both here and hereafter, for man, to whose do minion they are all fubjected; why should it be more difficult for the enlightened aftronomer to conceive, that the Creator of all worlds is equally powerful to preferve, and equally attentive to provide for, the innumerable works of his hand! Every new discovery in the visible universe ought to give elevation, and a new impulfe, to the pious affections and the further we fee that the works of God extend, the more let us be overwhelmed with devout aftonifhment, in the contemplation of his infinite, eternal, and universal Being.

PARADOXICAL writers have flattered themfelves, that infidelity would gain ground as philosophy advances. So fanguine, as I have been informed, was a late projector in this way, that he would fometimes give it as his opinion, that Chriftianity could not outlast the prefent century. I wish he had lived to fee his mistake.-By fophiftry the faith of individuals may be unfettled; but that of nations is not fo eafily fhaken and fophiftry never prevails long in oppofition to common fenfe. From true philofophy, and a right use of reason, our religion has nothing to apprehend. The more carefully and candidly it is ftudied, the more confpicious will its truth and beauty appear. Wherever it and human nature are understood, they are found fo

admirably fuited to each other, that the believer needs not fear, and it is in vain for the adversary to wish, their final feparation. God has joined them, and it is not in man's power to put them afunder. This hope from confidering the character of man, and the genius of the gospel, we should have had reason to rejoice in, even though the highest authority had not affared us, that against the church of Chrift not even the gates of hell fhall prevail.

THE ftomach must be depraved, that transforms aliment into poison; and the eye cannot be found which daylight dazzles into blindness. Nor lefs unfound nor lefs depraved, is that understanding, which preverts fcience into unbelief, and becomes ignorant of God in proportion as the world is enlightened with the knowledge of his works.Minute cavillers may grow more fical, the greater dexterity they acquire in misrepresenting facts, and mifapplying language. But I know not whether a fingle inftance can be mentioned of a truly philofophic mind, who both understood Christianity, and disbelieved it,

End of Beattie's Morks.

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

CONVERSION AND APOSTLESHIP

OF

Saint Paul,

In a Letter to Gilbert West, Esq.

SIR,

BY THE RIGHT HON.

GEORGE, LORD LYTTLETON.

IN Na late converfation we had together, upon the fubject of the Chriftian religion, I told you, that befides all the proofs of it which may be drawn from the prophecies of the Old Teftament, from the necessary connection it has with the whole fyftem of the Jewish religion, from the miracles of Christ, and from the evidence, given of his refurrection by all other Apostles, I thought the converfion and apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly confidered, was of itself a demonftration fufficient to prove Chriftianity to be a divine revelation.

As you seemed to think that so compendious a proof might be of ufe to convince thofe unbelievers that will not attend to a longer feries of arguments, I have thrown together the reasons upon which I fupport that propofition.

IN the 26th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles writ by a contemporary author, and a companion of St. Paul in preaching the gofpel, as appears by the book itself, ch. xx. ver. 6, 13, 14. chap. xxvii. ver. 1, &c. St. Paul is faid to have given this account of his conversation and preaching, to King Agrippa and Feftus the Roman goverMy manner of life from my youth, which was, at the first, among my own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning (if they would teftify) that after the ftricteft fect of our religion, I lived a Pharifee. And now I ftand and am judged for

nor.

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the hope of the promise made by God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, inftantly served God day and night, hope to come for which hope's fake, King Agrippa, I

am accused by the Jews. Why should it be 'thought a thing incredible with you, that God 'fhould raife the dead? I verily thought with

myfelf, that I ought to do many things contrary ' to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerufalem, and many of the Saints

' did I fhut up in prison, having received autho⚫rity from the Chief Priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.And I punished them oft in every fynagogue, ' and compelled them to blafpheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I perfecuted ⚫ them even unto ftrange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damafcus with authority and com'miffion from the Chief Priests, at mid-day, O

King, I faw in the way a light from heaven, ' above the brightness of the fun, fhining round about me, and them which journied with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and faying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecutest • thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against 'the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord ? And he said, I am Jefus whom thou perse'cuteft. But rife, ftand upon thy feet; for I

have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to 'make thee a minifter, and a witness both of thofe things which thou haft seen, and of those things in which I fhall appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inhe

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