so, and by choosing to have such preachers. Now it is easy to see, whenever both ministers and people generally unite in disliking the doctrines that Paul preached, and his manner of preaching them, that metaphysical preachers will be neglected, or opposed, or set aside. And whenever there are none, or but very few, who dare to go into a synagogue, or house of public worship, and reason three Sabbaths, or three months, or a year and six months, upon the great and essential doctrines of the gospel, as Paul did; a wide door will be opened for the propagation and spread of gross and fatal religious error among all classes of people. It is no small, venial evil, for either ministers or people to speak reproachfully and contemptuously of metaphysical preaching, for the real purpose of bringing the essential and fundamental doctrines of the gospel into contempt. No person, who loves these doctrines, is ever displeased in hearing them explained, proved, and set in the strongest light by preachers. It is not metaphysical preaching, but the doctrines metaphysically preached, that are so much disliked, opposed and reproached. When we hear either preachers or people speak against metaphysical preaching, we need to be at no loss what their meaning or design is, or what consequences will flow from their artful and pernicious conduct. They employ the smoothest, easiest, and most effectual method to prevent the spread of truth, and promote the spread of error, that ever has been, or can be employed. Such deceivers are extremely dangerous, and their artifice ought to be exposed, condemned, and resisted by all preachers and lovers of the truth.

4. If Paul preached plainly, in order to preach profitably, then other ministers ought to preach plainly, for the same important purpose. Paul's plain preaching offended and disaffected many of his hearers. But this did not prevent his preaching plainly; for his design in preaching was not to please men, but to profit them, and please God. So he said to the Galatians, who had forsaken him and followed false teachers. "I marvel, that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel; which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." If Paul could not please both God and man, by preaching divine truths plainly, then, no other ministers can expect to please both God

and man by plain preaching. But as Paul chose to please God and profit men, by preaching plainly, rather than to please men to their own destruction; so ministers ought to make the same choice, and preach in the same manner; and leave the event to God, whether the truth they deliver shall be a savor of life unto life or a savor of death unto death to their hearers. Plain and profitable preaching will always produce one or the other of these important effects. Paul was willing to please men in every thing, except neglecting to preach truth plainly; and all ministers should be willing to do the one, and not the other. No preacher in the world can find a solid excuse for not preaching plainly and profitably, through fear of offending, or a desire of pleasing men. This, in many cases, is an extremely great trial. For by preaching plainly and profitably, many ministers have lost both the favor and support of their people; and involved themselves in great, distressing, and lasting temporal evils. But though such calamities may be foreseen, in consequence of ministers' preaching plainly and faithfully, they have no right to shrink from the trial; but feel and say with the apostle, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

5. If ministers ought to preach plainly and profitably, as Paul did, then people ought to approve of their preaching in such a manner, though it be not pleasing to their natural hearts. People have no right to desire preachers to seek to please them simply, but they ought to desire them to seek to save them. How thankful have many been who have been recovered from the delusions of false teachers to the knowledge of the great and saving truths of the gospel, by plain and profitable preaching? Thousands, whom Paul instrumentally turned from Pagan and fatal delusions, were ready to give him their eyes, for joy. People never desire their physicians to please them at the risk of their life; and it is no less criminal and absurd, to desire their ministers to please them at the risk of their eternal salvation. But how many at this day, are running after false teachers, who are crying Peace, peace, to them, while they are standing on the brink of endless destruction! Such persons will not so much as give a hearing to plain and profitable preaching, and endeavor to prevent others from hearing it. Their folly will sooner or later be made manifest.

6. This subject calls upon all to inquire, whether they approve or disapprove of plain and profitable preaching. There is nothing more sensibly affects the heart than preaching; and therefore there is nothing, which has a greater tendency to discover

to every person, whether his heart is good, or bad, than his feelings under preaching; whether the preaching be good or bad. To be pleased with bad preaching, is one of the surest marks of a bad heart; and to be pleased with good preaching, is one of the surest marks of a good heart. You have all had an opportunity to hear both bad and good preaching; now let me ask, Which has been the most pleasing? Your feelings are a mark to yourselves, if you never express them to others; and they are a mark to others, if you express them. How ready are people to express their feelings in respect to preaching; not considering that they thereby expose both their understanding and hearts! Be entreated then to examine your feelings, for your own benefit, and for the benefit of others.

SERMON XXII.

AVOWAL OF RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS.

Bur this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things which are written

in the law and the prophets. - ACTs, xxiv. 14.

num

AFTER Paul returned from Greece to Jerusalem, he went into the temple to preach; but the Asiatic Jews stirred up all the people and laid hands on him, and would have killed him, if the chief captain had not taken him out of their hands and led him to the castle. When he came upon the stairs, he requested and obtained leave of the captain to make his defence before the people. After this, the chief captain carried him before the Sanhedrim, the highest ecclesiastical court in the nation. In pleading before them, he so wisely managed his cause as to disunite them in opinion; which defeated their design to condemn him. But though the council dismissed him, yet ber of the people conspired against him, and bound themselves by an oath, that they would not eat nor drink till they had slain him. When this was made known to the chief captain, he sent a band of soldiers to conduct him in safety to Felix, the governor. Felix immediately sent to Jerusalem for Ananias, with the elders, to come and exhibit their complaints against Paul. When they were come, they employed one Tertullus, an orator, to be their advocate. He opened their cause with peculiar address, and exhibited their complaints. After the governor had heard them, he beckoned to Paul to make a reply. In his reply he absolutely denied the charges which had been alleged against him. But he turned to the governor and said, "This I confess unto thee, that after the way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all

things which are written in the law and the prophets." Paul was not ashamed of the gospel which he preached, nor afraid to profess his belief of its great and essential doctrines; though he knew they were called, by the greatest men in the nation, an absurd and fatal heresy. Hence we conclude,

That those who preach the true doctrines of the gospel, are not afraid to avow their religious sentiments; though they know that they are called heresy by others.

I. I shall show that the true doctrines of the gospel are very often called heresy; and,

II. Show why those who preach them are not afraid to avow their religious sentiments.

I. I am to show that the true doctrines of the gospel are very often called heresy.

The gospel was essentially preached to Adam; and from Adam to Abraham; and from Abraham to Moses; and from Moses to Christ. But through all that long tract of time, it was generally misunderstood and misrepresented by all the heathen nations, and by many who professed to acknowledge its truth and divinity. When Christ came and preached the gospel with greater purity and plainness, not only the Gentiles but the Jews disbelieved, misrepresented, and rejected it. Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees hated and opposed him; and finally put him to death, for preaching the plain and important truths of the gospel. And wherever the apostles preached the same doctrines, they were generally represented by Jews and Gentiles, as a mean and contemptible sect, who propagated gross heresies and delusions. Tertullus in his plea against Paul, said, "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world; and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes." As Christ was brought up in Nazareth, an obscure place, his enemies reproachfully called him a Nazarene, and his followers Nazarenes; and Paul a ring-leader of that despicable sect. And when Paul came to Rome and called upon christians to come and see him, "They said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came, showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: For as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against." James and Stephen were early put to death by the Jews, for preaching the gospel in Judea; and the other apostles, who went round the world preaching the gospel to Jews and Pagans, were every where opposed, abused, and finally persecuted unto death. The primitive christians suffered no less than ten bloody persecutions. And ever since those times, such christians as have embraced