SIAN. XVII.). A. RATIONAL DEFENCE OF TIHE GOSPEL. g forms of devotion ; for they have no power to save their souls : And. marry of them were indeed brutish and shameful. Mahomet, the founder oftheTurkish religion, may be ashamed. of his Koran, a volume of fables and incredible lies;: all his followers.may be ashamed of their prophet, and of the sensual paradise that he promises them. .The Jews, under the eye of Christ, and the sun-beams: of the gospel, may be ashamed of the vain traditionsofl their:rabbins, whichwere never divine and even of their old rites and ceremonies which Moses gave them ; far all these. are now but weak andbeggarly ele- ments; the Spirit of God, them so, ! `al. iv: 9. They havenow no power to save. souls, since God hath abolished them; nor indeed had they ever any power but what they borrowed:. from this gospel of Christ, which lay concealed in them: But let none of us that believe and profess: the gospel of.Christ, be. ever asham- ed of any of the doctrines, or precepts; or promises of it.;, for they are. all, hóly,. they are all heavenly ; all of them, have divine, power aecnmpanying. them to lead souls,. to; salvation; II. Inference. Learn, hence.- the. true: method- ofob- taining chnistipn courage;: courage to profess. the gospel of Christ against all opposition: It. is. by getting it wrought intrpyour hearts, and lives by.christian: experi- ence, and not by learning a. mere form of words in a road of education and catechism. You must feel it as the, power of Go_& to your. salvation, or you. will never suffer much for it. Let it be aningrafted word able to' save your.souls;. James i. 21. and, then it will harden your faces against all blaspheming adversaries,. and the terrors of a persecuting world, then you, will be able to render a most powerful reason why you are hold to pro- fess this gospel, and to answer. every one that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you : you will be able to oppose those that set themselves against the gospel of Christ, when you feel this divine spring of courage with- in you. I have encouragedyou before, to acquaint yourselves with. reasons. and arguments, that may defend your, reli gion, and support your faith: But hours of temptation maycome, when all the knowledge and learned furni- ture of your head, all the arguments. that are treasured
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=