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and walk as men; as your ungenerate heathen neighbours? We see instances of this fpirit frequently, and almost in every place. We meet with many who have, as St. Paul obferves concerning the Jews, a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. It is neither well directed, nor well founded: Some perfons are warm and eager in defending and propagating their own sentiments on controversial points: they cenfure and condemn all who do not hold those, and call them by fome hard and opprobrious names: nor do they always fpare those of the fame fentiments with themselves, if they are not equally zealous for them. They efteem all those to be pious and godly who are in their own way of thinking, though fome of them trample upon common probity and fidelity, and discover much conceit, bitterness, and ill-temper; while they entertain an unfavourable opinion of all others, be their characters ever fo unblameable, and their lives ufeful.

Confider how zealous many good men are for little things, for important nothings. It may truly be faid of fome objects of their zeal, that they are not the things of Chrift-of others, that they are the leaft of his things-of little value and weight in his religion. What zeal do they fhew for particular phrafes, forms, and ceremonies, for human standards and traditions, and for party diftinctions! What zeal for doctrines

confeffedly myfterious and unintelligible, and about which wife and good men in every age have differed; and which, therefore, undoubtedly are not effential to religion and falvation! What zeal and pains to be at the head of a party, or confiderable in it; or to make profelytes to it! While there hath been very little zeal for the indifputables, for holiness and usefulness of life, and conformity to the rules of the gospel. How violent, fiery, and bitter, hath the former zeal been; and what dreadful effects hath it produced in the church! But how little is feen of that wisdom which is from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrify.

Difcourfes on Zeal.

PHILIP FURNEAUX, D. D.

CLAPHAM.-DIED 1783.

ABOVE all, the nature and defign of the fyftem of revealed truth fhould be carefully studied and thoroughly understood. Regard it not as a magazine of uncertain or speculative opinions, or of entertaining problems; but as containing truths of the clearest evidence, and the utmost importance, relating to the perfections, providence, government, pur.. pofes, and will of God; to the nature and con

dition of man, his prefent duty, his future profpects; in a word, to the fcheme of redemption and falvation, through the infinite mercy of the Father, and by the life, doctrine, miracles, death, refurrection, afcenfion, and exaltation of his incarnate Son. Are there, or can there be subjects of greater importance than these to finful men? And the lively oracles in which these interesting events and doctrines are recorded, are an infallible teft of truth; all others are to be tried by them; they by none.

Remember that you not only fet out, but proceed in the name of Jefus. For you receive not your commiffion from Socrates, or Plato, or Cicero, or Seneca; from Luther or Calvin, Arminius or Baxter, or from any other great men, ancient or modern, (through an exceffive and injudicious regard to whofe reputation or authority, the Chriftian church hath been unhappily rent into a thousand different contending parties) but folely from Jefus Chrift. Take heed, therefore, that you preach him the only Lord, and yourselves fervants of the churches for his fake.

When various factions arofe amongst the Corinthians, and one boasted, I am of Paul; another, I of Cephas or Peter, and I of Chrift; the apostle put to them these pertinent and poignant interrogatories, Is Chrift divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? It fhould, therefore, firs, be your prin

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cipal care to keep your eye on your commiffion, and on your mafter, and to direct men's regard to him, as the only head in his church, and the only sovereign in his kingdom, as well as our only Saviour and guide to heaven. Set on foot and promote no private or party schemes; no interest of your own or others in derogation of, much less in oppofition to his. Let it be your conftant aim and ambition to render men loyal and faithful fubjects to that King whom God hath fet on his holy hill of Zion. Maintain and cultivate peace, charity, and unity, with all those who love our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity; however they may differ from one another, or from you in religious opinions or modes of worfhip. Meeknefs and humility are the peculiar ornaments of a Chriftian, especially of a minifter, as nothing can be more indecent in him than haughtiness and pride. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, meekness, long fuffering and humbleness of mind, as well as bowels of mercies and kindness; and above all, put on Charity, which is the bond of perfection.

Charge to Minifters at Bridport.

IT

RICHARD PRICE, D.D. F.R.S.

DIED 1791.

T has been faid, that if Christianity came from God, it would have been taught the world with fuch clearnefs and precifion, as not to leave room for doubts and difputes. It is wonderful to me, that any person can mention. this who believes the doctrines of natural religion, or who has read the defences of Chriftianity. Has the Author of nature given us rea fon in this manner, or even the information we derive from our fenses? Is it poffible, while we continue fuch creatures as we are, that any inftruction fhould be fo clear as to preclude difputes? Suppofing the Deity to grant us fupernatural light, are we judges what degree of it he ought to give, or in what particular manner it ought to be communicated?

Again: The animofities, perfecutions, and bloodshed, which the Chriftian religion has occafioned, have been urged as objections to it. This, likewife, certainly fhould not be mentioned till it can be shown, that there is one benefit or bleffing enjoyed by mankind, which has not been the occafion of evils. How easy would it be to reckon up many dreadful calamities, which owe their existence to know< ledge, to liberty, to natural religion, and to