against your brethren the children of Israel; re turn every man to his house, for this thing is from me." 1. Kings 12. Before this, the historian remarks on the conduct of Rehoboam in preferring the advice of the young men to that of the old and experienced courtiers of his father: "for the cause was from the Lord." This, I am sensible, is a doctrine extremely offensive to the pride of man; but it is, at the same time, universally inculcated in the sacred history, and it is in vain to oppose it. In a word, the sacred history every where enforces the most perfect morality, and proposes the most influential motives to virtue and piety. The honor of God, and the good of mankind, appear to be the main and only objects of these great and excellent men.

These remarks are principally with a view to the history of the Old Testament; though they are equally applicable to that of the New. The latter indeed has some eminent advantages over the former; the subjects are softer and more pleasing; it has nothing to do with politics, the intrigues of courts, the levying of armies, the revolutions of states, or the horrors of war. It is a plain, calm and faithful history of the accomplishment of ancient prophecies in the life, sufferings, doctrines and various benefits bestowed on the world by Jesus Christ, the true and adorable Messiah.

suaded, the least qualified to estimate its value, who would not much rather that the "Age of Reason," and the philosophical works of Bollingbroke, and all other books of the same stamp and tendency, were at this moment in their destined oblivion, than lose one well written history of any age or nation of the world.

It is not by faithful and judicious historians that the principles of mankind are corrupted and their manners brutalized; but by such petty, wrong-headed, and self-confident philosophers, as they would be called, who give themselves out to be the only admirers and disciples of sound reason and the true primitive religion; the only men of sincerity, liberality, benevolence, and I know not how many other good qualities, that raise them far above the rest of mankind.

It is by the principles of those men who, by profound meditation and the successful culture of natural reason, have discovered that there is no providence to govern the world, nor revelation to enlighten it; that miracles are fictions or magical delusions; that Christianity is a fraud, a superstition, an affront to the reason of philosophers; that there is no other rule of morality and religion than a man's own opinion; that there is no future state, or none but a state of happiness; and therefore, that the wisest course is to make the most we can of the present life, without troubling our

selves about any thing farther: it is by such principles that mankind are most effectually corrupted and injured; and not by histories of the crimes and calamities of past ages. These are the plainest instructors and most faithful monitors, and more certainly arrest the attention and impress the heart, than the best maxims of civil wisdom or precepts of moral duty, when unaccompanied with examples of history that the best maxims for the conduct of life are drawn; and by these the supreme excellency of the moral precepts of the Bible is most clearly illustrated, and most forcibly recommended. I will add, that in this respect, and indeed in every other, the sacred history has an obvious superiority ver the most celebrated in the world. As to its composition, it is clear, well-connected, makes use of the gravest and most dignified language; has the greatest number of apposite and lively figures; the finest examples of the pathetic, the strongest and most picturesque descriptions, and the most sublime sentiments that writ ing can afford. It most clearly unfolds the true principles and state of human nature; most exactly traces effects to their proper causes, and shews, beyond any other, the true means by which individuals and communities arise to power and opi lence; or, from the heights of prosperity and distinction, sink into insignificance and oblivion.

The accounts of his nativity, his public appearance, his miracles, his affability and condescension, his tenderness and compassion to the distressed; the dignity and authority of his discourses, the gravity and majesty of his deportment, his patience and meekness under reproaches and persecution; the circumstances of his trial before Pilate, his crucifixion, resurrection, affectionate and edifying intercourse with his disciples afterwards; and, finally, his ascension into heaven, are facts the most singular, pleasing and astonishing, that can possibly be read.

The style of the historians of this divine per

son, is perfectly easy, correct and beautiful, and must ever be admired by all men of true taste to say nothing of religion.

In the history of the acts of the apostles; written by St. Luke, a scholar and physician, there are comprized more beauties of style, more lively descriptions, more elegant and instructive discourses, and more interesting incidents, than ever were united in any composition of the same compass.

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost, and the gift of tongues it conferred on the disciples; the boldness, but benevolence of the apostles in publishing the gospel; their heroism, but meekness under persecution; the conversion of St. Paul, his magnanimity under sufferings,

* See Ld. Littleton's excellent discourse on this subject.

and the account of his voyage to Rome, superior to every thing of the kind, are all described in terms at once the most entertaining, surprizing and edifying. And he who reads them merely as a scholar and critic, and does not find in them more elegant entertainment, to say nothing more, than the best profane history in the world, is incapable of relishing or discerning the excellencies of such composition.

I may safely add, that let any man produce, from the most celebated profane history that was ever written any beauty that he please, there may be found in the sacred history, not only one, but many examples superior in their kind; nay of incomparable superiority.

The cavil, therefore, of our author is perfectly frivolous and contemptable, and equally betrays his want of judgment and principle.

ARTEMAS.

P. S. The reason of this postscript will at once occur to those who have read the City Gazette of the 6th of May.*

Artemas originally appeared in the City Gazette: this portscript refers to a piece signed Amen, addressed to Artemas, the purport of which was: "You have undertaken an arduous task-no less than that of attempting to make delusion and error triumph (even in this age of reason) over truth and light. But with those who have had

the opportunity of reading Hume, Bollingbroke, Voltaire and other eminent authors, your opinions will have little weight."

Ed.