СНАР. I. was there a principle more general in its ufe, more fovereign in its potency. How does its beautiful fimplicity alfo, and compendious brevity, give it rank before the laborious fubtleties of Bellarmin! Clement, and Ravaillac, and other worthies of a fimilar ftamp, from whofe purity of intention the world has hitherto withheld its due tribute of applaufe, would here have found a ready plea; and their injured innocence fhall now at length receive its full though tardy vindication. "These however," it may be replied, "are excepted cafes." Certainly they are cafes of which, because they clearly expose the unfoundness of his principle, any one who maintains the opinion in question would be glad to difencumber himself. But it will be incumbent on fuch an one, first to explain with precifion why they are to be exempted from its operation, and this he will find an impoffible tafk; for fincerity, in its popular fenfe, cannot be made the criterion of guilt and innocence on any ground, which will not equally ferve to juftify the affaffins who have been inftanced. The conclufion cannot be eluded; no man was ever morę fully perfuaded of the innocence of any action, than thofe men were convinced, that the horrid deed they were about to per petrate I. petrate was not merely lawful, but highly CHAP. meritorious. Thus Clement and Ravaillac being unquestionably fincere, they were therefore indubitably innocent. Nay, the abfurd and pernicious tendency of this principle might be fhewn to be even greater than what has yet been stated. been stated. It would fcarcely be going too far to affert, that whilft it fcorns the defence of petty villains, of those who ftill retain the sense of good and evil, it holds forth, like fome well frequented fanctuary, a fecure afylum to those more finished criminals, who, from long habits of wickedness, are loft alike to the perception as to the practice of virtue; and that it felects a feared confcience, and a heart become callous to all moral distinctions, as the fpecial objects of its care. Nor is it only in prophane history, that inftances are to be found like those which we have mentioned, of perfons committing the greatest crimes with a fincere conviction of the rectitude of their conduct. Scripture will afford us parallels; and it was furely to guard us against the very error which we have been now expofing, that our blessed Saviour forewarned his difciples : "The "time cometh, that whofoever killeth you "will think that he doeth God fervice." CHAP. I. True Sincerity. 1 A PRINCIPLE like this must then be abandoned, and the advocates for fincerity must be compelled to restore this abused term to its genuine fignification, and to acknowledge that it must imply honefty of mind, a faithful ufe of the means of knowledge and improvement, a defire of being inftructed, humble inquiry, impartial confideration, and unprejudiced judgement. It is to these we would earnestly call you; and to fuch dispositions of mind, ever to be accompanied with fervent prayer for the divine bleffing, Scripture every where holds forth the most animating promifes. "Afk and ye fhall receive, feek and 66 ye fhall find, knock and it fhall be open❝ed unto you; Ho! every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters;" fuch are the comfortable affurances, fuch the gracious encouragements to the truly fincere inquirer. How deep will be our guilt if we flight all these benevolent offers "How many prophets "and kings have defired to hear the things "that we hear, and have not heard them !" Great indeed are our opportunities, great alfo is our refponfibility. Let us awaken to a true fenfe of our fituation. Every confideration is prefented to us that can alarm our fears, or animate our industry. How foon may the brightnefs of our meridian fun be darkened! I. darkened! Or, should the long fuffering of CHAP. God ftill continue to us the mercies which we fo much abufe, this will only aggravate our crime, and in the end enhance our punishment. The time of reckoning will at length arriye. And when finally fummoned to the bar of God, to give an account of our stewardship, what plea can we have to urge in our defence, if we remain willingly and obftinately ignorant of the way which leads to life, with fuch transcendent means of knowing it, and fuch urgent motives to its fuit? pur CHAP. II. Popular notions. CHAPTER II. CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE. SECT. I. Inadequate Conceptions of the Corruption of A Human Nature. FTER confidering the defective notions of the importance of Christianity in general, which prevail among the higher orders of profeffed Chriftians, the particular mifconceptions which first come under our notice respect the corruption and weakness of human nature. This is a topic on which it is poffible that many into whofe hands the prefent work fhall fall, may not have beftowed much attention. If the cafe be fo, it may be requifite to intreat them to lend a patient and a ferious ear. The fubject is of the deepest import. Nor are we afraid of going too far when we affert, that it lies at the very root of all true Religion, and is eminently the bafis and ground-work of Chriftianity. So far as the writer has had an opportunity of remarking, the generality of profeffed Christians |