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SEAM.
AV.]
A
RATIONAL DEFENCE
OF
TH-
E--
G-O'SPFL.
257
land
of
heathens again
!
Those
of
us
that
believe this
gospel from the heart, have need
of
courage
to
maintain
our
profession
of
it,
especially
in
some
companies
and.
conversations.
We
should
prepare
ourselves to
encoun-
ter
the false
reasonings
of
unbelievers,
as well
as
harden
our
faces
against
their
ridicule.
Let
us
therefore medi-
tate
this
sacred
text,
that
each
of
us
may
pronounce
boldly
the words
of
this
great
apostle,
I
am
not ashamed
of
the
gospel
of
Christ.
Now,
that
our meditations
may
proceed regularly on
the
present
theme
of
discourse,
let
us
consider,
I.
What
the gospel
of
Christ
is,
that
we
may
not
mistake
it.
II.
What
is
included
in this expression,
I
am
not
ashamed of
it.
III.
What
there
is
in this gospel
that
might
be
sup
-
posed
any
way
to
expose
a
man
to
shame;
and
I
shall
take
occasion
under
this head
to give
particular
answers
to
sorne
of
the most
important
objections
that
might
be
made against the
gospel,
and
shew
that
there
is
no
just
reason
to be
ashamed
of
it.
IV. I
shall consider
what
is
that
general answer
to all
objections
;
that
universal guard against
sinful shame
which
is
contained
in my
text,
and
which
will
bear out
every christian
in
his
faith,
and
profession
of
the gospel
of
Christ,
viz.
that it
is
the power
of God
to the
salvation
of
every one who believes. And,
V.
I
shall
draw
some
proper
inferences.
First,
What
is
the gospel
of Christ?
I
answer
in
general,
It
is
a revelation
of
the
grace of
God
to
fallen man through
a
Mediator.
Or,
It
is
a
gra-
cious
constitution
of God
for
the recovery
of
sinful
and
miserable
man, from
that
deplorable state into
which sin
had
brought
him,
by
the
mediation of
Christ:
Or,
in
the
words
of
my
text,
it
is
the power
of
God,
or his
powerful
appointment,
for the salvation
of
every one
who believes.
The
word
gospel, in the original,
Ev277
ov,
signifies
good
news,
or
glad tidings.
And
surely, when
a
sinner,
who
is
exposed
to
the
wrath of God,
is
sensible
of
his
guilt and danger, it must needs
be glad
tidings to
him
to
hear
of
a
way
of
salvation, and an
all
-
sufficient
Saviour.
This
constitution
of God
for
our
salvation has
had
various editions,
if
I
may
so
express
it,
or gradual
disco
VOL,
I.
S