Cbriftian Religion proved by Reafon. ~ with fpecious colours the pretences of Infidelity. And thus the belief of it refults Chap· 2. from conviCtion and love. ~ This moral evidence is as convincing as is requilite to make us fteadfafHy believe and obey the Cofpel. ·Moral Arguments produce as fatisfying certainty, though not fo palpable as thofe drawn from Senfe. When there is a concurrence of Reafons proper to the Nature of things, and the ftrongeft they are capable of, by their united li~ht they difpel all doubts and fear of the contrary. For after the Underllandmg has dc!Jberately and impartially compar'd the Motives and Arguments in favour of the truth of a thing, and thofe that contradnobt, and finds the moft we1ghty moments cfRcafon in one fcale for it, and in the other nothing but Air and Emptinefs, it concludes without hefitation or fufpence that fuch a thing is real. And as it is impoffible that a Phylical demonllration concerning the exiftence of a thing fhould be deceitful, becaufe the two parts of a contraditl:ion, as of the being and not being of a thing, cannot be true : So there is as it were an equal repugnance, that a moral Demonftration, form'd upon the beft Arguments thematter will admit, fhould deceivethe Mind. It prefents tbeobjefrwithouta cloud fo that the Underftanding has an undoubted affurance of it. ' ficl~fn~r~:e~~~~i~~~tr~~~~:p~~~~n~~~~&e:~; ~:~!~s~ !-~:~~i~~e~~~~ ~}fe~~~i~l blar~~~£ Religion. And of them in general we may obferve, 1. The Cofpel illuftrates and e!hblifhes all the Natural Principles of Truth and Goodnefs that are common to Mankind, the rule of moral ACl:ions: And reveals all fupernatu- ~~~~~!1g~~:(~~li~p~~rtg;•d~~~:Yer~f ~u0~~c:~~:/:d:.u1~':a~ehfrg~e~e~te~ana~dt~~~ fallibly leads tbofe who believe and obey it to Heaven. 2. T here is fuch an intire agreement between all the parts of the Chriftian Religion for the accomplitbiog its great end, as affords a clear convitl:ion 'ds no humane invention, but from God. As the Harmonious Compofition, the Beautiful Order, and Uniform Prei'en •at ion of the World, is a fenfible demonftration that it prcceeds from a moft Wife, PiJTPerfid and Good Ca'!fe. In particular, the Dotlrine of the Cofpel contains beltdes what may be known of God, andof Man by Natural Light, twoprincipal points: An account of the Corruption and Mifery of Mankind in its firft caufes: And his Redemption effdl:ually accomplifh'd by the Son of God. The difcovery of both is equally necelfary to Man. The firft makes him under(land the depth :or his guiltine!S, that he is incomparably more wretched than he feels himfelf, clears the Purity and Juftice of God in his dealings with Man, and prepares him by the afllitled fence of his condition for Mercy. And the knowledge of the Divine Redeemer powerful to reftore him, is as necelfary in order to his Duty and Happinefs. For without it he would be always tormented with the mournful remembrance of his loft Felicity, and harden'd in Defpair. 1. The Chriftian Religion gives a full A'count of the Depravation and Mifery of Humane Nature in its firft Caufes. The Heathens felt an infeparable permanent difcord in Man between the upper Faculties and the lower Appetites, but were utterly ignorant of the Caufe of it. Now the Scripture reveals that Man in the Original frame of his Nature b't~ ~e~~~~dat~i~~b!~i/tEt~e~t ~~rtr~a~~:,:~:h~,:l~~ p~~;~~~~~ rdr ~;~ ;;~t~t his Obedience. He yielded to theinticements of a fallen Spirit, >vho war a Lyar, that he )night be a Murderer, and by his revolt from God loft his Holinefs, and made a forfeiture of all the priviledges of his happy State. Thus the Fountain was tainted; and Who can bring a clean thing out of ttn unclean? By the offence of one Judgment cafJte upon aUto Condemnatiolt. Every Man is now born a flave of Sin, a tnbmary of Death. From hence it follows, that the moft ·deformed Monfters in Villany, tl1e moft fierce Enemies of Religionfcrve to confirm itsTrmh, as well as the mo(\: eminent Saints. Thefe Jhew the vettue of Redemption by the fanfrity of their Lives, the other the corruption of Nature by their obfunate wickednefs. o. Th<· Chrifuan Religion infrru& us that God fent his own Son into the World in the humane ·,,;amre, that he might offer up himfelf an expiatory Sacrifice for the Sins of Men, to refl c>re them to his Favour. This is a· Myftcry above the flight of any created undcrfb.nding ; yet 'tis fo temper'd and frarn'd; there :is · fuch an uniformity of Wifdom in ail its parts, it prefents fuch a full and glorious Image of the Deity in all hisperfetlio~s, that it.caufesthe bigheft admiration, and commands belief in thofe who duly confider it. T he whole a:conomy becomes the Majefty, the Goodne(,, the Holinefs and Jufriceof God. HisSupream Majelly appears in his pardoning the gwlty for the fufferingsof another. For this is an infallible proof that he is above Law. And his
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