"would be as ready as ever to embrace the first "plaufible argument against the gospel *.

"We have fome, who, by their mere notional "knowledge of revelation, the outward teftimony "to Christianity, difbelieve the reality or neceffity "of any acquaintance with the inward teftimony, "by which the DIVINE SPIRIT produces a serious "fpiritual frame, fitting the foul to receive the "fanctifying impreffions of an outward revelation. "They think that reading of facred fcripture, and " forming from thence right notions of Christ❝ianity, in order to TALK of it, with a going the "round of common duties, and a not being guilty "of common fins, is the whole of the Chriftian re❝ligion, and all the meetness that is neceffary for "heaven. A ferious HEAVENLY FRAME, fuitable "to the true notion of revelation, has no place in "them; they ridicule it in others, and name it "affectation, rather than any real part of CHRIST66 IANITY.

"An ingenious mind may argue for God against "the atheift; for CHRIST against the Socinian; "and for the outward teftimony of the SPIRIT of "Christ against the deift; and he himself be no "real Chriftian: but no perfon can well difplay "this inward teftimony of Chrift in the foul, "without the EXPERIENCE of it †."

"Our light is like a candle, every wind of vain doctrine blows "it out and makes the light tremulous; but the lights of heaven are "fixed and bright and fhine for ever." BISHOP TAYLOR.

To teach the HEARTS of others, the heart of the teacher must have had experience of the holy agency, or with refpect to real edification in Christianity, his difciples will go empty away. Jam hic videte magnum facramentum, Fratres. Magifteria forinfecùs adjutoria quædam funt et admonitiones; CATHEDRAM IN COLO HABET QUI CORDA DOCET. Here, brethren, you fee a great and bely mystery. Inftruction from externals are great affiftances, and afford much useful admonition; but he, who teacbeth the heart, hath bis feat, from which be gives bis leffons in beaven. AUGUST. Tr. 3. in 1 Jean.

SECTION XVI.

Dr. Townson's Opinions on the Evidence which is in this Book recommended as fuperior to all other.

HE author from whom the following teftimony This taken, was honoured for the book in which it is inserted, with his doctor's degree, by diploma from Oxford, a proof that it has in it nothing fanatical; and I'fhould be wanting in duty to my young reader, if I did not recommend to his perufal the admirable difcourfes of Dr. Townson on the four gofpels. He has removed many difficulties in them, and may therefore remove fome prejudices which tend to obstruct the reception of the fublime and confolatory doctrine of this volume.

"If the word was enforced by miracles in the "times only of its early publication, it has the "standing fupport and EVIDENCE of another "power, which is fill as operative, where we will "allow it, as ever. This is declared and pro"mised in the following paffage: Jefus answered "them and faid, My doctrine is not mine, but his "that fent me. If any man will do his quill, he fall "know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whe"ther I speak of myself.

"The perfon who enters on the study of a "fcience, of which he has only a general idea, "must receive many things at first on the authority "of his inftructors. And furely there is no one, "who, by his life and works, has fuch claim to "truft and confidence in his words as the Author "and Finisher of our faith. If then we really "defire to know the certainty of his doctrine; if "we have the courage to facrifice meaner pursuits

❝ to

"to the wisdom that is from above, and the feli"city of attaining it; we fall ftudy the truth of his "religion as he directs, by the PRACTICE OF ITS 66 LAWS And this method, he affures us, will "yield us the repofe and comfort of firm perfua"fion. Continuing ftedfast in such a courfe of "difcipline, we fhall not feek after figns from "heaven, nor ask to behold the blind receive their

fight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, or the dead "raifed up. The healing efficacy and blessed influence of the gospel will fufficiently vouch for

"its truth and excellence.

"The EVIDENCE which thus poffeffes the foul "is not liable to be impaired by time, as might

an impreffion once made on the fenfes; but "will fhine more and more unto a perfect day. "For the practice of religion, by purifying the "heart, will raise and improve the understanding "to conceive more clearly and judge more rightly "of heavenly things and divine truths: the view "and contemplation of which will return upon "the heart the warmth of livelier hopes and more "vigorous incitements to obedience; and effec"tual obedience will FEEL and testify that it is the "finger of God.

"For is nature able, by its own efficiency, to "clear the eyes of the mind; to rectify the will; "to regulate the affections; to raise the foul to "its noblest object, in love and adoration of God; "to employ it steadily in its best and happiest ex"ercise, justice and charity to man; to detach its "defires from the pleasures, profits, and honours

*And to practise his laws we shall be enabled by what is called by Theologians "COMMON GRACE." "Thofe divine influences, which leave the mind short of faith and fincere obedience, may be ❝ called COMMON GRACE. Thefe introduce SPECIAL."

DODDRIDGE.

" of

"of the world; to exalt its views to heavenly things; to render the whole life godly, juft, and "fober? He, who impartially examines his own "moral abilities by the pure and fearching light "of the gospel, muft difcern their defects and "weakness in every part; and when he well con"fiders the tenor and spirit of this gospel, must " acknowledge that he is not of himself fufficient "for the attainments to which it calls and con"ducts its faithful votary.

"What then is it that hath taken him by the "hand, and leads him on in this rifing path of "virtue and holinefs; that prevents his fteps from "fliding; or if his foot hath flipped, raises him "again; that keeps him fteady in the right way;

or, if at any time he hath wandered out of it, "recals him to it; that strengthens him to refift "temptations, to endure toils, and fo continue "patiently in well-doing; that, as he advances, "opens to his faith a still brightening view of the "heavenly Jerufalem, through the gloom which "our earthly state hangs upon death and futurity; " and animates him to live and walk by this faith?

"If these are exertions beyond the sphere of " mere human activity, the queftion, whence "fuch improvement of foul and fpirit and life "proceeds, will admit of an easy and clear an"fwer. It is God who bleffes our earnest peti❝tions that we may do his will, and our fincere "endeavours to do it, with the GRACE OF HIS "HOLY SPIRIT; who worketh in us both to will ❝and to do of his good pleasure; and thus veri. "fies and fulfils the promises, made by Christ to "those who afk in his name, of fuccour and "ftrength from on high. Chrift therefore is his "beloved Son, by whom we are redeemed, and "in whom we are accepted. The religion which

"he

"he hath taught us, fo worthy of God in the "theory, and fo favoured by him in the practice "of its laws, proves its heavenly origin by the "fruit it produces; and brings its divinity home "to the breast of the devout profeffor by EXPE"RIENCE of its power unto falvation.

"It is natural to conclude, that he who has "this conviction of its certainty will be defirous "of perfuading others to the belief and practice "of it; and will be of an apt and fit difpofition "to inftruct them in it." Thus it appears that Dr. Townfon, like Dr. Jeremy Taylor, thinks that the teaching of the Spirit is the best instruction for the clergy, and that the scholars of the univerfity "may become under this difcipline most learned " and most useful *."

There are scarcely any recent divines, whose opinions ought to have more weight than thofe of Dr. Townfon. He lived, as he wrote, according to the true gospel. He is univerfally esteemed by the most learned and judicious theologifts of the prefent day; and his opinions alone carry with them fufficient authority to justify me fully in recommending that evidence of the gospel truth which arifes from divine influence, confequent on obedience to its precepts. An orthodox life, I am convinced, is the best preparative to the entertainment of orthodox opinions; and I rejoice to find fuch men as Townfon enforcing the doctrine, "that if any man will do the will of Chrift, he "fhall KNOW of the doctrine whether it be of "God," He does not refer us to fyftematical or philofophical works, but to the teaching of the Holy Ghoft, for the attainment of this knowledge; a knowledge, compared to which all other is to

* Vide Sect. vi,

man,