תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

what is the Iffue of all this? Are the Profeffors of Christianity more united in their Perfuafions, or improv'd in their Manners? No, the Increase of Differences and the Growth of Immorality are the Complaint of all. Are Unbelievers convinced? No. We are furprised at the Boldness, and Progrefs of Infidelity. And thus it must be where there is neither a proper Capacity for teaching or hearing the Truth. The end of the Commandment, fays St. Paul, is Charity or Love, out of a pure Heart and of a good Confcience, and of Faith unfeigned, from which fome having fwerv'd, have turn'd afide unto vain Fangling, defiring to be Teachers of the Law, underftanding neither what they fay, nor whereof they affirm. The Chriftian Church has been for a long Time a School of Controverfy rather than of moral Discipline; we abound in that Knowledge which puffeth up; which is the Mother of

Pride; by which cometh Contention; which ferves only to heighten and aggravate the Irregularity of our own and other Men's Affections. As for that Love which edifieth, 'tis almost unknown in the World; if it be to be found any where, it refides chiefly, as heretofore, amongst the mean, the base and despised things of the World. It is indeed the greatest Folly to expect that primitive Unity, or any other ancient Fruits of Chriftianity fhould revive and flourish, unless we return to our firft Love, and preferve this Unity of the Spirit, as the Bond of Peace, as a Difpofition to all further Improvements in Truth and Virtue.

[blocks in formation]

DISCOURSE II.

The Caufes of Averfion to Truth.

JOHN viii. 45.

Because I tell you the Truth

the Truth ye believe

me not.

HE Account here given T us of the Unbelief of the Jews mult, at the first hearing, ftrike every Man

with Surprife. Truth is the natural Object of our Understandings, the Discovery of it is the common Labour and Concern of all rational Beings, neither is their Industry and

Emu

Emulation fo ticular.

great in any other ParAnd now that this fame. Truth fhould become the Aversion of the Intellect, a Caufe of Unbelief, nay, fo powerful a Caufe, as to prompt the Jews to murder the Man that told them the Truth, feems to carry with it the Air of a Paradox at least, if not of a palpable Contradiction. But the Reason which our Lord gives of this strange Behaviour of theirs, will remove the Difficulty. He tells them they were Children of their Father the Devil, and the Lufts of their Father they would do; he was a Murderer from the Beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him, for he is a Lyar and the Father of it; and because I tell you the Truth, fays he, ye believe me not.

It was confefs'd they had one Father, even God; that they particularly defcended from the Line of Abraham;

but

but they had contracted fuch Difpofitions and Habits of Mind, as made them love a Lye, relish Falfities, and hate the Truth; a monftrous Depravity, a manifeft Inverfion of human

Nature!

From hence this melancholy Obfervation will arife (viz.) That Mankind may fo far corrupt their Natures as to believe and love a Lye, or become Enemies to the Truth. Upon this I fhall,

First, Somewhat enlarge more particularly,

Secondly I fhall more fully enquire into the Reason which our Lord here affigns for it; and

Thirdly, Into the proper Methods of preventing and correcting it.

First then, I fhall fomewhat enlarge upon this Obfervation, that Mankind may fo far debafe and corupt their

Na

« הקודםהמשך »