Themes, at which I glance, are not of the highest concern to each Individual of every distinct class in the Community, from the Prince to the Peasant-I am utterly mistaken. And, if the Ratio sacra be not the Ratio recta, the Temple, I have been labouring to erect, must of course vanish into an "airy nothing." But, if my motives be estimable; my objects, the supreme excellence and felicity of Man; and the Basis of my argument indeed divine; the severity of Criticism, it is hoped, will be softened to a liberal tone, and the research of the impartial Inquirer may be in some degree gratified. For the moral Success of this well-intentioned Effort, I must look to a higher Quarter. Εγω εφυτευσα, Απολλως εποτισεν αλλ' • Θεος ηύξανεν. Ωςε ετε ο φυτεύων εςι τι, ετε ο ποτίζων, αλλ' ο αυξανων Θεος. 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.

For me, proceeding, as I certainly must, in every step I advance, with the most humiliating consciousness of my own'deficiencies-led, I would yet trust, by celestial guidance, in the Attempt I shall

now make to draw a correct miniature of

the Christian Edifice

"Still may I note, how all th' agreeing parts "Of this well-order'd Fabric join to frame "One fair, one finish'd, one harmonious Whole: "Trace the close links, which form the golden Chain, "In beautiful connexion: mark the Scale

"Whose nice gradations, with progression true, "For ever rising, end in DEITY."

And now, after having sat, for no inconsiderable period, at the feet of many a rational, philosophical, virtuous, and moral, Instructor, and listened, with patient perseverance, to their various Systems; after having exerted my utmost pains, to "divest myself of all unjustifiable Prejudices ; to observe the influence and extent of Axioms; and to examine the nature and force of Consequences;" allow me the privilege, and honour, of introducing you, adorned with the spirit of ingenuous Candour, not indeed to the mythological mysteries of an Egyptian Grove, a Persian Cell, or an Indian Pagoda, but, into what I have dared to call

THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH.

1

SYNOPSIS

OF

THE PRINCIPLES,

ON WHICH THE FOLLOWING EDIFICE IS CONSTRUCTED.

1.

Gop alone is the first Cause, the chief
GOD
Good, and the last End, of all things.

* Some Philosophers have defined Science, or Intelligence, to be the Knowledge of Principles: and, questionless, the Knowledge of first Principles is essential to the right understanding and judgment of Truth, Virtue, and Happiness.

These Principles are variously denominated: sometimes they are called Maxims, Maxima, or the chief things in any Science; sometimes, Axioms, from ažios, things most worthy to be regarded, in that attainment; sometimes, Aphorisms, from apog:w, things determined on, and settled; sometimes Principles, or fundamental Preliminaries and, it should be carefully observed, that, All the Principles of divine Revelation are Theorems, or infallible Truths; because, Os ta Enuata. σε Ουτοι οι λογοι

αληθινοι εισι το Θεά.”

This seems to be the proper idea of that Deoσeßeiα, or Eurεßeα, which is the most, if not the only, discriminative Characteristic of man in this lower world. Αρχην απαν των καὶ τελος ποιει Θεον "Him first-him last-him midst, and without end :" Оть

These elementary Principles, or primary Truths, whether they relate to philosophic, moral, or religious Science, are the Standards, Measures, and Rules, of all Reason, Virtue, and Excellence: and, therefore, previously necessary to be understood, and admitted. They are the Data, upon which we proceed; the Postulata, which we require. They ought, therefore, to be as intuitively clear, self-evident, and definitive, as their nature will allow and such is their importance, that, "nothing is more fatal than the admission of wrong Principles." Persons of the most exalted Understanding have as much need to guard against them, as those of the meanest capacity. If they are so imprudent, or so unfortunate, as to adopt them, their superior genius, like the strength of a mad-man, will serve no other purpose than to involve them in greater difficulties, and give them the power of doing more mischief: of which, we have had some very striking and melancholy proofs in recent history.

That no disgust, or offence may be taken, by minds of Christian Simplicity, at this intermixture of different languages, as vain, or pedantic, the Writer begs leave to refer them, for a scriptural apology, to Rom. i. 14.

εξ αυτε, και δι' αυτέ, και εις αυτόν, τα Παντα T૪, પ્લે ' αυτω η Δόξα εις τες αιώνας. Αμην. Rom. xi. 36.

There can be neither Justice, Piety, Truth, Reason, nor Virtue, where the divine Being is not conceived of precisely in this view. It does not appear to be essentially requisite to our real Excellence, or to our supreme Happiness, that we should have clear and philosophic ideas of all the divine attributes, and glories; but, it is absolutely necessary, that we should have this general impression of the Godhead on our Minds, and Hearts. Of all the Principles, both of Religion, and of Morality, this is the Alpha, and the Omega. Της περί τες Θεες ευσέβειας ισθε οτι το κυριώτατον εκείνο εςιν, ορθας υπολήψεις περί αυτών εχειν. EPICT.