This

till the general resurrection; and that the Millennium implies only the revival of religion. opinion is indeed to be found in his Institutes, published many years ago; but latterly he has inclined to the personal reign of Christ. See his Farewell Sermon, preached at Hackney, previous to his emigration to America. The same conjecture as to its duration is thrown out by the Author of the Illustrations of Prophecy; but he contends, that in the period commonly called the Millennium, a melioration of the human race will gradually take place, by natural means, throughout the world. For his reasons, we refer to the work itself, where will be found an animated sketch of that period, when an end shall be put to many of the crimes and calamities now prevalent on the globe!

The Rev. Mr. Bicheno, likewise, has in his publications thrown out some curious particulars respecting the Millennium; and though the reader may not agree with him in many things, yet he will applaud his ingenuity. We will just add, that the late Mr. Nathaniel Scarlett, at the time of his decease, was preparing for the press a piece on the Millennium, entitled the Millennial Age; which was to contain all the passages of Scripture relative to the subject, accompanied with several admirably exeeuted plates, by way of illustration. But his death prevented its publication.

This final article, of the MILLENNIUM shall be

closed with one observation. However the Millenarians may differ among themselves respecting the nature of this great event, it is agreed on all hands, that such a revolution will be effected in the latter days, by which vice and its attendant misery shall be banished from the earth; thus completely forgetting all those dissensions and animosities by which the religious world hath been agitated, and terminating the grand drama of Providence with UNI

VERSAL FELICITY.

THESE are the divisions of human opinions, which characterise the more popular departments of the religious world. I have endeavoured to delineate them with accuracy and brevity. Each system boasts of admirers, and professes to have its peculiar arguments and tendencies. To a thoughtful mind they exhibit a melancholy picture of the human understanding, misguided through passion, and warped with prejudice. In drawing out the motley catalogue, several cursory reflections arose in my mind. A few only, such as may operate as a persuasive to RELIGIOUS MODERATION, and tend also to the improvement of other Christian graces, shall be submitted to the reader's attention.

The quotations, both in the Text and Notes, are

introduced with a view of corroborating the sentiments inculcated in the Reflections-And further illustrations will be found in the Essay on Enthusiasm and Superstition, as well as in the Essay on the Bible, prefixed for the first time to the present Edition. Should the reader imagine that too much is said on the subject-the saying of an ancient philosopher must be recollected-Nunquam nimis dicitur quod nondum satis dicitur.-NEVER CAN THAT

BE TOO MUCH INSISTED UPON WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN SUFFICIENTLY LEARNT AND PRACTISED.

These REFLECTIONS are plain and obvious to every capacity, that is not darkened with prejudice or beclouded by bigotry. Where they have been read, and duly considered, they have proved eminently useful; enlarging the mind, disposing it to free inquiry, and promoting the kind and generous affections. A religion that abandons the use of reason, and inspires hatred towards all that are not enclosed within the petty circle of party, cannot be divine. Such is not the glorious Gospel of THE BLESSED GOD, who, supremely happy in himself, will, by means of the Gospel, render happy the whole race of mankind.

REFLECTIONS

IN BEHALF OF CHRISTIAN MODERATION.

THERE is nothing in the world more wholesome or mon necessary for us to learn than this gracious lesson of MODERATION, with out which, in very truth, a man is so far from being a Christian that he is not himself! This is the centre wherein all both divine and moral philosophy meet-the rule of life-the governess of manners-the silken string that runs through the pearl chain of all virtues-the very ecliptic line under which reason and religion move without any deviation, and THEREFORE most worthy our best thoughts-of our most careful observance. Bishop Hall.

May we ALL of us, in our respective stations, become more disposed to provoke one another unto love and unto good works, and less disposed to backbite and devour one another for our opinions—may CHRISTIANITY have its root in our hearts rather than in our heads-may it shew forth its fruit in the purity and integrity of our lives, rather than in the vehemence and subtlety of our disputes. In a word, may the time at length come when every individual in the church and out of the church, Trinitarian and Unitarian, may love his own heresy less than GOSPEL CHARITY! Bishop Watson.

1. SINCE the best and wisest of mankind thus differ on the speculative tenets of religion, let us modestly estimate the extent of the human faculties.

A modest estimate of the human faculties is an

inducement to moderation. After laborious investigations, probably with equal degrees of knowledge and integrity, men arrive at opposite conclusions. This is a necessary consequence of imperfection. Human reason, weak and fallible, soars with feeble, and often with ineffectual wing, into the regions of speculation. Let none affirm that this mode of argument begets an indifference to the acquisition and propagation of religious truth. To declare that all tenets are alike, is an affront to the understanding. The chilling hesitation of scepticism, the forbidding sternness of bigotry, and the delirious fever of enthusiasm, are equally abhorrent from the genius of TRUE CHRISTIANITY. Truth being the conformity of our conceptions to the nature of things, we should be careful lest our conceptions be tinctured with error. Philosophers suppose that the senses convey the most determinate species of information: yet these senses, notwithstanding their acuteness, are not endued with an instinctive infallibility. How much greater cause have we to mistrust the exercise of our rational powers, which often, from early infancy, are beset with prejudices!

Our reason, however, proves of essential use to us in ascertaining the nature of truths, and the degrees of evidence with which they are severally attended. This induces a modesty of temper, which may be pronounced the ground-work of charity. Richard Baxter, revered for his good sense as well as fervent