Gentiles, destitute of the law of ants; the exact balancing and Moses, have the 'work of the regulating of the meteors, winds, law written in their hearts, Rom. rain, snow, hail, vapour, thunder, ii, 15. and the like; the regular and ne

"3. The works of creation plain-ver failing returns of summer and ly demonstrate the existence of a winter, seed time and harvest, day God. The innumerable altera- and night; the astonishing and ditions and manifest dependance, versified formation of vegetables; every where observable in the the propagation of herbs, almost world, prove that the things every where, that are most effecwhich exist in it neither are nor tual to heal the distempers of anicould be from eternity. It is self-mal bodies in that place; the almost evident that they never could form infinite diversification of animals themselves out of nothing, or in and vegetables, and their pertinents, any of their respective forms; and that, notwithstanding an amazing that chance, being nothing but the similarity, not any two are exactly want of design, never did nor alike, but every form, member, could form or put into order any or even feather or hair of animals, thing; far less such a marvellous and every pile of grass, stalk of and well connected system as our corn, herb, leaf, tree, berry, or world is. Though we should ab- other fruit, hath something pecusurdly fancy matter to be eternal, liar to itself; the making of aniyet it could not change its own mals so sagaciously to prepare form, or produce life or reason. their lodgings, defend themselves, Moreover, when we consider the provide for their health, produce, diversified and wonderful forms and protect, and procure food for of creatures in the world, and how their young; the direction of fishes exactly those forms and stations and fowls to and in such marcorrespond with their respective vellous and long perigrinations at ends and uses; when we consider such seasons, and to such places, the marvellous and exact machi- as best correspond with their own nery, form, and motions of our preservation and the benefit of own bodies; and especially when mankind; the stationing of brute we consider the powers of our animals by sea or land, at less or soul, its desires after an infinite greater distances, as are most good, and its close union with, suited to the safety, subsistence, and incomprehensible operations or comfort of mankind, and preon our bodies, we are obliged to venting the increase of prolific admit a Creator of infinite wis- animals, and making the less fruitdom, power, and goodness. ful ones, which are used, exceed

"4. It is argued from the sup-ingly to abound; the so diversiport and government of the world. fying the countenances, voices, Who can consider the motions of and hand-writings of men, as best the heavenly luminaries, exactly secures and promotes their social calculated for the greatest advan-advantages; the holding of so tage to our earth, and its inhabit- equal a balance between males and females, while the number males, whose lives of fulfilled in their respective periods, are peculiarly and of the fulfilment of which endangered in war, navigation, there are at present thousands of &c. are generally greatest; the demonstrative and sensible docuprolonging of mens' lives, when ments in the world, could proceed the world needed to be peopled, from any but an all-seeing and inand now shortening them, when finitely wise God.

that necessity hath ceased to exist; the almost universal provision of ther appears from the fearful pu"7. The existence of God farfood, raiment, medicine, fuel, &c. nishments which have been inflictanswerable to the nature of parti-ed upon persons, and especially upcular places, cold or hot, moist or on nations, when their immoralidry; the management of human ties became excessive, and that by affairs relative to societies, govern- very unexpected means and instrument, peace, war, trade, &c. in ments; as in the drowning of the a manner different from and con-old world; destruction of Sodom trary to the carnal policy of those and Gomorrah; plagues of Phaconcerned; and especially the raoh and his servants; overthrow strangely similar but diversified of Sennacherib and his army; erection, preservation, and govern- miseries and ruin of the Canaanment of the Jewish and Christian ites, Jews, Syrians, Assyrians, churches: who, I say, can consider Chaldeans, Persians, Egyptians, all these things, and not acknow- Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Tarledge the existence of a wise, mer-tars, and others.

ciful, and good God, who governs the world, and every thing in it? God may be argued from the terror "8. Lastly, The existence of " 5. It is proved from the mira- and dread which wound the conculous events which have hap- sciences of men, when guilty of pened in the world; such as the crimes which other men do not overflowing of the earth by a know, or are not able to punish or flood; the confusion of languages; restrain; as in the case of Caligula, the burning of Sodom and the ci- Nero, and Domitian, the Roman ties about by fire from heaven; emperors; and this while they the plagues of Egypt; the divid- earnestly labour to persuade theming of the Red Sea; raining manna selves or others that there is no from heaven, and bringing streams God. Hence their being afraid of water from flinty rocks; the of thunder, or to be left alone in stopping of the course of the sun, the dark, &c.

As to the modus of the Divine

" 6. His existence no less clearly existence, it would be presumption appears from the exact fulfilment to attempt to explain. That he of so many and so particularly cir-exists, is clear from the foregoing cumstantiated predictions, pub- arguments; but the manner of lished long before the event took that existence is not for us to place. It is impossible that these know. Many good men have utpredictions, which were so exactly tered great absurdities in endea

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vouring to explain it, and after all over the diseases said to be occanone of them have succeeded. sioned by dæmons. See DEMOThe wisest of men never made the NIAC.

attempt. Moses began his writExorcism makes a considerable ings by supposing the being of a part of the superstition of the God; he did not attempt to ex-church of Rome, the rituals of plain it. Although many of the which forbid the exorcising any inspired writers asserted his exist-person without the bishop's leave. ence, and, to discountenance idol- The ceremony is performed at the atry, pleaded for his perfections, lower end of the church, towards yet no one of them ever pretended the door. The exorcist first signs to explain the manner of his be- the possessed person with the sign ing. Our duty is clear. We are of the cross, makes him kneel, and not commanded or expected to sprinkles him with holy water. understand it. All that is re- Then follow the litanies, psalms, quired is this: "He that cometh and prayer; after which the exto God must believe that he is, orcist asks the devil his name, and and that he is a rewarder of them adjures him by the mysteries of that diligently seek him," Heb. xi, the christian religion not to afflict 6. See Gill's Body of Div. b. 1; the person any more; then, laying Charnock's Works, vol. 1; Ridgley's his right hand on the dæmoniac's Div. ques. 2; Brown's System of head, he repeats the form of exorDiv. Pieere's Studies of Nature; cism, which is this; " I exorcise Sturm's Reflections; Spect. de la thee, unclean spirit, in the name Nat.; Bonnet's Philosophical Re- of Jesus Christ: tremble, O Satan! searches; and writers enumerated thou enemy of the faith, thou foe under the article ATHEISM. of mankind, who hast brought

EXORCISM, the expelling of death into the world; who hast devils from persons possessed, by deprived men of life, and hast, remeans of conjurations and prayers. belled against justice; thou seThe Jews made great pretences to ducer of mankind, thou root of this power. Josephus tells several all evil, thou source of avarice, wonderful tales of the great success discord, and envy." The Romanof several exorcists. One Eleazer, ists likewise exorcise houses and a Jew, cured many dæmoniacs, he other places supposed to be hauntsays, by means of a root set in alled by unclean spirits; and the ring. This root, with the ring, was ceremony is much the same with held under the patient's nose, and that for a person possessed. the devil was forthwith evacuated.

EXORDIUM. See SERMON. The most part of conjurors of this EXPERIENCE, knowledge acclass were impostors, each pre-quired by long use without a teachtending to a secret nostrum orer. It consists in the ideas of things charm which was an overmatch we have seen or read, which the for the devil. Our Saviour com- judgment has reflected on, to form municated to his disciples a real for itself a rule or method.

power over dæmons, or at least Christian experience is that religious knowledge which is ac-mented, that while the best of men quired by any exercises, enjoy- have a mixture in their expements, or sufferings, either of body rience, there are others whose exor mind. Nothing is more com-perience (so called) is entirely mon than to ridicule and despise counterfeit. "They have been what is called religious experience alarmed, have changed the ground as mere enthusiasm. But if reli- of their confidence, have had their gion consist in feeling, we would imaginations heated and delighted ask, how it can possibly exist with-by impressions and visionary reout experience? We are convinced presentations; they have recolof, and admit the propriety of lected the promises of the gospel, the term, when applied to those as if spoken to them with peculiar branches of science which are not appropriation, to certify them that founded on speculation or con- their sins were forgiven; and havjecture, but on sensible trial. Why, ing seen and heard such wonderthen, should it be rejected when ful things, they think they must applied to religion? It is evident doubt no more of their adoption that, however beautiful religion into the family of God. They have may be in name, its excellency also frequently heard all expeand energy are only truly known rience profanely ridiculed as enand displayed as experienced. A thusiasm, and this betrays them system believed, or a mind merely into the opposite extreme, so that informed, will produce little good, they are emboldened to despise except the heart be affected, and every caution as the result of enwe feel its influence. To expe-mity to internal religion, and to rience, then, the religion of Christ, act as if there were no delusive or we must not only be acquainted counterfeit experience. But the with its theory, but enjoy its event too plainly shews their awpower; subduing our corruptions, ful mistake, and that they groundanimating our affections, and ex-ed their expectations upon the acciting us to duty. Hence the scrip-count given of the extraordinary ture calls experience tasting, Ps. operations of the Holy Spirit on xxxiv, 8. feeling, &c. 1st Thes. ii, the minds of prophets, rather than 13. &c. That our experience is al- on the promises of his renewing ways absolutely pure in the pre-influences in the hearts of believers. sent state cannot be expected. When, therefore, they lose the im"The best experiences," says a pressions with which they once good writer, "may be mixed with were elated, they relapse nearly natural affections and passions, im- into their old course of life, their pressions on the imagination, self-creed and confidence alone exrighteousness, or spiritual pride;" cepted."

but this is no reason that all expe- Christian experience may be rience is to be rejected, for upon considered as genuine, 1. When this ground nothing could be re-it accords with the revelation of ceived, since nothing is absolutely God's mind and will, or what he perfect. It is, however, to be la- has revealed in his word. Any

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thing contrary to this, however it, that, though he never will leave pleasing, cannot be found, or pro- his people, yet he will suspend or duced by Divine agency.--2. When bestow comfort in his own time; its tendency is to promote humi- for this very reason, that we may lity in us: that experience, by rely on him, and not on the cirwhich we learn our own weakness, cumstance or ordinance.-3. It is and subdues pride, must be good. Jan abuse of experience, when in

3. When it teaches us to bear troduced at improper times, and with others, and to do them good. before improper persons. It is -4. When it operates so as to true, we ought never to be ashamexcite us to be ardent in our devo-ed of our profession; but to be altion, and sincere in our regard to ways talking to irreligious people God. A powerful experience of respecting experience, which they the Divine favour will lead us to know nothing of, is, as our Saviour acknowledge the same, and to ma- says, casting pearls before swine. nifest our gratitude both by con- Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; stant praise and genuine piety. Buck's Treatise on Experience;

Christian experience, however, Gurnall's Christian Armour; Dr. may be abused. There are some Owen on Psalm cxxx; Edwards on good people who certainly have the Affections, and his thoughts on felt and enjoyed the power of the Revival of Religion in New Enreligion, and yet have not always gland; Dorney's Contemplations. acted with prudence as to their EXPERIENCE MEETINGS, experience. 1. Some boast of are assemblies of religious pertheir experiences, or talk of them sons, who meet for the purpose of as if they were very extraor-relating their experience to each dinary; whereas, were they ac-other. It has been doubted by quainted with others, they would some whether these meetings are of find it not so. That a man may any great utility; and whether they make mention of his experience, do not in some measure force peois no way improper, but often use-ple to say more than is true, and ful; but to hear persons always puff up those with pride who are talking of themselves, seems to in- able to communicate their ideas dicate a spirit of pride, and that with facility; but to this it may their experience cannot be very be answered, 1. That the abuse of deep. 2. Another abuse of expe- a thing is no proof of the evil of rience, is, dependence on it. We it. 2. That the most eminent ought certainly to take encourage-saints of old did not neglect this ment from past circumstances, if practice, Ps. lxvi, 16. Mal. iii, 16. we can; but if we are so depend--3. That, by a wise and prudent ent on past experience as to pre-relation of experience, the chrisclude present exertions, or always tian is led to see that others have expect to have exactly the same participated of the same joys and assistance in every state, trial, sorrows with himself; he is excitor ordinance, we shall be disap-ed to love and serve God; and pointed. God has wisely ordered animated to a perseverance in