SERMON III.

I THES. V. 12, 13.

WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, TO KNOW
THEM WHICH LABOUR AMONG YOU,

AND ARE OVER YOU IN THE LORD, AND
AND TO ESTEEM

ADMONISH YOU.

THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR

THEIR WORKS' SAKE.

FR

ROM the inspired writers our attention is naturally turned to the labours of thofe, who, immediately after the days of the Apostles, became preachers of the Gospel, and fome of whom fealed the truth of it with their blood. * The Author of The Antiquities of the Chriftian Church has with great diligence and fidelity vindicated the Church of England in most of her doctrines, and in

* Bingham.

her

her difcipline, from the practice of the primitive churches. And indeed every fober and difpaffionate enquirer will deem this no fmall or inconfiderable proof of the excellence of our caufe; notwithstanding all the melancholy inftances of human depravity and perverfenefs; notwithstanding all the predictions of herely and fchifm, and the accomplishment of fuch predictions, he will suspect at least that the writings of the Fathers have fome veftiges of genuine orthodoxy, and that near the fountain, the ftream could not be totally corrupted.

The misfortune is, while fome have paid to them implicit deference, others have treated them with indecent contempt, or unmerited neglect. While fome have interpreted them in favour of Popery, others (thinking that they could not be hoftile to Popery without being hoftile to them) have taken a malignant pleasure in expofing and exaggerating errors and defects. A third clafs of men, with a still more mischievous purpose, have attacked the Chriftian Religion under the fpecious pretence of refuting them. Many of our own communion are induced to believe, that they are full of notorious imper

fections,

fections, that they are fanatical and mystical in almost all their interpretations of scripture, and that however unquestionable their integrity and their piety may have been, their judgement is ever to be difputed.

It is intended to offer fome general observations concerning thofe, who flourished for the three first centuries, and part of the fourth.

And here one cannot but previously express a with that faftidious criticks would make as. many allowances for their style and manner, as they do for the ftyle and manner of profane authors. Do not fome amongst the latter affect an antiquated manner of writing? Do not others affect low conceit and quaint antithefis, full of fuperftition or Patavinity, tediously prolix, or affectedly concife? Is the harshness of Plutarch's language deemed any objection, when placed in the balance with the excellent inftruction he conveys upon almost every fubject? Will not Wisdom ever be juftified of all her children, even though her outward garb be deftitute of elegance and fplendour?

But

But whoever peruses the Primitive Fathers impartially, will find them by no means deftitute of eloquence or energy. Some of them imitate fuccessfully the ftyle and language of the Apostles; and true zeal is known to fuggeft forcible ideas and forcible language even to men devoid of rhetorical ornament.

The morality and religious precepts of all ages and all countries must be confidered. by fucceeding times as containing matter of admonition rather than of information. But are poets and philofophers undervalued for well known and reiterated exhortations to the performance of the publick, the private, and the focial duties of man? Is not every allowance made for purity of intentions; and is not the very defire of novelty frequently relinquished for the improvement of the heart? Ignorance continually stands in need of inftruction, and wavering virtue continually calls for aid or encouragement. The well known topicks of righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come, may rouze the lethargick finner, and however well known in theory, may be new in practice. The univerfal depravity of mankind fully juftified

the

the first preachers of Chriftianity in ufing every method to reclaim a degenerate world.

We fhall, moreover, be as unjust to ourfelves as we should be ungrateful to the Primitive Fathers, if we did not endeavour to receive from them all the affiftance they are capable of affording. Notwithstanding the distance of our days from theirs, we have many fimilar errors to encounter, and perhaps can add much less than is generally imagined to the armour of which they have put us in poffeffion.

In the following review of their conduct, it may not be improper to obferve,

First, their mode of contention with the Jews:

Secondly, their mode of contention with the Gentiles:

Thirdly, their mode of contention with Hereticks.

And first, let us obferve their mode of contention with the Jews. Here their attachment