to, and the Manichees from that of Pythagoras. Marcion became an heretick by cherithing the doctrine of Zeno; and Manes borrowed his principles from a Saracenical philofopher.

Saint Jerome affures us, that it was the moral philofophy of the Stoicks, which gave rise to the errors of the Pelagians. And this unhappy effect of the feeming dependance of religion upon philofophy, which was complained of in the ancient church, has been too frequent in the modern. Poffevinus, fays, that it is incredible how many infidels have been made in Europe, by reading the works of Averroes. Alphonfus, king of Caftile, with great impiety, was led to cenfure the works of GoD, by an acquaintance only with the Arabian philofophers, and by his converfe with a Spanish jew, who difcourfed on the trepidation of the firmament.

Agrippa debauched his understanding by reading Porphyry, Proclus and Pleffus; or, as he himfelf confeffed, by the platonick philofophy.Servetus of Spain, and Socinus of Italy, formed their impious innovations in religion upon erronecus principles of philofophy. Nothing, indeed, tends fo much to the corruption of the heart, as the corruption of the understanding, and not any thing is fo inimical to the interests of true religion as is the influence of falfe philofophy; for men do not become the difciples of TRUTH IN in the fchool of FALSEHOOD !??*

охожа

Rapin's critical works, vol. II. p. 490 493. See Hammond's works, vol. I. p. 191, &c. Jenk

AVING offered thefe confiderations, which,

Hit is prefumed, must be perfectly fatisfactory

ins's christianity, vol. II. chap. XI. Deism revealed, vol. I. p. 157; Bishop Gibson's I paftoral letter, p. 4; and Benfon's chriftianity, vol. I. p.

44.

As the limits of this publication, will not permit the author to dwell longer on thefe pofitive arguments in favor of the chriftian religion, it may not be unufeful, to mention here fome other topics, on this particular, with references to fome authors who treat on the fubjects.

I. The importance of divine revelation. Locke's works, vol. II. p. 530, &c. Du Pin's canon of fcripture, vol. I p. 230, &c. Hammond's works, vol. I. p. 196, &c. Addifon's evidences, p. 176-210. Price's differtations, p. 361, &c. Bishop Gibfon's II paftoral letter, p. 51, &c. Sir Richard Bulftrode's effays, p. 310, &c. Turner on the practice of religion, chap. IV. V. Beattie's evidences, ch. I.

II. The mosaic history fuperior to any monuments of heathenifm. Tertullian's apology, chap. XIX. Du Pin's ecclefiaftical hiftory, vol. I. p. 9. Winder's hiftory of knowledge, vol. II. chap. XVII. Grotius on the truth of the chriftian religion, p. 23, &c. Boffuet's univerfal hiftory, vol. II. p. 145.

III. The Pentateuch the authentic history of Egypt.

only ancient and Winder's history

to every ingenuous mind in quest of truth, in fa

of knowledge, vol. I. p. 205. &c. vol. II. p. 214, &c.

IV. The wisdom and integrity of Mofes, Warburton's divine legation, vol. IV. p. 111. &c. Stackhoufe's body of divinity, vol. I. p. 25. Winder's hiftory of knowledge, vol. II. p. 101.

V. The excellence and truth of the mofaic hiftory. Du Pin's canon, vol. 1. chap. III. Jenkins's christianity, vol. I. p. 36, &c. p. 137, &c. Kidder on the pentateuch, vol. I. diff. Winder's hift. of knowledge, vol. II. chap. VIII. Stackh Bod. div. vol. I. p. 25, 26.

VI. The predictions of Mofes. Juftin Mar. tyr's apology LXXI. Jenkins's christianity, vol. I. p. 141, &c. Stackh. bod. div. vol. I. P. 27. Newton's prophefies, vol. I. diff. VI. VII.

VII. Miracles of Mofes. Saurin's differtations, diff. XLVI. LXII. Grotius on the truth of the chriftian religion, p. 21, &c. Winder's hift. of knowledge, pref. p. 9. Jenkins's chriftianity, vol. I. p. 151, &c. Stackhouse's history of the bible, apparatus, p. 19. and body of divini ty, vol. I. p. 27, 28.

VIII. The promulgation of the law on Mount Sinai. Saurin's differtations, diff. LII. Stackhoufe's hift. vol. I. p. 425; and bød. div. vol I p. 44 Dr. Gill's commentary on exod. XIX.

vor of the authenticity of the holy fcriptures, at

6666

Sau

IX. The laws of Mofes could not have been invented, changed nor falfified by men. rin's differtations, vol. I. p. 629, &c. Jenkins's christianity, vol. I. p. 169, &c. Lellie's truth of christianity demonftrated, p. 45, &c. Burnet on the XXXIX articles, p. 103, 104, 105.

X. Excellence of the doctrines of fcripture. Grotius, p. 98. &c. Rapin's critical works, vol. II. p. 440. Jenkins's chriftianity, vol. I. p. 321, &c. Stackh. bod. div. vol. I. p. 56; and hift. bib. appar. p. 18. Leland's view of deiftical writers, vol. I. p. 456.

XI. Excellence of the devotional parts of the old teftament. Mede's works, p. 285. Lightfoot's works, vol. I. p. 926, &c. Stackh. hift. bib. vol. I. p. 476. Knox's difcourfes, vol. I. p. 196, &c.

XII. Facts of the old teftament well attefted. Saurin's differtations; vol. I. p. 131, &c. Whit by's certainty of the chriftian faith, p. 36, &c. Jof. ant. lib. I. chap. VII. Examination of candidates for holy orders, p. 113, &c. Leland's view of deiftical writers, vol I. p. 452, &c. vol. II. p. 367, &c.

XIII. Facts of the new teftament duly an thenticated. Sharpe's I argument, p. 8, &c. p. 25, &c. Jenkins's chriftianity, vol. I. chap. XVII. Leflie's truth of chriftianity demonstrated, p. 45, &c. Bishop Gibfon's I paftoral letter, p. 21.

tention fhall now be paid to the futile objections of Mr. Paine, against their credibility.

Leland's view of deiftical writers, vol. I. p. 452, 453. vol. II. p. 83, &c. Ramfay's.life of Fenelon, p. 233. Maundr. trav. p. 72 Sand. trav. p. 164.

XIV. Excellence and importance of the hiflo. ry of the old teftament. Warburton's divine legation, vol. IV. p. 344, 345• Winder's history of knowledge, vol. II. p. 74, &c. Stackh. hiít. bib. appar. p. 18: and bod. div. vol. I. p. 25. Knox's difcourfes, vol. I. p. 175 — 204

XV. Agreement between the jewish and famaritan pentateuch. Du Pin's canon, vol. I. book I. chap. V. Bafnage's continuation of the hiftory of the jews, book II. chap. III. Jenkins's chriftianity, vol. II. p. 85, &c.

XVI. Succeffion of true prophets among the jews. Du Pin's canon, vol. I. book I. chap II. IV. Bafnage's hiftory of the jews, p. 339. Smith's felect difcourfes, p. 252, &c. Jenkins's christianity, vol I. p. 199. Stackh. hift. bib. appar. p. 20; and bod. div. vol. I. p. 29, 30. Leland's view of deiftical writers, vol. I. p. 463.

XVII. Excellence of the doctrines, exhortations, and reproofs of the prophets. Jenkins's christianity, vol. I. p. 193. Stackh. bod. div. vol. I. p. 31; and hilt. bib. appar. p. 21.

XVIII. Numerous predictions of the prophets.