Man in making him happy here and hereafter: And, though his Inftruction, compared with the Philofopher's deep Knowledge, may, in the Language of St. Paul, be called the Foolishness of Preaching, yet will it, if duly attended to, make him wife unto Salvation.

I am not placing Religion upon Prejudice as its proper Foundation: No; the Gofpel was at first introduced by the strongest Appeal to Reafon, when it was introduced by the Hand of God in Signs and Wonders and mighty Works, which the Apoftle calls the Demonftration of the Spirit, and opposes it to the Wisdom of the World: And the Gofpel ftands upon the fame Reafon ftill. But this is a Reafon which, the wife. ones of the World think, can produce nothing but Prejudice, or fuch Faith as differs but little from it. This then I fay, That it was worthy of God, by a strong Hand and outstretched Arm, in Signs and Wonders to beat down Superftition and Idolatry, and the corrupt Notions of the World; and to plant in the room of them, not by the Arts of Man's Wisdom, but by these Demonftrations of the Spirit, true Principles of Reafon and Religion; to give them Poffeffion in the World, that they might be delivered down from Generation

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Generation to Generation, and maintained under the natural Influence which Custom and Education have, and always will have, upon Mankind.

And, if we confider Revelation in this Light only, as removing falfe Principles of Error and Superftition, and introducing juft ones of Truth and Religion, independently of the Reason and Evidence on which the Gospel ftands, it must appear to be an Act of divine Love and Goodnefs, which we ought to receive with Thankfulness.

If

Men were fuppofed to be quite incapable of entering at all into the Reason of Things, and to be wholly guided by Prejudice and Cuftom, yet furely even then it would be an A&t of Love to draw out of their Minds Principles full of Mischief to themselves and others, and place in their room Principles of Love and Benevolence to make themfelves and others happy. And furely this at least must be allowed to the Gofpel, That it did in fact expel the falfe and pernicious Notions of Heathenifm, and introduce Principles upon which Men may be at Peace and in Friendship with God and with each other. And from hence perhaps we may fee the Reason why Miracles were fo frequent in the Beginning of the Gofpel, and why they

ceafed

ceafed afterwards. They were neceffary till Truth had Poffeffion of the World; but Truth, throughly established, was left to be propagated by the natural Means of Inftruction and Education.

Every body fees what Mifchief and Wickedness are often produced by falfe and corrupt Opinions and Principles; which owe not their Strength to Reafon, for with Reafon they have no Alliance, but to the Poffeffion they have of the Mind. Good Principles, with the fame Advantage of Poffeffion, will be as powerful to good Purposes, though the Mind difcerns not the Reafon from whence they flow. There are but few Workmen, perhaps, who know the Reason, and can demonftrate the mechanic Powers of the Inftruments they ufe; but, being perfect in the Ufe and Application of thefe Powers, they are able Workmen and Master-builders; which is all that is required of them. In like manner, if true Religion is fo introduced into the Mind, as to work in the Heart of Man, and make him upright and honest, the End and Purpose of Religion is answered.

To answer this End of Religion were the Preachers of the Gofpel fent into the World: The Errand was worthy of Him who sent them; whofe Goodness and Mercy inclined

him to teach Men the Way to Happiness, but not to flatter their Vanity and Pride of Knowledge. The Doctrines of the Gofpel are not the worfe for being Foolishness to the Greeks, and a Stumbling-block to the Jews; fince they are, and on Experience appear to be, the Power of God to Salvation to all who believe.

DISCOURSE.

N treating on this Subject, I have already obferved to you, that there are two Propofitions or Affertions contained in the Words of the Text:

First, That the World by Wisdom knew not God.

Secondly, That it pleafed God by the Foolifhnefs of Preaching to fave Believers.

It being allowed in general, that the World was grofly ignorant and fuperftitious, and unacquainted with the true Notion of God, and the Religion that was to be paid him; yet it will still be faid, that there were fome, fome few at leaft, who had extricated, themselves from thefe popular Errors; who

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