Believe me, there is great, very great, danger in these broad unqualified assertions that Skelton deals in.

Even though the balance of evidence should be on his side, yet the inquirer will be unfavourably affected by the numerous doubts and difficulties which an acquaintance with the more modern works of Biblical criticism will pour upon him, and for which his mind is wholly unprepared.

To meet with a far weaker evidence than we had taken it for granted we were to find, gives the same shake to the mind, that missing a stair gives to the body.
Ib.p.

243.
'Temp.' You, Mr.Dechaine, seem to forget that God is just; and you, Mr.Shepherd, that he is merciful 'Dech.' I insist, that, as God is merciful, he will forgive.
'Shep.' And I insist, that, as he is just, he will punish.
'Temp.' Pray Mr.Dechaine, are you able, upon the Deistical scheme to rid yourself of this difficulty?
'Dech.' I see no difficulty in it at all.

God gives us laws only for our good, and will never suffer those laws to become a snare to us, and the occasion of our eternal misery.
Here is the 'cardo'! The man of sense asserts that it is necessary for the good of all, that a code of laws should exist, while yet it is impossible that all should at all times be obeyed by each person: but what is impossible cannot be required.