SERM.ferious Chriftians, and put them upon fuch XIII. an accurate Examination of their Religion,

that the Nature of it is much more univerfally understood, and the Proofs of it are more fully laid open, and the Fallacies of its Adverfaries are more eafy to be detected than otherwise they would have been: So that the Gospel, as Truth ever must, has really gained by the free Debates which have been raised about it, and is now in a fairer way than it was before, for approving and recommending itself to fober and impartial Men, after having undergone another critical and open Tryal, and remaining unmoved against the most powerful Efforts of its Ene

mies.

IV. There is one Obfervation more which we may make from the Advice in the Text, that with the rational Proofs which we offer in defence of Christianity, we must mix nothing of Wrath, Bitterness, and Arrogance; but should propose them all in a Spirit of Gentleness, Humility, and Love. Every one who knows any thing of human Nature, and has had any Experience in Difputes and Controverfies, must be fenfible that the manner of defending a Caufe is of vaft importance to our fucceeding in it: That Anger and Fiercenefs, Pofitiveness and Pride, Infolence and

Rudeness

Rudeness will be apt to raise such Difgufts SER M. and Prejudices against a Man, as all the Ar- XIII. guments which he may offer, will hardly be able to overcome; that, on the contrary, Calmnefs and Moderation, the offering our Reasons with a Temper of Benevolence, and the treating all Men, whatever their Sentiments may be, with all the Decency and Respect which upon any accounts are due to them, will naturally conciliate the Affections of Men, and procure us at least a patient and fair Hearing, which is one great Point in order to our convincing them: So that Meeknefs, Modefty, and Charity, are very neceffary Qualities in all who appear as Advocates for any Cause that is worth contending for; and they are more especially neceffary in those who plead for the best of Causes, Religion; and particularly that Religion which is all fummed up in Love; the great Design of which is to restrain the angry Paffions and bring down the vain Imaginations of Men, to cloath them with Humility, and to infpire them with the tendereft Sentiments of Humanity and Kindnefs, Long-fuffering and Forbearance towards one another. Certainly to pretend to fupport the Religion of our Saviour, which breathes nothing but Meekness and Charity, in a Spirit of Wrath and Haughtiness,

SER M. Haughtiness, is fo grofs a Contradiction, and XIII. a thing which looks fo like Deceit and Impofture, that it can never fail of giving great Scandal, and proving detrimental to the Intereft of the Gospel, as it will furnish matter of Reproach to the avowed Adverfaries of it, and be the means of confirming and hardening Perfons of unstable Minds in the Prejudices which they may have taken up against it. Whoever therefore would acquit themfelves as worthy Advocates of Christianity, must take care to abstain from all unbecoming Heat and Paffion, from all Infolence and Scurrility, from all reviling and railing at Men for their Infidelity; and endeavour only Acts xxvi. with the Words of Truth and Soberness, with a calm, meek, and benevolent Difpofition, to convince Gainfayers, and establish them in the true Faith of the Gospel. To contend thus for Christianity, with the Spirit which Christianity itself infpires, is the most probable means of ferving the Cause of it, as it must easily fatisfy Men that we have no private End to answer by their Conversion to it, that we design nothing fo much as doing them good, by bringing them into the surest way of living virtuously, and obtaining the greatest Degree of Happiness; or, if even this Method fhould have no effect for convincing an Adverfary,

25.

Adverfary, he who ufes it, will at least have SERM. the Satisfaction of reflecting that he has at XIII. tempted to defend the Gospel in a way agreeable to its Nature, and without having contributed to the Increase of the Offence which the World has received from the intemperate Zeal of Men, in their Debates about Religion.

SERMON

SERMON XIV.

The Spiritual and Moral Liberty

of Men.

JOHN VIII. 32.

And ye fhall know the Truth, and the Truth fhall make you free.

A

Zeal for Liberty has been usually accounted a generous and honourable Paffion, and goes a great way, in our Age and Country at least, in recommending a Man to the Efteem and Favour of the Publick And without all queftion the Endeavours which have been used to promote and establish both the religious and civil Liberties of Mankind, have been very worthy and commendable; and it is to be hoped, and greatly defired, that the Spirit of Freedom which now prevails among ourselves in mat

ters