Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

is the decree fealed, and the commandment gone forth to call us into another world?—

This may fuffice for the examination of this one great cause of the corruption of the world; -from whence I fhould proceed, as I purpofed, to an enquiry after some other unhappy causes which have a fhare in this evil.—But I have taken fo much more of your time in this than I first intended,—that I shall defer what I have to say to the next occafion, and put an end to this discourse, by an answer to a queftion often afked relatively to this argument, in prejudice of christianity, which cannot be more feasonably answered than in a discourse at this time; and that is,- Whether the chriftian religion has done the world any fervice in reforming the lives and morals of mankind,-which fome who pretend to have confidered the present state of vice, seem to doubt of? This objection I, in some measure, have anticipated in the beginning of this discourse; --and what I have to add to that argument is this, that as it is impoffible to decide the point by evidence of facts, which at fo great a distance cannot be brought together and com

pared, it must be decided by reason, and the probability of things; upon which issue, one might appeal to the moft profeffed deift, and truft him to determine,-whether the lives of those who are fet loofe from all obligations, but thofe of conveniency,-can be compared with those who have been bleft with the extraordinary light of a religion?-and whether so just and holy a religion as the christian, which fets restraints even upon our thoughts, -a religion which gives us the most engaging ideas of the perfections of God,-at the fame time that it impreffes the most awful ones of his majesty and power;-a Being rich in mercies, but if they are abused, terrible in his judgments;-one constantly about our fecret paths,-about our beds ;-who spieth out all our ways, noticeth all our actions, and is fo pure in his nature, that he will punish even the wicked imaginations of his heart, and has appointed a day wherein he will enter into this enquiry, and execute judgment according as we have deferved.

If either the hopes or fears, the paffions or reason of men are to be wrought upon at all,

fuch principles must have an effect, though, I own, very far fhort of what a thinking man fhould expect from fuch motives.-

No doubt, there is great room for amendment in the chriftian world,-and the profeffors of our holy religion may in general be faid to be a very corrupt and bad generation of men, confidering what reafons and obligations they have to be better.-Yet ftill I affirm, if thofe reftraints were leffened, the world would be infinitely worfe;--and therefore we cannot fufficiently blefs and adore the goodnefs of God, for thefe advantages brought by the coming of Chrift,-which God grant that we may live to be more deferving of;—that, in the last day, when he fhall come again to judge the world, we may rife to life immortal. Amen.

SERMON VII.

Truft in God.

« AnteriorContinuar »