A WISER Provision than this could not have been made for the Publishing the Gospel, and the Compaffing the Ends which it was defign'd to ferve. And if this excellent Inftitution hath not always been attended with all the Success which were to have been wifhed, and might have been reafonably expected; Woe be to them, whether Clergy or Layety, by whofe Neglect or Fault this hath happen'd. For the Mifcarriage cannot be charged on any Defect in the Inftitution it felf. However, the Effects of it have always been very confiderable. Great Multitudes are continually either preferv'd or gain'd over from Vice and Irreligion, or falfe Religion, and train'd to the true Knowledge of God, and at length brought to Salvation by it. It is notorious that to it, principally is owing all the religious Knowledge and Practice in the World, which without it would quickly be at a very low Ebb. For which reafon fon fome a are its Enemies, and all will ever be its hearty and fteady Friends, who are Friends to Mankind,

3

HESACH

Fourth

Fourthly and laftly, In order to the Gofpel's being an efficacious Means of Salvation, it is neceffary that it be duly heard and received by those to whom it is published. Otherwife in Vain are the Doctrines of the Gofpel wifely defigned and exactly fitted for that Purpose. In Vain hath God given Teftimony to the Truth of it by the Seal of Miracles; and his Heralds make Proclamation of it in Vain. Tho' there be no Imperfection in the Doctrine it felf; tho' nothing has been wanting on God's Part for its Confirmation; tho' there be no Failure in those whofe Office it is to publish it; yet may it be defeated of its End thro' the Indifpofition or Default of thofe to whom it is published; as there are fome Soils which will mock the Toil and Skill of the Husbandman, and upon which the Beft of Seed and the kindly Influences of Heaven will be loft.

10 THE Art of Speaking hath always been much ftudied, and highly valued ; and it deferves fo to be; for without question it is of confiderable Use both

for

SERM.

II

SERM.

II.

1

for Conviction and for Perfuafion. But much more depends upon the Difpofitions of the Hearers, than upon the Abilities or Art of the Speaker. Happy is he who fpeaks in the Ears of them that hear aright. His Difcourfe, if underftood and fupported by Truth and Reafon, will not mifs of Succefs, how artlefs and unadorned foever it be. But where the Minds of the Audience are not prepared for the Entertainment of the Truth; there Truth, tho' the ftrongest of all Things, will hardly be able to prevail; tho' the Preachers of it be ever fo faithful and affiduous in the Difcharge of their Function; tho' their Speech diftil as the Dew, and the Words from their Lips flow fweeter than Honey. It therefore nearly concerns all who would not, by fruftrating the Defign of the Gospel, be the Authors of their own Ruin, to take Heed how they Hear.

THEY who are not yet convinc'd of the Truth of Chriftianitý, ought to accept of fuch Proof of it as a Matter of this kind will admit of, and to be fatisfied

and

with fuch Evidence as they would judge
to be fatisfactory in all other Cafes; i.
not to reject it for the Sake of fome Dif-
ficulties which they may not be able
clearly and fully to account for, nor to
be ftaggered by every frivolous Cavil,
if it appear that the Arguments for it do
greatly out-weigh the Objections which
are brought against it. For what is there
in the World fo certain and clear as to
be clogg'd with no Difficulties, and
against which nothing can be objected?
On other Occafions, Men do readily de-
termine their Affent in Favour of that
Side of the Queftion, on which they are
fure the Evidence vaftly preponderates.
And if in this Cafe only they do other-
wife, this fhews that they are under
the Power of fome prevalent Prejudice
or Luft, or Intereft, which will not fuf-
fer them to judge and act according to
the Reafon and Reality of Things.

MENS Vices and deprav'd Affections blind and biafs their Understandings, and hinder them from difcovering what is Right, and incline them to pafs a wrong

Judg

SERM,

II.

་

Judgment upon Things. They will hardly be brought to believe any thing contrary to their Wishes. In all probability the Ground of moft Mens Disbelief of the Gospel is not the Infufficiency of its Evi dence, but its Contrariety to their beloved Vices. It is an irreconcilable Enemy to their Practices, and therefore they will be Enemies to it. They are loth it should be true, wherefore they will not acknowledge it to be true.

Ir therefore greatly concerns every Enquirer into the Truth of the Christian Doctrine, to difengage himself from all evil Difpofitions and Habits, which will be apt to fet his Mind againft it; and fincerely to practife whatfoever he already knows by the Voice of Reafon to be his Duty; which will render him an equal and impartial Judge of Reveal'd Religion, and prepare him for the Reception of it. For faith our Saviour, If any Man will do God's Will, he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God. But it is no wonder if they be lieve not the Truth, who have Pleasure

་ ་

in