of God himself is set to the sentence of your eternal condemnation. Oh, therefore, allow not yourselves a moment's rest, till you have, with humble submission applied to His throne, while yet there is hope that it may be reversed.

And as for you, my brethren, who have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be exhorted to walk in him; since it is the design of his Gospel to teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and this, not only as you have so comfortable an assurance, that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, but as it will be on the whole, the most effectual method you can take in your respective stations to promote the Gospel. If you indeed honour it and love it, and desire it may be propagated in the world, let it be your care, not only to defend it by your tongues, but to adorn it by your lives; and in the words of that great champion in this sacred cause, "Be blameless and harmless, the children of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, shining amongst them as lights in the world, and so holding forth the word of life;" and perhaps it may serve, not only to entertain their eyes with wonder and glory, but to guide their feet into the way of peace, and may engage them also to join with you in glorifying your Father which is in heaven. Amen.

THE

DIVINITY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION,

PROVED BY THE

EVIDENCE OF REASON, AND DIVINE REVELATION.

BY

WILLIAM BATES, D. D.

THE

DIVINITY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

CHAPTER I.

Religion necessary for the honour of God and happiness of man. The truth of the Christian religion made evident by comparing it with all other religions.

THAT God is the Maker of the world; that he observes our moral actions, and will require an account of them in the future state, and distribute eternal recompenses accordingly, has been proved by such invincible evidence that reason cannot resist. It follows, therefore, that religion is necessary both for the honour of God, and the happiness of man. For we cannot conceive, but that the wise Creator, in making all things, designed his own glory, both in the manifestation of his own perfections, and that they should be acknowledged and reverenced, loved and praised, by intelligent creatures. This is a natural duty, to which mankind, with an unforced consent, agrees. For, as honour, in the general, is the homage paid to conspicuous excellencies, and specially to beneficent virtues; so religion, that is

the highest honour, is justly due to God the most sovereign being in all perfections, and our sovereign Benefactor. And it is equally clear, that the happiness of man depends on religion. For if God regard the actions of men, not with a naked speculative knowledge, but with an eye of providence and judgment; if he will accept and reward our services not as profitable to him, but as the just expressions of our love, thankfulness, and obedience to him, it is requisite our prime care should be to serve him. In this, the greatest duty and supreme interest of men are inviolably united; for what obligation can possibly be equal to that of pleasing our Maker and Preserver? And what is comparable to the interest of eternity? From hence there is a general inclination in men to worship the Deity, impressed from the author of nature; but the ways are diverse. Religion assumes a different shape in different countries, and the rites that are observed by some nations as sacred, are rejected by others as impious, or vain. Now, in this variety of religions, each contrary to the other, it is necessary to consider which is that special way of serving God that is only pleasing to him. If a traveller be distracted between several ways, he will inquire which leads to his journey's end, and not go on with uncertainty. And is it not infinitely reasonable to do that in the most important affair, which any person will do in the most ordinary? To be indifferent in a matter so deeply concerning us, is prodigious above all wonder. For if the means we use to obtain the favour of God, provoke his anger, our misery is remediless. But, alas! no rashness is so common,