Beauties of Speech, profufely scattered throughout, like the Riches of Nature through the Globe; though, like them too, with a magnificent Negligence and Irregularity, which little Wits ridicule, and great ones admire; and pious Hearts very justly reverence, as the worthier of God, the remoter it is from the laboured Correctness of Man. But had the fewish Language (while they fpoke Hebrew or Chaldee, or when afterwards many of them fpoke Greek) been still more obscure and ambiguous than we must own it to be, and had that Defect been lefs compensated with the Advantages of Expreffiveness and Grandeur than it is, yet this was not the Fault, either of the Prophets, or of the Apoftles. They would of Course learn and ufe the Stile of their Countrymen; they wrote probably as well in it, as any other good Men of their Time: and God was not bound to teach them to write better. For how far he would extend his Aid, was entirely in his own Choice: and we owe him inexpreffible Gratitude for the Things he hath communicated, how little foever he might interfere in directing the Words. But indeed had they been endued with ever fo great Excellency of Speech, they could have applied to

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their Hearers or Readers in no other Phrases, than fuch as they comprehended, were accuftomed, and would hearken, to: and the Diffi culties arifing from hence in the facred Writings were unavoidable.

But here a farther Complaint is made, that in feveral Places they are defignedly guarded against being clearly understood. And we own they are for the Subject required it. Predictions too plain might hinder their own Execution: as, in many common Cafes, the previous Publication of a Thing, which else would certainly have been done, will prevent it most effectually. And therefore they ought to be formed in the Manner they are: fo as not to betray the Intention to every one prematurely, nor yet leave Room to any one for doubting afterwards, to what Event the Prophecy related. Had all the Particulars of our Saviour's Life and Death, which are foretold, been too distinctly set forth to be mistaken or overlooked, the Jews would have taken Care they should not happen; and have justified their Rejection of him by the Failure. Again: had the Kingdom of the Meffiah been every where described by the Prophets as intirely a fpiritual one, in which all Mankind were to have an equal

Share; that perverfe Nation, on hearing, that their civil Polity and ceremonial Worship was all to be abolished, would either, from Contempt, have grown negligent of it, and thrown it off too foon; or elfe, from Fondness for it, would have fuppreffed or corrupted the Paffages, declaring it should ceafe: which Providence defigned them to preserve, for an Evidence against themselves, as they have proved to be. And therefore the Gospel Days are prefigured by a Mixture of temporal Images with others, liable to be misunderstood before the Time of Explanation came, but foon apprehended then by every fair Mind; though still open to the Cavils of others, who, to use the Terms of St. Peter, fumble at the Word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. Not, appointed to be disobedient: but appointed, fince they would be disobedient, to take their own Course and the Confequences of it: to fumble and fall at Difficulties, of which they would easily have seen the proper Solution, and fo got over them unhurt, had they but modeftly begged, and dutifully followed, the divine Illumination.

I cannot proceed now to the Objections, which have been raised against the Usefulness

of the Books of the New Teftament: and therefore contenting myself at prefent with recommending to your Confideration what you have heard, fhall conclude with the comfortable, yet awful Words of the Prophet: Who is wife, and he fhall understand thefe Things? prudent, and he fhall know them? For the Ways of the Lord are right, and the fuft fhall walk in them; but the Tranfgrefors fhall fall therein.

¢ Hof. xiv. 9.

SER

SERMON III.

2 TIM. iii. 16, 17.

All Scripture is given by Infpiration of God: and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in Righteousness. that the Man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good Works.

AVING undertaken to fhew you

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I. That Scripture is of Divine Authority;

II. That it answers every Purpose of Religion;

III. That we ought to read and study it diligently;

IV. How we may do this to the best Effect: I have finished the first Head, and made fome Progress in the fecond, the complete Usefulness of holy Writ. The direct Evidence of this I laid before you, fully I hope, though

briefly,