which copiously fell on fome particular fpots.

But, notwithstanding these fair and rational deductions, men of perverfe minds will ftill cavil and find faults; will ftill raise new objections, as fast as the old ones are cleared off. And hence it is, that the Apoftle is fo earnest with us, to be always ready to give a reafon of the hope, or faith, that is in us:"-as well knowing, that, in every age of the church, fuch a preparation would be highly neceffary: fince in every age, opponents to religion would perpetually arife, who fhould call forth its profeffors to the perpetual exercife of their zeal and knowledge. And perhaps, had it not been for the oppofition of fuch adversaries to rouse them, its profeffors might have gradually funk into a deplorable ignorance of the doctrines of religion, as well as into a shameful neglect of the duties of it. This however is certain, that the cavils raised against religion have all along providentially ferved to promote its interest. For they have excited a noble fpirit of inquiry: in confequence of

which, the Scriptures came to be every day more diligently ftudied, more closely exa mined, and more critically canvaffed, than, in all probability, they would otherwife have been. And the refult is, that the grounds of our faith are now much better, and more generally understood; and the objections against them are of course more eafily answered. And here let it be remarked, that a difficulty in religion, or an objection to it, once removed, becomes afterwards equivalent to a pofitive argument in its favour adapted to refresh the faith of believers; and to keep them more stedfast and fixed in their profeffion.

Confiderations thefe, that fhould make us attentive to the latter part of the Apostle's advice; and treat our adverfaries with meekness and reverence." For, with regard to us, all their attempts have turned out to our fignal advantage; which fhould therefore extinguish our refentment against them.

* See GERARD's Differtations on the Genius and Evidences of Christianity. Differt. II. § 3.

1 GERARD, Diff. II. § 4

C 2

And,

And, with regard to them, the only way to work their converfion is to apply to their reafon with civility and refpect. Illiberal and violent methods of defence are prejudicial to any cause they render the best suspicious. It is our boaft, that our religion is founded on argument: let it therefore be our business to defend it by argument. But every argument, to maintain its force, should be propofed in the fpirit of candor and benevolence. If bitterness and arrogance be mixed with it, it will lofe of its weight in proportion as men are difgufted at the rudeness with which it is offered: Whereas, had it been stated in a milder way, it might happily have operated with its whole influence, to the comfort of the propofer, and the conviction of the adversary.

And this method is the more to be regarded, because it was the method pursued by the Apostles: who, though they fcorned to enfnare the world by the enticing words of man's wisdom," were yet careful to convey their arguments in a mild and perfuafive

manner

in meeknefs inftructing those

that opposed themselves," as the most likely means of bringing them over "to the acknowledgment of the truth"." They fubmitted the proofs and evidences of their religion to a free and impartial examination; and then left them to operate on the minds of their hearers, according to their weight and ftrength. And what was the confequence? Why, by these means, Christianity made a quick and surprising progress; spread itself with amazing rapidity over all the moft celebrated, all the most enlightened kingdoms of the world; filencing the oppofitions of vain philofophy, and triumphing over the power of civil policy; and, what were ftill harder to be conquered, over the prejudices and paffions of mankind. But the fame evidence, and the fame efficacy it had at first, our religion ftill retains. It was: brought to the teft in every age; and in every age has flood the trial. Nay, the more it has been tried, the brighter it has appeared; and when fairly reprefented, has

been too piercing and amiable to fail of its juft effect.

It had one advantage, indeed, in the be ginning, which the corruption of later times has unhappily deprived it of: I mean, the advantage of appearing in its native drefs, and adorned with the fruits of good living." This appearance gained on the affections of mankind, and charmed the world into an admiration of it. For, who of any ingenuity of mind, could help admiring a religion, that fhone forth with fo much amiableness; and exhibited in its effects fuch a fulness of grace and truth!"

2.

Now, in order to replace it on its proper bafis, and restore it to its ancient honours, let us bring it again to the standard of Scripture; and endeavour by our lives, as well as by our arguments, to illuftrate the power of it. The end of faith is virtue and if our life be accordingly answerable to our faith, its evidence will be almoft irrefiftible. The divine excellency of it will appear confpicuous in the purity of converfation it inspires; and the divine authority of it will

be