CONTENTS.

T

CHA P. I.

Of Humane Reason.

HEDivine Authority of the Scriptures being proved in
the First Book, fuchPoints are cleared in theSecond,

as are thought most liable to exception in the Chriftian Re-

ligion: But before Men venture upon Objections against

the Scripture, it is fit for them to confider the ftrength and

compass of their own Faculties, and the manifold Defects of

Humane Reafon. p. 1. In fome things, each fide of a Con-

tradiction feems to be demonftrable, p. 4. Every Man be-

lieves, and has the Experience of feveral things, which in the

Theory, and Speculative Notion of them, would feem as in-

credible, as any thing in the Scriptures can be supposed to be,

p. 12. Those who disbelieve, and reject the Mifteries of Re

ligion, muft believe things much more incredible, p. 24.

CHA P. II.

A

Of Inspiration.

LL motion of Material things is derived from God;
and it is at least as conceiveable by us, that God doth

Alt upon the Immaterial, as that He Acts upon the Material

part of the World; and that He may act more powerfully

upon the Wills and Understandings of fome Men than of

others, p. 28. Wherein the infpiration of the Writers of

the Scriptures did confift, and how far it extended, p. 31.

Such inferences from thence, as may afford a fufficient An-

fwer to the Objections alleged upon this Subject, p. 411

The Infpiration of the Writers of the Scriptures, did not

exclude Humane Means, as information in Matters of

Fact, &c. p. 42. It did not exclude the use of their own

Words and Style, ibid. Tho' fomethings are fet down in

the Scripture indefinitely, and without any pofitive Affer-

tion or Determination; this is no proof against their being

Written by Divine Inspiration, p. 43. In things which

might

might fall under Humane Prudence and Obfervation; the

Spirit of God feems to have used only a directive Power

and Influence, p. 46. This infallible Affiftance was not

permanent and Habitual, P. 49. It did not prevent Per-

fonal failings, p. 50. No Paffage or Circumstance in the

Scripture Erroneous, p. 51.

T

CHA P. III.

Of the Style of the Holy Scriptures.

HE Grammatical Construction and Propriety of
Speech, p. 53. Thofe, whch are look'd upon as

Defects in the Scripture-Style, were ufual in the most ap-

proved Heathen Authors, p. ib. Metaphors and Rheto-

rical Schemes and Figures, p. 57. The Style different of

different Nations, p. 58. The Titles of Kings, p. 59. What

Arts were ufed by Orators, to raise the Paffions, p. 60.

That they fometimes Read their Speeches, p. 62. The Fi

gurative Expreffions of the Prophets, and their Types and

Parables, were Suitable to the Customs of the Places and

Times, wherein they Liv'd, ibid. Several things re-

lated as Matter of Fact, are only Parabolical Defcrip-

tions or Reprefentations, p. 64. The Prophetick Schemes

of Speech, ufual with the Eastern Nations, p. 66. The

want of Diftinguishing the Perfons Speaking, has been a

great cause of misunderstanding the Scriptures, p. 68. The

Antiquity and various ways of Poetry, p. 69. The Me-

taphorical and Figurative ufe of Words, in Speaking of the

Works and attributes of God, p. 71. The Decorum or

Suitableness of the matter in the Style of Scripture, p. 79.

The Method, p. 86. Some Books of Scripture, admirable

for their Style, p. 89. Why the Style not alike excellent

in all the Books of Scripture, P. 93.

CHAP. IV.

Of the Canon of the Holy Scriptures.

AN Controverly concerning the Authority of fome

Books of Holy Scripture no prejudice to the reft,

p. 96. The uncontroverted Books contain all things ne-

ceflary to Salvation, p. 97. The Difpute concerning the

Apo-

Apochrypha, falls not here under confideration, p. 99,

No Suppreffion or Alteration of the Books of the Old Teftaf
ment, by Idolatrous Kings, &c. p. 100. The Book o

the Law, in the Hand-Writing of Mofes, found in the

Reign of Jofiah, p. 1oz. No Books but those which were

Written by Inspiration, received by the Jews into their

Canon, p. 103. What opinion the Ten Tribes had of the

Books of the Prophets, &c. p. 105. Neither the Sama-

ritans, nor the Sadduces rejected any of the Books of the

Old Testament, p. 106. Of the Books, whereof men-

tion is made in the O. T. p. 106. Why th: Books of the

Prophets have the Names of the Authors expreft, and that

there was not the fame Reafon, that the Names of the

Authors of the Historical Books should be exprest, p. 108.

A wonderful Providence manifeft in the Prefervation of

the Books of the O. T. for fo many Ages, p. 109. The

New Teftament confirms the Old, p. 111. The Caution

of the Chriftian Church in admitting Books into the Ca-

non, ib. The Primitive Chriftians had fufficient means

to examine, and diftinguish the Genuine and infpired Wri

tings from the Apochryphal or Spurious, p. 113. The Gof-

pel of St. Matt. in Hebrew, how long preferved, p.1 15

The Greek Verfion of it, p. 116. The Canon of Scripture

finished by St. John, and the Books of the other Euange-

lifts, &c. reviewed by him, p. 117. The Teftimony of

the Adverfaries of our Religion, ib. Copies of great An-

tiquity ftill extant, p. 118. How it came to pass that

the Authority of fome Books was at first doubted of.p.119.

The Canon had been fix'd and confirmed in Councils in
Tertullian's time, p. 121. The Canon of Scripture gene-
rally received by Chriftians of all Sects and Parties, p. 24-

CHAP. V.

Of the various Readings in the Old and New Testament.

N extraordinary Providence manifeft in the prefer

vation of the Scriptures from fuch Cafualties, as

have befaln other Books, p. 126. The Defect in the He
(az)

brew

brew Vowels, and the late invention of the Points no pre-

judice to the Authority of the Bible, p. 127. The change

of the old Hebrew Characters into that now in ufe, is no

prejudice to the Authority of the Hebrew Text, p. 130.

The Keri, and the Ketib, no.prejudice to it, ib. The

Difference between the Hebrew Text and the Septua-

gint, and other Verfions, or between the Verfions them-

-felves, no way prejudicial to the Authority of the Scrip-

tares, p. 132. It is confeffed by the greatest Criticks,

both Proteftants and Papists, that no difference is to be

found in the feveral Copies of the Bible, which can preju-

dice the Fundamental Points of Religion, or weaken the

Authority of the Scriptures, p. 135. No lefs may be faid

in behalf of the New Teftament than of the Old. The

great care and Reverence, which the Primitive Chrifti-

ans bad for the Books of it. Hereticks could not corrupt

the Text, and pass undiscovered to the Orthodox, or even

by other Hereticks, p. 140.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Difficulties in Chronology, in the

Holy Scriptures.

The uncertainty

He uncertainty of Chronology in general, p. 142.

Differences in Chronology, do not infer uncertainty

in the Matters of Fact themselves, p 143. They do not

infer, that there was any Chronological Mistake made by

the Pen-men of the Holy Scriptures, p. 145. The total

Term of Tears is not always exactly diftinguished from all

the Particulars, of which it is compofed; and this bas

been the occafion of Miftakes in Chronology, p. 146.

Another occafion of Mistakes has been, that fometimes the

Principal Number is fet down, and the odd or leffer Num-

ber is omitted, which is added to the Principal Number

in other places, p. 147. Sometimes an Epocha is mifta-

ken by Chronologers, p. 149. The likeness of two Words

may occafion Variations in Chronology, P. 150. The Nu-

meral Letters were easily mistaken by Tranfcribers, ib.

Some Alterations of the Septuagint from the Hebrew

Seem