' 158 



should the very actors and witnesses of these transactions have 

 instituted ceremonies that have descended without interrup- 

 tion through the lapse of ages — should they have unfolded 

 their simple doctrines, and detailed the extraordinary acts 

 they performed or witnesses], in unadorned compositions, 

 some of them intended as a lasting record, and others for 

 mere temporary purposes, yet all of them transmitted to pos- 

 terity, and found to be a reciprocal voucher and confirmation 

 of their mutual truth — should all this accumulated evidence 

 be offered to our deliberate consideration, it seems sufficient 

 to command our assent. But it is not calculated to com- 

 mand that assent, without that deliberate consideration. It 

 does not bring intuitive .conviction, like an axiom; but puts 

 our reasoning powers into motion, and appeals to the im- 

 pix)ved and ripened judgment. Were it intended by our 

 great moral Governor, that, unlike every other evidence, we 

 should believe this, without enquiry or investigation, he 

 would l>ave left no room for doubt or hesitation ; but by a 

 miracxilous compulsion have rendered mankind believers, 

 and thus have invaded their great privilege of free will : or 

 have established such a universal system of miracles, as 

 would forc« intuitive conviction on every individual, and 

 thus have suppressed the exercise of his reason (the grand 

 characteristic of the species) in matters best entitled to its 

 mo'st strenuous exertion. 



It seems plea'sing to God to obser\'e the gradual develope- 

 iTTe«4t, rapid growth ami gigantix; strides of this wonderful 



