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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