is fure to make shipwreck of the Under- SER M. ftanding, thus flattered and betrayed.

But then bad as this is, Since this too is certainly the cafe, that the impediments in the pursuit of Truth are not effential but accidental; we may well account for our mistakes in fetting out, the flowness of our advance, and the rubs and oppofitions in our paffage, without having recourse to any sceptical conclufions in favour of the incomprehenfible nature of Truth, or the inacceffible fituation in which the eternal Author of all things hath placed her. For is this any reason, that because fome Truths are fo deep that our hafte and impatience will not fuffer us to found them; others fo disguised that our diffipation will not allow us the attention neceffary to discover them; and others again fo suspected that our prejudices difpofe us to reject them; That because fome errors are reprefented fo plaufibly as to look like Truth; others feem fo commodious as to be wished Truth; and others again appear so fashionable as to ufurp all the prerogatives due unto it; Is this, I say, any reafon for fober men to conclude, that

either

I.

I.

SER M. either there is no difference between what We call Truth and Falfehood; or that the difference is fo infenfible that it will not serve us for a distinction? Our very Senfes, in many cafes, or Reafon in more, and our Hearts in almost all, will convince us of the contrary.

II. We come next to confider the objections to RELIGIOUS TRUTH.

1. And first, with regard to the Minifters of Religion, their paffions and their prejudices. It is rather to be lamented. than objected to us, that confecration to the service of heaven will not exempt good men from the frailties of humanity. As to the bad, indeed, if it does not aggravate their crimes, at least it renders them more fcandalous: And, in general, when the matter is of high concernment, the paffions both of good and bad are always, from the common impotence of our nature, proportionably inflamed. Miftaken conftancy, or irregular zeal, makes this man tenacious of received opinions: And the obliquer affections of avarice or ambition make that man reverence fuch as are establifhed. Oppofition, likewife, will make both

ob-SERM.

both but too much difpofed to
trude what they fufpect to be falfe; and
to fecrete what they know to be true. This
draws them ftill further from the road of
Truth, while all they feek is to be at di-
stance from one another's Parties and Opi-
nions. So long, therefore, as these inter-
ests prevail, the plaineft Truths will be
difputed, and the most notorious Errors
patronized and fupported; the obscurest
Principles preferred to the cleareft, and the
fubtileft conclufions take place of the most
fimple.

2. Inveterate errors concerning the nature and end of God's WRITTEN WORD, errors long fince fanctified by time and authority, are another fource of those difgraces to which Revelation is become fubject. The Gospel is fo commonly honoured with the name of TRUTH; and holy Scripture in general fo frequently recommended for its capacity of leading us into all truth, that men have been apt to regard it as a treasury of Science; and to apply to their Bible for all the principles of human knowledge. And under this delufion, the vain inquirer, to cover the

dif

I.

I.

SER M. dishonour of a fruitless search, hath always had recourse to that exhaustless fund, the human Imagination; which is ever then most extravagant when Reason is at greateft diftance. How miferably, for inftance, hath the Mofaic acccunt of the Creation been dishonoured by the wild and jarring expofitions of men devoted to this or that fect of PHILOSOPHY OF MYSTICISM? Platonists, Materialifts, Cartefians, Chemifts, Cabalists, and all the impure fry of phyfical, philological, and fpiritual Enthufiafts, have found their peculiar whimfies fupported, and made authentic, in the first and fecond chapters of the book of GENESIS?

How, again, have the Jewish Law and the GOSPEL of Jefus been abused by Slaves and Rebels; or by fuch as were ready to become either; to find, in one, the DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS; and, in the other, the Supremacy and DOMINION OF THE CHURCH?

But amidst all the folly and mischief attending this perverfion of the Bible, in fupport of human fyftems of Philofophy and Politics, had men only reflected, that, . though Scripture be faid to be written to

make

a

make us wife, it is added — unto falva- SERM. tion; they would have fought for the I. principles of natural and civil knowledge amongst their proper Profeffors; and have studied Scripture only to inveftigate that wisdom which is from above, and is first PURE, then PEACEABLE: A wisdom, which, at the fame time that it inlightens the Judgment, rectifies the Heart; and fo takes away all ground of contention both from a perplexed head and a bigotted temper.

III. But the thing which, most of all other, indifpofes fceptical men to the truths. of Revelation is, "That the fmall remain of SCRIPTURE-TRUTH which the friends and minifters of Religion have left unimpared, lies a prey to its enemies; obvious, (they fay,) to a thousand objections; and every objection level to the capacity of the Vulgar: while the folution of them not only requires the best abilities to frame and draw out, but the clofeft attention likewife to comprehend."

Now, as this is supposed to effect both the nature of Truth in general, and the a 2 Tim. chap. iii, 15.

b Jam. chap. iii. 17.

character