A FATHER'S REASONS.

CONVERSATION I.

INTRODUCTION.

Thomas. Our minister, in his sermon on Lord's day morning, observed, that, "The enemies of our religion are industriously endeavouring to destroy its immoveable foundations." This reminded me of your kind promise, that you would render us assistance in examining the evidences of Christianity. We hope you will have some leisure during the evenings of this vacation, that our minds may be established in its truth and divinity, so as to be fortified against all the daring attacks of infidelity.

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Father. I did make you that promise, and will now most cheerfully fulfil it: formance of which, will afford me no ordinary degree of pleasure. I would first remark, that,

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a correct idea of the nature of true religion, lies at the foundation of all our inquiries on this important subject.

Henry. Be so kind then, in the first place, to explain to us the nature of true religion; that our ideas of it may be correct, and that we may proceed successfully in our examination.

Father.

True religion, is the acceptable worship rendered to God, by his rational and accountable creatures.

Miriam. How may we be certainly instructed, so as to offer unto God that worship with which he will be pleased?

Father. By a humble and diligent attention to his inspired Word.

Thomas. This is the same advice, which I have read the great philosopher Mr. Locke, a little before he died, gave in a letter to a young gentleman. "Study the Holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament: therein are contained the words of eternal life. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter."

Henry. Are the Scriptures the only rule to direct men in the acceptable worship of God?

Father. They are. Although there are many valuable books, which are useful to instruct us, in the manner of divine worship, yet they are only the writings of men liable to err: but

the Scriptures are the writings of holy men of God, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Miriam. I was delighted last week, in reading the exalted character of the Bible, which is given by that very learned man, the late Sir William Jones. He says, "The Scriptures contain independently of a divine origin, more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected within the same compass, from all other books that were ever composed in any age or nation. The antiquity of those compositions no man doubts, and the unstrained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication, is a solid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired."

Futher. Such a testimony, from so learned and pious a man, outweighs all the trifling cavils of the whole host of infidels.

Thomas. Are there not many different religions professed in the world?

Father. There are: besides the irreligion of Deism, which has not even the forms of godliness to recommend it. The principal are four: Paganism; Mahometanism; Judaism; and Christianity.

Henry. Do all these acknowledge the Scriptures, as the only rule of divine worship?

Father. No; Paganism has no knowledge of the divine writings. The more learned among the Mahometans, know of their existence: but their bigotry leads them to despise their claims, without the least examination. Mahomet himself, acknowledged the Scriptures to be originally inspired, but said the Christians had corrupted them: absurdly alledging as a reason, that they knew his divine mission was predicted in them. Judaism acknowledges the divine inspiration and authority of the Old Testament, but Christianity only, receives both the Old and the New Testaments.

Miriam. Which system of religion is professed by the greatest number of persons?

Father. The Pagan: and the Mahometan, as many suppose, by the next greatest number. It is perhaps impossible to ascertain the exact proportion of the several divisions; but Dr. Hurd says, "If we divide the known regions of the world into thirty equal parts, the Christians will be found to be in possession of five, the Mahometans of six, and the Idolators of nineteen."*

Thomas. How may we be certain which is the true religion, while we understand that those professed by the greatest number of persons

* Hurd's History of all Religions.

do not regard the Scriptures as their only rule o divine worship?

Father. As rational beings, you are required to examine the evidences of their claims, and the nature of their tendency. That system of religion which is true and of God, cannot but appear in its excellency and divinity to every honest and persevering enquirer. The holiness of its tendency must be worthy of God; and as our present peace, and future eternal happiness depend upon the decision, no employment can be more deserving the serious attention of a wise man. The following resolution of the pious Bishop Beveridge, ought to be practically adopted by every human being pretending to reason: "The first thing, that by the grace of God, I am resolved to do, in reference to my everlasting estate, is to see my faith, that it be both rightly placed and firmly fixed; that I may not be as a wave tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning craftiness of those that lie in wait to deceive;' but that I may be thoroughly settled in my faith and judgment concerning those things, the knowledge of, and assent unto which, is absolutely necessary to my future happiness."*

Henry. This resolution we have seriously

Private thoughts on Religion, page 16.