force a doctrine, unfashionable indeed, but certainly the doctrine of the Gospel. There is no doubt but that my subject is the most momentous which can fall under the contemplation of a human being; and I therefore claim 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 confusion, indeed, naturally produces political. 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, co-operate 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 over"come of evil, but overcoming evil with "good."t 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: "Feed the flock of God, as much as lieth " in you, taking the oversight thereof, not by “constraint, but willingness; not for FILTHY 66 LUCRE, but of a ready mind.* Take heed "to all the flock, over the which the HOLY "GHOST hath made you overseers, to feed "the Church of God, which he hath purcha"sed with his own blood."+ of This I have humbly attempted; and, in imitation of a most excellent prelate, I have adapted my book to all; yet various parts 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." Bishop Saunderson, who preached in an appropriate mammer, ad aulam, ad clerum, ad populum. See the titles of his Sermons. 1 Cor. xi. 22. 1 And now, readers, before you proceed any farther, 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. 1 CONTENTS. II. On the Sort of evidence chiefly recommended and at- tempted to be displayed in this Treatise. III. On the Prejudices entertained against this Sort of evi- IV. 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 entrance. The opinion of Dr. Gloucester Ridley cited. VI. Opinions of Bishop Taylor respecting the evidence of the Holy Spirit; "shewing" (as he expresses it) how "the Scholars of the University shall become most VII. Passages from the celebrated Mr. John Smith, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, corroborative of the Opinion that the best evidence of the Christian Reli- gion arises from the energy of the Holy Spirit. VIII. Dr. Isaac Barrow's Opinion of the evidence of Chris- tianity, afforded by the illuminating Operation of the Holy Spirit; and on the Holy Spirit in general. IX. Bishop Bull's Opinion on the evidence of the Spirit of God on the Mind of Man, and its Union with it; the X. The Opinions of Bishop Pearson and Doctor Scott, Author XI. Opinion of Bishop Saunderson on the Impossibility of be- coming a Christian without supernatural Assistance. XII. Bishop Smalridge on the absolute Necessity of Grace. XIII. Human Learning highly useful, and to be pursued with all Diligence, but cannot, of itself, furnish EVI- DENCES of Christianity completely satisfactory, like those which the heart of the good Christian feels from divine Influence: with the opinion of Doctor Isaac XIV. The Opinion of Doctor Lucas, the celebrated Author of a Treatise on HAPPINESS, concerning the evidence of Christianity arising from divine Communication. „XVI. Dr. Townson's Opinions on the evidence which is in this Book recommended as superior to all others. XVII. Dr. Doddridge on the Doctrine of Divine Influence. XVIII. The Opinions of Mr. Locke and Mr. Addison. XIX The Opinion of Soame Fenyns on the fundamental XX. The Opinion of Bishop Horsley on the prevalent Ne- glect of teaching the peculiar DOCTRINES of Christi- anity, under the Idea that Moral Duties constitute the Whole or the better Part of it. Among the peculiar Doctrines is evidently included that of Grace, which XXIII. Temperance necessary to the Reception and Conti- nuance of the Holy Spirit in the Heart, and conse- |