Religious Converfation recommended. 38 This is a firft principle of natural religión, SERM. and the confiant doctrine of the law and the XV. prophets, of Quilt and his apoftles. But is a certain ftate of things in the world wherein an affectionate attention to this prin- ciple, and forming men's tempers and prac- tice upon it, is peculiarly difficult, therefore eminently praife- worthy, and when it is obferved by the fupreme Being with a pecu- liar meafure of approbation; and that is, when iniquity aboundeth, and the love of many waxeth cold, when the generality of men in any particular place abandon themfelves to heinous impiety, and even go into atheiftical notions. This is the cafe referred to in the text. The prophet Malachi, whofe book concludes the canon of the Old Teftament, or the catalogue of books which were univerfally received by the Jews as of divine authority for the rule of their faith and religious practice, was fent to that nation after their return from the Babylonifh captivity, and when the fecond temple was built, and the antient form, both of religion and civil policy, was reftored, as far as it then could be, under the direction of Ezrah and Nehemiah. Ma- VoL. II. C c lacbi
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