ESSAY VII. 99 the church ; and it appears a very shameful vice, and opposite to the religion oftheblessed Jesus. SECT. II. An Occasional Vindication of the Apostles from the Charge of Uncharitableness. But what shall we say to those who take the venerable names of the sacred writers, and charge them with the same scandalous practice ? There is one Momus, who is well known in the world for a person that is ready to find fault with the best of men, and the best of things, if he can suspect any thingwhich he imagines worthy of blame in them. This man rather than not vindicate himself from the charge of uncharitableness, he will bring even the apostles themselves into the accusation, particu- larly St. Paul and St. John. Paul, says he, must be a very un- charitable man, for lieb. x. 25, 20. He tells us, that if we sin wilt ally after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrificefor sins. Thus it is plain, he will not suffer a man to be guilty of any wilful sin, after his profession of christianity, but he damns him for it without hope. Answer. But I would have Momus consider that these are the very words of scripture and inspiration, and not merely St. Paul's opinion. Nor is the sense true which Ile puts upon these words : It is by no means every wilful sin after we have received and professed christianity, that will bring us under such an irreversible condemnation ; but this wilful sin, as it stands in the context, plainly refers to our entire quitting the profession of our Christian faith, verse 23. and forsaking all christian assemblies, without repentance or returning to them, as verse 25. And it is no wonder if aman who roundly renounces ohristianity wilfully, and without persecution, or any compulsion, should be laidunder this dreadful sentence. Let it be also particularly remarked, that as these verses come in just after the apostle had been speaking ofthe atoning sacrifice for sin, which Christ himself offered, as a fulfilling of all typical sacrifices and atonements of the Jewish law, chapter ix. 10. Ile expresses this condemning sentence in this language, there isno more sacrificefor sin, chapter Z. 20, 27. that is, if a man renounces the sacrifice of atonement which Christ has made for sin, there remains no more sacrifice for him to trust in, or to hope for, but a certain fearfid lookingfor of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 'li'hus it appears, that this wilful sinner is Condemned for renouncing the only methodof atonement provided for the pardonof sins, which it was one of the chief glories- of the christian religion to reveal and establish. St. Paul also is charged with high uncharitableness by this Momus for what hesays ; Gal. i. $, 9. If any man preach any
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