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it; and having done this, they rightly judge that they have fufficiently confuted it. Now they who reject a Pagan Religion as falfe, because the Principles of it are not reconcileable with Reason, cannot (confiftently with themselves) believe that the Chriftian Religion may teach Things not reconcileable to Reafon, and be true notwithstanding. Wherefore thofe among Chriftians, who are charged with holding and maintaining Abfurdities, ought not (as the manner of many is) to take Sanctuary in Mysteries; but they ought to vindicate their Tenets from the Charge of Abfurdity. Which if they are not able to do, they must confefs, either that their Tenets are no Parts of the Christian Religion, or elfe that the Christian Religion is not of Divine Original.

WOULD the Time permit me, I could easily fhew that all the Doctrines of Christianity are perfectly confonant to found Reafon; if I might but be allowed to maintain them, as they have been delivered by God's infallible Spirit in the

Sacred

Sacred Writings; and not as they have been represented in Syftems of Divinity compos'd by fallible Men. There is nothing in the Chriftian Religion but what the moft intelligent and judicious Perfons may rationally affent to. Chriftians indeed have advanced many Opinions full of Abfurdity and Contradiction; but this is really no good Objection against Christianity; for Abfurdities are to be charged upon those who teach them, and not upon Chriftianity which does not teach them.

Secondly, A MYSTERY is not an unintelligible Doctrine.

*

To prevent all Miftakes, it will be néceffarỳ (before I proceed farther) to declare, that it is not my Intention to affirm that we may understand the particular Manner how the Things revealed. in the Scriptures do exift or are effected; but only that we may underftand the Meaning of the Doctrines delivered to us in the Sacred Writings. I beg Leave to illuftrate this by two or three Inftances. The Scriptures do affure us, that Jefus Chrift,

T

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X, XI.

X, XI.

Chrift, the only Son of God, did take SERM. upon him human Flefh, and was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary. The particular Manner how this was accomplished, is above the Comprehenfion of the most profound Scholars; but what the Meaning of the Doctrine is, is obvious to every Capacity. Another Doctrine revealed in the Scriptures is, That Jefus Chrift knoweth the Secrets of Mens Hearts. How Chrift knows the Hearts of Men, no Man can tell; but what is meant by his knowing the Hearts. of Men, I prefume every one who hears me clearly apprehends. Again, The Scriptures inform us, that the Holy Ghost difpofes and enables Men to do their Duty. To explain the Manner how the Holy Ghost does this, is a Task too hard for any one to undertake; but to understand what is meant by this, is no difficult Matter. And all the Doctrines of Chriftianity (at least all those which are of the greatest Importance, and most necessary to be believed) are fo far from being unintelligible, that they are easy

to

to be understood by any Perfon of an honeft and teachable Difpofition, tho' of but a moderate Capacity.

THE Christian Religion was defign'd for the Benefit of all. It equally concerns the Ignorant and the Learned, the Unwife and the Wife, the Poor and the Rich. Wherefore the wife and good God was pleased to accommodate it to the Understandings of the one as well as of the other. The Pride and Prejudices of the Great and Learned would not fuffer them to embrace a plain and familiar Gospel, propagated by fimple Fishermen, not concerning it felf with Philosophical Speculations, nor having in it any Mixture of Science falfly fo called, but ra ther oppofing and condemning it. Whence it came to pass that the firft Professors of Christianity were generally mean and illiterate Perfons. For thofe Things which God in his juft Judgment bid from the Wife and Prudent, he thought good to reveal unto Babes. The Poor had the Gofpel preached to them. And God chofe the Poor of this World, rich in Faith,

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X, XI.

and Heirs of the Kingdom. Where is the Wife? (faith St. Paul) Where is the Scribe? Where is the Difputer of this World? Hath not God made foolish the Wisdom of this World? And a little after; Ye fee your Calling, Brethren, how that not many wife Men after the Flesh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called. But God hath chofen the foolish Things of the World to confound the Wife ; and the weak Things of the World, to confound the Things which are mighty.

MYSTERIES indeed cannot be underfood unless they are revealed; but furely this does not hinder, but that being revealed they may be understood. Our Lord in the Chapter out of which my Text is taken, hath declared feveral Mysteries, no one of which is unintelligible. The Doctrines of God manifefted in the Flesh; Of Chrift crucified; Of the Union between Chrift and his Church; Of the Change which all (as well thofe who fhall be found Alive, as those who fhall be raised to Life) fhall undergo at the general Refurrection; Of the Rejec