IV. "Motion, and thofe of a modern One *SER M. "against the Reality of Matter: Arguments "however that would baffle a very wife "Man, though they would not convince even a very weak one. Duft they are, "raised to obfcure more important Truths, "and to Duft they must return; or, after "having been troublesome for a while, "fall, unregarded, to the Ground. Moral "Evidences, on the other Hand, are "fuited to my Capacity, and much better "fitted to enfure a lafting Conviction to "Creatures fo formed as Men are, than any of those fpecious Kinds of arguing, "which are fet up in Oppofition to them. "They are a Lantern to my Feet, near at "Hand, and portable to my Memory: "whereas Metaphyfical Proofs, be they "never fo good, are like the fixed Stars; "which, though though they may enlighten Beings, that move in an Orb much "fuperior, afford little or no Light to "Perfons in my low Situation." We are guilty of no Immorality in fuppofing the Reason, why we cannot conquer an Objection, to be, not that the Objection is unanfwerable in itself, but that we want fufficient Forces of Understanding to conquer it, or perhaps fufficient Skill to conduct and manage thofe Forces we have * See Berkeley's Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous. SER M. to the best Advantage: Nay, in fo doing IV. we fhew our Modesty : And it were to be wished, that some great Pretenders to Knowledge were Mafters of the most valuable Part of it, that Part which teaches them Humility; the Knowledge of their total Ignorance in many Things; and their partial Ignorance as to all the reft. But we are guilty of an Immorality of a very deep Dye in refufing to fubmit to Moral Certainty; it being confeffedly criminal for any Man to do that in any Cafe, which, if all Men were to do in every other Cafe, would interfere with the general Happiness, and fubvert the very Pillar on which Society refts. Since the World began no one Inftance can be given, that any Man was misled by trufting to fuch Proofs as Christianity is confirmed by. For whoever has been misled, it was not by yielding his Affent to Moral Evidence as fuch, but by yielding it when it was not perfect in it's Kind, when it wanted fome of the Ingredients, which enter into that of Chriftianity. But Numbers have been deceived by trusting to fpeculative Reasonings of a finer Texture; and Men of fuperior and exalted Sense have fallen into Errors, from which common Senfe has fecured the reft of Mankind. The Proofs for Revelation have fhone the brighter to every rational Enquirer, the IV. more they have been of late canvaffed, ex- SER M. amined, and controverted. Controversy and Oppofition having been to them, what the Wind is to the Plumage in Indian Crowns. The Plumes, however beautiful, never appear to the best Advantage, while they continue unmoved and undisturbed: The rude Disturbance and Agitation of the Wind fets them in Variety of Lights, opens and unfolds them, and calls forth into View the whole Strength of their Luftre, and every Beauty, which, during the Calm, escaped the Obfervation. I fhall conclude with obferving, that what hath been fo often faid upon the Works of Nature, holds as true in Regard to the Scriptures, viz. A fuperficial and flender Acquaintance with them may tempt a Man to Infidelity; but an accurate, intimate Knowledge of them, and a thorough Insight into their Contents, brings the Mind back to a firm Belief, and makes us acknowledge and adore the great Author of them. To whom be afcribed, as is most due, &c. :: SERMON V. The Damnatory Claufes in the SER M. V. MARK Xvi. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned. T1 S HIS has been thought an hard Saying, though it be our Bleffed Saviour' when he commiffioned his Apostles to preach the Gospel to every Creature. It will be neceffary therefore, Ift, To confider with what Limitations the Propofition is to be understood; how far, and in what Points Unbelief is highly dangerous; and whether in fome Cafes we may not charitably fuppofe, that favourable Abatements will be made. IIdly, To fhew the Reasonableness of the Propofition properly qualified and explained, and the numerous ill Confequences of Unbelief. After which I fhall, IIIdly, Offer a few occafional Reflexions, which arife from the Subject Matter of my Discourse. I begin my firft Propofition. SERM. V. I begin with Though Ignorance, in many Cafes, be abfolutely unavoidable, there being feveral Truths quite out of the Reach of our Understanding; yet a Man, generally fpeaking, in plain and important Points may ftand clear of Error. Because Error implies a wrong Judgment; and Men are not under a ftrict Neceffity of judging, where they have not Evidence; or of judging any farther, than they have Evidence. Error therefore, material Error, is commonly owing to the Want of Care, and Attention proportionable to the Moment of the Subject; or to fome predominant Pasfion, which discolours the genuine Appearances of Things. It is the common Cafe of Men, that when they are not determined by that Sufficiency of Evidence, which is fully laid before them, they are actuated by fomething elfe than an ingenuous Love of Truth. And our Saviour takes here into Confideration the common Cafe of Unbelievers, leaving it to the general Apprehenfion of Mankind to except (which they are apt enough to do) fome few extraordinary Cafes. In the fame Senfe are to be understood the following Claufes in the Creed, commonly called the Athanafian; " which Faith, except every One do keep whole "and undefiled, without Doubt he fhall ་ H 3 "perish |