262 A CAVEAT AGAINST INI'IDELITV. apostles, when theywere sent to preach the gospel, to let the nations know, that he that believeth not shall be damned ;. Mark xvi. 16. And at the close of the bible, the unbelievers are joined with the murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idola- tors, and liars, and are cast into the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, by an express order from the God of heaven - sitting upon his throne of judgment ; Rev. xxi. S; The last of these considerations is sufficient of itself to evince this truth, that a sinful creature can never attain the favour of God and happiness, unless he pursue them in those ways, and according to those rules, which God has established in his gospel : But when we add all these six considerations together, methinks they should make a deep and powerful impression upon our consciences, and awaken us all td en- quire whether we are engaged in the pursuit of heaven, accord- ing to the methods of divine appointment, and whether we are striving lawfidly for the crown of glory. It will be adread- ful disappointment to labour hard by unlawful and unappointed methods, and at last to lose our hope and'our crown, and our souls for ever. SECT. IILVarious Objections and Queries of the Deists Answered. It has been declared in the foregoing sections, what are the methods and rules of divine appointment, wherein we are to seek for eternal life and happiness : And several considerations have been offered to enforce this truth, that it is ii vain for us to hope for the favour of God or life eternal, if we refuse to seek it by these appointed ways and rules. I come-now to answer some queries which the deists and infidels ofour age have raised by way of objectionagainst this doctrine : And I hope, through divine grace, I shall be enabled to give so sufficient an answer to Them, as may confirm the wavering christian against the danger of apostacy, and I would wish also that it might convince some of the unbelievers in Great Britain of their weakand hopeless pre- tence to future happiness. Question I. Is it not impossible, that aman should honestly practise a religion which he does not knów, or whichhe does not believe ? If therefore a man be not convinced of the truth of the christian religion, it may be justly said, that he does not knowit, that is, he dotti not know reasons enough to believe it: And will not this ignorance be a sufficient excuse for him in the sight of God the judge of all ? Answer I. It is granted that ignorance is no crime at all, where it hath been always utterly invincible in the verynature of things, and where there have never been any means of know- ledge : Therefore an heather among the savage nations of
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