for it, as the happiness of mankind is at stake, a dispassionate and unprejudiced attention. The moral world, as well as the political, appears, at present, to be greatly out of order. Moral and political confusion, indeed, naturally produce each other. Let all who love their species, or their country, calmly consider whether the neglect or rejection of Christianity may not be the real cause of both and let those who are thus persuaded, cooperate with every attempt to revive and diffuse the true spirit of the gospel. Let us meekly instruct those that oppose themselves," (if God, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth,) not being overcome of evil, but overcoming evil with good.' Nor let a private clergyman, however inconsiderable, be thought to step out of his province, in thus endeavouring to tranquillize the tumult of the world, by calling the attention of erring and wretched mortals to the gospel of peace. He is justified, not only by the general principles of humanity, but by the particular command of the religion of which he is a minister. Thus saith the apostle, in a charge which may be considered as generally addressed to all preachers of the gospel : "Feed the flock of God, as much as lieth in you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingness; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." Take heed to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed 2 Tim. ii. 25. 2 Romans, xii. 21. 3:1 Pet. v. 2. THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. XXXV the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.' 1 This I have humbly attempted; and in imitation of a most excellent prelate, I have adapted my book to all; yet various parts of it more particularly to various descriptions of men; some to the great, some to the learned, but the greater part to the people remembering the apostle's example, who says, 'To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some; and this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be a partaker thereof with you.'3 And now, readers, before you proceed any further, let me be permitted to say to you, 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with you,' in your progress through this book, and also through life, even to its close. 'Acts, xx. 28. 2 Bishop Sanderson, who preached in an appropriate manner, ad aulam, ad clerum, ad populum.-See the titles of his sermons. 3 1 Cor. ix. 22. CONTENTS. Sect. Author's Preface xxxiii 3. On the Prejudices entertained against this sort of Evi- 4. The proper Evidence of the Christian Religion is the Illumination of the Holy Ghost, shining into the Hearts of those who do not close them against its 5. The true and only convincing Evidence of the Reli- 6. Opinions of Bishop Taylor respecting the Evidence of the Holy Spirit; 66 showing," as he expresses it, 7. Passages from the celebrated Mr. John Smith, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, corroborative of the opinion that the best Evidence of the Christian Religion arises from the energy of the Holy Spirit 41 8. Dr. Isaac Barrow's opinion of the Evidence of Chris- 44 9. Bishop Bull's opinion on the Evidence of the Spirit of God on the Mind of Man, and its union with it; the 10. The opinions of Bishop Pearson and Doctor Scott, author of the Christian Life, and an Advocate for becoming a Christian without supernatural assistance 59 with all Diligence, but cannot, of itself, furnish Evidences of Christianity completely satisfactory, like those which the Heart of the good Christian feels from the divine influence: with the opinion of 14. The opinion of Dr. Lucas, the celebrated author of a Happiness," concerning the Evidence 17. Dr. Doddridge on the doctrine of Divine Influence 18. The Opinion of Soame Jenyns on the fundamental 19. The opinion of Bishop Horsley on the prevalent neg- lect of teaching the peculiar doctrines of Chris- tianity, under the idea that moral duties constitute the whole or the better part of 'it. Among the pe- culiar doctrines is evidently included that of grace, |