SERM. I. the Author and the Authority of the Book. Whatever becomes of the Author, the Authority of the Book is unquestionably good; if it be fhewn, that it could not have been received from the first by a vast Number of Persons as a true History, but upon a Suppofition that it really was fo: it being an impracticable Thing to obtrude upon the World a Variety of recent Facts with the most memorable and glaring Circumstances, afferted to be done before the Chief Priests and Scribes, and the whole People of Jerufalem, as Spectators and Eye-witneffes. Whoever were the Authors of the Gospels, they certainly expected to be believed: "But how could they have expected any fuch Thing in Cafe of an Imposture, when they refer expressly and by Name, to Time, Place, and Perfon; when they virtually appeal to the Senses of that very Age and Nation for the Truth of their Relations? It is not the Intereft of an Impoftor to be particular, explicit, and circumftantial: He muft avoid, as a Rock upon which he must inevitably split, Dates of Time, the particular Place of Action, (especially if it be a public one; and near at Hand, where fuch a Miracle is pretended to be wrought) the Names, Number and Rank of the Spectators. His Art confifts in laying the Scene at a great Distance, in giving general, confused and undiftinguished Accounts of Things,

and

ând in skulking behind a thousand Evafions, SER M. I. thofe Holes which Creatures of Subtlety have fequeftered from the Light of the Sun; and to which they always retreat, when closely purfued. Whereas in the New Teftament there is that undiffembled Opennefs of Soul, that unaffected Franknefs and unconstrained Freedom in relating Things with perfect Eafe and without any Effort; which could come from none but ingenuous Writers, and can, I think, be refifted by none but difingenuous Readers.

Add to this, that whoever were the Authors, they were infpired. For one of the notorious Facts on which great Stress in many Places is laid, is that the Holy Ghoft was given by the laying on of the Apostles Hands; in Confequence of which the new Converts prophefied and fpoke with new Tongues. For the Truth of this St. Paul appeals to the Church of Corinth; and if it had not been true, he must have been looked upon by them as an abandoned Impoftor, charging them with the Abuse and Mifapplication of fpiritual and miraculous Gifts they never had. Whoever intends to deceive, muft be folicitous to fave the Appearances of Truth; which, upon a Suppofition of the Falfity of this Fact, St. Paul by no means did. For he lays down that as a known Truth, which those to whom he addreffed his Epiftle must know, from

B 2

SERM. I. from what passed within them, to be egregioufly falfe. Now if there was fuch a plentiful Effufion of the Holy Spirit even to those who did no diftinguished Service to the Church; we cannot rationally suppose it was denied to thofe, who made it their honeft Endeavour to perpetuate the Faith by their Writings. The Dew of Heaven, while it defcended on Places comparatively waste and barren, would not be with-held from a more kindly Soil, productive of the moft generous Fruits for the Service and Food of Man.

In profecuting this Subject, I fhall fhew,

Ist, How far and in what Degree an Affent to the Truth of Christianity is obligatory upon us, fuppofing a Sufficiency of Evidence for it.

IIdly, That there is fuch a Sufficiency of Evidence for it, that we cannot, confiftently with Reafon, refuse to be determined by it.

IIIdly, I fhall conclude with a fhort Reflection on the Importance of Christianity, and our Infenfibility of it's juft Value.

Chriflianity ftands upon the very fame Footing as Morality does, in Point of Obligation. For we refolve the Obligation of Morality, or trace it up to it's FountainHead,

Head, after the following Manner.Virtue is neceffarily productive of the Happinefs of Mankind; and Vice of Mifery and Confufion.- -A Being of infinite Benevolence must will whatever is neceffarily productive of general Happiness.Every Creature is obliged to conform himself to the Will of his Creator.

SERM. I.

To apply this to Chriflianity. One cannot confiftently difbelieve Chriftianity, without disbelieving every thing elfe, that has only the fame Degree of Evidence.-One cannot disbelieve every Thing else that has the fame Degree of Evidence, without proceeding upon a Principle, that is, in it' genuine Tendency, deftructive of univer... Happiness, and defeats the very End of our focial Nature.-One cannot therefore difbelieve Chriflianity without counteracting the great Will, and fovereign Pleasure of Him, who made us focial Beings, and wills the Happiness of all his Creatures.—The Confequence of which is, that the Belief of Chriftianity is as obligatory, terminating ultimately in the Will of the Deity, as is the Practice of Morality; and ftands upon the very fame Foundation. The End of Society cannot be attained, if there be nothing to be believed, or depended upon between Man and Man; or, if there be no fatisfactory Grounds why a Thing is to be depended upon; or, if we be not obliged

SERM. I. to pay any Regard to them. For which Reafon, Deifm, if it could be confiftent with itself, in the laft Refort muft lead to and terminate in Atheism. For there could be no Providence, if the World were all Chaos and Confufion. Now the World must be all Chaos and Confufion, (there being nothing left for us to depend upon in our Intercourfe with one another) upon a Suppofition that Moral Evidence, however perfect in it's Kind, does but lead us into Error. For if there be fuch a Thing as Providence, all the Administrations of it from the Beginning have proceeded, and the Course of the World has been ordered, upon a Suppofition that there is fuch a Thing as Sincerity and a Regard for Truth prevailing among Mankind; and that there are certain Marks to distinguish, in many Cafes, Honefty from Imposture. But the

次

Scheme of the Deifts (as they set aside the Testimony of the Apoftles and primitive Martyrs, who have as fair Pretenfions to Honefty, as any other Perfons) must proceed upon a contrary Suppofition; that the World is one wide Scene of Villainy and Confufion; that we may weary ourselves in the Search of a Man of Sense that is not a Deceiver; and a Man of Honesty that is not a Dupe. The Wheels of Government must be interrupted and ftand ftill, if such Evidences, as Chriftianity is attended with,

be