According to the knowledge given to Solomon, he knew, he says, "The alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons: the circuits of years, and the positions of stars." Here we find that the eccentric motion which we give the earth, and conceive to be a recent discovery, Solomon (2700 years before) ascribed to the sun. Therefore if it should be proved that "the sun as a bridegroom cometh out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his race, and that his going forth is from the

what is there analogous to the moon, which always presents the same face to us, and, as Newton acknowledges, can have no atmosphere and vapours? from which circumstances, if we are thus to determine by analogy, we may conclude that the earth stands still; for it is because the moon passes through ether in rounding the earth, that she is unattended with clouds; whilst, on the other hand, it is because the earth is a stationary body, that she is accompanied with atmosphere and vapours.

end of heaven*, and his circuit unto the ends of it:"-even, that "his course is swift, for that he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one dayt:"-in either case, the triumphs of infidels would be defeated, and the sarcasm of Voltaire reproved. His word alone would stand, as it will stand, "whose

Spirit garnished the heavens, and hanged the earth upon nothing."

"And the firmament he called heaven."

This is said by Zerubbabel, in his demonstration of the strength of truth, in the first book of Esdras, iv. 34.

རྟ་ནས་རྟེན་

INTRODUCTION

AND

BRIEF SUMMARY,

IF the following Treatises may be found to assist my readers in the study of the Scriptures, my purpose is answered. I can have no pretension, and am certainly no particularly gifted person that I am aware of, that I should be esteemed a teacher of others, still less that I should affect to be so. What I have now published is the result of laborious application, not accompanied with fearful bodements, as distrustful of the Redeemer's power to save with mercy, but, on the contrary, with joy and rejoicing, as where the apostle saith, "Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice;" and if I have been careless in my style, in the effusions and in the transports of my soul, my readers will bear with me, and with their

calmer judgment teach me to revise; as when Elisha called a minstrel to allay the fervency of his spirit when about to prophesy, so may their advice prevail, and may sweet monition drop into my ear, to cull exuber

ance.

I do not say that it is absolutely necessary to enter deeply into the mysteries of prophecy, provided we believe the words, ascribing power to God. That we are encouraged to do it there can be no doubt, and it is a fact, that it is owing to the study of the Bible, not in part, but as a whole, that I have become assured of the loveliness of its doctrines, and of the simplicity of its laws; the sum of which is pointed out to be what is called "The royal law," which is “to love thy neighbour as thyself;*" which has been written in the heart from the beginning, as the word, which is in us, answering to the

conscience, testifieth to the worthy; which

* See James ii. 8, and Romans xiii. 8.