Page:The Evidences of Christianity.djvu/29

22 SINGULARITIES OF THE BIBLE. given religion to mankind. In past ages, when polytheism prevailed in all other nations, and the wisest and most refined of the heathens worshipped abominable deities, among the Hebrews was preserved the knowledge of the one true God, and through them the world has obtained the knowledge of the true religion. This is the grand peculiarity of the nation.

The religion which the Hebrews have taught mankind is contained in the Bible. This most ancient of books was committed to them, and they were taught to prize it as their peculiar glory. They regarded themselves as far more blessed than the heathen, who knew not the statutes and judgments of God. "He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgments, they have not known them,"1 and their wisest and best men accounted the law of God more to be desired than gold, "Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb,"2 and made it the subject of their meditation. This singular book was from its remote origin committed to the keeping of this singular people; and singularly preserved as they are at the present time among the nations of the earth, they carry with them, wherever they go, that part of the sacred writings which they have received from their ancestors, and preserve it with the utmost care.

Natural religion should be learned, as well from the providence which governs the world, as from the creation which originated it; and in both we may observe manifestations of contrivance and wisdom. Let natural religion inquire, for what purpose was the Hebrew na-

1 Psalms, cxlvii. 19, 20. 2 Psalms, xix. 10.