manding a fincere and impartial inquiry. They reason from prophefies and miracles, and the nature and tendency of their doctrine: and it is evident they meant, that men fhould have a fair opportunity of trying and judging. Nor is it to be wondered at, that at the first preaching of the gofpel by the apostles, the numbers of converts to the Christian faith were fo great, and their converfion fo fudden, as that one would think they could not have time for a full inquiry, or forming a deliberate judgment (a circumstance, which hath been much infifted upon for fupporting the objection now mentioned) for what they faw and heard might be fuch evidence to them, that they could not refift it. The teftimony of the apostles concerning our Saviour's refurrection, and what they faw the apostles

apoftles do in confirmation of this testimony, demonftrating the prefence of divine power, and what their hearts felt, may well be fupposed to have left little room for hesitation in well difpofed minds. As to the ftate of the cafe at this day, it may very well be imagined, that many, who are under the influence of the principles of Chriftianity, are not well acquainted

with all the moral evidences of the truth and divine authority of that religion. Yet the confonancy of it to right nature, and its recommending itself to the human heart, is a matter, in which they can well judge; it is a matter of feeling; and in this refpe&t every one, who believeth, hath the witness in himself and in how many inftances is the conduct of life and human action put under the direction, not

fo

fo much of the reafoning powers, as of fome immediate feelings and principles of our nature? And a firm persuasion of the divine authority of this religion may produce great effects, where in that kind of knowledge, of which we are now speaking, men are greatly and reproachfully defective. I fay reproachfully, because the external evidences of the truth of our religion do not lie fo deep, nor are fo difficultly comprehended, but that they are written within the reach of very many, who are ignorant of them, merely because they have never attended to fuch matters. It is, however, enough, if those, who fhall enquire, fhall find evidence fufficient to convince and fatisfy their minds. And in this refpect Christianity standeth upon the fame foot with the religion of na→

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ture, and, I may fay, with all fciences. Many have the ufe of the principles of them in life, though they are not able to demonftrate the truth of them. Some can demonftrate it; many more are capable of attaining to fuch knowledge, who will not take pains to acquire it; and fome have not the capacity, and must be fatisfied to receive things upon truft, as they are taught them. And that there are Chrif tians in this last state, with respect to the evidences of their religion, is not to be wondered at. No doubt it always will be fo. But what has this to do with the evidences of the truth of Christianity, which are just the fame, whether profeffed Christians understand them or not? Or what fairness is there in faying, that Chriftianity doth not rely upon argument and evidence,

I

dence, because many receive it as truth, without troubling themselves about that matter? Or in saying, that because the gospel requireth faith, as the great thing neceffary to our falvation, therefore it meant to disclaim a rational perfuafion of the truth, and fuch as refteth upon evi

dence.

Some have thought, that a strong objection might be brought against Christianity, from its want of efficacy to make men good and worthy, on the one hand; and from its being the occafion of fo much evil in the world, on the other. It hath been asked, what are Chriftians better than others? Doth not vice as much prevail in the Chriftian world as in any part of the world? Men are seen to be unchafte, intemperate, unrighteous, falfe and perfidious, proud and cruel : and why