hism; _How doth it
appear the Scriptures are the Word of God_? But who would imagine that
for the information of any one who wanted to be inform'd herein, it
should be answer'd, _That the Scriptures manifest themselves to be the
Word of God by their Majesty and Purity: by the consent of all the
Parts, and by the scope of the whole; which is to give all Glory to
God: by their Light and Power to convince, and convert Sinners; to
comfort and build up Believers to Salvation: But the Spirit of God
bearing Witness by and with the Scriptures, in the Heart of Man is
alone able fully to perswade that they are the very Word of God._ One
would almost be tempted to suspect that Men who talk'd thus, were not
themselves thorowly perswaded that the Scriptures were indeed the Word
of God; for how is it possible not only for a Young Boy, or Girl, but
even for an _Indian_ Man, or Woman, to be by this answer more
convinc'd than they were before, of the Scriptures being what they are
pretended to be? To assure any rational inquirer of Which, it is
necessary they should be satisfied, That the Scriptures were indeed
written by those whose Names they bear; That these Persons were
unquestionable Witnesses, and Faithful Historians of the matters they
relate; and that they had such a Guidance, and Direction from the
Spirit of God as led them to deliver all necessary Truth, and to
preserve them from all error prejudicial thereunto: which Things have
so good evidence, that none who are not manifestly prejudic'd, can
refuse assent thereto, when they are duly represented to them: but
without having weigh'd this evidence, the Divine Authority of the
Scriptures may, possibly, be by some firmly believ'd, but cannot be so
upon the conviction of their Reason.

The Instruction then of most Peoples Younger Years being such as we
have seen in regard of Religion: and _Vertue_, viz. The right
regulation of our Passions, and Appetites, having (as has been
abovesaid) no other sufficient inforcement than the Truths of
Religion; can it reasonably be thought strange, that there is so
little Vertue in the World as we find there is? or that
correspondently to their Principles, Peoples Actions generally are (at
best) unaccountable to their Reason? For Time, and more Years, if they
give strength to our Judgments whereby we may be thought able to
inform our selves, and correct the errors and defects of our
Education, give also strength to our Passions; which grown str