attention of erring and wretched mortals to the gospel of peace. He is justified, not only by the general principles of humanity, but by the particular command of the religion of which he is a minister. Thus saith the apostle: « Feed the flock of God, as much as lieth “in you, taking the oversight thereof, not by “constraint, but willingness; not for FILTHY “ LUCRE, but of a ready mind.* Take heed “ to all the flock, over the which the Holy “ Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed " the Church of God, which he hath purcha6 sed with his own blood.”+ This I have humbly attempted ; and, in imitation of a most excellent prelate, f I have adapted my book to all; yet various parts of it more particularly to various descriptions of men; some to the great, some to the learned, but the greater part to the people: remembering the Apostle's example, who says, “ To " the weak became I as weak, that I might “gain the weak: I am made all things to all “ men, that I might by all means save some; " and this I do for the GOSPEL'S SAKE, that “ I might be a partaker thereof with you.”|| * 1 Pet. v. 2. + Acts, xx. 28.. Bishop Saunderson, who preached in an appropriate manner, ad aulam, ad clerum, ad populum. See the titles of his Sermoin. # 1 Cor. xi. 22. And now, readers, before you proceed any farther, let me be permitted to say to you, “ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and “ the love of God, and the fellowship of the “ Holy Ghost, be with you,” in your progress through this book, and also through life, even to its close. CONTENTS. II. On the Sort of evidence chiefly recommended and at. tempted to be displayed in this Treatise. - 24 III. On the Prejudices entertained against this Sort of evi- dence, and against all divine and supernatural Influ- ence on the Mind of Man. . . . 28 IV. The proper evidence of the Christian Religion is the Illumination of the Holy Ghost, shining into the Hearts of those who do not close them against its entrance. The opinion of Dr. Gloucester Ridley cited. - 33 V. The true and only convincing evidence of the Religion of Christ, or the Illumination of the Holy Ghost is VI. Opinions of Bishop Taylor respecting the evidence of the Holy Spirit; “shewing” (as he expresses it) how “ the Scholars of the University shall become most VII. Passages from the celebrated Mr. John Smith, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, corroborative of the Opinion that the best evidence of the Christian Reli- gion arises from the energy of the Holy Spirit. 48 VIII. Dr. Isaac Barrow's Opinion of the evidence of Chris- tianity, afforded by the illuminating Operation of the Holy Spirit; and on the Holy Spirit in general. 51 IX. Bishop Bull's Opinion on the evidence of the Spirit of God on the Mind of Man, and its Union with it; the Loss of that Spirit by Adam's Fall, and the Recove- ry of it by Christ. - - - - 57 X. The Opinions of Bishop Pearson and Doctor Scott, Author SECTION Page XI. Opinion of Bishop Saunderson on the Impossibility of be coming a Christian without supernatural Assistance. 64 XII. Bishop Smalridge on the absolute Necessity of Grace. 68 XIII. Human Learning highly useful, and to be pursued with all Diligence, but cannot, of itself, furnish evi. Watts. - - - : . -. 73 XIV. The Opinion of Doctor Lucas, the celebrated Author of a Treatise on HAPPINESS, concerning the evidence of Christianity arising froni divine Communication. 81 XV. Passages from a well-known Book of an anonymous Author, intitled, Inward Testimony. - XVI. Dr. Townson's Opinions on the evidence which is in this Book recommended as superior to all others. 87 XVII. Dr. Doddridge on the Doctrine of Divine Influence. 90 XVIII. The Opinions of Mr. Locke and Mr. Addison. XIX The Opinion of Soame Fenyns on the fundamental Principles of Christianity. - 97 XX. The Opinion of Bishop Horsley on the prevalent Ne glect of teaching the peculiar DOCTRINES of Christi- not erroneously. - - - - 98 XXI. The Church of England teaches the true Doctrine of Grace. - - 104 XXII. On the Means of obtaining the Evidence of Christi anity, afforded by the Holy Spirit. - - 108 XXIII. Temperance necessary to the Reception and Conti nuance of the Holy Spirit in the Heart, and conse. Divine Illumination. - - - 111 XXIV. On improving AFFLICTIONS duly as a Means of Grace and Belief in the Gospel. - - 114 XXV. On Devotion—a Means, as well as an effect of Grace :-no sincere Religion can subsist without it. 115 XXVI. On Divine Attraction. - - 118 C SECTION Page XXVII. On the Difficulties of the Scripture. . . 121 XXVIII. The OMNIPRESENCE of God a Doctrine univer sally allowed; but how is God every where present but by his Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost - 123 XXIX. the Want of Faith could not be criminal, if it de. pended only on the Understanding; but Faith is a 127 XXX. Of the scriptural Word “UNCTION;" its high mys. terious Meaing. - . - - 129 XXXI. On what is called by devout Persons Experience in Religion. - - - - - 135 XXXIII. Of mistaking the effects of imagination for the Seasons of Grace. 137 XXXIV. Of seasons of Desertion, or supposed Absence of the Spirit. 159 XXXV. Of the Doctrine, that the Operations of the Holy Spirit are never distinguishable from the Operations of our own Minds. . . 147 be anxiously avoided, as they proceed from and cherish Pride, and are frequently accompanied with Immorality. 159 Censoriousness, ignorant and illiterate Preaching, no and to diffuse infidelity. . . . 162 XLII. Bishop Lavington's Opinion, respecting the extrava gancies and follies of fanatical Preachers, and pre tenders to the Spirit. - - - - 166 XLIII. Pride the great Obstacle to the general Reception of the Gospel of Grace. . . . . 168 XLIV. The universal Prevalence of the Holy Spirit--the genuine Grace of the Gospel_highly conducive to the happiness of civil Society, as well as of individuals. 171 151 |