SERMON XII.

Different Tempers judge differently of Religion.

[Preached on Eafter-Day.]

ORས་R》

I COR. i. 22, 23, 24.

For the Jews require a Sign, and the Greeks feek after Wisdom: But we preach Chrift crucified, unto the Jews a Stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Chrift the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God.

I

N the following Difcourfe SE R
upon these Words, I fhall 1st XII
explain diftinctly the feveral
Expreffions contained in the
Text; and 2dly, I fhall de-

duce fome useful Inferences therefrom.

VOL V.

T

I. IN

SER M. I. In order to Explain diftinctly the
XII. feveral Expreffions made use of in the

Text, 'tis to be obferved that the Doc-
trine therein contained, confifts plainly
of the three following Heads. ft, That
the Great and general Difference, between
the Humours or Tempers of the Nation
of the Jews on one hand, and the Greeks
(who were Then the principal and most
polite part of the heathen World) on the
other hand, was This; That the Jews,
in Their examination into the Truth of
any Doctrine propofed to them, were al-
ways apt to infift presently upon fome
Miracle, upon fome Token to be shown
them, in proof of the Doctrine's coming
from God; Whereas the Temper of the
Gentiles was, to expect conviction by Dif-
putation and Argument, according to the
Philofophy of the Times they lived in,
which was esteemed the Wisdom of the
Age then prefent: The Jews require a
Sign, and the Greeks feek after Wisdom,
2dly, That Perfons of Both these Tem-
pers, and that pretended to make use
of Each of thefe ways of judging, were

I

gene

generally extremely prejudiced against the
Doctrine of the Gospel: Infomuch that the
coming of Chrift into the World, in the
manner he did, in a mean, humble and
lowly appearance, teaching a Doctrine of
Morality, Plainnefs, and Simplicity; was
both a great Disappointment to the Jews,
who expected one that should in a mi-
raculous and pompous manner deliver
them from their Enemies; and at the
fame time was no lefs difagreeable to the
then prevailing fashion and method of
the Gentiles, who judged of Doctrines by
the Eloquence, and Oratory, and Artful-
ness in Disputing, of Those who taught and
maintained them: We preach Chrift cruci-
fied, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and
unto the Greeks Foolishness. 3dly, That
nevertheless, in Truth and Reality, fetting
afide Prejudices and Corrupt Notions, the
Doctrine of Chrift was accompanied with
the highest and most complete Evidence, ac-
cording to Both these Methods of judging:
It was attended with the fullest Demon-
ftrations of Divine Power, in the Miracles
God worked by him; And it had all real
VOL. V.
T 2
marks

SER M. marks of Wisdom, in its perfect agreeXII. ableness to the Dictates of True and Impartial Reafon: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Chrift the Power of God, and the Wifdom of God.

ift, THE Great and general Difference, between the Humours or Tempers of the Nation of the Jews on one hand, and the Greeks (who were Then the principal and moft polite part of the Heathen World) on the other hand, the Apostle obferves, was This; That the Jews, in Their examination into the Truth of any Doctrine proposed to them, were always apt to infist presently upon fome Miracle, upon fome Token to be shown them, in proof of the Doctrine's coming from God; Whereas the Temper of the Gentiles was, to expect conviction by Difputation and Argument, in Methods answering to the Philofophy of the Times they lived in, which was the Standard of Wifdom of the Age then prefent: The Jews require a Sign, and the Greeks feek after Wisdom. As to the Temper of the Greeks in this matter; nothing is more

noto

notorious in Hiftory, than that, about the S ER M. Times of our Saviour and his Apostles, XII. the things principally esteemed among them were Oratory and the Art of Dif puting: Oratory, by which Things were fet forth in a beautiful Light, adorned with proper figures, made pleafing and acceptable to the Hearers by a Variety of agreeable expreffions; And the Art of Difputing, by which every thing could be Supported with fome plaufible Arguments, every thing could be oppofed with Some feeming Difficulties, and every Difficulty could by men of Parts and Ingenuity have Something offered in Reply to it. These Instances of Skill, in themselves, and when applied to good Purposes, were Both of them really useful and valuable. By Oratory, Truth and Right represented in a good View, and clothed in proper and agreeable expreffions, appeared with a Greater Luftre, and made more Advantageous Impreffions: And by Skill in arguing, Reafon was taught to exert itself in its full Strength, and Truth to shine forth in its peculiar and inimitable Clear