k

"afide *."

against the use of the Creeds, or fo "much as to wish to have them laid For the fame authority which affirmeth that with the heart, man believeth unto Righteousness; declareth alfo, that with the mouth confeffion is made unto Salvation.

* Dr. Waterland's Critical Hiftory of the Athanafian Creed, p. 292.

SERMON VIII.

HEB. IV. 2.

Unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

W

HEN we attentively confider those feveral evidences, which abundantly demonftrate the Gospel of of Chrift to be the word of God; fome of which it hath been the endeavour of the preceding Discourses to illuftrate: It cannot but afford us frequent occafions of wonder

wonder and concern to obferve, that its acknowledged truth and importance are not always accompanied with a proportionable degree of weight and influence on the lives of men; and that, however excellent its doctrines, however strong the motives, or forcible the obligations contained in it are, for promoting virtue and knowledge, yet nevertheless they are too often found infufficient or ineffectual to regulate the general practice of the world.

Hence wicked men and unbelievers have advanced a popular objection against the truth and authority of Chriftianity, by arguing, that fuch a scheme of Salvation can hardly be fuppofed to be the revealed will of the Almighty, from the little efficacy it is feen to have even upon profeffed believers. They hear them fpeciously haranguing upon all the feveral branches and peculiar characters of their Religion, yet without giving that teftimony of their conviction, and of their faith, which their Mafter hath declared to be the only infallible fign of both, their love to God and man.

It

It were to be wifhed indeed, for the honour of Religion itself, that this objection could be answered by denying the fact, rather than by feeking after reasons to account for the misconduct. But whatever be the cause, it is certainly not owing to any defect in the Gospel itfelf; either for want of more light, or clearer instruction: For furely, it hath all the external and internal proofs of truth which the most profound enquiry can demand; and it affords alfo all the most reasonable conviction that an intelligent and free agent can defire.

What kind or degree of influence then could fatisfy fuch objectors, unless they expected that God should make men mere machines, and compel them to be good, whether they would or no? He has fupported his word however with as engaging, perfuafive, and powerful motives, as are confiftent with our freedom of will, and moral agency, fo far to direct our obedience, as to render us refponfible for our deviations from it.