Chap. I.   eſſential to the Chriſtian Religion.  309

of the Hebrews. For how is it poſſible to
convince that an angel, who does not deſign
to be conſidered as the God of Iſrael, ſhould
ſay to Moſes, with a view to inform him
who he is; ' I am the God of Abraham, of
' Iſaac, and of Jacob ?' But if he be a mere
creature, and yet deſigns to put himſelf in
the place of God ; he is guilty of impiety,
and chargeable with a deſign of leading
mankind into idolatry. Thus we muſt con-
ceive of his conduct. And though we ſhould
afterwards find that he performs very won-
derful works, yet they may be juſtly ſuſpec-
ted; becauſe the law directs us to judge of
miracles by the doctrine, not of doctrine by
the miralces*. Thus the Jewiſh religion
loſes its Divine characters; and, inſtead of
being an appointment of God and the prac-
tice of it communion with him, we con-
ceive a black ſuſpicion, that it is a trick of
the ſpirit of darkneſs, and an idolatrous com-
merce.

The ſuppoſition is horrid; but, without
abandoning the Socinian and Arian hypo-
theſis, we cannot eaſily loſe ſight of it. For
what criteria will you find in the Moſaic
ſyſtem, to convince you of its divinity; if
you once conſider it as having its riſe in de-
ception and faſehood ? Do you mention its
holineſs? but that, more than any thing,
                                                             13
                    * Deut. xiii, 1---5.