Points contain'd in Scripture be falfe, and did not really come from God, we shall find the Frame of Nature, which is now much better underftood than in the Days of thofe Antient Writers, frequently to contradict them, and fo to detect their Forgery, and prevent their further Impofition upon Mankind. Nor indeed have we any way fo fure and fatisfactory to examine the pretended very ancient Accounts of Things by, as this in general; I mean, the trying their Verity in fuch Points, whether Natural or Hiftorical, as we have fure Methods of knowing, whether the Things afferted in them were, or might be really true or not. For as a plain Difagreement of Nature, or certain Hiftory, from Scripture, in fuch Points, will afford a terrible Sufpicion, that the latter is either falfe, or at leaft interpolated; fo will as plain an Agreement be a mighty Evidence for the Truth, and Uncorruptnefs of thofe Scriptures; and this even in general, as to fuch other Contents of the fame, as can no way come under the like Methods of Examination. If I am once fully fatisfy'd, that a Witnefs is Upright and Honeft, even in feveral Points where there was the greatest Sufpicion as to his Sincerity, he will de ferve the better Credit in other Cafes, even where no corroborating Evidence can be alledg'd for his Juftification. To this kind of Evidence then do I Appeal on behalf of thofe Sacred Writings, and do plead for their Reception, as Genuine and Authentick Records, in the feveral particular Cafes following.

(1.) The Scriptures agree to declare the very fame, all the fame Truths, and afcribe the very fame, all the fame Attributes to God, which