SER M. are ever fo difpofed, in extinguishing their XII. unnatural and fcandalous Contentions, and establishing any thing like an universal Peace and Tranquillity among themselves.

Finally, Since Seriousness, Humility, Impartiality, and Probity, are the Qualifications which naturally fit and prepare us for the Reception of Divine Truths, let us take care to cultivate these Difpofitions, and to carry them along with us in all our Religious Researches and Difquifitions. A vain, ludicrous, and buffooning Temper, a prejudiced, partial, proud, and fenfual Mind, are utterly inconfiftent with Sacred and Divine Matters, will certainly fpoil our Inquiries into them, and make them come to nothing: We should therefore divest ourselves of all such Qualities before we addrefs ourselves to the Examination of Religion, and fet about that with a juft Senfe of the Importance of what we undertake, with a hearty Love of Truth and Goodness, and an Inclination to comply with our Duty, fo far as we have already discovered it, and humble Prayers to God for his Direction and Affiftance from an Apprehenfion of our own Weakness and Fallibility. Then may we expect to arrive at the Knowledge of all neceffary Truth, when we search for it with these good Difpofitions, and from

the

XII.

the Bleffing of God upon our honeft and SER M. humble Inquiries. For, as David tells us, The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear pr. xxv. him, and he will fhew them his Covenant; the 4, 9. Meek will be guide in Judgment, and them that are gentle will be teach his

way.

A a 3

SERMON

SERMON XIII.

Christianity capable of a rational Defence, the Duty of every Man to defend it, and the proper Methods of fupporting it.

1 PETER III. 15.

Be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that afketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you, with Meekness and

Fear.

N the foregoing Verfe, St. Peter fpeaks of the Cafe of Perfecution, to which, the

I

primitive Chriftians were affured, they would be frequently expofed, for their Adherence to their Religion: In relation to this Cafe, the Apostle directs the Perfons to whom he addreffes this Epiftle, to account it a Happinefs, and not a Misfortune, whenever it befel them ; because they hereby had a noble

Op

Opportunity of doing honour to their Reli- SER M. gion, as well as procuring to themfelves a XII. most glorious Reward; and that they might the better bear the Perfecutions that were to fall upon them, he advifes them to raise their Minds above all the Terror of Men and the Fear of their Threatnings, and to fanctify the Lord God in their Hearts, to entertain a juft Senfe of the Power, Wisdom, Righteousnefs and Goodness of the great Governor of the World, and to depend upon these Perfections of his, as fully fufficient for fupporting and comforting them in the most grievous Sufferings which the profeffion of their Religion could bring upon them; and while they thus prepared themfelves for enduring Perfecution with that Patience and Fortitude which became them, the Apostle exhorts them to be always ready to make a Defence or Apology for their Faith; not to suffer their Religion to lie under the Imputation of being an Imposture, as their Adverfaries would account it; but to convince their Perfecutors, and all who might inquire into the Grounds and Reafons of their Principles, that their Faith and Hope as Chriftians were not enthusiastick Imaginations, but things that had a folid Foundation in Truth and Reafon; and to

SERM. do this, with that Calmness, Meeknefs, and XIII. Humility of Temper which should always accompany the Defence of true Religion, and which the Respect they owed to the Perfons inquiring into their Principles might require from them. Now from this Paffage feveral important and useful Obfervations will arife, which I fhall make the Subject of what is to follow in this Difcourfe.

I. We may here take notice that there is nothing abfurd in the Belief and Profeffion of Chriflianity; but that our Religion will admit of a juft and rational Defence. Tho' this Observation might, perhaps, have been more neceffary at the first Appearance of Christianity, when the Prejudices of Men, as might naturally be expected, ran high against it, and it was almost universally treated as a new Superftition, which owed its main fupport to the Ignorance and Credulity of the Perfons who embraced it; yet it must always be of ufe for vindicating the Honour of our Religion, which has never in any Age been without fome Adverfaries and Oppofers, which has at present a confiderable Number of them, who very freely and openly declare against it, and ufe all their Wit and Art for overthrowing it, placing it upon a level with the moft abfurd Superftitions, and the most

notorious