Page images
PDF
EPUB

infinite

but fublimely harmonious scheme, which nothing but power, wisdom, and goodness united, could have planned, or can complete.

Left, however, it should be thought by any, that these investigations have been carried too far, we fhall produce fome refpectable opinions and authorities in favour of a thorough and unbiaffed fearch into the true meaning of scripture.

The great champion of the Proteftant caufe fays, "the Bible only is the religion of Proteftants. I am fully affured that God does not, and therefore that man ought not, to require any more of any man than this,―to believe the scripture to be God's word, to endeavour to find the true sense of it, and to live according to it." Chillingworth's Works, p. 271, 272, answer to ch. vi. fect. 56, Protestants not Heretics.

Dr. Bentley obferves, "that upon freedom of thinking and judging, Chriftianity itself depended, at its first propagation: the Reformation was grounded upon it, and is maintained and fupported upon the fame bottom." Remarks on Collins's Difc. p. 15.

Dr. Robert Lowth, afterwards Bishop of Oxford, and then of London, remarks, " that the only means by which religious knowledge can be advanced is, freedom of enquiry. An opinion is not, therefore, falfe, because it contradicts received notions; but, whether true or falfe, let it be fubmitted to a fair examination; truth muft in the end be a gainer by it, and appear with the greater evidence." Vifitation

Sermon, preached at Durham, 27th July, 1758; 2d edit. 1767, p. 20, 23.

Mr. Mafon fays, "the opinions that we early receive, which way foever we came by them, muft be re-examined, and brought to the touchftone of found fenfe, folid reafon, and plain fcripture. If they will not bear this fort of fcrutiny, they must be discarded, as not genuine principles of truth, but only counterfeits of it." Treatife on Self-Knowledge,

Part I. ch. ix. p. 50, 14th edit.

But why need we recur to merely human opinions, when Chrift and his Apoftles, acting under a divine commiffion, have enjoined their hearers and disciples to examine the fcriptures, in order to judge of their own inftructions, and of their pretenfions to the high authority which they claimed. Our Lord fays to the Jews his adverfaries, "fearch the fcriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they bear witness of me;" John v. 39. The Bereans are commended for fearching the fcriptures, to examine whether those things were fo, as the Apostle Paul had testified them to be; Acts xvii. 11. Paul commands the Theffalonians, "to prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good;" 1 Theff. v. 21. The beloved Apostle of Jefus, alfo, writes, " believe not every fpirit, but try the fpirits whether they be of God; because many falfe prophets (or pretenders to a divine commiffion) are gone out into the world;” 1 John See Internal and Prefumpt. Evid. of Christianity, Part. IV. ch. x.

iv. I.

Now upon the principles of reafon, of Chriftianity, and of Proteftantifm, these examinations must be made by each individual for himself. The refult of any impartial inveftigation cannot be known till the fearch is completed. It is often different from what the examiner himself previoufly fuppofed it would have been. Yet to make the enquiry with attention and fidelity, is the duty of those who have time and opportunity to make it. To the benevolent Author of the Gospel each perfon must be accountable for the honesty and fairness of his researches; and at his bar muft he answer for his behaviour to those who form different conclufions from what he himself does.

« PreviousContinue »