281 / 514
SEEM.
XVI.]
A
RATIONAL DEFENCE
OF
THE GOSPEL.
273
that
you
may see his
power
and
his
glory
in his own
sanc-
tuary,
and
that
you
may,
from
your
own
experience,
be
able to
say,
that
the gospel
is
too great,
too
glorious,
too
divine a
thing in
its
doctrines and
worship,
and
in all
its institutions, for
you
ever
to be
ashamed
of.
It
has
now,
for sixteen
ages,
endured
the test
of
the
wit,
and
the rase of earth and
hell,
and
it
shall
stand
in
power
and
glory, till
the heavens
be
no more.
HYMN
FOR
SERMON
XV.
A
RATIONAL
DEFENCE
OF
THE GOSPEL.
COMMON
SHALL
atheists dare insult the
cross,
Of
our
Redeemer God?
Shall
infidels
reproach
his laws,
Or trample on
his
blood
?
What if
he chose mysterious ways,
To cleanse us
from
our faults
?
May
not the
works
of
sov'reign grace
Transcend our
feeble thoughts
!
What if
his gospel
bids us
fight
With
flesh,
and
self,
and
sin
?
The
prize
is most
divinely bright,
Which
we
are
call'd to
win.
METRE.
What if
the
foolish
and the poor,
His
glorious
grace partake
?
This
but
confirms his
truth the'niore,
For
so
the prophets spake.
Do
some
that
own his
sacred name,
Indulge their
souls in sin?
Jesus should never bear
the blame,
His laws
are pure and clean.
Then let our faith
grow
firm
and strong
Our
lips profess
his word
;
Nor
blush, nor fear
to
walk among
The
men
that
love
the Lord.
SERMON XVI.
A
RATIONAL
DEFENCE
OF
THE
GOSPEL:
OR,
COURAGE
IN
PROFESSING
CHRISTIANITY.
non.
i.
16.
I
am
not ashamed of the
Gospel
of
Christ,
for
it
is
the
power of
God
unto salvation
to
every
one
that
believeth.
THE SECOND PART.
THERE
are many
in
the world
who
call themselves
christians,
and boast
in
the
name;
yet
if
you .ask
them
what the
gospel
of
Christ
is,
they are
either struck into
confusion and
silence,
or they
give
such an awkward
and impertinent
answer, as sufficiently
discovers they
VOL.
I.
T