have forged, or which we know toser. 33; Tillotson's Serm. serm. have been forged by some other per-42.

son; by detraction or backbiting; INJURIES, Forgiveness of. See by reproach, or exposing another FORGIVENESS. for some natural infelicity either in body or mind; or for some ca

INJUSTICE. See INJURY.
INNOCENCE, acting in per-

lamity into which he has fallen, or fect consonance to the law, without some miscarriage of which he has incurring guilt or consequent punbeen guilty; by inuendos, or in-ishment. See MAN. direct accusations that are not INQUISITION, in the church true. Now if we consider the value of Rome, a tribunal, in several Roof character; the resentment which man Catholic countries, erected the injurious person has of such by the popes for the examination treatment when it comes to his and punishment of heretics. This own turn to suffer it; the conse-court was founded in the twelfth quence of a man's losing his good century, under the patronage of name; and, finally, the difficulty pope Innocent, who issued out of making reparation, we must at orders to excite the Catholic once see the injustice of lessening princes and people to extirpate another's good character. There heretics, to search into their numare these two considerations which ber and quality, and to transmit should sometimes restrain us from a faithful account thereof to speaking the whole truth of our Rome. Hence they were called neighbour, when it is to his dis-inquisitors, and gave birth to this advantage. 1. That he may pos- formidable tribunal called the Insibly live to see his folly, and re-quisition. That nothing might be pent and grow better.-2. Ad-wanting to render this spiritual mitting that we speak the truth, court formidable and tremendous, yet it is a thousand to one but, when the Roman pontiffs persuaded the it is handed about for some time, European princes, and more esit will contract a deal of false-pecially the emperor Frederick hood.-3. We may injure a person II, and Lewis IX, king of in his relations and dependencies. France, not only to enact the In his servants, by corrupting them; most barbarous laws against herein his children, by drawing themics, and to commit to the flames, into evil courses; in his wife, by by the ministry of public justice, sowing strife, attempting to alie- those who were pronounced such nate her affections.-4. We may be by the inquisitors, but also to guilty of injuring another in his maintain the inquisitors in their worldly goods or possessions. 1. By office, and grant them their prodoing him a mischief, without any tection in the most open and soadvantage to ourselves, through lemn manner. The edicts to this envy and malice.-2. By taking purpose issued out by Frederick what is another's, which is theft. II, are well known; edicts sufSee Grove's Mor. Phil. ch. 8, ficient to have excited the greatest P. 2; Watts's Sermons, vol. ii, horror, and which rendered the

most illustrious piety and virtue as accomplices. When there is no incapable of saving from the shadow of proof against the precruellest death such as had the tended criminal, he is discharged, misfortune to be disagreeable to after suffering the most cruel torthe inquisitors. These abomina- tures, a tedious and dreadful imble laws were not, however, suffi-prisonment, and the loss of the cient to restrain the just indigna- greatest part of his effects. The tion of the people against those sentence against prisoners is proinhuman judges, whose barbarity nounced publicly and with extrawas accompanied with supersti- ordinary solemnity. In Portugal tion and arrogance, with a spirit they erect a theatre capable of holdof suspicion and perfidy; nay evening three thousand persons, in with temerity and imprudence. which they place a rich altar, and Accordingly, they were insulted by raise seats on each side, in the form the multitude in many places, were of an amphitheatre. There the driven in an ignominious manner prisoners are placed, and over aout of some cities, and were put to gainst them is a high chair, whideath in others; and Conrad, of ther they are called one by one to Marpurg, the first German inqui-hear their doom from one of their sitor who derived his commission inquisitors. These unhappy perfrom Gregory IX, was one of the sons know what they are to suffer many victims that were sacrificed by the clothes they wear that day: on this occasion to the vengeance of those who appear in their own the public, which his incredible clothes are discharged on paybarbarities had raised to a dreadful ing a fine; those who have a santo degree of vehemence and fury. benito, or straight yellow coat with

This diabolical tribunal takes out slvees, charged with St. Ancognizance of heresy, judaism, ma-drew's cross, have their lives, but hometanism, sodomy, and polyga- forfeit all their effects; those who my; and the people stand in so have the resemblance of flames much fear of it, that parents deliver made of red serge sewed upon up their children, husbands their their santo benito, without any wives, and masters their servants, cross, are pardoned, but threatto its officers, without daring in the ened to be burnt if ever they releast to murmur. The prisoners lapse; but those who, besides are kept for a long time, till they these flames, have on their santo themselves turn their own accusers, benito their own picture surroundand declare the cause of their im-ed with devils, are condemned to prisonment, for which they are nei-expire in the flames. The inquither told their crime, nor confront-sitors, who are ecclesiastics, do ed with witnesses. As soon as they not pronounce the sentence of are imprisoned, their friends go into death, but form and read an act, mourning, and speak of them as in which they say, that the crimidead, not daring to solicit their par-nal, being convicted of such a don, lest they should be brought in crime by his own confession, is,

with much reluctance, delivered regular, and, as it seems, in a comto the secular power, to be pu-mon manner, yet are raised to an nished according to his demerits ;extraordinary degree, so that the and this writing they give to the composure shall, upon the whole, seven judges, who attend at the have more of the true sublime right side of the altar, and im-or pathetic than natural genius mediately pass sentence. For the could have given.-4. Inspiration conclusion of this horrid scene, of suggestion, where the use of see ACT OF FAITH. We rejoice the faculties is superseded, and however, to hear, that, in many God does, as it were, speak diRoman Catholic countries, the rectly to the mind, making such inquisition is now shut. May the discoveries to it as it could not God of mercy and love prevent otherwise have obtained, and dicits ever being employed again!tating the very words in which See Baker's History of the Inqui-such discoveries are to be commusition; and Limborch's History of nicated, if they are designed as a the Inquisition, translated by Chand-message to others. It is generally ler. allowed that the scriptures were INSPIRATION, the convey-written by divine inspiration. The ing of certain extraordinary and matter of them, the spirituality supernatural notices or motions in-and elevation of their design, the to the soul; or it denotes any su-majesty and simplicity of their pernatural influence of God upon style, the agreement of their vathe mind of a rational creature,rious parts, their wonderful effiwhereby he is formed to any de-cacy on mankind; the candour, gree of intellectual improvement, disinterestedness, and uprightness to which he could not, or would of the penmen; their astonishing not, in fact, have attained in his pre-preservation; the multitude of sent circumstances in a natural miracles wrought in confirmation way. Thus the prophets are said of the doctrines they contain, and to have spoken by divine inspira- the exact fulfilment of their pretion. Theological writers have enu-dictions, prove this. It has been merated several kinds of inspira disputed,however, whether this intion. 1. An inspiration of superin-spiration is in the most absolute tendency, in which God does so in-sense plenary. As this is a subfluence and direct the mind of any ject of importance, and ought to person as to keep him more secure be carefully studied by every chrisfrom error in some various and tian, in order that he may rencomplex discourse, than he would der a reason of the hope that is have been merely by the use of in him, I shall here subjoin the his natural faculties.-2. Plenary remarks of an able writer, who superintendent inspiration, which though he may differ from some excludes any mixutre of error at all others as to the terms made use of from the performance so superin-above, yet I am persuaded his tended.-3. Inspiration of eleva-arguments will be found weighty tion, where the faculties act in aand powerful. "There are many VOL. I.

3 I

things in the scriptures," says Mr.||though they had been free from Dick, "which the writers might error, than those parts of pro. have known, and probably did fane writings which are agreeable know, by ordinary means. As to truth.

persons possessed of memory,judg. 2. "There are other parts of ment, and the other intellectual the scriptures in which the faculties faculties which are common to of the writers were supernaturally men, they were able to relate cer-invigorated and elevated. It is tain events in which they had been impossible for us, and perhaps it personally concerned, and to make was not possible for the inspired such occasional reflections as were person himself, to determine where suggested by particular subjects nature ended and inspiration beand occurrences. In these cases gan. It is enough to know, that no supernatural influence was ne- there are many parts of scripture cessary to invigorate their minds; in which, though the unassisted it was only necessary that they mind might have proceeded some should be infallibly preserved from steps, a Divine impulse was neceserror. It is with respect to such sary to enable it to advance. I passages of scripture alone, as did think, for example, that the evannot exceed the natural ability of gelists could not have written the the writers to compose, that I history of Christ if they had not would admit the notion of super-enjoyed miraculous aid. Two of intendence, if it should be admitted them, Matthew and John, accomat all. Perhaps this word, though panied our Saviour during the of established use and almost un-space of three years and a half. disputed authority, should be en-At the close of this period, or ratirely laid aside, as insufficient to ther several years after it, when express even the lowest degree of they wrote their gospels, we may inspiration. In the passages of be certain that they had forgotscripture which we are now con- ten many of his discourses and sidering, I conceive the writers to miracles; that they recollected have been not merely superin- others indistinctly; and that they tended, that they might commit would have been in danger of prono error, but likewise to have ducing an inaccurate and unfair been moved or excited by the account, by confounding one thing Holy Ghost to record particular with another. Besides, from so events, and set down particular large a mass of particulars, men observations. The passages writ- of uncultivated minds, who were ten in consequence of the di- not in the habit of distinguishing rection and under the care of the and classifying, could not have Divine Spirit, may be said, in an made a proper selection; nor inferior sense, to be inspired; would persons unskilled in the art whereas if the men had written of composition have been able to them at the suggestion of their express themselves in such terms own spirit, they would not have as should ensure a faithful repre possessed any more authority,sentation of doctrines and facts

and with such dignity as the na-pwith them, appear cold and inture of the subject required. A sipid.

divine influence, therefore, must 3. "It is manifest, with respect have been exerted on their minds, to many passages of scripture, by which their memories and that the subjects of which they judgments were strengthened, and treat must have been directly rethey were enabled to relate the vealed to the writers. They doctrines and miracles of their could not have been known by Master in a manner the best fit-any natural means, nor was the ted to impress the readers of their knowledge of them attainable by histories. The promise of the a simple elevation of the faculties. Holy Ghost to bring to their re- With the faculties of an angel membrance all things whatsoever we could not discover the purChrist had said to them, proves, poses of the divine mind. This that, in writing their histories, degree of inspiration we attribute their mental powers were endow-to those who were empowered to ed, by his agency, with more than reveal heavenly mysteries, which usual vigour. eye had not seen, and ear had

"Farther; it must be allowed not heard,' to those who were that in several passages of scrip- sent with particular messages ture there is found such elevation from God to his people, and to of thought and of style, as clear-those who were employed to prely shews that the powers of the dict future events. The plan of writers were raised above their redemption being an effect of the ordinary pitch. If a person of sovereign councils of heaven, it moderate talents should give as could not have been known but elevated a description of the ma-by a communication from the jesty and attributes of God, or Father of lights.

reason as profoundly on the mys- "This kind of inspiration has terious doctrines of religion, as a been called the inspiration of sugman of the most exalted genius gestion. It is needless to dispute and extensive learning, we could about a word; but suggestion not fail to be convinced that he seeming to express an operation was supernaturally assisted; and on the mind, by which ideas are the conviction would be still excited in it, is of too limited sigstronger, if his composition should nification to denote the various far transcend the highest efforts modes in which the prophets and of the human mind. Some of apostles were made acquainted the sacred writers were taken from with supernatural truths. God the lowest ranks of life; and yet revealed himself to them not only sentiments so dignified, and re-by suggestion, but by dreams, vipresentations of divine things sosions, voices, and the ministry grand and majestic, occur in their of angels. This degree of inspiwritings, that the noblest flights of ration, in strict propriety of speech, human genius, when compared should be called revelation; a word