RATIONAL DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL: or perhaps they became christians merely by the force of educa.s tion, because they weretaught this religion from their childhood, and professed it without thought ; but they never had such a powerful belief of this gospel òf Christ, as to change their hearts, to renew their natures, W form theirsouls after the image of Christ into real holiness and therefore like the hearers that are compared to stony ground, the seed did not sink deep into their hearts, though they might receive the word atfirst with joy, but having not root in themselves; they endure but for a while, and when any temptation arises, they are offended, and depart from the faith which they once professed ; .ltJ'at. 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, not- withstanding 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 occasions ofshame 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 I have given particular answers to both sorts of cavils, and defeated the accusations. One word of advice to christians shall conclude the present discourse ; and that is this : Since thegospel of Christ gives no just occasions of shame, you that areprofessors of it should take heed that you do no- thing to cast shame onthis 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 circumstances and appendages of your religion the mat- ter of loud contest, and a party strife ; for all these things expose the gospel to shame, and may justly put its professors to the blush, in the face of the world, when they are guiltyof these practices. Let me insist a little. upon each of these. 1. Do not mingle the christian faith with doubtful notions and fancies of your own. The articles of our christianity, and the necessary truthsof the gospel, are divine and glorious : Take heed you do not bringin your peculiar sentiments and favourite opinions, which have no sufficient evidence from the word of God, and join them in the same 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.
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