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end of man, the falvation of his immortal part, his foul.

But perhaps fome may be apt to ask, (as did the Roman Governor) what is Truth-Amidst the multitude of pretenders to true Religion, where is it to be found? And, it must be confeffed,

many have been the inventions of men, with respect to divine faith and worship in all ages: Not only in the times of heathen darkness and fuperftition, but even under the glorious light of the gofpel. Of this however we are certain, viz. that the Word of God is Truth ; and our reafon properly applied is abundantly fufficient to diftinguifh it. There is no fair trial but the Holy Scriptures will abide; no reasonable affurance which they will not adminifter. The evidence of miracles and prophecies from without, the evidence of purity and holiness from within, give undeniable teftimony to

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their divine Original. And from these facred oracles alone it is, those fountains of light and truth, that we can derive any just notices of ourselves, and of the relation we bear to our God. In thefe

are manifefted the original dignity of man; the corruption and impotence of his fallen ftate; the love of God towards him in reconciling the world to himself by his Son; the nature and end of his prefent being; and the life and immortality that await him through the gates of death. In thefe too is exprefsly delineated every inftance of moral duty, dependant on the love of God, and that of our Neighbour. The very design of our Bleffed Lord's incarnation (as he himself declared in the prefence of Pilate) was to bear witness to the truth: To difpel that cloud of ignorance and delufion, which the spiritual Enemy of mankind had spread over the whole earth; and to fupply the uncertain systems of

human

human conjecture, by a full and perfect revelation of the divine will.

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Hither then are we to apply for that fpiritual peace, which paffeth all underftanding; for that infallible direction, which will guide us into all truth. "Thy word (faid the Pfalmift) is a lanthern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths." And though neither David nor Solomon had fo clear an insight into the whole of God's will, and man's happiness, as we are bleft with under the gofpel difpenfation; yet may their pious fentiments and precepts be fairly conftrued in a Christian sense, and receive additional enforcements from the present state of things. If the laws of Nature and of Mofes were a light, how much more radiant the law of Chrift? And if the truth in them contained was to be known and obferved, or (in the language of the text) to be purchased at any rate;

how

how inestimable the truth of the gospel? This is indeed that heavenly truth which enlightens and enlarges the understanding, rectifies the affections, and makes men free free from the flavery of fin and error, from the anxious disquietudes of this life, and the fearful apprehenfions of another. To be toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of vain doctrine, is doubtlefs a state of infecurity and distraction. But true Religion is an anchor to the foul, both fure and stedfaft; keeping it steady amidst the ftorms of a tempeftuous world; till in due time it arrive at the haven where it would be.

Such is the excellence of that Truth we are confidering; and which therefore we are exhorted to buy. Under which expreffion is intimated, that fo valuable an acquifition as that of a right difciplined mind, a found faith, and a

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well grounded hope, is not to be obtained without a price, without fome degree of coft on our parts: And that, fince we are watching every opportunity of worldly advantage, we fhould fpare no expence to be poffeffed of this ornament and fecurity of the foul, which is more precious than rubies, and all the things we can defire are not to be compared unto it. I proceed therefore in the next place to propose the neceffary conditions of this Purchase, or what is required of those who would come to the knowledge of the Truth.

2. There is certainly implanted in the very nature of man a defire of knowledge, and a love of truth; and the realcause why so many take up with falfe notions of things, and deviate both in judgment and practice, cannot be any original enmity to truth as fuch, but that they care not to be at the expence of

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