Christian religion's appeal from the groundless prejudices of the sceptick to the bar of common reason by John Smith.

BOOK IV. (Book 4)

THE ARGUMENT.

4. The Divine Original of Sacred Writ is as demon∣strable as the being of a God, from the Infinity of Wisdom, express'd in its Prophecies, and of Power in its miracles.

THE CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

The Being of a Deity Demonstrated.

§ 1. The Existence of a Deity demonstrable from the frame of the world; the composition of humane bodies. § 2. The Garden of the Earth did not fall by chance into so curious and well order'd knots. The ingenuity of Birds sings the Wisdom of their Maker, &c. § 4. The Heavens declare the glory of God.

CHAP. II.

The Author of Christian Religion hath stamp'd thereon no less ma∣nifest Prints of infinite Science, than the Maker of the World hath left upon that his Workmanship.

§ 1. Heathen Prophecies the Result of Ratiocination. § 2. From ge∣neral Hints which, for mens torments, God might permit the Devil to communicate. § 3. The Ambiguity of Oracles, on purpose to hide the Ignorance of them that gave them. § 4. It was by chance they spake truth. § 5. Scripture-Oracles distinct; of pure Contingen∣cies; their Sence plain; punctually fulfill'd.

CHAP. III.

Instances of Prophecies fulfill'd, whose Effects are permanent, and obvious to the Atheists Eyes, if he will but open them.

§ 1. Predictions that Israel would reject their own Messia, made by Jews Confession, many hundreds of years before Christ. § 2. The Prophets foretell Gods Rejection of the Jews, for their Rejection of his Son. § 3. Texts proving a final Rejection. Christs Blood calls down this vengeance. § 4. These Menacies executed to the full: Temple, City, and all vanish'd, Spirit of Prophecy past from the Synagogue to the Church.

CHAP. IV.

Gematrian Plaisters too narrow for the Sore.

§ 1. The Ark. § 2. Holy Fire. § 3. Urim and Thummim. § 4. Spirit of Prophecy in the Second Temple. § 5. Exorcisme, and Bethesda's all-healing vertue, the second Temples Dowry.

CHAP. V.

The Jews rejected Messias, to be called the God of the whole Earth: and all other Gods eternally to be rejected.

§ 1. The God of Israel every where worship'd where Christian Religion obtains place. § 2. The God of Israel hath his Priests amongst the Gentiles. § 3. No acceptable Oblation but what Christians offer, tender'd to Israels God. § 4. The Gospel hath utterly abolish'd I∣dols, made Virmin-Gods creep into holes. § 5. Daphnaean Apol∣lo, choakd with the Bones of Babilas. Heathen Testimony for the silencing of Oracles; the Vanity of their Reasons. § 6. Gross I∣dolatry in the Roman Pale by her own Doctors Confessions and Definitions (the Legend of the Golden Calf) yet not in the proper and prophetick sence.

CHAP. VI.

Touching the Millenium, Revel. 20.

§ 1, Pagan Idol's Fall, and Satans binding Synchronize. Christia∣nity grew upon the Empire by degrees. § 2. Charity's Cloak cast o∣ver the first Christian Emperours. § 3. Theodosius made the first Penal Laws against Paganism: § 4. Honorius made Paga∣nism Capital; then was Satan bound.

CHAP. VII.

The Millenium yet to come, is a Dream of Waking Men.

§ 1. The Millenaries shifting of Aera's, Apes of Mahometans and Papists. Alsted's Boreal Empire, § 2. Mr. Meed's Principles overthrow the Faith, and Placits of the Ancients. Christ will not come to convert but destroy the Jews. Satans Binding Syn∣chronizeth with the downfall not of Mahometanism but Gentilism § 3. America, though anciently inhabited, yet unknown to the an∣cient Church; and therefore implicitly only comprehended in her Faith, Hope, and Charity. § 4. The Millenaries impious and un∣charitable Conceptions touching the Gogick-war. Their Triumphant Church-Militant. § 5. Christ will find more Faith in America

than in this upper Hemisphere. § 6. Satan's Chain shortned in the lower, not lengthened in this upper Hemisphere.

CHAP. VIII.

That Satans loosing will not be till the Dawning of the day of Judgment; Problematically discuss'd.

§ 1. Elect gathered into the Air over the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Chancells not all Eastward; but all toward that Valley. § 2. The Elect secur'd, Satan reenters, and drives his old Demesne. The wicked destroyed as Rebels actually in arms. Believers tried as Citizens by the Books of Conscience, and Book of Royal Law. § 3. Gog. (Revel. 20.) a greater multitude than will meet before the day of Judgment. When Prophecies are to be expounded Li∣terally, when Figuratively. § 4. The Ottoman Army is not this Gogick. § 5. The Fire of the last Conflagration carrieth Infidels into the Abyss. The Goats are cast into it after they are convict by the Covenant of Grace. White Throne. New Heaven and Earth. Flames of Fire divided. § 6. They that are in Christ rise first: but Infidels are first judged. The Objection from their being in termino. § 7. The Jews Septimum Millenarium is the eternal Sabbath. The days of a Tree, (Isa. 65. 28.) The Text Para∣phrased.

CHAP. IX.

The Force of the general Argument from Prophecy urged.

§ 1. Prophetick Events demonstrate the Reveilers infinite science. § 2. And Omnipotencie. § 3. The Divine Original of the Gos∣pel. § 4. Christ Circumstantiated old Prophecies of Jerusalem's Fall. § 5. When her Fall was most unlikely. § 6. Precognition demonstrates Pre-existence.

CHAP. X.

The Demonstration of Power.

§ 1. Christians Gleanings exceed Pagans Vintage. § 2. Christian stories of undoubted, Pagan of dubious, Credit. § 3. Pagan Mi∣racles mis-father'd. § 4. Rome's Prosperity whence. § 5. Won∣ders among Gentiles for the fulfilling of Prophecies. § 6. For the punishment of Nations ripe for Excision. § 7. Empires raised miraculously for the common good.

CHAP. XI.

The Deficiency of the false, Characters of true, Miracles.

§ 1. Heathen Wonders unprofitable. § 2. Of an impious Tendency. § 3. Not above the power of Nature. § 4. Moses and the Magi∣cians Rodds into serpents. § 5. The suns standing still and go∣ing back. The Persian Triplasia. § 6. Darkness at our Saviours Passion. § 7. Christs Resurrection, the Broad-seal set to the Gos∣pel.

CHAP. XII.

The Supernatural Power of Salvifick Grace.

§ 1. The Church triumphs over the Schools. § 2. Christianity lays the Ax to the Root. § 3. The Rule imperfect before Christ. § 4. The Discipline of the Schools was without Life and power. § 5, Real Exornations before Verbal Encomiums.