18 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



Creator over the liumaii race, botli in a general and particular capacity,, 

 and, even, of divine grace and influence on the human mind, and that 

 independent of foreign information, or instruction: of this their imme- 

 diate sense and understanding of mental objects, which it is most manifest 

 many of them possessed, even of the highest nature, are very demon- 

 strative ; besides, part at least of their traditions, from their ancestors, 

 whose prime original, so far as it is founded in truth, must necessarily 



edges were impossible by vis to be done? It is our opinion that every man is possessed 

 nf sufficient knowledge for his salvation. The Almighty, for any thing- we know, may 

 liave communicated the knowledge of himself to a difterent race of people, in a different 

 manner. 



"Some say they have the will of God in writing; be it so; i\\Q\\- reeelation has no 

 advantage above ours, since both must be equally sufficient to save; othenvise the end 

 of the revelation would be frustrated. Besides, if they be both true they must be the 

 same in substance; and the difference can only lie in the mode of communication. He 

 tells lis there are nrany precepts in his written revelation which we are entirely ignorant 

 of. But these written coni/nands can only be designed for those who have the 'writings; 

 they cannot possibly regai'd us. Had the Almighty thought so mvich knowledge neces- 

 siiry to our salvation, his goodness would not long have deferred the communication C)f 

 it to us; and to .say that, in a matter so necessary, he could not, at one and the same time, 

 equally reveal himself to all mankind, is nothing less than an absolute denial of his 

 omnipotence. Without doubt he can make his will manifest, without the help of any 

 hook, or the assistance of any bookish man whatever. 



"We shall, in the next place, consider the arguments which arise from a considera- 

 tion of Providence. If we are the work of God, (which I presume will not be denied,) 

 it follows from thence that we are under the care and protection of God, for it cannot 

 be supi^osed that the Deity should abandon his own creatures and be utterly regardless 

 of their welfare. Then, to say, that tire Almighty hath permitted us to remain in a 

 fatal error, through so many ages, is to represent him as a tyrant ; how is it consistent 

 with his justice to force life upon a race of mortals, without their consent, and then 

 damn them eienially, without ever opening to them a door of salvation"? Our concep- 

 tions of the graciouH God are more noble; and we think that those who teach othei-wLse 

 do little less than blaspheme. Again, it is through the care and goodness of the Ahnighty,. 

 that from the beginning of time, through many generations to this day,^our name has 

 been preserved, unblotted out by enemies, unreduced to nothing. By the same care we 

 now enjoy our lives; are furnished with the necessary means of preserving those lives^ 

 But all these things are trifling, compared with our salvation. 



"Therefore, since God hath been so careful of us, in matters of little consequence, it 

 would be absurd to affirm that he has neglected us, in cases of the greatest im}x»rtance. 

 Admit that he hath forsaken us, yet it could not have been without a just cause. Let 

 us .suppose that an heinous crime was committed by one of our ancestor-s like to that 

 which we are told happened among another race of people ; in such case, God would 

 certainly puni.sh the criminal, but would never involve us, who are innocent, in his 

 guilt. Those who think otherwise must make the Ahnighty a very whimsical, iV- 

 natured being. Once more, are the Christians more virtuous? or, rather, are they not 

 more vicious than we are? If so, how came it to pass that they are the objects of God's 

 beneficence, while we are neglected? Does the Deity confer his favoi-s without reason, 

 and with so mucli partiality? In a word, we find the Christians much more depraved, 

 in their morals, than ourselves; and we jvidge of their doctnne by the badness of their 



IcH'-S.''' 



