principles of Infidelity. Inftead of publishing these by themselves, the Author, after the plan of the other work was laid, thought it might be better to reserve them as an Introduction. This feemed the more neceffary, as a difpofition to raze foundations had become fo prevalent, that a work, profeffedly on the Ufe of Sacred Hiftory, might to fome appear defective, if nothing were premised with respect to its Evidence.

As every one, who has the Bible in his hands, is deeply interested in the subject of this work; it has been the aim of the Author, as far as poffible, to adapt the work itself to every class of readers. If any thing contained in it, oppose the prejudices of those who profess to be the friends of Revelation, he begs, for their own fake, that they will not rafhly condemn the doctrine, but fairly try it by the unerring ftandard, with an humble dependance on that SPIRIT, who is promifed to guide into all truth.

CON

DISSERTATION I. ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE

HISTORY CONTAINED IN THE PENTATEUCH, and

IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA,

Page I

The Ifraelites would never have acknowledged the

Authenticity, far lefs the Infpiration, of the Books

of Mofes, unless affured of the truth of the Hi-

Story contained in them concerning themselves as

a people,

2

This Hiftory could never have gained credit with

them, had it not been indifputably true,
6

There were many Memorials of the Miracles faid

to have been wrought in the fight of the Ifraelites.

by which they were attefted in fucceeding gene-

21

rations,

Many of the leading Facts are attefted by Heathen

Writers; by Juftin, Apion, Manetho, Tacitus,

Artapanus, Diodorus Siculus,

52

Evidence of the truth of thofe prior events which

are recorded in the Pentateuch,

Of the Book of Job,

-

70

83

Teftimonies of Heathen Writers concerning the De-

luge; of Berofus, Abydenus, the Greeks, the Chi-

nefe ;- -concerning Creation; the Phenician Cof-

mogony, the Egyptian, the Indian ;-concerning

our First Parents;-the Fall,

103

DISSERTATION

DISSERTATION II. PROVING THAT THE BOOKS AS-

CRIBED TO MOSES WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY

1

HIM, AND THAT HE WROTE THEM BY DIVINE IN-

SPIRATION,

107

Intrinsic Evidence from thefe Books themselves, 108

This has been acknowledged by the Jews in every

age,
113

Had Mofes wrote only the principal part of Deuter-
onomy, the Book of the Law must have been im-

perfect,

123-

A GENERAL VIEW OF THE USE OF SACRED HISTORY.

This gives an account of-the Origin of all Things;

the Original State of Man; the Origin of Evil ;

the Reafon of the Change visible on the face of

Nature; Origin of the Arts; Hiftory of the

World; Various Facts attefted by profane Wri-

ters. It contains an Hiftory of-Human Depra-

vity; the Human Heart; the Fruits of Depra-

vity; Providence; Divine Decrees; and is a

Key to Prophecy. It gives an Hiftory of the

Church, and Work of Redemption; fhewing the

fubferviency of all the other works of God, and

all

all the great events among men, to the Work of

Redemption. It displays the Unity of the Church;

it illuftrates and confirms the Doctrines of Scrip-

ture; and exhibits Patterns for Imitation, and

Beacons for Admonition,

147

SECT. II. On the Beauties of Sacred Hiftory. Its

-

Simplicity, Concifenefs,-Fidelity,-Dignity,-

Unity;-it gives the lives of Good Men fully, of

the Wicked compendiously;-lays down Rules and

Models for all ranks ;-delineates Characters ;-

gives a true account of the Springs of Actions

and Events ;—is all Useful-furnishes nothing

to diftract the Mind from the great fubject of

Revelation,
207

SECT. III. On the Advantages arifing from the

Hiftorical Mode of writing. Truths made more

level to the Understanding.-This method calcula-

ted to arreft the Attention ;-to influence the Af-

fections; to make a deeper impreffion on the Me-

mory -to strike the Imagination;-to bring the

fubject nearer to the Reader, than the bare Pre-

cept; imperceptibly carries Conviction to the

Mind;-exhibits Truth as attefted by Experience;

-gives a fucceffive Evidence of the Truth of Re-

velation,

-

225

SECT. I. The Ifraelites bondmen in Egypt ;-Cho-

Jen to be a Peculiar People ;-At first rejected the

typical Saviour;-A Redeemed People -Had

the

the Law given.-Their Worship typified that of

the New-Teftament Church,

792

SECT. II. The Government of the Ifraelites of Di-

vine Origin.-God himself their Judge and King.

-Jerufalem chofen as the Seat of Empire.-

God's Deputies endued with his Spirit.-Bound

to confult the LORD, and miraculously directed by

Him. He protected and delivered them;-Went

up before them to Battle ;-Did not permit them

to place confidence in an Arm of Flefb, 308

SECT. III. The Covenant made with the Ifraelites;

-their Adoption, Separation,-Sojourning,-

and Sufferings,

349

SECT. IV. The Ifraelites called to a Life of Faith.

-Their Murmurs and Rebellions.-The Judg-

ments inflicted.-Difplay of Pardoning Mercy.-

Entrance into the Land of Promife,

379

SECT. V. On the Oblation of the First Fruits, as

prefiguring the Refurrection of Chrift.-On the

Feaft of Pentecoft.-Reafon of the Name.--Other

Defignations of this Feaft.-Prefigured the Effu-

fion of the Spirit,

412

SECT. VI. On the Feast of Tabernacles.-This pre-

figured the Glory of the Last Days.-- A feafon of

great Joy.-The Ifraelites lived in Booths -

carried Palm-branches ;-drew Water ;-cried

Hofanna. Seafon of it.-Conjoined with the Feaft

of Ingathering.-Connected with the Day of

Atonement.-Laft day of this feaft a holy Convo-

cation,

430

DIS-