as cannot fail to exalt our Defires, refine our Affections, and dignify our Tempers.Such as will adminifter Comfort under Affliction, and impart an additional Relish to Profperity.Such as will teach Us to order our Conversation right, amidst all the Snares, all the Labyrinths of Time; and gradually train Us up, for the pure Blifs, and confummate Enjoyments of Eternity. May THIS Proof, Madam, be written on your Heart-written in bright and indelible Characterswritten by the Finger of the living GOD!-Then, I am affured, every Attempt to ftagger your Belief, or withdraw your Veneration from THE BIBLE; will be like an Attempt, to fhatter the Rock in Pieces with a Bubble, or to pierce the Adamant with a Fea*ther. This is not only the fincere Wish; but, fo long as Religion and Gratitude have any Place in my Breaft, it will also be the earnest Prayer of I POST SCRIP T. Have taken no Notice of his Lordship's Animadverfions, relating to the Genuinenefs of the Gospel-Hiftory. Because, this would be entering upon a new Field; which I leave open and untouched, for fome more able Defender of that invaluable Depofitum. Not that I apprehend, there is any Thing very formidable in the Attack. But I think it would be serviceable, as I am perfuaded it is easy, to fhew the Weakness and Unreasonableness of thofe Arguments; which Men of fuperior Abilities are obliged to take up with, when they lift themselves under the Banner of Scepticifm or Infidelity. It would also be a Piece of public Juftice, to enquire into the Sincerity, Probity, and Confiftency of thofe Writers; who, in fome Places, lay a mighty Stress upon the Authority of the New Teftament; (pag. 94.) in others, endeavour to fap the very Foundation of its Credibility (pag. 177.) FINI S. A VINDICATION OF THE Evidences and Authenticity OF THE GOSPEL S, FROM THE OBJECTIONS OF THE LATE Lord BOLINGBROKE, IN HIS LETTERS ΟΝ ΤΗΕ STUDY of HISTORY. By the Rev. Mr. PETER WHALLEY, Grammar-Mafter of Chrift's-Hofpital, London. LONDON: Printed for J. RIVINGTON, in St. Paul's Church-yard, The Miniftry of Reconciliation: Representing the benign Tendency of the Gospel; aud that it is the friendly Office of Minifters, as the Embassadors of Chrift, to prefs Men with all imaginable Tenderness, Humility, and Earnestness to accept the Treaty of Reconciliation as eftablished in Him, and urged by Him, while on Earth: A SERMON Preached at the Parish-Church of All-Saints in NORTHAMPTON.. BY JAMES HERVEY, A. M. Late Rector of Wefton-Favell, in Northamptonshire. We are Embajadors for Chrift, as though God did befeech you by us: We pray you in Chrifi's Stead be ye reconciled unto God. 2 Cor. v. 20. LONDON, ADVERTISEMENT. As this is a pofthumous Piece it may be necessary to obferve for the Satisfaction of the Publick, that Mr. Hervey was many Years ago folicited to print this Sermon by feveral who heard it; but as He was a Man of great Modefty, and had not then appeared as an Author, He could not at that Time be prevailed on by any Solici tations to comply with their Request.—However, at a particular Friend's Defire he tranfcribed it from his ShortHand Copy, and gave it to him.—Some Years afterwards this Friend defired Mr. Hervey to revise it with a View of its being published; which (in Conjunction with a very eminent Divine) He accordingly did; and then returned the Copy to his Friend; telling him that as the Meditations on the Tombs, &c. had been fo well received, He had now no Objection against publishing it with fome other Sermons; and that He might one Day or another require it of him again for that Purpose.-—This Sermon is printed from that very Copy; and Mr. Hervey himself would probably have added it to the Volume, which contains his four Sermons, had He happened to recollect that it was in the Poffeffion of a Friend, who would willingly have relinquished it to its Author for Publication. |