tiquity, and, for the fond hopes with which they were connected. Nothing but conviction and truth can rationally explain the Gofpel being fo cordially embraced, fo faithfully obeyed, fo firmly perfevered in. "Take "heed to fuch men :-they speak the words "of truth and fobernefs."

NOR can we be told that the people who know not the law, or the unlearned, only, became, from being indifferent or the enemies of the Gofpel, its converts and friends. It is true, learning and high ftation declared against the Gofpel: but we know alfo, that the learned and the great bowed before the power of GOD, and felt and acknowledged the force of truth. Not learning, but the pride of learning, has an enemy in Chriftianity: not flation and wealth, but their vices, are incompatible with the doctrine and the practice of Christianity. The learned acknowledge the frivoloufnefs of all their knowledge, when brought into comparifon with the excellence of the Gofpel: the men of power threw their crowns at his feet who is the KING OF KINGS, and the LORD of LORDS: by humbling themfelves, they become truly great

great and exalted; they are kings and priests unto God. One example of the opposition of authority, of learning, and of zeal, cannot but be well known to you. You know the history of the perfecutor, and of his zeal and fuccefs, in forwarding the interests of that Gospel which he fought to extinguish and destroy. "Saul made havock of the church, "entering into every house, and haling men "and women, committed them to prison, "breathing out threatenings and flaughters

against the difciples of the LORD." This blafphemer, this perfecutor and injurious man, is convicted, is converted: fee how ably he reasons, how confiftently he lives, how nobly he suffers; how active and fuccessful, and perfevering, in preaching the Gospel, and in establishing and comforting the churches! In what was it he gloried? “I am "not ashamed," faid he, "of the Gospel of "CHRIST, for it is the power of GOD unto "falvation, to every one that believeth: "GOD forbid that I should glory, save in the "cross of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, by which "the world is crucified to me, and I unto "the world. What things were gain to me "those I counted lofs for CHRIST: yea doubt

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"less and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST "JESUS My LORD, for whom I have fuffered my "the loss of all things, and do count them "but dung that I may win CHRIST; and be "found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that "which is through the faith of CHRIST, the "righteousness which is of GOD by faith; "that I may know him, and the power of "his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings, being made conformable to his "death."

Nor men of one nation, and of one coun→ try, left their former principles and practices from the feats of idolatry, from the fchools of philofophy; from the camp, from the court; came forth difciples, confeffors and martyrs of JESUS CHRIST.

THEY who are in any danger of liftening to opinions and principles hostile to the Gofpel, and of being dazzled with the reputation, and vaunted eminence of infidels, will do well to reflect that, the ableft, the most respectable, the most learned have been the

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moft ftrenuous advocates, and firmeft friends, of Christianity: let them confider, whom they are to forfake, whom they are to follow: let them inquire, where wisdom presides, where virtue reigns, where peace and love, and harmony, abound?. Let them remember the inftructions and education of their fathers; the example of their friends; who were their teachers, who have been, and who are, the ornaments of learning, the pillars of fociety, the models of imitation, the beft and happieft of mankind: they are Christians they cheerfully profeffed their faith they obeyed the Gofpel: they lived for CHRIST and for them to die is gain.

4. A FOURTH direction and advice, for being faved from the influence of the irreligious is, that you diligently and regularly attend upon the means of inftruction, and edification; and enter into the spirit of the religious exercises in which you engage; and profit by them, fo as to obtain and enjoy the objects of their institution.

THAT they were inftituted of CHRIST, is a demonftration of their utility and excellence.

They

They who do not prize the ordinances of CHRIST, or are eafily turned away from obferving them, are not fufficiently impreffed and affected with a fenfe of the authority, the wisdom, and grace of the LORD; do not duly confider the defign of their institution. It was for most important purpofes that GOD appointed his worship to be celebrated, under the former difpenfation, and that various rites and ceremonies were performed, and feftivals and memorials were observed, in Ifrael. Such fervices fuited the ftate of the world, at the time they were appointed, the nature of that difpenfation which was vouchfafed to Ifrael, and the character of that people. The worfhip and ordinances, and the pofitive inftitutions, of the Gospel, are more fimple and lefs numerous, are full of meaning and of comfort; are fuited to the nature of the new difpenfation, the better covenant, an univerfal religion. All we know and declare of the excellence of this better covenant, all the manifeftations of the wifdom and grace of our great Mafter, must convince and imprefs our minds that it is no vain thing to obferve its ordinances; that much advantage must accrue from their frequent, and folemn,

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