ligion was ever read or heard of in any Mohammedan country.

Upon the whole, I think we may conclude, at least fairly prefume, that no imposture has ever stood such a test as christianity has already ftood, without being exploded; and notwithstanding the spread of infidelity at prefent, yet, confidering among whom it fpreads, and who they are that oppose the spread of it, it can hardly be doubted, by an indifferent spectator, but that the belief of chriflianity, fo far from being in any danger of becoming extinct, will maintain its ground, and continue to be the ferious belief of the virtuous, the fober minded, and the learned of the prefent and future ages; and this will be an omen of its finally triumphing over all oppofition, and of the belief of it coming at length to be univerfal, and undifputed.

Sincere chriftians have no more reafon to be shocked at the prevalence of infidelity in the present age, than at the prevalence of evils in general, or of vice in particular.

There

There can be no doubt but that evils of every kind answer the best of purposes in the fyftem of God's moral government, and that they are a very important part of that moft admirable difcipline, by which mankind are training up to the knowledge of truth and the practice of virtue. Nor do I think that it requires any great depth of judgment, or knowledge of human nature, to perceive this.

Suppofing it to be the intention of any perfon to form a proper number of truly great, excellent, and generous minds, he muft place them in a world not lefs abounding with calamity, and even with vice, than this. There could be no dependence either upon the genuineness, or the ftability of that virtue which had not been formed, and exercifed, in fuch circumftances,

In like manner, the most rational and the moft fteady believer in chriftianity, is the man who has heard and confidered all the serious objections that unbelievers can make to it, and who has alfo been expofed to the

ridicule

ridicule with which it is treated by thofe who have the reputation of men of sense, and of being free from vulgar prejudices. The man who has paffed through this trial, whofe faith has not been fhaken, but has been more firmly established by the reasonings of unbelievers; who has not been made afhamed of his profeffion by the ridicule and contempt to which it has exposed him, but who can be content to be ranked among the fools and narrow minded by the celebrated free-thinkers of the age, in a firm belief of, and patient waiting for that day, which fhall confound the wisdom of the now reputed wife, is a chriftian of a higher rank, and greater value, and is more to be depended upon for acting a truly christian part (which requires fuperiority of mind to this world, and to the vain pursuits and tranfitory emoluments of it) than the man who has only been taught to take the fyftem for granted, and who is unacquainted with proper evidence on which his faith refts,

the

Moreover, as thofe who believe in the perfect moral government of God entertain

no

no doubt, but that all calamity and vice will be made to ceafe, when they have anfwered the purposes for which they were permitted to exift; fo the chriftian looks forward with joy to that time, when the religion of Chrift fhall triumph over all oppofition, when the firm belief of it will be univerfal, and when, in confequence of this, being more deeply rooted in men's hearts, it will bring forth the proper fruits of it in their lives and converfation.

When these things are duly confidered, I hope that the prefent ftate of the belief of christianity will afford no just foundation for any objection to it, but that it will rather fupply an argument in favour of it.

SECTION

SECTION IV.

Mifcellaneous objections to the fyftem of re

velation.

TH

but

HE want of univerfality can be no objection to the truth of christianity; upon the fuppofition of the knowledge of it being abfolutely neceffary to the final happiness of men, which is denied by all rational chriftians, who believe that all men will be judged according to the advantages which they have feverally enjoyed, for attaining to the knowledge of truth and the practice of virtue; and confequently that the most ignorant and idolatrous heathen may meet with more favour from his judge than many profeffing chriftians, whose conduct, though, to outward appearance, it has been much better, yet not in proportion to their greater advantages.