds will cavil at little variations, acting in literature as in common life, attending to minuter circumstances and relinquishing folid advantages. Verbal criticism, confined within due bounds, has many fingular ufes; but no part of human knowledge has betrayed men into greater fubtleties and more unneceffary refinements.

To discuss the whole subject of inspiration, to point out the fcrupulous exactness with which all the facred books have been examined, preferved and tranfmitted to fucceeding ages, and to ftate the collateral teftimonies. which prove them genuine, is altogether fuperfluous. If what hath been faid may tend to vindicate the authority we attribute to them and to increase the veneration with which we confult them, fome hope may yet be entertained that thefe oracles of truth will guide us in the way of Salvation. The errors of tranfcribers have not affected one article of faith. Even fuch as fubfift will be gradually leffened by learning and ingenuity, as long as a proper medium is obferved between licentious criticism and fupine acquiefcence. A new version given to the people would be attended with fome inconveniences, and the difcretion

D 4

difcretion of their pastors will clear

up obfcu→ rities and folve difficulties as far as is effential to the purity of their converfation and the tranquillity of their minds. To fix the limits of their curiofity, to extricate them from the labyrinth to which enthusiasm or misguided reafon may have led them, will be an ufeful and a pleafing employment. Thus they will become wiser than the aged, thus they will know of the doctrines whether they be of God.

We should all remember that the facred writers do not deliver a system of philofophy, that the transactions they record are not always reducible to ftrict chronology; that the importance more than the regular order of events is regarded; that where exact method was never intended, tranfpofitions or interpolations will be out of the question; that the language is conformable to the manners of the times and the condition of the several penmen; that they were no farther affifted than to preferve them from material mistakes; that the influence of the Holy Spirit did not fuperfede the use of their natural powers, and that collateral proofs of their veracity have been and may be brought from natural and moral philofophy, from hiftory, from travels, and from every circumftance

circumftance of man. Such is the condefcenfion fhewn to the prejudices of unbelievers, fuch is the care taken to remove the charge of credulity from believers. Our gratitude to the Author and finisher of our faith will increase with faith itself, and every moment fpent in religious meditation will convince us more and more, That his words are sweet unto the tafte, yea, fweeter than honey unto the mouth.

SERMON III.

I THES. V. 12, 13.

WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, TO KNOW
THEM WHICH LABOUR AMONG YOU,

AND ARE OVER YOU IN THE LORD, AND
AND TO ESTEEM

ADMONISH YOU.

THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR
THEIR WORKS' SAKE.

FR

ROM the inspired writers our attention is naturally turned to the labours of those, who, immediately after the days of the Apostles, became preachers of the Gospel, and fome of whom sealed the truth of it with their blood. * The Author of The Antiquities of the Chriftian Church has with great diligence and fidelity vindicated the Church of England in most of her doctrines, and in