1177. It may be occafioned by the ordinary manner of the prophets, predicting what relates to the moral and religious state of the world, in metaphors borrowed from the parts of the natural world.

Newton on Daniel. Hag. ii. 6-9.

1178. It may be occafioned by the prophets expreffing what relates to the Chriftian difpenfation and wor ship, in terms borrowed from the Mofaic religion.

Warb. Div. Leg. Halifax, Serm. 1.

Ifa. ii. 2, 3. xix. 19. lvi. 7. Jer. iii. 17. Zech. viii. 22. Mal. i. Il.

1179. It may be occafioned, by a prediction relating only to one part of a complex character, or event, and, on that account, feeming to be inconfiftent with other parts of it; and the appearance will be removed, by taking in fuch predictions as relate to these other parts, and confidering them all in connexion.

Predictions of the glory of the Meffiah-to be compared with predictions of his precedent fufferings.

1180. It sometimes arises from several of these causes, or them all together.

Gen. xlix. 10.

Ifa. vii. 8. Lowth.

Ff2

SECT.

J. 181. THERE is, fometimes, an appearance of contradiction, between the doctrine delivered in one pasfage, and the doctrine delivered in another paffage.

1182. Between a general affertion in one text, and a reftriction of it, or exception from it, in another text, there is an appearance of contradiction, which is sometimes removed, by explaining the former with the the proper limitations.

Luke xvi. 18. Mark x. 11, 12. divorce abfolutely forbiddenbut, Matth. v. 32. xix. 9. allowed for adultery only: yet, I Cor. vii. 15. feems to be allowed alfo for wilful desertion.

1183. An appearance of contradiction in a point of doctrine, fometimes arises, from the fame term being used in different fenfes, in different texts; and is removed by restricting it properly in each.

Mat. xviii. 21, 22. forgiveness required absolutely-but Luke xvii. 3, 4. required only on condition of repentance-forgiveness used in different fenfes. Rom. iii. 28. «A man is juftified by faith, without the deeds of the law"-but, Jam. ii. 24By works a man is juftified, and not by faith only."

66

Some

Some of the words in different fenfes ;-either works; fome think that Paul means ceremonial works, James, moral,' Clar. Wall.-others, Paul, perfect obedience,' James, imperfect, Vatab.-or faith; Paul, true faith with its effects, James, mere affent,' Grót. Druf. J. Capel. Macknight.-or juftification; fome, Paul, in the fight of God,' James, in that of men;' others, Paul, first justification,' James, second, or final.' Zeger. Hoadley. Tayl.

1184. When the fame action or effect feems, in different paffages of Scripture, to be afcribed to different causes, it fometimes arifes, from the name of that action or effect not being used in precisely the fame fignification, in these paffages.

Rom. iv. 25.
"And was raifed again for our juftification;"
but, ch. v. 9. " Being juftified by his blood," or death.

Rom. viii. 34. "Chrift Tuyau makes interceffion for us;
fo Heb. vii. 25.-but, Rom. viii. 26, 27.
"The Spirit
εντυγχανε, " viz. by his influence on our hearts.

1185. When the fame action or effect is, in different texts, afcribed to different perfons or causes, it is, sometimes, on account of their all contributing to it in different ways.

1186. When different, and feemingly inconsistent, descriptions are given of the fame fubject, often they both reprefent it truly, but in different points of view.

Chrift fitting at God's right hand ;-but, Acts vii. 56. flanding.

Mat. x. 34. compared with Luke ix. 56. and with the whole genius of the gofpel.

1187. The pretended contrariety between the Old Teftament and the New.

1188. The contrariety pretended by Morgan and Bolingbroke, between the gofpel of Chrift and that of Paul.

CHAP. VI.

Seeming Contradictions to Reason and Morality.

1189. THERE are, in Scripture, fome paffages which have the appearance of contradicting the prin ciples of reafon and morality, and which must be explained so as to be reconciled to these principles.

1190. They are, either feeming contradictions to truth-or, feemingly contradictory to good moralsor, in appearance unreasonably fevere, or impracti cable.

SECT.

SECT. I.

Seeming Contradictions to Truth.

1191. THERE are, in Scripture, paffages which feem to be contradictory to truth, to imply fome abfurdity, or, at least, to be inconfiftent with true opi

nions.

1192. Some feeming abfurdities, or contradictions to truth, arife only from falfe readings, and are removed by restoring the true reading.

1193. Some feeming contradictions to truth arise only from the use of figurative expreffions, accommodated to the weakness of human conceptions, or, to the ordinary way of thinking of mankind.

Bodily parts and paffions afcribed to God. Representations not according to the true fyftem of nature.

1194. The account of the creation, as implying that light was made on the first day, and the fun, moon, and stars, only on the fourth day, and that there are waters above and below, divided by a folid partition, cannot be pronounced abfurd or impoffible, though it may be difficult, from the nature and fingularity of the subject,