er for about twenty yeers, and an occafional one a great deal longer. The true reafon of my not doing it then is this: He burnt a good many of them himself at Paris, and, by a writing found among what were left, fignified, that thefe were the only ones fit to be printed; fo that, without acting contrary to the bishop's opinion of his own performances, of which he was certainly the best judge, no more could, and therefore no more ought to be publifhed and it being from thence refolved that no more fhould, the only effectual way of preventing it, was, to commit the reft to the flames. Which was accordingly done, in my prefence, by William Morice, Efq; his dutiful and worthy fon-indaw and executor. To whom I take this oppor tunity of acknowledging myfelf much obliged for feveral confiderable acts of friendship; but particularly for the benefit of publishing thefe pious remains of mydear friend and patron, whom 1 greatly admired, loved and reverenced; and to whofe memory I therefore dedicate them, with a heart -full of gratitude and respect. 145 THO. MOORE. I THE 1 Third VOLUME. 1 The fair, open, and illuftrious manner, in which it was promulged, a strong Our Saviour opened his commiffion with- out any partífans or followers, and lived afterwards chiefly in towns and cities. 3 His miracles performed often upon the moft folemn and remarkable occa- II. Reflexions that arife from hence, are, 1. The great advantage which the Chrifti- an Religion has on this account over all The credibility of Numa's conferences with a goddefs, and of Mahomet's receiving part of the Alcoran from the angel Gabriel, depends folely on their own teftimony: The Miracles faid to be wrought in the East and West Indies are reported by perfons fo much later than the facts themselves, that we can have no rational affurance And the truth of the Jewish revelation de- 2. The inexcufable and incurable obflinacy of those, who, notwithstanding the open inconteftable manner, in which the di- vine authority of the gofpel was mani- fested, continue ftill to ftand out againft. 3. The vanity of pretences to miracles in the Romish Communion; which have been generally done privately, in religi- ous houses and places of retirement, or in remote regions of the world, whither no one will go to difprove them; or in fuperftitious countries, where no man has inclination or leave to disprove The vanity particularly of tranfubftantia- Private vifions and illuminations, being a 3. A doctrine once established upon incon- teftable miracles, needs not to be con- firmed by new ones in after-ages. 14 6 The more any new doctrine affects fe- crefy, the more reafon we have to fuf pect it. 16 The church of Rome, that prescribes implicit belief, and the enthusiasts, that fet up their doctrine of the dictates of the Spirit, both to be fufpected on this . .7 account. The conduct of the church of England in this particular. 17 7. Our practice of the gospel ought to be, like the firft proofs of it, plain and confpicuous. SERMON II. I 19 t The Baptift's Meffage to Jefus, and Jefus's Anfwer explained. MATTH. xi. 3.. Art thou be that should come, or do we look for another?" 23 The occafion of the text opened. 21, 22 1. The reafon of this mellage trom the Baptift, His difciples were at that time incredu lous notwithstanding they were fre quently |