Chap. I.     eſſential to the Chriſtian Religion.    337

Spirit of wiſdom makes uſe of the cleareſt
and eaſieſt things, to lead us into thoſe which
are more abſtruſe and difficult. The great
things which the apoſtles were called to de-
clare, were facts and doctrines; ſome of
which doctrines were very myſterious. The
former were objects of ſenſe; the latter ab-
ſtract and ſpiritual. Now it would have
been prepoſterous for them to have recom-
mended matters of fact, by firſt recommend-
ing myſterious doctrines: becauſe the order
of nature and reaſon requires, that the latter
ſhould be recommended, by relating and
authenticating the former. If only matters
of fact had been neceſſary to be laid before
us, the four goſpels would have compriſed
the whole of the New Teſtament; they be-
ing the hiſtory of ſuch facts as are neceſ-
ſary to our ſalvation. But as, in the grand
ſcheme of ſalvation, there are myſterious
doctrines, with which it is requiſite man-
kind ſhould be acquainted ; the apoſtles
were inſpired to write the other parts of
the New Teſtament, that we might be
informed of them. And if ſo, it is far.
from being ſtrange that Peter, in his
firſt ſermon, after he had received the Holy
Ghoſt, ſhould engage the attention of his
auditors, by making remarks on that Di-
vine effuſion, the effects of which were ſo
                                S ſ                      ſenſible