Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

1

INTRODUCTION.

T

HE Divine Writings of the Holy Pro- 1. phets and Apostles, upon a prefumption that they are what they assume to be, the Word of God, cannot but contain the most fublime knowledge, in all respects, that ever was communicated, or can be imparted to the world; and therefore, although they be composed with such fimplicity and plainness, that the great truths needful for falvation may be easily difcerned, and that every human being, in whose spirit is the least spark of intelligence, may, on the most curfsory perusal, derive some useful instruction, and some light, leading the understanding to apprehenfions of a better state of life, and of higher perfections than appear amidst the prefent scene of things; yet they must also contain still more important discoveries than could be apprehended at all in the earlier ages of the world; or than VOL. I.

B

can

2.

can at any time be investigated by persons who are not very deeply conversant in the study of these writings, or who have not had the opportunity of availing themselves of the improvements of science, and of the discoveries gradually made by means of found expe.. rimental philofophy.

This conclufion even common sense alone dictates to us: and we are led moreover to form it, by the very fanction of our Lord himself; who so frequently repeats those remarkable words, he that bath an ear to hear, let him bear; and who so often declares, that it was his will and pleasure, to speak generally in parables, which might be understood by fome, that is, by fuch as would exercife proper attention; but not by others, who would be heedless, and devoid of a fpirit of enquiry.

We have the most substantial inducements, therefore, to lead us to fearch the Scriptures diligently*: both from motives of curiofity, (as far as may be confiftent with a due reverential awe,) as well as from the hope of promoting our own eternal welfare.

*

John, ch. v. ver. 39. Acts, ch. xvii. ver. 11.

And

And whilst we do so search, we ought still further to recollect, that our Lord has moreover intimated most fully to us, that in proportion as more light and knowledge is acquired, by means of the due confideration of, and meditation upon his Holy Word, that light ought to be communicated to the world at large: inafmuch as he instructed and commanded his disciples, that what they heard in the ear, they should proclaim upon the housetops*; i. e. in the midst of free conversation with others. For it is well known, that fuch conversations, in the eastern countries, were most frequently held on the flat terraffed roofs of the houses, where the inhabitants of the east do often assemble, even to this very day, and spend many hours, to enjoy the freshness of the air, and to have an opportunity of difcoursing freely with each other †.

If this is a fair and just representation of the contents of Sacred Writ, and of the manners and customs alluded to therein; and of the use to be made of the Holy Scriptures ; then it cannot be expected, in the nature of

* Matthew, ch. x. ver. 27.

† A full account of this custom is given in Shaw's

Travels, p. 211.

B2

things,

« ZurückWeiter »