t-. 260 ,A RATIONAL DEFENCE OF tHE GOSPEL. jSLRM. XV". venture all my own eternal concerns upon it. I lay all the stress of my hopes of a blessed immortality on it. My soul rests here, and I am not ashamed of my resting- place : I am not ashamed ofmy Saviour, and the method of his salvation. I am persuaded my hopes shall never disappoint me. Surely, if the gospel had been So very irrational a thing, as some men pretend it to be, St. Paul, being so 'rational and wise a man would have been ashamed to .believe it. But I believe it, says he, and am not ashamed. I do not think it casts any just reflection upon my rati- onal capacities, or my learned education at the feet of 'Garnaliel, for me to give a-full assent to this gospel. 2. I am not-ashamed to profess it as achristian. I ám 'ready to tell the world that I believe it, and I take all occasions to let theworld know it. I am coming to pro fess this gospel at Rome, and am not ashamed : I have owned it. before my own countrymen the Jews already, where it has been most reproached. I have been telling the gentiles what the gospel ofsalvation is, and -I long to see you at Rome, that I may tell you what my belief is in the gospel, and may hear how far you have believed, and may be comforted by the mutual faith both of you and me. Rom. i. 12. I shall be glad tò tell you what doctrines I venture my own soul upon, and shall be-will- ing to hear from you whether you venture your souls upon the same doctrine, or no; and shall rejoice-to find we are both interested in one salvation. 3. I am not ashamed to preach it to others as a mi- nister, that is, to invite others to believe it. ' It is a com- municable good, and I am sent to diffuse it, nor am 'I .ashamed of my commission. See 2 Tim. L. 10, 13. Our Lord Jesus Christ has abolished death, and- brought life and immortality to light by the gospel, and has appointed me a preacher, and an apostle to the gentiles : I preach the gospel, and am not ashamed though I have suffered for i-t. I venture my soul upon it Unto the last greatday, and I bid thee, Timothy, as a preacher unto others, to "hold fast the same form of sound words which thou hast learned of me. .1 long to teach the whole world this 'faith and this doctrine, therefore I am a debtor to the 4 reeks and barbarians I would make others partakers of the same hope. Would to God, that not only thou, 4
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