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ordinary manifestations of Power, which attended the first promulgation of the Scriptures, and the miraculous manner in which they have been preserved; as well as the truth of the different portions of history, of prophecy, and of doctrine they contain-we must be sensible that Divine Interposition has not been so evidently displayed, in relation to any other writing whatever. And therefore we must acknowledge, their authenticity stands on more elevated ground than that of any other writing in the world.

The miracles recorded in them, rest on the strongest grounds that could exist in the nature of things. To deny that miracles could be performed, is not properly a deistical, but an atheistical sentiment. For he that believes in a God, who created, and still upholds the universe, by his Power and Providence-who originally established the laws by which all nature is governed-must also admit that He can impede or suspend the operation of those laws, or turn the course of events which are going on under them. Thus it is evident that the possibility of miracles cannot be denied, without, at the same time, denying the Being or the Providence of God.

The possibility of miracles being admitted, and the evidence of their having taken place, being the strongest that could possibly be produced, it devolves on the infidel to admit their truth, or produce counter evidence of superior weight, which it is impossible he should do.

Thus the Scriptures, as an historical or external evidence of revealed religion, have stood, and will stand, all the combined forces of infidelity. They have stood for ages -believed and vindicated by the greatest and best of men.

The young and inexperienced may rest assured, that it is more by ridicule, profane jests, and unfounded assertions, than by reason or evidence, that the infidel endeavours to invalidate or discredit the truths of the Gospel.

But, over and above all this, the Christian system, as represented in the Scriptures of Truth, carries with it the evidence of its Divine origin. The excellence of its moral precepts the pure, sublime, and rational devotion it embraces-and the clear views it gives of the relation between the creatures and the Creator-may be said to be without a parallel in the world, and are every way worthy of its Divine Author. But the best and most conclusive evidence in its favour, is to be found in the experience of those, who come under the blessed influence of those principles to which the Scriptures bear testimony.

CHAPTER VIII.

OF IMMEDIATE REVELATION, AND THE INFLUENCES OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT.

Man, merely by his natural faculties, never could have acquired a knowledge of God, or of the means of obtaining his approbation. And consequently there was a necessity for a revelation, both of his will and his attributes. This revelation was afforded in the very beginning of time, and became more and more clear, till the full introduction of that dispensation, which is spoken of as marking “the last days;" and consequently in which there is to be no change.

It is unnecessary to enumerate particular examples of immediate revelation in the Patriarchal ages, and during the Legal Dispensation; or to show, that on the introduction of the Gospel Dispensation, Divine revelation was more remarkably afforded than under the law. For all the various denominations professing the Christian religion, will readily accede to this position. It will also be granted, I apprehend, that the influence which regulated the lives of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, was of the same Spirit which opened to their minds a knowledge of future

events.

I take it therefore for granted, that immediate revelation, and the perceptible influences of the Holy Spirit, were enjoyed from the earliest periods of human society, to the introduction of the Gospel Dispensation; and that at this important era, it was more eminently experienced than at

any previous time. The first inquiry then will be, whether this favour is continued to the Church, or not."

The Society of Friends believe that it is; and they think they are supported in this belief by the testimony of Scripture, as well as by individual experience.

In order therefore to decide whether immediate revelation was only a circumstance which attended the introducof the Gospel Dispensation, or was really an essential part of that dispensation itself, we shall examine, first, a few of the prophecies which related to it, and then some of the testimonies which are to be found of their fulfilment. Isaiah, who has been called the evangelical prophet, from his clear prophecies relating to the Messiah and the nature of his kingdom, says: "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." c. xliv. v. 3. In speaking of the coming and sufferings of Christ, he says: "So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” ib. lii. 15. And after that clear prediction of the sufferings and death of Christ, and the accession of the Gentiles which should follow, he says: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." ib. liv. 13. And in connexion with the same prophecy, he says: "Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." ib. lv. 3, 4. "For thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit ; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

ib. lvii. 15: "As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever." ib. lix. 21. "Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." ib. lx. 19, 20. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah : not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the band, to bring them out of the land of Egypt:"-" But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them." Jer. xxxi. 31-34. This is called an everlasting covenant. ib. xxxii. 40. Ezek. xvi. 60, and xxxvii. 26. Heb. xiii. 20.

The prophet Ezekiel also, in speaking of the blessings of Christ's kingdom, says: "A new heart also will I give you; and a new Spirit will I put within you:"-" And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes; and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27.

"And it shall come to pass afterwards, [or as the apostle Peter expressed it, 'in the last days,'] that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions: and also upon the ser

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