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velation of the attributes of our Almighty Creator, the duty he requires of us, and our duty towards each other; the explanation of our nature, as far as our state in this world requires it, and of the ultimate reward of a better, on certain defined conditions. And one important proof of the truth of these writings is the explanation they give of our nature, agreeing with the actions we daily perceive in others, and also with our own feelings!for they clearly define, and separate, as dross from gold, or as chaff from the wheat, all the actions of the passions, from the actions of minds uninfluenced by them; and this very important knowledge to correct the judgment, was evidently written, as we are told by Saint Paul, "for our learning", that we may know others by their fruits or actions, and the purity or impurity of ourselves by our own!

We, therefore, now refer to the Scriptures, as a progressive light of knowledge, beyond the reach of the natural mind to acquire without them, and that removes a veil, which "concealed hidden mysteries from the be

ginning of the world." And the subject being of no less importance to all of us, than the knowledge of ourselves, and of our great Creator; our eternal happiness, or eternal misery, with the change of this world, and the heavens which surround us;-it surely is. as much our duty, as it is our interest, to bestow all the candour, patience, and attention upon it, that so momentous a subject requires; knowing, for our own part, that it carries into the heart the most ample reward, in raising the soul amidst its kindred spirits, above the influence of passions which darken and mislead the judgment. To reject it, therefore, from supineness, can only excite the regret of those who know its worth and power; and from the conscious mercy received by themselves, hope, with due reverence, that others may equally participate in it.

Of the Purity of the first created of Mankind;—their Fall from it by the Spirit of Malignity;—and the Consistency of the Mosaic Law, in restoring their Purity, had it been fulfilled.

EVERY reasonable and intelligent mind admits, there is conclusive evidence in the works of creation, of the rule of an All-wise and Omnipotent Being: and the same intelligence must admit, that it rested with Himself the several gradations of his own creatures as we find them:-that in creating this world, He must have had an object in view consistent with his wisdom and power; and that it would be revealed to his creatures for their comfort, if their state and limited understanding required it, in the progressive accomplishment of his plan and decrees. And having already shewn the limited knowledge of our natural state, and the misery and fear attending it without a revelation, we have now to develope that important plan and decrees from the Scripturęs, which make manifest

Gen. i. 26.

Gen. ii. 7.

Gen. i. 27.

Gen. i. 28.

for our comfort, that "He is just and merciful in all his ways, and holy in all his works" toward us.

In the creation of mankind, the words of God were:-"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul:" that is, by the breath or Holy Spirit of God, man received a living soul, and that living soul was the image of God.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the

fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

It is here evident, that to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, referred to a future period;—that the earth was to be replenished and subdued by the increase of mankind, and in his own image: and the important question then occurs,-how was that object to be attained?

We have already shewn, that in man there are two principles governing him:-a mind with a reasoning power; and passions, which at times suspend that power, or deprave its nature: but of the essential nature of either, we can know nothing by any reflex act of the mind. We know there is a difference in mankind, by their actions:-that when they are free from passions, and governed by right reason in truth and justice, they are good characters, who support the order and harmony of society; but, when they are influenced by malignant passions, in committing murders, thefts, lying, &c., they are bad characters,

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