CHAPTER XVIII. 115 doubtful point ; that a thief will make his escape out of prison, if the doors of it are unguarded at midnight. 3. In matters of fact which are past or present, where nei- ther nature, nor observation, nor custom gives us any sufficient information on either side of the question, there we may derive a probability from the attestation of wise and honest men by word or writing, or the concurring witnesses of multitudes who have seen and known what they relate, &c. This testimony in many cases will arise to the degree of moral certainty. So we believe that the plant tea grows in China; and that the Emperor of the Turks lives at Constantinople ; that Julius Cwsar conquered France, and that Jesus our Saviour lived and died in Judea ; That thousands were converted to the christian faith in a century after the death of Christ ; and that the books which contain the christian religion, are certain histories and epistles which were written above a thousand years ago. There is an infinite variety of such propositions which can admit of no reasonable doubt, though they are not matters which are directly evident to our own senses, or our mere reasoning powers. XXVII. When a point Lath been well examined, and our own judgment settled upon just arguments, in our manly age, and after a large survey of the merits of the cause, it would be a weakness for us always to continue fluttering in suspence. We ought therefore to stand firm in such well established principles, and not be tempted to change and alter for the sake of every dif- ficulty, or every occasional objection. We are not to be carried about with every flying doctrine, like children tossed to and fro, andwavering with the wind. It is a good thing to have the heart established with grace, not with meats; that is, in the great doctrines of the gospel of grace and in Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever; but it is not so necessary in the more minute matters of religion, such as meats and drinks, forms and ceremonies, which are of less importance, and for which scripture has not given such express directions. This is the advice of the great apostle ; Eph. iv. 14. Heb, xiii. 8, 9. In short, those truths which are the springs of daily prac- tice, should be settled as soon as we can with the exercise of our best powers, after the state of manhood ; but those things wherein we may possibly mistake, should never he so absolutely and finally established and determined, as though we were infallible. If the Papists of Great Britain had maintained such a resolute establishment and assurance in the days of King Henry the VIII. or Queen Elizabeth, there never had been a reformation ;-- nor would any Heathen have been converted even under the ministry of St. Paul, if their obstinate settlement in their idol- atries had kept their eyes shut against all further light. Yet this should not hinder us front settling our most important Voi.
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