2. It appears, that the sacred Scriptures, including the Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, from the miracles, wrought, and recorded by the sacred penmen.

A miracle, in a theological sense, is an effect, varying from the stated course or laws of nature, wrought by the interposition of God himself in attestation of some divine truth, or of the authority of some divine messenger or inspired teacher. "Miracles bespeak the presence of God, and are confessedly a clear and striking evidence of the truth of the doctrines which they are produced to prove, or the divine commission of the person whose authority as an instructer sent by God, they are wrought to establish." They are indeed wonderful seals of God, set upon his Bible, to prove its truth and divinity, and the heavenly commission of its writers. For will God suspend or control the laws of nature to enable men to propagate error and falsehood?

Should a person appear before us and say he was sent from God, and commissioned by him to deliver certain truths; and in attestation of his divine commission, and of the truths he had uttered or was about to utter, stretch forth his hand, and with a 'rod divide the waters of the sea, or call the dead from their graves; .should we not believe him to be from God, and his message to be of a divine origin? We most certainly should; for no higher credentials could be given. But, among other miracles Moses divided the Red Sea, and Christ raised the dead. These miracles they wrought too, professedly in testimony of their divine commission and the truth of what they said. Why not then believe their mission to be from God, and their relation divine? Nothing can be pleaded in disbelief but the want of competent evidence, that these miracles were wrought. But we have as much proof of

the fact, that these miracles were wrought, as that any event, not known to us personally, has transpired since the creation of the world.

All who have read the history of the French nation, doubtless believe that Louis XVI. lived, was king of France, and was executed on a public scaffold at Paris. And why? Because history relates it as notorious, that he did live, was acknowledged king of France, and was publicly executed. History also informs us that Moses smote the Red Sea with a rod, and it divided, and that the Israelites passed over on dry ground, the waters making, as it were, a wall on the right hand and on the left ; and that the Egyptians assaying to pass over were ingulfed in the waters. Of this miracle we have six hundred thousand Israelites as witnesses. They could not be deceived, for they saw it with their own eyes. In commemoration of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the Sabbath was transferred from the first day of the week to the seventh, and this day by them has ever since been religiously observed. This fact is a standing memorial of the miracle just related. History informs us that Christ arose from the dead. Of this miracle we have, as witnesses, first, the eleven disciples, and, afterwards, five hundred others. In commemoration of this event, the Sabbath was altered to the first day of the week, and this day, by Christians, has ever since been religiously kept. This circumstance is a standing memorial of the miracle. of Christ's resurrection. The two miracles I have just mentioned were public, and seen by competent witnesses with their own eyes. Public observances in memory of them, were instituted and commenced at the time the matters of fact took place, and have ever since been continued.

*See Deut. 5: 13-15. Ex. 31: 13.

But in the concurrence of these circumstances, it is impossible-I say, impossible, that there should have been a deception. These miracles, therefore, are fully established and proved to be real; and of course the divinity of the mission of Moses and of Jesus Christ, and the divinity of their doctrines.

Under this head, I might notice, in just application to the subject under consideration, the various miracles of Moses, wrought "before the king, court, and wise-men of Egypt;"--the numerous miracles of Christ, "performed on solemn and public occasions, and. in the presence of friends and enemies," and the almost infinite series of miracles, wrought by the different writers of the sacred Scriptures, and appended to their divine commission.. Suffice it, however, to observe, they all are substantially attested, and prove to a demonstration, that the hand of God was with those who performed them, and that what they wrote, as a revelation from God, was what it purported to be, and of real divine origin.

3. It appears that the sacred Scriptures, including the Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, from the prophecies, recorded in them, and the fulfilment of these prophecies.

Prescience belongs to God alone. He, therefore, who foreknows, or foretells events, must be God, or some person, whom God has inspired. Consequently, the prophecies mentioned in the Scriptures, some of them uttered and written thousands of years ago, which have been fulfilled, or are now fulfilling with fearful exactness, are a main pillar in supporting their Inspiration-a chief corner stone, upon which they rest, and in view of which, they defy the attacks and storms of infidelity. They are a species of perpetual miracles, a living evidence which challenges the closest investigation of all in every age,—an evidence

which becomes more and more incontrovertible, as what is predicted is daily fulfilling.

Is it said by any that those things recorded in the Scriptures, as prophecies, "are but a history of events after they had taken place." Upon such we call to show when, and by whom, these prophecies, termed forgeries by them, were palmed upon the world. This never has been done, and we believe never will be; and until it is, candor and honesty must acknowledge their genuineness. "Consider, then, the prophecies relating to that glorious personage, the Messiah; to his incarnation, character, work, sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation, and reign; to Tyre, Babylon, Egypt, and the four great empires of the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans;—to the Jews and to the Arabians, and let it be asked, if what has taken place, and is taking place in relation to Christ and his kingdom; if "the perpetual slavery of Egypt, the perpetual desolation of Tyre and Babylon;" the destitution of the Jews of a king, priest, temple, and sacrifice, and their being scattered to the four winds; sifted as with a seive, among all nations, yet preserved a distinct people; "the wild unconquered state of the Ishmaelites; the great power and strength of the Roman empire, beyond those of the three foregoing empires; its dismission into ten kingdoms; its not being subdued by any other as the three foregoing were; the rise of the Mahommedan religion, and the Saracenic empire; the limited continuance of this empire; and the rise and progress of the empire of the Turks;" let it be asked I say, if all these things are not an exact fulfillment of the above predictions—predictions delivered a long time before the events took place? and if they do not fully demonstrate their divine authority, and that more than human sagacity and knowledge were concerned in their delivery? The capture of Jerusalem by

the Romans under Vespasian, and the crucifixion of Christ, both predicted by Him, and faithfully recorded by the Evangelists, fully and strongly attest the divine mission of Christ and the truth of his doctrines. The same may be said of the predictions of the Apostles, attended with their accomplishment. The prophecies, then, of the Bible, in view of their fulfilment, incontrovertibly prove it to be God's book,-to be a heavenly message unto men.

4. It appears that the sacred Scriptures, including the Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, from the moral precepts, the holy doctrines-and the various important instructions they contain.

The Bible, that Book of books, contains the only religion, that is rational and worthy of being considered as coming from God. This, coming from him, is expressive of his infinite intelligence, wisdom, purity, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth, and infinitely transcends all other religions in extent and excellence.* Its precepts are most ample and salutary, its doctrines are most interesting and sublime, and its promises, invitations, and encouragements are filled with the sweetest consolations. Though written by thirty different persons, and at as many different times, and without any previous concert, it is all perfectly harmonious, and "adapted to the condition, the activity, the varied business, and different relations of social life," and to this state of probation. Do we wish to learn the being, perfections, designs, works, laws and government of God? the character, state, and destiny of man? our duties to the Supreme Being, to ourselves, and to our fellow-creatures? In the sacred oracles all these things are delineated with exactness and particularity. Here God is represented as most exalted and amiable in his attributes, works and ways; as the Creator, Preserver,

# Hartley on the truth of the Christian religion.