tians in every age, against those who shew the same spirit, and pursue the fame object. That there are men of this description in our own age is abundantly known. For forwarding my object, in this difcourfe, and the apoftle's, as I understand him, in this exhortation, it is not neceffary that I should trace the occafions, the rife, the diffufion of the antichriftian spirit and character of our times: though in doing this, much is found to strip the votaries of irreligion and infidelity of their claims to attention and respect. Leaving it to inquiry and controversy to prove, or difprove, a combination and confpiracy for extinguishing Chriftianity, we take up the matter as it ftands. There are, in these days, teachers of infidelity, irreligion and immorality. Men who endeavour to pervert the principles, and undermine the faith, of their contemporaries.

"THEY love not the LORD JESUS CHRIST." This is truly faid of men who may exceedingly differ in many respects from one another.

SOME infidels, or abettors of infidelity, ex

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press high respect for the honour of Deity : thofe who are immoral in their writings, and in their lives, have caft off revealed religion, and natural religion alfo, if by that word is meant, acknowledging and regarding the moral government of GOD. Whoever in writing, or converfation, or by his conduct, attempts to undermine and overturn the faith of Chriftians, or the love and practice of good morals, and true religion, is an Antichrift, loves not the LORD JESUS, is an Anathema: this part of his character is, and ought to be, an execration to all true Chriftians.

THEY Who are the enemies of the Gospel, fometimes, prefent themselves as difpaffionate reafoners: fometimes, as difinterefted and generous philanthropists, seeking to inform and correct the ignorant, and those who are mifled by education and prejudice, and authority fometimes, they indulge in banter and fatire, and farcaftical remarks: fometimes, the rudenefs and vulgarity of grofs abufe is employed: at other times, polite addrefs is infinuating, entertaining, and enfnaring. It is not poffible to enumerate all the ways in which the Gospel and good morals

are

are attacked: but it is proper to observe that, not the leaft malignity and poifon may lurk under that teaching or fpecies of writing that speaks nothing of the Gospel at all, but proposes and defends maxims and characters that are unchriftian and antichriftian. I fear, it requires but little acquaintance with modern authors to find, their heroes and heroines, their favourite characters, destitute of religion; and yet held up as objects of efteem, if not models of excellence. By fuch exhibitions, the Gospel of JESUS is, in effect, defpifed fuch writers fay, in effect, it is unneceffary or falfe, or hurtful, and to be rejected.

My brethren! Is the defign of the irreligious, and of their writings known to you? do you perceive the effect, or the evident tendency, of the reafoning and wit, and learning, and ridicule which they employ in converfation, or in writing, by openly oppofing the Gospel, or by excluding it from their fystem, to be fubverfive of faith, and the deftruction of good morals? let fuch men, fuch writings, fuch attempts, be held in abhorLet them be Anathema Maranatha. VARIOUS

rence.

VARIOUS have been, and various ftill may be, the appearances affumed by enmity and hoftility to the Gofpel. I have referred to acuteness, learning and addrefs. We do not defire you to depart from truth, and a just eftimate of the qualities and powers, and acquirements, by which the enemies of the Gospel may be diftinguished: if they are as fplendid and fuperior, as their friends represent them, or as they imagine themselves, in their abilities, penetration, and inquiries; let candour do them all juftice; but let not your abhorrence be diminished. Let not the discovery and admiration of talents, prevent the indignation which the abuse of them excites and deferves. Be not fo dazzled with acuteness and wit, and well turned phrafes, as not to fee their tendency and effects; as to forget, one moment, the foundations of your faith, and the bleffedness of those who live by faith. Indeed eminence in abilities and in any quality whatever, confiftent with irreligion and infidelity, ought to add to our regret, and abhorrence alfo, towards the enemies of the Gospel; in the estimate of faith, fuch eminence adds to their guilt: fuch eminence, I fear, experience will add, increases

creases their perniciousness and influence. Their light alas! leads to ruin: their fascinating torch turns men away from the fplendors of the Sun of Righteoufnefs: intoxicated with their dreggy draughts, men forget the fountain of living water, the ever flowing ftreams of pure delight.

I HAVE mentioned eminence and being refpectable, for the fake of argument and illuftration, not admitting, but allowing, a claim to high degrees of ability, in those who oppofe or undermine the Gospel. Faith declines no comparison with infidelity, as to powers and diftinction of any kind, natural or acquired: in acutenefs, research, learning, and in wit itself, the fuperiority is not on the fide of irreligion. I am perfuaded that the moft prefumptuous of the blafphemers would blush to claim a fuperiority, in any of these qualities, over the believers of the Gospel.

ENMITY and oppofition to the Gospel are abominable in whomfoever they appear, and in what manner foever they manifeft themfelves. But there are various degrees of enmity and oppofition, and therefore of your

abhor