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others, this can never be faid to be the cafe with refpect to thousands who believe, or atteft, things evidently contrary to their interest, and previous inclinations. That great numbers of perfons, and others in fucceffion to them, all of whom had fufficient opportunity to investigate any particular fact, which required no other evidence than that of the fenfes, and who were interested in the inveftigation, their fortunes or their lives depending upon it, fhould perfift in their attestation of it, would be a greater miracle, more contrary to what we know of human nature, than any fact contained in the scripture history.

As to the evidence of a future ftate, what are all the arguments derived from the light of nature compared to that which is furnished by the gospel, which is therefore justly said (2 Tim. i. 10.) to bring life and immortality to light? There we fee a perfon commiffioned by God, teaching the doctrine with the greatest plainness and emphasis, enforcing it by miracles, among which was the raifing of feveral perfons from a state of death to life, and, what was infinitely more, fubmitting to die. himself in the most public and indifputable manner, and rifing to life again at a fixed time.

Had

Had mankind in general been asked what evidence would fatisfy them, they could not have demanded more.

Whether, therefore, we confider the precepts of religion, i. e. the rules of a virtuous and happy life, the authority requifite to enforce the obfervance of them, the motives by which they are enforced, or the evidence of their truth, revealed religion has unspeakably the advantage of natural; and therefore fo far is the scheme of revelation from being improbable a priori, that it must appear fuch as a wife and good Being, who was acquainted with human nature, and wifhed to engage the attention of men, and imprefs. their minds with fentiments of reverence of himself, and respect for fuch laws as were calculated to promote their greatest happiness, would adopt in preference to any other; being the best adapted to gain his end. It was of the greatest importance to mankind to be made acquainted with thofe moral principles and rules of conduct on which their happiness depended, and which they would never have discovered of themselves, to have their attention drawn to them in the moft forcible manner, and to have the most fatisfactory evidence of their truth;

and this is what we find in revelation, and in revelation only. It is therefore, as the apostle justly calls it (1 Cor. i. 24), the wif dom and the power of God, though objected to, and ridiculed, by light and fuperficial men.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE III.

A View of Heathen Worship.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Becaufe that which may be known of God is manifeft in them, for God hath fhewed it unto them. For the invifible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly feen, being underflood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead, fo that they are without excufe. Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Profeffing themselves to be wife, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four-footed beafts, and creeping things. Wherefore also God gave them up to uncleanness, through the lufts of their own hearts, to difhonour their

own

own bodies between themfelves, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and ferved the creature more than the Creator, who is bleed for ever. For this caufe God gave them up to vile affections.

ROMANS i. 18-26.

In order to give you a juft idea of the real value of revelation, it is neceffary that I lay before you the state of things with respect to religion in the heathen world, especially in the early ages of mankind, about the time of Moses; that when I come to give you a view of his inftitutions, the difference may be the more striking. Very few, I am perfuaded, of the modern unbelievers have a just knowledge of this fubject. If they had, it would, I hope, be impoffible for them to treat the religion of the Hebrews with fo much contempt. Not only the extreme ignorance, but the great depravity of mankind, in a state of heathenifm, would not be credible at this day, if there did not exist a superfluity of the most authentic documents of it, fo that the facts cannot be denied without the extreme of effrontery. This, however, we find in Voltaire, who fays, that "the religion of the "heathens

E

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