Christianity, has been too prevalent. There ftill exift tempers too proud to submit to conviction, and who entertain no deference for the fentiments of others. When the Saviour of mankind condefcended to receive and to blefs the little children which were brought unto him, how inftructive is his obfervation! Except, faid he to his disciples, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heavenb.

That docile temper, which is neceffary for the attainment of human wifdom, can alone qualify us to become wife unto falvation. From the earlier promulgation of the doctrine of Chrift to the present hour, there have been opponents hoftile to its fublime and affectionate scheme. Many who have poffeffed talents, the undeniable gift of God, in the proud consciousness of that poffeffion have employed them in oppofition to the giver. They have converted the light, dispensed to them by divine grace, into darkness. They have dared, according to the allufion of one of our best divines, to lift the arm once withered, but now strengthened, against him, who was graciously pleased to restore it. Thus, while

they pretend to boast of natural reason, they forget how much intellectual light the world has derived from revelation. They judge alone of effects. The waters of Marah have been sweetened; but the murmuring children of difobedience are unthankful for the communicated sweetness. From period to period, adverfaries of the truth have advanced in a guilty fucceffion, and have tried to build an impious reputation on profaneness and rebellion to their God, and their Saviour. Has one been fubdued? Another, equally proud, in defiance has entered the lifts, affumed the armour of the vanquished, or tried a new mode of affault. Under the direction however of a divine Providence, and by the aid of reason and of human learning, truth has still triumphed ; and we confidently truft it will still remain fecure, by whatever foes it may be attacked, by whatever fpecies of warfare it may be . affailed.

In fuch a state of the Church, left by the appointment of God, but doubtless under the influence of his holy Spirit, to the co-operative powers of man, the neceffity of fucceffive and vigilant defenders must be obvious. God, having done all for his vineyard, which his infinite wisdom thinks fit, leaves it to be fenced

The

and to be cultivated by human means. utility therefore of inftitutions fimilar to this Lecture must be apparent; and the pious intention of the Founder will deferve the applause and reverence of pofterity; while the extenfive field allowed for difcuffion renders it of more permanent advantage. As new forms of objection are tried, they may meet ready answers, and be confuted before their baneful effects be fpread to any extent, Ar guments, which have no novelty in themselves, may acquire new fpirit by transfusion through feveral minds; and what one defender may not elucidate, another may render more luminous or more perfpicuous. We have been told on the higheft authority, that it needs must be that offences will come. We have been warned against perpetual enemies and herefies. While fuch exist, the friends of the church of Chrift muft employ every effort; they must be ever watchful; they must be always clothed in the whole armour of God, the breast-plate of righteoufnefs, the fhield of faith, the helmet of falvation, the fword of the Spirit, ready to defend, to combat and to vanquish.

But let us not flatter the adverfaries of truth

d Ephef. vi.

with admitting that their opinions are new; for it will be found that they have as little of novelty as of force. In fact, the tenets of modern unbelievers are the mere echoes of objections, long fince advanced, and long fince filenced. It is remarkable, that the opponents of a divine revelation have never been enabled to offer demonftration of any facts or arguments which militate against it. Their objections are all of a negative character, and ferve rather to evince their own malice or pertinacity, than to weaken the evidences of religion.

Since then all the objections of infidels are of this negative quality, in the following difcourfes I propofe to fhew; that the evidences of revealed religion are capable of a very high degree of demonftration; that the fcheme of divine revelation is grand, comprehenfive, confiftent and harmonious in its general design; agreeable to the attributes of the Deity, and to the analogies of his œconomy in his natural and moral world. In the courfe of this plan I fhall take occafion to answer fome charges of inconfiftence, which are urged against the Clergy, by the two oppofite characters of unbelieyers and fanatics.

It must be obvious that such a design opens

a very extenfive field of difcuffion. But it will be pursued only with a reference to our limits; and although the topics of each difcourse will be varied, yet it is to be hoped they will confiftently and uniformly tend to the fame object.

Since every mode of defence has long been fuccessfully employed by the able and ingenious, novelty can scarcely be expected. To bring fome arguments into a confpicuous light, to extract or to concentre, is all which can be hoped; and therefore is all to which any pretenfions can be made.

It seems to be permitted by divine Providence, that error fhould be opposed to truth. Perhaps the latter may be elicited and confirmed by the fame means which are successful in human difcovery. Its luftre does not indeed burft on us with irresistible power, but sheds on us a milder light, better adapted to our capacity, and fo illuminating objects, that they are at once rendered acceffible and diftinct. Lamentable, however, is the reflection, that though the invitations of God and a Redeemer to mankind are altogether engaging and conciliatory; that though they propose nothing which can give offence to the rational inquirer; that though they are calculated to