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and convincing those who at present oppose themselves ".

From the general body of the once favoured people the veil, which has fo long excluded the truth, is not taken away; but from individuals, in this as in former ages, it may, through God's mercy, be removed. Convince them that by the law, wherein they truft, they cannot be faved. Shew them that in its best state it never by its own excellence justified any who came to it, but only through faith in the facrifice of Chrift. Remind them that the law itself, which promises no aid to human infirmity, expressly pronounces every one curfed who continueth not in all things there written to do them". Teach them thefe plain and falutary truths, it may be they will cease to look for falvation where it never could be found, and will begin to inquire from what other fource they may ob.

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Expound to them then other parts ture; fhew them that the prophecies refpecting the Meffiah were all of them fulfilled in the life and death, the refurrection and afcenfion, of the bleffed Jefus. Inftruct them

m 2 Tim. ii. 25.

n Deut. xxvii. 26. Gal. iii. 10. that

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that God was in Him reconciling the world to himself; of which he gave proofs the fame in kind but fuperior in degree to those which confirmed the miffion of Mofes. Signs and wonders and mighty deeds were wrought by both; and both delivered prophecies, which every fucceeding age has verified.

In this manner and by arguments of this fort, not by fuppreffing any part of the truth, nor by giving it up to preconceived notions, thousands of Jews were in the beginning converted to the faith of Chrift. The fame mode of reasoning has proved fuccessful in every other inftance where fuccefs has been gained; and by the fame, if wifely and feafonably urged, we may ftill, under the good influence of the Spirit of grace, hope to fave fome.

But, fecondly, if we wish to perfuade others to good effect, we ourselves should above all things be diligent, not only to fearch for and examine the truth, but likewife, when we have found, conscientiously to practise it.

The proofs of that pure religion, which we profess, are not lefs certain than the clearest demonstration; but demonstration itself is of

no

no avail if it be not attended to; nor can noral evidence, however cogent, produce its effect, if we do not give it an impartial hearing. We are not eafily convinced of what we are not willing to learn. If airy phantoms are pursued till we fancy them folid fubftance, if the grounds of our faith are feldom viewed or flightly regarded, if every imaginary or even real difficulty is made to overbalance pofitive proof, our doubts arise from fome other defect than want of evidence.

To exemplify in our life the fuperior excellency of the gofpel precepts is the best recommendation of our caufe to others, and the fureft means of drawing down the bleffing of GOD upon us and our endeavours. He is wont of his gracious and unmerited goodness to bestow upon the world his choiceft favours for the fake of his faints and faithful fervants. "Fear not, Paul" said the holy angel; "thou must be brought before Cefar, and Lo! GOD hath given thee all them that fail with thee"." If by the hatred, <mulation, and ftrife, if by the carnal lufts and appetites, if by the coldness and indifference, if by any other fin, of those who

• Acts xxvii. 24.

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name the name of Chrift, the progrefs of his kingdom is obftructed, and the converfion of unbelievers hindered, we have reafon to tremble before the Lord, and should endeavour to avert his righteous vengeance.

The study of our holy religion is the nobleft exercise of our rational faculties; the practice of it is the brightest ornament of our moral capacities. The bleffing promised from the fall, what patriarchs and kings have hoped for, what prophets and apoftles have taught, what angels have miniftered unto, and the Son of GOD died to obtain, must deserve the attention of man, fhould inspire his heart with gladness, and fill his lips with praise.

The prefent works of providence confirm our belief of the past, and establish our hopes of the future. He who "holdeth our foul in life, and fuffereth not our feet to be moved "," could animate the breathlefs clay, and can raise our body from the duft. He who guideth the fun in his courfe, and teacheth the moon her way, could stop the one in the midst of heaven, and the other in the chambers of the eaft. He who fcattered,

P Pf. lxvi. 9.

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and yet hath preserved, the fons of Judah, the flock of flaughter, can reaffemble, convert, and fave them; can "fay to the north, Give up, and to the fouth, Keep not back; bring my fons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth .' He who from the foundation of the world hath confirmed his holy covenant and magnified his loving kindnefs, can fulfil the words which he hath fpoken, and impart his appointed favours. At the right hand of GOD in heaven Christ Jefus our Redeemer is enthroned: thence doth he protect his church, and there he intercedeth for us. He prepareth manfions of blifs, which he promised to them that love him. His truth can never fail; he will come to his chofen fervants, and where He is they fhall be alfo, and reign with him in glory for

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