'PART tit. SERMON IIIh 41 not this inward witness, the beginningsof eternal life ! There- fore it is that so many christians waver and are led away, some- times to this nett doctrine, sometimes to another, because they feel so little of the efficacy and power of the gospel in their hearts, so very little of holiness and eternal life with- in them. If you cannot argue for the gospel with learning, nor from experience, what willye do in an hour of temptation ? For the most part, Christians are too little bred up to those methods of knowledge, whereby theymight be capable ofgiving large, and rational, and satisfactory answers to those that may set themselves to oppose the truth and progress of the gospeL What will you do in the darkness of such a temptation, when those that are learned and ingenious shall attack your faith, and say, " Why do you believein Jesus ?" If you have this answer ready at hand, " 1 have found the efficacyandpower ofthe gospel on my heart;" thiswill be sufficient to,answer all their cavils. It was one way wherebyChristianitywas confirmed in the heartsofthe martyrs of old, andwhereby they were enabled to bear up against all oppo- sitions, because they found such a divine efficacy attending the gospel, such a new and heavenlylife wroughtin them, as enabled them to gothrough great hardships for the sakeof Christ. But this leads me to, 4. The fourth remark, viz. If therebe this inward evidence belonging to the gospel, and those that truly believe, then you have a strong encouragement to profess christianity under the greatest persecutions. It will bear you out, it carries its own evidence with it ç" Christianity in the heart will give courage against temptation. Think it not strange concerning thefiery trial, says the apostle Peter, for in such a fiery trial the gospel hath securedthousands ; therefore, says St, Paul, though I meet with reproaches wheresoever 1 go, thoughbonds and imprisonments await me, and death itself; Acts xx. 23. yet I am not ashamed of the gospel ofChrist; Rom. i. 16. forit is the power cfGod to salvation, to every one that believeth. Which is but the sense of my text in other words, Every one that believes it intruth, "path this evidence in himself, even eternal life : Therefore I count not my.lifedear to me, 85.c. for the gospel will bear me out in my profession of it, in my publication of it, and in my suffering for it. This isthe way we shall learn to resist unto blood, and seal the truth of this gospel with our mortal lives, ifwehavethe seal of this truth abiding in our souls. 5th remark. As from this doctrineyou have strong encour- agement to profess christianity, so you are here taught the best way to honour the gospel, and to propagate the christian religion is the world. "Make this inward divine testimony appear to the
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