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ON THE

EVIDENCES

OF

CHRISTIANITY.

DISCOURSE I.

THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY BRIEFLY STATED, AND THE NEW TESTAMENT PROVED TO BE GENUINE.

2 PETER I. 16.

"We have not followed cunningly-devised fables."

Ir is undoubtedly a glory to our age and country, that the nature of moral virtue has been so clearly stated, and the practice of it so strongly enforced, by the views of its native beauty and beneficial consequences, both to private persons and societies. Perhaps in this respect hardly any nation or time has equalled, certainly few, if any, have exceeded our own. Yet I fear I might add, there have been few ages or countries where vice has more generally triumphed, in its most audacious and, in other respects, most odious forms.

This may well appear a surprising case, and it will surely be worth our while to inquire into the causes of so strange a circumstance. I cannot now

enter into a particular detail of them. But I am persuaded none is more considerable than that unhappy disregard, either to the gospel in general, or to its most peculiar and essential truths, which is so visible amongst us, and which appears to be continually growing. It is plain, that, like some of old, who thought and professed themselves the wisest of mankind, or, in other words, the freest thinkers of their age, multitudes among us have not liked to retain God and his truths in their knowledge; and it is therefore the less to be wondered at, if God has given them up to a reprobate mind, to the most infamous lusts and enormities, and to a depth of degeneracy, which, while it is in part the natural consequence, is in part also the just but dreadful punishment of their apostacy from the faith. And I am persuaded that those who do indeed wish well to the cause of public virtue, as every true Christian most certainly does, cannot serve it more effectually than by endeavouring to establish men in the belief of the gospel in general, and to affect their hearts with its most distinguishing truths.

The latter of these is our frequent employment, and is what I have particularly attempted, in my discourses on the power and grace of the Redeemer, The former, I shall now, by the divine assistance, apply myself to. And I have chosen the words now before us as a proper introduction to such a design.

They do indeed peculiarly refer to the coming of our Lord, which the Apostle represents as attested by that glory of which he was an eye-witness on the mount of transfiguration, and by that voice from

heaven which he heard there; but the truth of these facts is evidently connected with that of the gospel in general. I am persuaded therefore, you will think they are properly prefixed to a discourse on the general evidences of Christianity. And I hope, by the divine assistance, to propose them at this time in such a manner as shall convince you, that the Apostles had reason to say, and that we also have reason to repeat it, "We have not followed cunningly-devised fables.”

I have often touched upon this subject; but I think it my duty at present to insist something more largely upon it. You easily apprehend, that it is a matter of the highest importance, being indeed no other than the great foundation of all our eternal hopes. While so many are daily attempting to destroy this foundation, it is possible, that those of you especially who are but entering on the world, may be called to give a reason of the hope that is in you. I would therefore, with the Apostle, be concerned, that you may be ready to do it. It may fortify you against the artifices by which the unwary are often deceived and insnared, and may possibly enable you to put to silence their foolishness. least it will be for the satisfaction of your own minds, to have considered the matter seriously, and to be conscious to yourselves, that you are not Christians merely by education or example, as (had you been born elsewhere) you might have been Pagans or Mahometans; but that you are so upon rational evidence, and because, as the sacred historian expresses it, you know the certainty of those things in which `you have been instructed.

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To open and vindicate the proof of Christianity in all its extent, would be the employment of many discourses; nor would it on the whole, be proper to attempt it here. All that I now intend is, to give you a summary view of the most considerable arguments, in that which seems to me their most proper and natural connection, that so you may be able to judge of them better, than you could possibly do by a few scattered remarks, or by the most copious enlargement on any single branch of them alone. I shall endeavour to dispose these hints so, as that they may be some guide to those, whose leisure and abilities may lead them to a more ample and curious inquiry; that they may not be entangled in so complex an argument, but may proceed in an orderly manner. And if any of you, my friends, desire a more particular information on any of those heads, which I now but briefly suggest, you may depend upon it, that faithful ministers of every denomination will think it an important part of their duty, to give you all the private assistance they can. It is my hearty prayer that God would enable me to plead his cause with success; that he would open your understandings to receive these things, and strengthen your memories to retain them; "that you may not be like children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and the cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but may be strong in faith, giving glory to God;" that your faith being more and more established, it may appear that the tree is watered at the roots; and all your other graces may grow and flourish in an equal proportion.

But before I proceed, I must desire you to observe, that there is no proof in the world so satisfactory to the true Christian, as to have felt the transforming power of the gospel on his own soul. As that illiterate man whose eyes were miraculously opened by Christ, when he was questioned by the Jewish Sanhedrim, who endeavoured with all their sophistry to prove Christ an impostor, answered, with great steadiness and constancy, and with a great deal of reason too, "This one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see." So the most unlearned of the disciples of Jesus, having found his soul enlightened and sanctified, and felt his heart so effectually wrought upon, as to bring him home to his duty, his God, and his happiness, by the constraining power of the gospel, will despise a thousand subtle objections which may be urged against it: And though the cross of Christ may be to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness, yet with this experience of its saving energy, he will honour it in the midst of all their contempt and ridicule, as "the power of God, and the wisdom of God." In this sense, though the miraculous communication of the Spirit be ceased, he that believes hath still the witness in himself; and while the Spirit beareth witness with his spirit that he is a child of God, he cannot doubt but that the word by which he was as it were begotten unto him, is indeed a divine and incorruptible seed. And perhaps there are certain seasons of pressing temptation, in which the most learned as well as the most illiterate Christian will find this the surest anchor of his hope.

Nevertheless it must be acknowledged, that this

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