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Mr. E. next entered most forcibly and deeply into the Evi dences of Christianity, particularly those that were founded on that stupendous scheme of prophecy, which formed one of the most unanswerable arguments for the truth of the Christian Religion.

"It was not, " he said, "the purpose of God to destroy free agency by overpowering the human mind with the irresistible light and conviction of revelation, but to leave men to collect its truths, as they were gradually illustrated in the accomplishment of the divine promises of the Gospel. Bred as he was to the consideration of evidence, he declared he considered the prophecy concerning the destruction of the Jewish nation, if there was nothing else to support Christianity, absolutely irresistible. The division of the Jews into tribes, to preserve the genealogy of CHRIST; the distinction of the tribe of Judah, from which he was to come; the loss of that distinction when that end was accomplished; the predicted departure of the sceptre from Israel; the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, which imperial munificence in vain attempted to rebuild to disgrace the prophecy; the dispersion of this nation over the face of the whole earth; the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world; the persecutions of its true ministers, and the foretold superstitions which for ages had defiled its worship." These were topics upon which Mr. ERSKINE expatiated with great eloquence, and produced most powerful effect on every part of the audience *.*

Lord KENYON then, in addressing the Jury, among other important things, said, "I sincerely wish that the author of the work in question may become a partaker of that faith in re

"Has flow'd from lips wet with Castalian dews.
" Such was thy wisdom, NEWTON, childlike sage.
"Sagacious reader of the Works of God,
" And in his Word sagacious. Such too thine,
"MILTON, whose genius had angelic wings,

And fed on manna. And such thine, in whom
"Our British THEMIS gloried with just cause,
"Immortal HALE! for deep discernment prais'd,
"And sound integrity not more, than fam'd
" For sanctity of manners undefil'd."

COWPER'S Task, b. 3.

* Though I greatly admire the defence of Mr. ERSKINE in this oration, I am not clear the prosecution can be justified upon the genuine principles of Christian liberty.

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vealed religion, which he has so grossly defamed, and may be enabled to make his peace with Gop for that disorder which he has endeavoured to the utmost of his power to introduce into society. We have heard to-day, that the light of nature, and the contemplation of the works of creation, are sufficient, without any other revelation of the divine will. SOCRATES, PLATO, XENOPHON, TULLY---each of them in their turns professed they wanted other lights; and knowing and confessing that God was good, they took it for granted the time would come when he would impart a farther revelation of his will to mankind. Though they walked as it were through a cloud darkly, they hoped their posterity would almost see GOD face to face. This condition of mankind has met with reprehension to-day. But I shall not pursue this argument; fully impressed with the great truths of Religion, which, thank God, I was taught in my early years to believe, and of which the hour of reflection and inquiry, instead of producing any doubt, has fully confirmed me in."

He that feels not conviction enough from these reasonings and authorities to make him pause, at least, in his deistical courses, is out of the reach of all ordinary means of conviction, and must be dealt with in some more fearful manner. I pray GOD his conscience may be alarmed as with thunder-that the arrows of the ALMIGHTY may stick fast within him-that his soul may feel the terrors of hell following hard after him-that, like the unhappy person just mentioned, he may be made a monument of divine justice in the sight of all men-and that, like the celebrated ROCHESTER, he may be finally snatched as a brand from the burning by the power of sovereign grace! May that blood, which speaketh better things than the blood of ABEL, and on which he now profanely and insolently tramples, be applied to his soul by the energy of the eternal SPIRIT! And may there be joy in the presence of the angels of GOD at his conversion, and heaven's eternal arches resound with hallelujahs at the news of a sinner saved !

READER!

The Author of this little book, which is here put into your hand, cannot help being extremely alarmed for the safety of his friends in this day of abounding Infidelity, when

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he considers the declaration of CHRIST, that, Whosoever shall be ashamed of him, and of his words, in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his FATHER with the holy angels.

It is impossible to add any thing to the weight of these words. The heart that is unappalled by them is harder than the nether mill-stone, and incapable of religious melioration.

When you have perused the pamphlet two or three times carefully over, if you think it calculated, in ever so small a degree, to impress the mind with conviction, have the goodness to lend it to your unbelieving neighbour, remembering the words of St. JAMES: Brethren! if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

If you are dissatisfied with what is here advanced in favour of Religion and the Sacred Writings, by no means give up the cause as desperate, but do yourself the justice to procure Bishop WATSON'S Apology for the Bible in answer to THOMAS PAINE, and his Apology for Christianity in answer to Mr. GIBBON. They are books small in size, but rich in value. They discover great liberality of mind, much strength of argument, a clear elucidation of difficulties, and vast superiority of ability on this question to the persons he undertook to answer.

The best edition of the Apology for the Bible, which is the more popular and seasonable work of the two, is four shillings; but an inferior one may be had from any of the booksellers at the reduced price of one shilling.

Considering the sceptical spirit of the present age, and the danger young and inexperienced people are in of being seduced into the paths of irreligion, this, or some other antidote, ought to be in every man's hand, who has any serious concern, either for his own felicity, or that of his friends and neighbours.

MACCLESFIELD,
Sept. 12, 1802.

DAVID SIMPSON,

ADVER

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THIS edition of the PLEA FOR RELIGION is enlarged with a considerable quantity of fresh matter, and is more than double the size of the former.

The whole of the first edition is rètained, with some trifling alterations, and several of its parts enlarged and improved.

The anecdotal additions are many and important, and, it is hoped, will be found to furnish a good degree of profitable

amusement.

Remarkable deistical conversions, with instances of unhappy and triumphant dissolutions, are here also more numerous.

This edition is also considerably extended in the religious and practical part, and, the author trusts, not without advantage, as a lively and experimental sense of divine things upon the human mind is vindicated from the charge of enthusiasm, and the vile aspersions of a world that lieth in wickedness.

The prophecies concerning CHRIST, and his church in these latter days, are treated pretty much at large, with a view to demonstrate the divine authority of the Sacred Writings.

Other arguments for the truth and authenticity of the Scriptures * are suggested, the most common objections stated and answered, and the whole rendered as concise and satisfactory as may be.

Mr. PAINE's objections to the Bible are particularly considered, and brief answers returned. His abuse of the Sacred Writers is also noticed with the severity it deserves, and his ignorance and malignity exposed.

Many extracts from our most celebrated Poets are interspersed. This will be considered as an excellence by some, and an imperfection

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* Consult SIMPSON'S Essay on the Authenticity of the New Testament, in answer to VOLNEY and EVANSON; but more especially JONES'S Neru and Full Method of settling the Canonical Authority of the New Testament, 3 vols. octavo: a most learned, able, valuable, and decisive work, just reprinted by the University of Oxford, though written by a Dissenting minister: an instance of liberality not always to be. met with. Can any good thing come out of Galilee?

imperfection by others. The literary reader will call to mind, that several of the most valuable authors among the ancients have written in the same manner :

"A verse may catch him, who a sermon flies,
" And turn delight into a sacrifice."

A compendious account of the present state of Church-preferments is introduced, besides a general view of the Dissenting congregations in this kingdomí.

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The present state of the Methodist societies in Great Britain, Ireland, America, and the West Indies, is likewise noticed, with some account of the rise and meaning of that denomination of Christians.

Some shameful instances of non-residence, patronage, and pluralities of livings, now in existence among the Bishops and Clergy of the land, are here detailed, and strongly reprehended.

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The Articles and Canons, the Liturgy, and other Public Offices of our church are reviewed, and, in some respects, reproved. At the same time, most of the defects in our ecclesiastical frame are confirmed by the opinions of some of our most learned and respectable writers.

If he is thought severe upon the episcopal and clerical orders of men, let it be remarked, that he esteems them all very highly in love for their office sake, because he is persuaded it is of divine appointment; and that, if at any time he has given way to his indignation, and expressed himself in strong terms against these orders, it is never intended to affect any but the culpable part of them; and that both the Prophets under the Old Testament dispensation, and CHRIST with his Apostles under the New, have done the same. We cannot follow better examples.

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"But, in a Plea for Religion and the Sacred Writings, where " is the propriety of exposing the imperfections of the Church, "with her Bishops and Clergy?"

Because the undiscerning world in general, and our deistical fellow-creatures in particular, constantly unite them together, and wound the pure and immortal religion of JESUS CHRIST, and the Holy Scriptures, through their sides: whereas they are things essentially different. What has the character and gos

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