PROVIDENCE. 257 



tion of philosophy, aside from the teachings of Scripture. 

 The few scriptural phrases we have employed in this dis- 

 quisition, have been employed incidentally, solely in consider- 

 ation of their appositeness, as expressing certain ideas which 

 have lain within the course of our reasonings. Being actu- 

 ated by the sole desire of developing the teachings of phil- 

 osophy, with reference to these questions of theology, it is not 

 pretended that we have attained to a full unfolding of truth 

 upon the subject discussed, or even to so clear a presentation 

 of that measure of truth which has been found, as might have 

 been attained if we had freely availed ourselves of scriptural 

 aids. But while, by the course we have pursued, our con- 

 clusions have been left unprejudiced in the view of such of 

 our readers as may be disinclined to admit the authority of 

 the Bible, we beg such readers, in candor, to observe, that so 

 far as the teachings of nature and philosophy have, in these 

 pages, been brought into view, there is not that hostility be- 

 tween them and the teachings of the Bible, which unbelievers 

 in the latter have generally supposed to exist. The object 

 of all investigations should be, not to establish the au- 

 thority of a Book, or of a philosophical creed, but to dis- 

 cover Truth; and if some, of the most vitally important of 

 all truths are recorded in the Bible, it must be acknow- 

 ledged, even by all candid infidels, that while these are no 

 more, they are no less sacred, and while they should be 

 received with no more, they should be received with no 

 less avidity, than if the same truths were found any where 

 else. 



What has been said respecting Providences, will serve to 

 give a general idea of a subject which is far from being 

 exhausted in this discussion. Instances of apparently still 

 more special providences, as affecting the specific con- 



