4.74 Jefus, the Son of God, Vol. I. be fo, why do not the Profeffors of this excellent Religion thew the Force and Virtue of it in their Lives? And though I have fufficiently (hewn, that this is not enough to overthrow the Truth, and difparage theExcellency of the Chri- ftian Do&rine 5 yet it will certainly go a great way with prejudiced Perfons, and it cannot be expe&ed otherwife. So that we have infinite Reafon to be athamed, that there is fo plain a contrariety between the Laws of Chriftianity, and the Livesof the greaten part of Chriftians; fo notorious and palpable a difference between the Religion that is in the Bible, and that which is to be teen and read in the Converfations of Men. Who that looks upon the manners of the prefent Age, could believe if he did not know ít, that the holy and pure Dofrine of the Chriftian Religion, had ever been fo much as heard, much lefs pretended to be entertained and believed among us? Nay among thofe who feem tomake a more ferious Profeffion of Religion, when we confider how ftrangely they allow themfelves in Malice and Envy, in PafIìon, and Anger, and Uncharitable Cenfures, and evil Speaking, in fierce Contentions and Anirnofities who wouldbelieve that the great Inftrument of thefe Mens Religion, I mean the Holy Bible, by which they profefs to regu- late and govern their Lives, were full of plain and Itri& Precepts of Love and Kindnefs, of Charity and Peace, and did a hundred times with all imaginable Severity, and under pain of forfeiting the Kingdom of God, forbid Malice and Envy, andRevenge, and Evil Speaking, and rath and uncharitable Cenfures, and tell us fo plainly that the Chriftian Religion obligeth Men to put of all thefe; and that if any Man feem to be religious and bridleth not his Tongue, that Man's Religion is vain ? Do men read and hear thefe Things every day, and profefs to believe them to be the Truths of God, and yet live as if they were verily perfua- ded they were falle? What can we conclude from hence, but either that this is not Chriftianity, or the greateft part of us are no Chriftians ? So that if one of the Apoftles or Primitive Chriftians thould rife from the Dead, and converfe among us, how would he wonder to fee theFace and Com- plexion of Chriftianity alter'd from what it was in their Days ; and were it not for the Name and Title whichwe bear, would fooner guefs us tobe any thing than Chriftians. So that upon the whole Matter, there is no way to quit our felves of this Ob- je&ion, and to wath away the Reproach of it, but to mend and reform our Lives. 'Till this be done, it is unavoidable, but the vicious Manners of Men will affe& our Religion with Obloquy and Reproach, and derive an ill Conceit and Opinion of it into the Minds of Men. And I cannot fee how Chriftianity can ever gain much ground in the World, °till it be better adorned and recom- mended by the Profeffors of it. Nay we have jutt caufe to fear, that if God do not raife up force great and eminent Inftruments to awaken the World out of this ftupid Lethargy, that Chriftianity will every Day decline, and the World will in a thort Space be over-run with Atheifm and Infidelity. For Vice, and Su- perftition, and Enthufiafm, which are the reigning Difeafes of Chripendone, when they have run their Courfe, and finifh'd their Circle, do all naturally end, and meet in Atheifm, And then it will be time for the great Judge of the World to appear, and effe&ually to convince Men of that, which they would not be perfuaded to believe by any other Means. And of this our Saviour bath given us a terrible and fearful Intimation, in that Queftion of his; When the Son of Man comes, ¡hall he find Faith upon Earth ? Our Saviour bath not pofitively affirmed it, and God grant that we may not make it, and find it true. And thus I have, by God's Affiftance, given the belt Satisfa&ion I could, to the molt material Exceptions I have met with againft our bleffed Saviour and his Religion. The II. Thing remains briefly tobe fpoken to, via. Howhappy a Thing it is to efcape the common Prejudices which Men are apt to entertain againft Religion, Blfed is he whofoever ¡hall not be offended in me, And this will appear if we con- fider thefe Three or Four Things. Fir",
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