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SERM. XIV.-The Power of the Gospel to dissolve

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DISCOURSE I.-On the mercantile Virtues which

may exist without the Influence of Christianity. 229

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things."-Phil. iv. 8.

Disc. II.-The Influence of Christianity in aiding

and augmenting the mercantile Virtues.

"For he that in these things serveth Christ is

acceptable to God, and approved of men.".
Rom. xiv. 18.

"And if you do good to them which do good

to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do
even the same.”—Luke vi. 33.
DISC. IV.-The Guilt of Dishonesty not to be esti-
mated by the Gain of it.

249

"He that is faithful in that which is least, is
faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the
least, is unjust also in much."-Luke xvi. 10.
DISC. V. On the great Christian Law of Recipro-
city between Man and Man.

257

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to

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"Let no man deceive you with vain words;
for because of these things cometh the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience.”—Eph.
v. 6.

DISC. VII. On the vitiating Influence of the higher

upon the lower Orders of Society.
271

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impos-

sible but that offences will come: but woe unto

him through whom they come! It were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his

neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should

offend one of these little ones."-Luke xvii. 1, 2.

DISC. VIII.-On the Love of Money.

"If I have made gold my hope, or have said
to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I
rejoiced because my wealth was great, and be
cause mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld
the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in
brightness; and my heart hath been secretly en-
ticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand; this
also were an iniquity to be punished by the
judge; for I should have denied the God that is
above."-Job xxxi. 24-28.

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"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye?-Or how wilt thou say
to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of
thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine own
eye? Thou hypocrite! first cast out the beam
out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see
clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's
eye."-Matth. vii 3, 4, 5.

A SERMON on Cruelty to Animals.

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his
beast."-Prov. xii. 10.

361

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE contents of the first part of this volume form the substance of the article CHRISTIANITY, in the EDINBURGH ENCYCLOPEDIA. Its appearance is due to the liberality of the Proprietors of that Work-nor did the Author conceive the purpose of presenting it to the world in another shape, till he was permitted and advised by them to republish it in a separate form. It is chiefly confined to the exposition of the historical argument for the truth of Christianity; and the aim of the Author is fulfilled if he has succeeded in proving the external testimony to be so sufficient, as to leave Infidelity without excuse, even though the remaining important branches of the Christian defence had been less strong and satisfactory than they are. "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.' And if I had not done the works among them which none other man did, they had not had sin."

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The Author is far from asserting the study of the historical evidence to be the only channel to a faith in the truth of Christianity. How could he, in the face of the obvious fact, that there are thousands and thousands of Christians, who bear the most undeniable marks of the truth having come home to their understanding "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power?" They have an evidence within themselves, which the world knoweth not, even the promised manifestations of the Saviour. This evidence is a "sign to them that believe;" but the Bible speaks also of a "sign to them which believe not;" and should it be effectual in reclaiming any of these from their infidelity, a mighty object is gained by the exhibition of it. Should it not be effectual, it will be to them "a savour of death unto death ;" and this is one of the very effects ascribed to the proclamation of Christian truth in the first ages. If, even in the face of that kind of evidence, which they have a relish and respect for, they still hold out against the reception of the Gospel, this must aggravate the weight of the threatening which lies upon them; "How shall they escape, if they neglect so great a salvation?"

It will be a great satisfaction to the writer of the following pages, if any shall rise from the perusal of them with a stronger determination than before to take his Christianity exclusively from his Bible. It is not enough to entitle a man to the name of a Christian, that he professes to believe the Bible to be a genuine communication from God. To be the disciple of any book, he must do something more than satisfy himself that its contents are true-he must read the book-he must obtain a knowledge of the contents. And how many are there in the world, who do not call the truth of the Bible message in question, while they suffer it to lie beside them unopened, unread, and unattended to!

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