286 A CAVEAT AGAINST INFIDELITY. christianity, attended with its proper evidence, btYt he must in": Bulge some criminal and perverse turn and temper of mind, he must be innfluenced by some very culpable prejudices, and such obstinacyas deserves death and vengeance*. Christ himself not only intimates this often, but plainly expresses it in that solemn denunciation from God ; John äi.18, 19. He that belleveth not is condemned already, because hehath not believed in the nave of the onlybegotten, Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that is, this is the heinous guilt that deserves condemnation, that light is come into the world, andmen love darkness rather than light, be- cause their deeds are evil. That God who searcheth the hearts of men, imputes it to a secret loveto vice, that men are unwilling to beconvinced of a religion, that reproves and forbids the practice of it. I would hope this is not always the case, but it is very plant that it is often so. However, it is a bold and dangerous thing, for a creature to venture to expose himself to the curse of God, by renouncing the faith and religion of Jesus, his beloved Son, which is supported by such shining evidence, and guarded with so solemn and formidable a sanction. But after all, if there can be found any such persons, that will still make pretences, to a sincere enquiry after truth, and solemnly declare that they have been upright, honest, humble and diligent, according tothe descriptions of sincerity beforegiven, and yet that they cannot believe the christian religion, because they have not been able to find sufficient evidence or conviction of the truth of it, we must leave them to that God, who is the only searcher of hearts, and who will make it appear that he is a righteous Judge, and not unmercifulto those who haveany rea- sonable pretences to mercy. But let them see to it, that their cause is good, and that their ownhearts do not deceive them, in their pretences to sincere en- quiry. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know -it'? Jer. xvii. 9. If the great Lord and Judge of all at last, shall make it appear to their consciences with dreadful evidence, that they have failed in their pretences, and been woefully insincere in their searches after truth, all their hope is lost and cut off for ever, for they have refused the gos- pel and promises of grace, they have counted the blood of the Son of God an unholy thing, and renounced the only atonement for sin. Question VIII. But why must only one religion be the true ? Damnation is threatened to those who beliève not the gospel; Mark xvi. 16. nor am I. allowed to soften the threatening which the gospel has pronounced It seems to me tobe a very great reproach, which men east upon Christ, tosup- pose that he should eet forth a religion,ao be received on pain of damnation, and yet that a sincere man may see no reason to believe it. I think every man should be cautious bow he talksof sincerity againstplain scripture, which he hat opporthoity to know and consider. Mr. .1. B.
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