as to the subject of his preaching; however certainly proceeding with an hoftile intent: Till overpowered and convinced by the strength and evidence of his reafoning, they became altogether disarmed of their malice; and with an uncommon ingenuousness gave publick teftimony in his favour. From whence arifes an argument for the truth and efficacy of our Lord's doctrine. Such as are prepoffeffed with a good opinion of their Teacher, whoever he be, are certainly more apt to give credit to his fayings; and may perhaps fometimes, through partiality and a credulous difpofition, swallow down falfhood under the appearance of truth. But when a man's hearers are his profeffed enemies, or at best mere difinterested and unconcerned ftrangers; if those are convinced even against their inclinations, or these are irresistibly affected with the evidence of important propofitions they had never before dreamt

of;

of; this can be owing to nothing but the power of truth itself, which in the end must always prevail. And this was plainly the cafe of the Officers in the text: Who contrary to their prejudices, their intentions and interefts, were captivated by the force of Chrift's words, and could not but acknowledge in the prefence of their bigotted and jealous Rulers, that "Never Man fpake like this Man."- Nor is this fuperiority of truth to be wondered at; being of the effence of the Deity, and congenial with the human foul. So that when clearly propofed, it carries conviction along with it; men naturally embrace it; and can never, but by a wilful and unnatural blindness, deny it admiffion. It fhall therefore be my business in the following discourse to make fome candid enquiry into the nature of Chrift's doctrine; fhewing the general fitness of it, upon the principles of human reason, to

the

the ordinary apprehenfion of every fober and unprejudiced perfon.

And to this purpose, I shall confider the doctrine of Chrift as divided into two branches :-The one whereof confifts of a republication of the moral law refined and perfected the other, of a revelation of the means whereby man, who in his fallen ftate cannot keep the law, may be reconciled to his offended God, and obtain eternal falvation.

1. With regard then to the former of thefe, the merely moral part of Christ's doctrine-forafmuch as it is built upon the foundation of that law, which was originally engraven on man's heart by the finger of his Creator; the entire fuitableness thereof to the order and harmony of things will, I prefume, be readily feen and confeffed. The great notices of natural light," to do justly, to love

-

mercy,

:

mercy, and to walk humbly with God," as the Prophet speaks-or, in the words of the Apostle, " to live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world,"— have been at all times acknowledged, as well by confiderate Heathens, as by God's more peculiar and enlightened People; and the truth and fitness of them maintained by universal consent and approbation. What Nations, I mean what civilized Nations, but have concurred in owning a dependance upon, and obligation to the Supreme Being, how much foever differing in their mistaken modes of divine worship? What intelligent part of mankind but have ever held justice and equitable dealing, fobriety and temperance, patience, fortitude, and beneficence, for virtues of the firft magnitude? It must then needs be that these natural dictates, thus univerfally acknowledged, are true, and originally from Heaven: And are not the moral precepts

precepts of Christianity perfectly conformable to these established notices ? Are they not indeed these very notices fet in a stronger light, made more refined, fpiritual, and extensive ?

For though the doctrine of Chrift, as to the moral or practical part of it, is really built (as hath been faid) upon the foundation of the law of nature, and so stands upon a certain infallible basis; yet it must be granted, the fuperftructure is much more elevated and widened; as in all reafon it ought to be; seeing the promise of an infinitely greater reward juftly calls us to a higher degree of virtue. But notwithstanding this, every member of it is equally true and binding, as being in the ftricteft relation connected with each other: And no one additional precept in the gospel is made to oppose or contradict any that had been taught by nature or by Mofes; but only to fill up

and