tion, does not prove many certain Points; SERM. II. and the Mind of Man finds itfelf dif

pofed to believe a great many more, provided it could prove them. There will be, Chriftianity once fet afide, a mighty Void left in it, which Reason of itself cannot fill up. Paganifm, Enthufiafm, and Superftition on the one Hand; a formless undetermined Thing that calls itself perfonal Religion, Manichaifm, Atheism, and Fatalism on the other; would be ftriving to erect themfelves upon it's Ruins, till at last the Populace ran into Superftition in Variety of Forms, and the Gentry into no Religion at all. What has been faid of the Diffolution of a well-conftituted Government, is as applicable to the Diffolution of Christianity: it would refemble the Putrefaction of a dead Animal, when, instead of one noble Creature, as it was while Life held it together, there would be a thoufand little naufeous Reptiles preying upon it, each crawling in a Path of its own.

An humane Perfon cannot reflect without deep Concern on the Impreffions which are made upon an honeft undefigning

SERM. II. figning but weak Man, when he lights upon the Books, or falls into the Company of artful Infidels: Where there is a good Difpofition at the Bottom, they fhall ferve his Faith, juft as the Robbers did the Traveller in the Parable of the Samaritan; they fhall not kill and deftroy it entirely, which would be almost a Kindness in Comparison, but they shall leave it wounded and half-dead. He shall have afterwards feveral uneafy Senfations, and ungrateful Feelings within, before he can recover an established Health of Soul. He shall go on drooping and diffident without that chearful Affurance which he had before, in his Journey through this World to a better.

But, whatever others do, let us unite our vigorous and animated Endeavours in espousing the Caufe and promoting the Interefts of Chriftianity. Let us not be indolent, or, like the Disciples of old, aSleep while they are going to crucify our Lord and Mafter, or, which is one Kind of crucifying him, to root out his Religion from off the Face of the Earth. But let us hold fast the Profeffion of our Faith without wavering, and confirm the

Faith, that is wavering, of others by our SERM. II. Discourse, by our Pens, and by (what is fometimes the most effectual Confirmation of all) our Lives fuitable to our holy Faith: then faithful will be be, who has promised to his faithful Servants eternal Happiness: Which God of his infinite Mercy grant, &c.

SERMON

The ufual Objections against Revelation, founded in Ignorance.

In two Sermons preached before the Uni verfity of Oxford.

1 COR. I. 25.

The Foolishness of God is wiser than Men; and the Weakness of God is stronger than Men:

T was no unufual Thing among the SERM.III.
Ancients, as might be fhewn by In-

I

stances brought from approved Authors, to call Things, not as they were in themfelves, but as they appeared, or were esteemed to be by others. Agreeably to this Cuftom St. Paul, in the 28th Verse of this Chapter, calls Things accounted as nothing, Things that are not. And here he styles That Foolishness and Weakness, which was deemed to be fo by the Greeks, though it was far otherwise in Reality.

VOL. I.

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The