LETTER XI. The evidence of Christianity, though not of the nature of mathematical demonftration, fufficient to convince every candid mind. Sublime reprefentation of the Supreme Being. Divinity of Jefus Chrift afferted in oppofition to Socinians. Myfteries no objection to Chriftianity. This truth illuftrated by feveral philofophical obfervations. Obfervations on the word Perfon, improperly, in the author's judgment, applied to the Deity. Neceffity of a divine mediator and inftructor. a BELIEVE,-nay, I know for a certainty, that Jefus was a juft man; that he wrought miracles; and that he was really the perfon foretold by the ancient prophets. We find in him, all those characteristics which were to distinguish the messenger sent from God. It is but a mere evasion to affert, by way of justifying our incredulity, O 2 dulity, that those truths, from whence we ought to derive our only confolation, are not mathematically demonftrated. The united teftimony of fo many witneffes who were never fufpected of a combination, and who never retracted what they had faid; the proofs which preceded the coming of our Saviour; those which accompanied it, and those which followed, I mean the miracles of the apoftles, are fo many concurrent teftimonies of truth, that it is impoffible they fhould all have met exactly at the fame period, and formed, as it were, a mass of evidence, for no other purpose but to give to falfehood the appearance of truth. No man who speaks with fincerity, will entertain any doubt of the existence, the victories, or the murder of Julius Cæfar. If then there are proofs fufficient for us us to believe that Jefus was a teacher fent from God-we must neceffarily believe all that he faid. If he have neither himself deceived the world, nor been the agent of any impoftor, ought we not to conclude that his word is truth? I am fully convinced, my daughter, of the abfolute infinity of the Supreme Being. Though our capacities are limited, we have a certain rule whereby to judge of the greatness of God, which is circumfcribed within no bounds. The universe, of itself immeasurable in its extent, where the laws of nature are infinitely progreffive, and not to be limited by human reason-this universe, in which are placed thousands of funs, more refplendent than this lower fyftem, one of the smallest planets of which we inhabit, where are placed millions of men and animals—this univerfe, I fay, whether 03 ther we confider it in a comprehensive view, or analyze but the minutest part of it, evidently difplays a wife and almighty Being, the common creator of all things. The most perfect and ingenious performances of man, will not bear a comparison with any of the works of God. His duration alfo, will give us fome faint idea of his infinite greatnefs. This duration, is without beginning; the fame today as yesterday. It furpaffes, it is true, our comprehenfion; we are finite beings, and therefore our existence had a beginning; fo that we cannot conceive in our minds, a Being who hath always exifted. And when we extend this idea to eternity, that is, a duration without end, it is an abyss, where reafon is loft and confounded. We fee, however, in very intelligible characters, that God is the eternal and invariable invariable Sun, placed, as it were, in the center of this immenfe fyftem, to enlighten and fupport it. Men are apt to form too humiliating an idea of the great Governor of the world; they reprefent him too much like themselves, and confine his power to this small terrestrial spot. They have even circumfcribed his protection to one nation alone, amongst the many upon the face of this earth. The knowledge I have of nature, has infpired me with other ideas of the omnipotence and greatnefs of God, before whom our globe is but as a grain of fand. On this account, when I speak of a man to whom the divine nature is united, I confefs that this incomprehenfible mystery aftonishes me. Such a thought could not of itself have entered into the mind of man, neither could he have expected to fee |
