the doctrines, imbibe the principles, and practise the precepts of Chrift. It might be to run into too great length to confirm this pofition beyond dispute by express quotations from the word of God. And (not to anticipate what belongs more properly to a subfequent part of the work) it may be fufficient here to remark in general, that Chrif tianity is always reprefented in Scripture as the grand, the unparalleled inftance of God's bounty to mankind. This unfpeakable gift was graciously held forth in the original promise to our first parents: it was predicted by a long continued feries of prophets; the subject of their prayers, inquiries, and longing expectations. In a world which oppofed and perfecuted them, it was their fource of peace, and hope, and confolation. At length it approached-the Defire of all Nations-The long expected Star announced its presence— A multitude of the heavenly host hailed its introduction, and proclaimed its character; "Glory to God in the higheft, on earth

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peace, good will towards men." The Gofpel is every where reprefented in scripture by fuch figures as are most strongly calculated to imprefs on our minds a sense of its value; it is spoken of as light from darkness, as release from prifon, as deliverance from captivity,

C

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I.

CHAP. captivity, as life from death. "Lord, now "letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, "for mine eyes have feen thy falvation," was the exclamation with which it was welcomed by the pious Simeon; and it was univerfally received among the early converts with thankfulness and joy. At one time, the communication of it is promised as a reward; at another, the lofs of it is threatened as a punishment. And, fhort as is the form of prayer taught us by our blessed Saviour, the more general extenfion of the kingdom of Chrift conftitutes one of its leading petitions.

WITH what exalted conceptions of the importance of Chriftianity ought we to be filled by fuch descriptions as these? Yet, in vain have we "line upon line and precept upon "precept."-Thus predicted, thus prayed and longed for, thus announced, characterized, and rejoiced in, this heavenly treasure poured into our lap in rich abundance we fcarce accept. We turn from it coldly, or at beft poffefs it negligently, as a thing of no eftimation. But a due fenfe of its value would affuredly be impreffed on us by the diligent ftudy of the word of God, that bleffed repofitory of heavenly truth and confola

tion. Thence it is that we are to learn what we ought to believe and what to prac-` tife. And, furely, one would think that much importunity would not be requifite to induce men to a perufal of the facred volume. Reafon dictates, Revelation commands; "Faith comes by hearing, and hear❝ing by the word of God."-" Search the "Scriptures,"—" Be ready to give to every

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one a reason of the hope that is in you." Such are the declarations and injunctions of the infpired writers; injunctions confirmed by commendations of those who obey the admonition. Yet, is it not undeniable that with the Bible in our houses, we are ignorant of its contents; and that hence, in a great measure, it arifes, that the bulk of the Chriftian world know fo little, and mistake fo greatly, in what regards the religion which they profefs?

CHAP.

I.

THIS is not the place for inquiring at, large, whence it is that those who affent to the position, that the Bible is the word of God, and who profefs to reft their hopes on the Christian bafis, contentedly acquiefce in a ftate of fuch lamentable ignorance. But it may not be improper here to touch on two Two false kindred opinions; from which, in the minds

maxims

expofed.

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of the more thoughtful and ferious, this acquiefcence appears to derive much secret fupport. The one is, that it fignifies little what a man believes; look to his practice. The other (of the fame family) that fincerity is all in all. Let a man's opinions and conduct be what they may, yet, provided he be fincerely convinced that they are right, however the exigencies of civil fociety may require him to be dealt with among men, in the fight of God he cannot be criminal.

It would detain us too long, fully to fet forth the various merits of thefe favourite pofitions, of which it is furely not the smallest excellence, that they are of unbounded application, comprehending within their capacious limits all the errors which have been believed, and many of the most desperate crimes which have been perpetrated among men. Of the former of thefe maxims, we may remark, that it proceeds on the monftrous fuppofition already noticed, that although accountable creatures, we shall not be called to account for the exercise of our intellectual and mental powers. Moreover, it is founded on that grofsly fallacious affumption, that a man's opinions will not influence his practice. The advocates of this fashionable

I.

fashionable principle require to be reminded, CHAP. that the judgement often receives a corrupt bias from the heart and the affections; that vice is the fruitful mother of prejudice and error. Forgetful of these acknowledged truths, and confounding the most important moral distinctions, they place on the fame level those who, carefully weeding from their hearts every falfe principle, occupy themfelves in a fincere and warm pursuit of truth, and those who yield themfelves implicitly to the opinions, whatever they may be, which early prepoffeffion may have infused, or which paffion or intereft, or even acquiefcing indolence may have impofed upon

their minds.

THE latter of the foregoing maxims, that Sincerity is all in all, proceeds on this groundlefs fuppofition, that the Supreme Being has not afforded us fufficient means of difcriminating truth from falfehood, right from wrong and it implies, that be a man's opinions or conduct ever fo wild and extravagant, we are to prefume, that they are as much the refult of impartial inquiry and honeft conviction, as if his fentiments and actions had been ftrictly conformable to the rules of reafon and fobriety. Never indeed