sE1tM. xv.T A RATIONAL DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL. 26s' bands, and their swords against it, and the chief of them: crucified the Lord of glory, and put the 'preachers of it to death. Thus in general., But while I descend to particulars, I shall confine myself only to those occasions of shame,. which the same gospel meets with in our day, that so the discourse may be more useful, to the present audience ; and as I mention each objection or supposed occasion of shame, I shall endeavour to take off the force of it, and shew that it is Unreasonable. . Now the things. that might any ways be supposed to expose this gospel to shame, may be ranked under these two heads I. Those which arise from the doctrines of the gospel And, II. Those which arise from the professors of the gospel. First, the occasions of shame that arise from the doc- trines of the gospel, are these five that follow : I. That there are mysteries in it which are above the powers of our reason to comprehend, and I will never believe a gospel that "cannot. comprehend. This is the language of Socinians, men that have pretended so much to reason in our day. But to relieve this occasion of shame, let us consider that mysteries are of two sorts. First, such as we should never have known but by di- vine revelation ; but being once revealed, they may be fairly explained and understood. Such is the doctrine of the satisfaction of Christ, of the resurrection of the dead, of the forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ's suffer- ings, and of eternal life in a future world, I say, these are all, mysteries that were hid from ages, that is, they are such truths which nature or reason could not have found out of itself, but being once revealed to us of God, may be fairly explained and well understood. Qther sort of mysteries are those, which when revealed unto us; we, know merely the existence, or reality and certainty of them, but cannot comprehend the. mode and manner how they are. _.. And of this kind there are but two that. I know of which are peculiar to. our religion, and which are the chief objects of offence to some' men. These are the mysteries of the blessed Trinity, and the mystery of the, incarnation cf Christ, The mystery of s4
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