tion. Judge of the character and testimony of these men, as you would on other subjects with equal evidence. If in every thing else they shew themselves men of intelligence and men of integrity, you have no just reason to suspect them of disingenuity on this one point. The evidence will amount to this, that christianity has been accounted true by the men who were best qualified to judge of its claims to truth and a divine origin. The measure of evidence will be increased, if you take into your view, that thousands of christian ministers for the sake of the gospel have suffered the loss of all things; and have submitted to want, to exile, to imprisonment, and to martyrdom in its most horrid forms.

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Thus have I endeavoured to place before your eyes, the evidences of the christian religion. Remember that by the christian religion I mean, the system of truth which is contained in the New Testament. The additions made to christianity, whether by individuals, or by bodies of men calling themselves the church, are destitute of all claim to divine truth; and it would be as great an absurdity to consider them as a part of christianity, as it would be to add the Koran to the New Testament, and to account its contents as part of the religion of Jesus Christ, and of equal validity with the

writings of the apostles. When the witnesses of the life and death of Christ died, the age of inspiration ceased, for God had revealed by them every truth which it was needful for men to know: and whatever things have been added since, are to be looked upon but as the opinions of fallible men, without weight and without authority. Let all such additions be swept away as useless rubbish, and as noisome dung which have defiled the sanctuary of God.

CONCLUSION.

HAVING thus briefly, and I hope I may add,. with fairness and candor, stated the evidence of the divine authority of the New Testament, permit one with all the ardor of heart-felt affection to intreat you, my dear friends, to read it again and again, and weigh these arguments in the balance of impartial reason. Should any of you, notwithstanding all this evidence, reject the New Testament as an imposture ;-before you throw the sacred book away, consider the following passages, in which it announces the mournful doom of those who will not receive Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature : he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned. Mark xvi. 15, 16. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. John iii, 36. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts iv. 12. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who know not God and obey not the gospel of our

Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. 2 Thes. i. 7, 8, 9, 10. Such are the declarations of this book concerning those who reject it in unbelief: and on a supposition of its divine authority, they are both natural and just. For if "God has so loved the world, as to give his only begotton son unto it, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," not to receive him must be the greatest of all sins; and must involve in it the highest degree of disobedience, ingratitude, and contempt. The unhappy men have refused the only method of obtaining happiness; and with unhallowed hands have shut the gates of mercy against themselves: and when on entering the eternal world, they are cast off by God, and feel that sense of his displeasure which their iniquities have merited; and are left under the full dominion of their evil passions, such a spectacle of misery will be presented, as no words can describe, and no heart conceive.

Should a candid reader say, "I was a deist, but I am now convinced that Jesus is the Christ:" remember, my friend, that a bare profession will avail nothing: it is necessary that the principles the gospel should be

written on your heart, and that its precepts should mould your temper and direct your conduct; so that you may be entirely under its influence, and able to say with a disciple of old, "Christ liveth in me."

In order to produce this effect, there is required the energy of a higher power than man's. Jesus, when speaking on the subject, says, Except a man be born again of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John iii. 5. And, in chap. vi. 44. "no man can come unto me, except the Father who hath sent me draw him." By the depravity of human nature this is become absolutely necessary and God who made man at first holy and happy, promises and delights to bestow that grace which renews Him in the spirit of his mind, and inclines his heart to embrace Jesus Christ" as made of God unto him, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Cor. i. 30. This doctrine so humiliating to pride, runs through the whole of the New Testament, and is designed to lead the person who is convinced of the guilt of his unbelief, to fall down before God in prayer, and address him in such words as these: "God be merciful to me a sinner.. Send forth thy light and thy truth, and let them lead me and guide me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." To animate you with the hope of success, Jesus