DISCOURSE III..

PART II.

Have already examined the first and great Prejudice against the Gofpel, arifing from the Pover

ty and Meanness of our bleffed Lord, and the low Condition of Life in which he appeared in the World, and the wretched Circumftances which put an end to it; and fhewed it to be fo far from being a just Offence against the Gospel, that, when fairly confidered, it serves to recommend Religion to us with all poffible Advantage, and the more eminently to set forth the Love of Christ, and the Wisdom and Goodness of God, in the Gospel.

It was from the Offence taken at the mean Condition of our Lord, that the Cross

became

became a Stumbling-block to the Jews. It became also, as the Apoftle fays, Foolishness to the Greeks: For they fought after Wisdom; and, not finding the Wisdom they fought after in the Gospel, it was esteemed by them as Foolishness.

The great Articles upon which all Religion depends, are the Nature of God, the Immortality of the Soul, and the Certainty of future Rewards and Punishments in another Life after this. Thefe Things have ever exercised the Wit and Learning of the confidering Part of Mankind, and Philofophy has furnished Difficulties on every Side; and, were they well cleared up, 'tis thought Religion would want no other Support. But in vain do you search the Gospel of Christ for a Solution of these Difficulties: He has not fo much as entered into them, or once attempted to give an Account of the Nature or Effence of God, or of an human Soul, or to confider the Difficulties that are urged by the Schools against its separate Existence from the Body. Future Rewards and Punishments he has indeed fully afferted; but, as to the Nature and Manner of them, and the Soul's Existence in each State, he has left them involved in the fame Intricacies in which he found them. And yet, fay the Difputers

Difputers of this World, who would not expect from a Perfon fent from God to have all his Difficulties folved which affect the Belief and Practice of Religion? We are bid to be good and holy, and are promised Immortality: So far 'tis well. But did he not know what Doubts exercise the most learned Men concerning the Nature of God, and of the Soul, and its Paffage to another World, and concerning the Place and Condition of that other World? Why were not these Doubts cleared? Had he opened to us this dark Scene of Nature, and made us to understand the Contexture of the Soul, and its Manner of subsisting out of the Body; had he taught us to comprehend the State and Nature of the other World; fuch Doctrines, fuch Discoveries would have been fufficient Evidence of the divine Wifdom: But now we are only taught the plain Doctrines of Morality, and are bid to take his Word for our Immortality.

To clear up this great and unreasonable Offence against the Gospel, I desire you would confider with me the following Particulars:

First, That the Objection does not lie properly against the Gospel of Chrift; but, if there be any Senfe in it, it must rife

I

higher,

higher, and strike at the Wisdom and Goodnefs of God in the Creation: For, if any Fault is to be found in this Matter, it is not with Christ for not teaching us more Wisdom than we are capable of, but with God for not making us wifer than we are. And hence it will appear, That the Objection is both impious and senseless.

Secondly, That this Objection, allowing it. its full Force, does no way affect the Belief or Practice of Religion; because Religion depends entirely upon the Certainty of the Soul's Immortality, and of a future State of Rewards and Punishments; which Certainty no way depends upon the Knowledge of the Nature of the Things themselves, fince we are and may be certain of many Things, the Nature of which we neither do nor can know. And hence it will appear, That the Difficulties arifing from the Confideration of the Nature of thefe Things cannot affect our Belief of the Certainty of them, if it be fupported by proper Evidence; and, confequently, that Religion is no way concerned to remove these Difficulties. And,

Thirdly, That the Gofpel has given us the greatest Evidence for the Certainty and Reality of these Things, that can be thought on or defired. And hence it will appear, That