With refpect to facts, it is fufficient to say, that no inftance is mentioned of the divine being having failed to fulfil any promife that he had made, refpecting either individuals, or nations of mankind; but a great variety of facts are recorded, in which the performance exactly corresponds to the engagement. I fhall recite only one of them. After the children of Ifrael were fettled in the land of Canaan, it is faid, Jofh. xxi. 43. " and "the Lord gave unto Ifrael all the land which he "fware to give unto their fathers: and they pos"feffed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord 66 gave them reft, round about, according to all "that he fware unto their fathers: and there ftood "not a man of all their enemies before them: the “Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. "There failed not ought of any thing good which "the Lord had spoken unto the house of Ifrael: "all came to pass." On fuch ground as this (the Jewish and chriftian religions having been proved to be divine) we have fufficient reason to depend upon the truth of those divine declarations, the time for the accomplishment of which is not yet come; efpecially with refpect to the grand catastrophe of the whole scheme, viz. that there fhall be a refurrection of all the dead, followed by an ample reward for the righteous, and an adequate punishment for the wicked. СНАР THE HE unity, and the moral attributes of God being fo clearly revealed to us in the fcriptures, we naturally expect that the chief thing which he will require of man will be purity of heart and integrity of life, or the genuine principles, the uniform practice, and the confirmed habits of all moral virtue; comprehending an unfeigned reverence and love of himself, the highest respect for his authority, and a humble and chearful fubmiffion to all the difpenfations of his providence, together with all the natural expreffions of our dependence upon him, and obligation to him. We might also expect that he would require of us a fincere regard to the welfare of our fellow-creatures, and all those actions which naturally arise from that generous principle, viz. all the duties of justice, equity, and humanity. Laftly, we might expect that his authority fhould be interpofed in favour of those virtues which more immediately respect ourfelves, and the government of our appetites and paffions; fo that in all things we be chafte and temperate temperate, no flaves to violent and unreasonable paffions, or to any affection of mind by which we might debase our natures, or expofe ourselves to the temptation of disturbing and injuring others. SECTION I. Of the duty of man with respect to God. THE HE duties of piety, or devotion, confifting of a right difpofition of mind with respect to God, and the actions which flow from that difpofition, are, in a manner, peculiar to the Jewish and christian religions; being almoft unknown to the Gentile world. But in the fcriptures very great ftrefs is defervedly laid upon them. In general the fear and love of God, and an habitual regard to his inspection, authority, and example, are reprefented in the fcriptures as the most effectual guard, and the most powerful and animating principle of virtue; and every branch of virtue is conftantly spoken of as his exprefs command, and as an observance of the laws which he has thought proper to prescribe as the rule of our conduct. Sentiments of this kind are expreffed with an infinite diversity of manner through the whole of the Old and New Teftament; fo that the dif ference, ference, in this refpect, between the books of fcripture and the best moral pieces of the heathen writers is exceedingly ftriking. When Jofeph was tempted to commit adultery in the most private manner, he replied, Gen. xxxix. 9. "How can I do this great wickedness, and fin "against God?" Solomon also says, Prov. ix. 1c. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wif"dom." and Prov. xvi. 6. "By the fear of the "Lord, men depart from evil." We are exhorted to be "holy, becaufe God is holy," Lev. xix. 2. 1 Pet. i. 16; to "be perfect, even as our fa 66 ther who is in heaven is perfect," Matt. v. 48. and alfo to, "be followers of God as dear children," Eph. v. I. And, for this reafon, to "be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Chrift hath forgiven 66 On the other hand, it is mentioned as charac teristic of the wicked, that "God before his eyes." there is no fear of Pf. xxxvi. 1. and "that God is not in all his thoughts." Pf. x. 4. The difpofition of mind which we are required to cultivate, with refpect to God, is reprefented in the fcriptures as a mixture of filial reverence, love, and confidence, as to a most affectionate father, and equitable moral governor; and has in it nothing of that terror and anxiety, which is inspired by a subjection to a cruel or capricious being. On this account we are sometimes commanded to "serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with. "trembling." Pf. ii. 11. and at other times to "ferve him with gladness," Pf. c. 2. Upon the whole, it means a perfect attachment of foul to this greatest and beft of beings, so as to have no will but his, and to refpect no intereft or authority whatever in comparison with his. Our Lord, quoting from the law of Mofes, fays, that the first and greateft commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy "mind, Matt. xxii. 37; and we are exhorted by him, Luke xii. 4. "Be not afraid of them that "kill the body, and after that, have no more that "they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you fhall fear: fear him, who after he hath killed, << hath power to caft into hell; yea, I fay unto "you, fear him." Upon this principle, the apoftles Peter and John say, with confidence, to the chief priests and rulers of the Jews, Acts iv. 19. "Whether it be right in the fight of God to "hearken unto you, more than unto God, judge ❝ ye." This habitual regard to God, and entire confidence in him, is also represented as the beft fupport of the mind under all the difficulties and trials of life. David fays, Pf. xvi. 8. I have fet "the Lord always before me: because he is at my VOL. II. "right K |