Chap. II. eſſential to the Chriſtian Religion 325
mazing, which patronize blaſphemy and idolatry, ought ever
to be conſidered as proceeding from the ſpirit of darkneſs.
But I ſhall not further enlarge on this argument, nor any
longer defile my paper with ſuch horrid ſuppoſitions. Enough,
I perſuade myſelf, has been ſaid, to prove, into what a dread-
ful abyſs the principles of our adverſaries lead. Enough alſo
has been ſaid to evince, that the Deity of Jeſus Chriſt is eſſen-
tial to the Chriſtian religion ; which is the grand principal I
proproſed to demonſtrate.
SECTION VI.
The principal Objections anſwered ; and ſome Conſiderations,
adapted to relieve the mind, reſpecting the Difficulties which
attend this Great Myſtery.
CHAP. I.
Divine Revelation, not depraved Reaſon, to be our Guide in
all inquiries of this nature.
HAVING eſtabliſhed the truth, by arguments drawn
from the Records of Inſpiration ; our next buſineſs is,
to anſwer the principal objections, which are made by our op-
ponents. They argue againſt us both from reaſon and Scrip-
ture : but while we are firmly perſuaded that neither ſound
reaſon, nor the Holy Scriptures, rightly underſtood, will af-
ford any real objection againſt us ; we cannot ſo; bear obſerv-
ing, that our oppoſers lay more ſtreſs on arguments drawn from
reaſon, than thoſe derived from Divine Revelation. Strange
as this conduct may appear to ſome, who are not verſed in
theſe controverſies, we cannot eaſily queſtion the fact, if we
conſider the language of their moſt celebrated writers.—ſmal-
cius, for inſtance, is not aſtamed thus to expreſs himſelf: ' We
' believe, that though we ſhould find it, not once, nor twice,
' but very frequently and moſt expreſsy written in the Scrip-
' ture, That God was made man; it would be much better,
' as it is an abſurd propoſition, entirely contrary to ſound rea-
' ſon, and full of blaſphemy, to invent ſome way of ſpeaking,
which