life, with preaching morality only; which, without the Spirit of Chriftianity, is like a beautiful ftatue from the hand of a Bacon; however graceful its fymmetry and polifhed its materials, yet wanting the breath of LIFE, it is ftill but a block of marble.

These prejudices remaining at this day, I have thought it right to recommend the fort of evidence which this book attempts to difplay, by citing the AUTHORITY of great divines, who, uninfluenced by fecular hopes or fears, have borne witness to the truth as it is in Jefus. They are among the moft celebrated theologifts of this nation; and fuch as few among living or recent writers will prefume to vie with, in extent of knowledge, in power of expreffion, and zeal for Christianity.

Bitter is the anger of critics and controverfialists in divinity. Arrows dipt in venom are ufually hurled at every writer, who ventures to recommend a doctrine which they, from party,motives, difapprove. I must feek fhelter from their darts under the fhields of fuch men as Bishop Taylor, Doctor Ifaac Barrow, and others *, in and out of the establishment, who fought a good fight and KEPT THE FAITH, having no regard to worldly and finifter motives, but faithfully endeavouring to lead thofe, over whom they were appointed guides, by the radiance of gofpel light, from the fhadowy mazes of error into the pleasant paths of piety and peace.

Whatever obloquy may follow the teaching of fuch doctrine, I fhall incur it with alacrity, because I

Leaders of the PEOPLE, by their counfels and by their know. ledge of learning, meet for the PEOPLE, wfe and eloquent in their instructions. Eccluf. xliv. 4.

believe

believe it to be the truth, and that the happiness of human nature is highly concerned in its general reception. I will humbly fay, therefore, with St. Paul, "I am not afhamed of the gospel of "Christ Jefus, for it is the POWER of God unto "falvation *."

And as to those who deny the doctrine of divine influence, I fear they are guilty of blafphemy against the Holy Ghoft. I speak diffidently, as it becomes every mortal on a subject so momentous; but let thofe who are eager to deny and even deride the doctrine, confider duly what is meant by the fin against the Holy Ghoft, and let them remember this tremendous declararation of our Saviour himself, that BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN +. All other fins, we are exprefsly told, may be remitted, but on this the gates of mercy are clofed. The denial of the Spirit's energy renders the gofpel of no effect, extinguishes the living light of Jefus Christ, and involves wretched mortals in the darknefs and death of Adam, fallen from the state of primitive perfection. It is reprefented as the greatest of all fins, because, in fact, it is productive of the greatest misery, defeating the benevolent purposes of a merciful Redeemer, and throwing back with ingratitude God's beft gift to man.

SECTION IV.

The proper Evidence of the Chriftian Religion is the Illumination of the Holy Ghoft, fhining into the Hearts of thofe who do not close them against its Entrance. The Opinion of Dr. Gloucefter Ridley*, cited in Confirmation of this Doctrine.

TONE, fays St. Paul, can fay JESUS IS THE LORD, but by the HOLY GHOST †. If, then, St. Paul be allowed to have understood the Christian religion, it is certain, that mere human teftimony will never convince the infidel, and produce that faith which conftitutes the true Chriftian. Our theological libraries might be cleared of more than half their volumes, if men feeking the EVIDENCE of Christianity, would be fatisfied with the declaration of St. Paul, and the great author of our religion.

There is a faith very common in the world, which teaches to believe, as an historical fact, that a perfon of the name of Jefus, a very good man, did live on earth, and that he preached and taught, under the direction of God or divine Providence, an excellent fyftem of morality; fuch as, if duly obferved, would contribute to their happiness, and recommend them to divine favour. But this kind of faith is not the right faith; it believes not enough, it is not given by the Holy Ghoft; for he, in whom God dwelleth, confeffeth that Jefus is the Son of God, and the SAVIOUR of the world ‡;

* Dr. Ridley was a scholar and divine of diftinguished character. His fermons on the Holy Ghoft are well worth the attention of all who would understand the effentials of Christianity.

+1 Cor. xii. 3.

John, iv. 13, 14, 15.

C 2

but

but they who acknowledge Jefus only as a good man teaching morality, know him not as a SAVIOUR. Socrates taught fine morality; and fo did Seneca, Epictetus, and many more; but they had not and could not teach the knowledge which leadeth to falvation.

Having premised thus much, I now begin the citation of my AUTHORITIES, all of which I entreat my reader to confider with the attention which they

deferve.

"Illuminating grace," fays Dr. Gloucester Ridley, "confifts not in the affent we give to the HIS"TORY of the gofpel, as a narration of matters of "fact, fufficiently fupported by HUMAN EVIDENCE; "for this may be purely the effect of our ftudy "and learning. The collating of copies, the con"fulting of hiftory, the comparing the affertions "of friends, and the conceffions of enemies, may 66 NECESSITATE * fuch a belief, a faith which "the devils may have, and doubtlefs have it. "This fort of faith is an acquifition of our own, " and not a GIFT." But FAITH IS THE GIFT OF "GOD.

"There may be a faith," continues Dr. Ridley, "which is not the work of the Spirit in our hearts, "but entirely the effect of human means, our na "tural faculties affifted by languages, antiquities, "manufcripts, criticifm, and the like, without " any divine aid, except the bare letter of the reve"lation; and as this faith may rife out of human "abilities, fo may it be attended with pride in "our fuppofed accomplishments, envy of others

* Πισις ουκ ή γεωμετρικαίς αναγκαις, αλλ' η ταις του πνευματος EVERYεiais ElyIVOMEN. BASIL in Pfal. 195.-The right faith is not that which is FORCED by mathematical demonftration, whether we will or not; but that which grows in the mind from the operation or energies, of the SPIRIT.

"fuperior

"fuperior skill, and bitter ftrife against thofe who "miftake or oppofe fuch truths; and is therefore "no manifestation of that Spirit which refifteth "the proud, and difpenfes its graces only to the "humble. THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM

❝ ABOVE. But the true faving faith, at the same time that it informs the understanding, influences "the WILL AND AFFECTIONS; it enlightens the "eyes of the heart *, fays the apoftle; it is there, " in the HEART, that the Christian man believeth; "and if thou believeft with thine HEART, thou fhalt "be faved; while infidelity proceedeth from an "averfeness of our affections-from an evil heart "of unbelief ‡.”

Is it not therefore ftrange, that learned apologifts, well acquainted with fcripture, after reading thefe ftrong declarations, that the HEART must be impreffed before faving faith can be fixed in it, fhould ftudiously avoid every topic which addreffes itself to the affections, and coldly apply themselves to the understanding alone, in a language and manner like those of a mathematical lecturer folving a problem of Euclid ?

Infidelity is increafing, and will continue to increase, fo long as divines decline the means of

Πεφωτισμένους τους οφθαλμους της καρδιας. Ephefians, i. 18. Enlightening the eyes of the HEART. Almoft all the old MSS. read καρδίας, and not διανοιας, as it flands in our printed copies. See Mill's Lectiones Variantes.

RIDLEY.

Many worthy and ingenious divines have spent the best years of their youth in the ftudy of mathematics, logic, and metaphyfics; and when they go forth from the academic fhade, to inftruct the people, ftill retaining their early habits, they give lectures in the pulpit on divinity, to villagers, mechanics, and tradesmen, in a style fimilar to that of an univerfity profeffor talking of angles and triangles, moods and figures. The poor Fishermen of Galilee would not have known what to make of Christianity, thus disguised by scholastic language and refinement,