and take human nature upon Him, it was neceffary that He should be born in the world. He was fo; and from that aufpicious day whereon He quitted the Virgins womb, wherein He had been imprisoned during the appointed months, from that bleffed day of glory to God on high, and of peace on earth, and good will to men, do we date the firft origin of Christianity. During the long-protracted space of four thousand years from the creation and fall of man, the whole bufinefs of the Patriarchs, of the Law, and of the Prophets, was to typify and foretell this great and momentous event: with the utmoft propriety therefore has the Church fet apart the space of four weeks, to prepare our minds for it's due celebration.

This day therefore, thus diftinguifh'd, appears to me a proper time for entering upon a plan which I have long had in contemplation; which is, to offer to your ferious confideration a defence and vindication of that most excellent and truly primitive Church, whereof we all are happily members, and of which Myself, however unworthy, have the honour to be a Minister, from the invidious cavils and groundless objections of those who have evil will at this our Sion; who in this age and nation, and

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and particularly in this neighbourhood, are restless in their oppofition thereunto, and cease not their endeavours to put men out of conceit with it's doctrines and fervices, and I must add, to turn them afide from the truth, as it is in Jefus. Sincerely and cordially as I feel myself from conviction attach'd to the Church of England, I could wish to inculcate a fimilar refpect and reverence thereunto upon those who are committed to my charge. I could wish that every one, even the most unlearned and ignorant among iny flock, might be enabl'd to comply with the Apostle's injunction, of giving to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them; that each might have a ready reply both to the serious attacks on our faith and doctrine, and to the petulant cavils at our services and ceremonies. To this fubject then I intend to dedicate a feries of difcourfes, to be continued at intervals, as health and leifure fhall give me opportunity; and which I purpose to difcriminate by prefixing to each the fame text.

To these I mean the prefent difcourfe as merely introductory; and herein I fhall first enter a little more largely into the reafons which have induc'd me to adopt this plan; fecondly, I shall give you a

a brief

a brief explanation of the Text, fhewing you both its connection with the Context, and also how I mean to apply it; and lastly shall sketch out to you the method which ftrikes me as moft proper to be pursued in the farther prosecution of these difcourfes. First then for my reasons for adopting this plan.

Now here it might be deem'd fufficient to allege these two general motives; first, that as a Minifter of the Establishment it is my duty to defend the Church, whose bread I eat; and fecondly, that as your Paftor it is my duty to impart to you all things whatsoever that I am myfelf fully convinc'd are true, and also tend to your edification. But then it may be objected, that if a Chriftian Minifter take care to inftruct his flock in the genuine doctrines of the Gospel, and the nature of their practical duty, preffing upon them a blameless life, with a ftrict adherence to the rules which Christ hath laid down for their behaviour toward God, their neighbour, and themselves; it were better for him to keep clear of whatever may tend to controverfy; and of course to avoid meddling with those nicer fhades of distinction which divide and difcriminate the various fects and perfuafions of Christians,

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Christians, and concerning which mankind will never be brought to think alike. I acknowledge the force of the objection, and in general have acted under it's conviction. But as in war a fkilful Commander will ever adapt his conduct to that of the enemy, varying his modes of attack and defence according to the circumstances of time and place, and the motions and relative fituations of the foe; juft fo is the cafe of the Chriftian Warrior. If the adverfary make an open affault, he must be refifted with courage; if he proceed covertly by sap, he must be counteracted with addrefs. Should the wolf overleap the fold, he must be boldly withftood; should he prowl about in sheep's clothing, the shepherd must strip him of his borrow'd skin. At prefent, the times loudly call upon the friends of the Church of England for the most vigilant circumfpection, and the moft active defence: the conduct of the Sectaries provokes us to it. Not content with the liberal toleration allow'd them by the laws, they difdain to stop fhort of Profelytifm. In this populous diftrict of ours, and the cafe is the fame in many others, the fmallness and inconvenience of our place of worship, with it's diftance from fome thickly inhabited parts of the Parish, are circumftances much in their favour. For thefe a remedy will I trust be one day provided;

and

and that probably at no very great distance of time. In the mean while the Diffenters not only infinuate privately to individuals, but publish openly to the world their objections to the Establishment. Nor is it a matter of small confequence to what congregation you join yourselves. However flightly,and even contemptuously, fome of their champions may have affected to treat the notion of an Alliance between Church and State, yet does the united voice of hiftory and experience concur in proving, that they have ever flourish'd and declin'd together. Let us but advert to the now-exifting posture of affairs. While the Nation is ftraining every nerve to the utmost stretch in oppofition to the wanton and unprovok'd attacks of the most ferocious, blood-thirfty, and unprincipl'd Banditti that ever ravag'd the face of the earth; while, in the common cause of all European Kings and Governments, we have feen curselves first feebly fupported; and then deferted

and abandon'd, if not betray'd, by almost every Ally: while Peace may poffibly be neceffary to our fafety, however fatal to our honour: what in the mean time do we fee going on at home? a fet of Societies, affembling together under fpecious titles, and upon plausible pretences; acting in open and avow'd defiance to the Laws and the Conftitution, and diffeminating

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