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A
RATIONAL DEFENCE
OF
TAT GOSPEL.'
[SAR:11.
xvt.
°f
ended, and
depart
from
the faith
which
they
once
pro
-
fessed
;
Mat.
xiii.
20,
.21.
Thus
it appears, that
the
gospel
of
Christ
is
never
the
worse
in
itself,
nor
does
it
deserve the
less
esteem
in
the
world,
notwithstanding
such
apostates
as these, no
more than
seed
-corn should
be
pronounced
nought, because
it
does
not bring forth
a harvest
in
every
soil.
I
have
now finished
the
third general head
of
discourse
which
I proposed, and
have
shewn,
whatsoever occa-
sions
of
shame might
be
supposed
to
arise
either
from
the
doctrines
of
the
gospel,
or the professors
of
it,
are
unjustly charged
as blemishes on
the
gospel; and
1
have
given
particular
answers to
both sorts
of
cavils, and
de-
feated the accusations.
One
word
of
advice
to
christians shall conclude the
present discourse; and
that
is
this.
Since the gospel
of Christ
gives no
just
occasions
of
shame,
you-
that
are
professors
of
it
should
take
heed
that
you do
nothing to cast
shame
,
on this gospel.
Do not
mingle
the christian faith
with
doubtful notions
of
your
own.
Do
not
defile
your christian conversation
with
sinful practices.
Do
not
make the lesser circum-
stances and
appendages
of
your
religion
the matter
of
loud contest, and a party
strife
;
for
all
these things
ex-
pose the
gospel to shame;
and
may
justly
put
its profes-.
sors to
the
blush, in
the
face
of
the world,
when
they
are
guilty
of
these practices.
Let
me
insist
a
little upon each
of
these.
I. Do not
mingle
the christian faith
.with
doubtful
notions and
fancies
of your
own.
The
articles
of
our
christianity,
and the necessary
truths
of
the
gospel;
are
divine
and glorious
:
Take heed
you do
not
bring in
.
your peculiar
sentiments and favourite opinions,
which
have
no sufficient evidence from the word
of
God,
and
join
them
in
the
saine
dignity with
the articles
of
your
faith;
and.
much
less
should
you
-dare
to impose
them
upon
the consciences
of
your
fellow-christians.
The
gospel
itself
will
suffer
by it,
and sink
in
the esteem
of
the
world, when the divine
doctrines
of
it
are mingled
with
our
weaknesses,
and debased
by
the addition
of our
doubtful sentiments.
2.
Defile-
not your
christian conversation
with sinful
practices.
Indulge
not.
a conformity
to
this.
present
evil