DISCOURSE I.

ACTS XV. I, 2.

And certain Men which came down from Judea, taught the Brethren, and faid, Except ye be circumcifed after the Manner of Mofes, ye cannot be faved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Diffention and Difputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, fhould go up to Ferufalem unto the Apostles and Elders, about this Question.

W

E learn from the Text, and other Parts of Holy Writ, That the earliest and pureft Times of the Gofpel were not free from Difputes and Controverfies in Religion: That the Authority of the Apoftles, tho' confirmed by Signs and Wonders, was not fufficient to lay the Heats and Prejudices of Men; which, like ancient In

habitants, having Poffeffion and Prescription to plead for their Right, were with great Difficulty removed: That the Apostles themfelves, however agreed in one and the fame Doctrine, were of different Opinions as to the prudential Methods of dealing with the Oppofition they found; fome giving way to the Torrent, that Men might have Time to cool, and recover the Calmnefs of Reafon and Judgment; others endeavouring refolutely to ftem the Tide, and not to give way, no, not for an Hour, that the Truth of the Gospel might continue. Hence arofe the Contest between Peter and Paul; fo that, as the Apoftle of the Gentiles himself tells us, he withflood Peter to the Face.

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To the fame Caufe likewife we may afcribe much of the prefent Difficulty and Obfcurity of the Books of the New Teftament; For the Writers being neceffarily drawn into Controversy by this means, which always has, and in the Nature of the Thing must have, Reference to the Opinions and Prejudices of the Difputers; there are many Things in Scripture which appear dark to us, for want of a diftinct Knowledge of the Errors and Misconceits which the Writers oppose; many Things delivered down to us, in which it is not eafy, at firft Sight, to diftinguish how far the holy Penman argues upon the Truth

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of our common Chriftianity, and how far upon the Principles and Conceffions of his Adverfary. From whence it has come to pass, that fome Things have been taught by unfkilful Interpreters of Scripture, as the Doctrines of Chriftianity, which were no better than the Errors of Judaizing Converts.

Thefe Difficulties, thus woven into the Ho ly Writings, have furnished even to learned Men conftant Matter of Difpute and Controversy; and some Points have laboured under a Difference of Opinion in most Ages of the Church: And fo far has Length of Time been from diminishing these Disputes, that every Writer of Name and Authority has enlarged this Field of Controverfy; and to examine, adjuft, and expound the Sentiments. and Opinions of Men of Renown in the Church of God, who have gone before us, ! is left as an additional Labour and Study, and oftentimes as a fresh Matter of Contention.

Add to these Caufes already recited, the Paffions, the Weakneffes, and Prepoffeffions" of Mind, which the best Men are not free from; and which darken and obfcure Things in themfelves oftentimes clear and intelligible; and you will have before you, perhaps, a juft Account of the Caufes which

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which have filled the World with fo many Doubts and Differences in Opinion concern ing the weightieft Matters of Religion. }

But fince from this Account there ap+ pears little Hope of coming to an entire Harmony and Agreement of Opinion, what muft an honeft Man do? Whom fhall he chufe to follow ? And, when he has chosen, with what Security and Confidence can he pro→ ceed? fince there will be always fome to tell him, That he is a blind Follower of a blind Leader. How far this Difficulty has been preffed, even to the rendring all Religion precarious and uncertain, and to the difcarding the Gospel itself, which is reprefented as encumbered with fo many Doubts, fuch dif→ ferent Comments and Expofitions, that the Wit of Man knows not how to extricate him from this Labyrinth, and lead him to one Spot of firm Ground, whereon to reft the Sole of his Feet; how far, I fay, this Argu ment has been urged to this Purpose, I need not fay: It will be more to our Purpose to call this Matter to a fair Examination, and to affert the Grounds and Principles of our Faith, notwithstanding this fierce Affault that has been made upon them.

Now there are two Things which this Argument leads us to confider; and which, when