SECTION V. 323 reason is plain, for the doctrine of Christ contains every thing in it which natural religion pretends to discover. All that is neces- sary by the light of nature for us to believe and practise, both With regard to God and man, is included in the holybible. Therefore if the deist be in the right, the christián is certainly safe, for he worships the one true God, and fulfils his duty towards his neighbour; and there are none who pretend that God will damn or destroy men for entertaining a few other prin- ciples, whichhad so much evidence of coming from heaven to supply what was deficient in the light of nature, even if they shouldnot at last be found to be true, since theyare perfectly consistent with all our duty to God and man. But on the other hand, if the religion of Christ be divine, then the infidels, espe- cially iu Great Britain or in London, who have such glorious advantages for knowledge can hardly excuse themselves, or hope for acceptance : For they deny those very parts of Chris- tianity which are necessary to supply the defects of the light of nature. They deny the atonement of Christ, and the pardon of sin through the virtue of his atonement ; they deny Jesus to be the great prophet and the Saviour of mankind; whereas he himself has told us by'eommission from the Father, Ifye be- lieve not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins ; John viii. 24. They deny the special and necessary doctrines of that gos- pel, which was commanded to be preached to the world, with this threatening, He that believeth not shall be damned; Mark xvi. 16. XIV. " Consider seriously the dismal state of apostates who depart from the gospel of Christ, and renounce their faith in Jesus the Saviour." Consider the threatenings, the dreadful threatenings of the word of God pronounced against apostacy. Let such solemn words as those with which the apostle warns the christian Hebrews, dwell ever upon your mind in' all the sacred influence and divine terror of them ; Heb. ii. 2 -4. If the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and dis- obedience received a just recornpence of reward ; how shall we escape, ifwe neglect sogreat salvation, which at thefirst began to be spoken by the Lord, andwas confirmed unto us by them that heard him ; Godalso bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will ? Heb. vi. 4 -6. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tastedofthe heavenly gift, andwere made partakersof the Holy Ghost, andhave tasted the good word ofGod, and the powers of the world to come, if theyshall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; see- ing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Pleb. x. 26-30. If we sin wilfully, that is, renounce the gospel of Christ, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrificefor x2
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