thou a Man wife in his own Conceit? There is more hope of a Fol than of him.

But if we more particularly oblerve, how often Self-conceit expofes Mens Ignorance, when it puts them upon talking flightingly about Sermons; the Folly of being influenc'd by it, will appear ftill greater.

For of those who talk after this Manner, but few can be fuppofed to be competent Judges in the Cafe. Few that read, and fewer that hear a Difcourfe from the Pulpit, are capable of difcerning the Beauties and Excellencies of it: Thefe Things efcape the Eyes, and are above the Reach of the Generality, who therefore when they Cenfure, Cenfure at random, frequently difpraise what is truly commendable, and condemn what deferves to be highly efteem'd: And what can difcover Mens Ignorance, and render them ridiculous, if this does not?

And after all: Suppofe that a Sermon is not fram'd fo nicely as it might be it may, notwithstanding that, be profitable to the Hearers, if they are willing to receive with Meekness the fincere Milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby.

And though fome may perhaps know al ready as much as they fhall hear, yet the best frequently want to have their Memories refresh'd their Affections rais'd; their Knowledge excited to Practice, and the like: Which Advantages may be gain'd from a Difcourfe, that is not fet of with the Embelishments of Art: And he that will ROL

not receive Profit from a Sermon, becaufe 'tis not drefs'd up in fuch a Manner, fhows as little Wisdom, as the Man who refufes wholesome Meat and Drink, because 'tiş not ferv'd in Plate.

But if Chriftians will behave themselves as they ought, they must regard the Preacher's Doctrine more than his Wit; they muft value the Improvement of their Understanding; the Direction of their Wills and Affetions, above the tickling of their Ears, and delighting of their Fancy. And if they do fo, they may from every rational Difcourfe learn fomething or other, which may prove beneficial to them in the Conduct of their Lives, and be Inftrumental in bettering their moral Faculties, or Intellectual.

Fifthly, Another Caufe which we mention'd, as bindering the Efficacy of the Word Preached, was Prejudice against the Preachers of it. But is not every lawful Preacher an Ambas fador of Jefus Chrift: Does he not act in Christ's ftead? In Christ's ftead does he not perfuade Men to be reconciled to God? How extremely foolish muft it then be, to neglect the Means of Grace, and difregard the Terms of Reconciliation, upon Account of Prejudice against the Perfon who offers them!

Certain it is, fuch Prejudice cannot alter 'the Nature of Truth, or make the Minifters of Chrift cease to be fuch. Truth will be ftill the fame; and the Minifters of Chrift will be ftill Minifters of Chriit, Ff2 whe

whether People are pleas'd or difpleas'd with them. But now the Mind of Man is under a conftant Obligation to embrace those Points which are evidently true; and the more worthy of Acceptation the Truths propofed are, the more ready and willing fhould it be to embrace them: For Chriftians therefore to reject, or undervalue, any Doctrines that are evidently contain'd in the Gofpel (which are certainly Truths of the highest Value and Concernment) for Chriftians, I fay, to reject or undervalue such Doctrines, because of Prejudice against those who preach them, is to do Violence to their Understandings; and muft ever be deem'd a very irrational Behaviour.

If Men would cooly and impartially confider only upon what frivolous and unjust Grounds Prejudice against the Minifters of Religion is frequently taken up, it must appear from thence very unreafonable to be influenc'd thereby.

But it must appear ftill more unreafonable, if it is likewife view'd in the Light which we have now confidered it in; namely, as being inftrumental in depriving Men in a great Meature of the Benefit of their Ministry; and confequently of injuring themselves in the most weighty and important Concerns.

Our bleffed Saviour forefaw, how forward an ungrateful World would be to treat the Preachers of his Gofpel with Diffaffection, and to flight the Meffage they are fent a

bout:

'bout: And he hath declar'd his Mind, with Relation to this Treatment, after such a Manner, as one would think fhould be fufficient to deter, from being guilty of it, all thofe who profefs any Reverence for him. For how little a Matter foever Men of deprav'd Judgments may count it, 'tis most undoubtedly true, that the Hatred and Contempt which is fhown to the Ministers of Chrift, reflects upon Chrift himself; and Men cannot defpife them, and their Meffage, but they muft at the fame Time affront their Redeemer: This is plain from his own Words, which he spoke to those whom he commiffion'd whilft he was upon Earth, and in them to all their Succeffors; Luke x. 16. He that beareth you, beareth me and the that defpifeth you, despiseth me; and he that defpifeth me, defpifeth him that fent me.

Sixthly, The laft Cause we affign'd for the Unprofitableness of the Word Preach'd, was Unbelief. Which certainly argues as much Folly and Weakness, as any of the former. For when any Points are fufficiently prov'd to be true, especially those which are of Concernment to us, we cannot refuse to believe them without difobeying the Dictates of right Reason; right Reason constantly requiring us to believe all fuch Things as are fo recommended.

Now that the Doctrines of the Christian Religion are of this Kind, is most apparent: Upon the embracing of thefe Doctrines our eternal Well-being depends, therefore they Ff3

are

are of the highest Concernment to us, and they have all the Evidence their Nature admits of, therefore their Truth is fufficiently proved.

For, not to launch out at the End of a Difcourfe into a large Confideration of the Arguments which fupport our Faith: Did not the Author and Finisher of it prove himfelf to be a Teacher immediately fent from God, in a most unexceptionable Manner? By making the Blind fee, the Deaf bear, and the Lame walk? By cleansing the Lepers; by cafting out Devils; by raising the Dead; by raifing himself from the Dead; by afcending into Heaven; by pouring forth the extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghoft upon the Apostles, and firft Chriftians, and the like? These are Works which could not be wrought without the fupernatural Affiftance of Divine Power: I therefore thefe Works were wrought by Chrift, we cannot deny the Doc

trines he taught to be Divine and True, unlefs we blafphemoufly fuppofe that God would protitute his Omnipotence to establish a Falfhood.

Now that these Works were wrought by Chrift, is witneffed by Men of good Understanding; fome of whom were affured of it by the Evidence of their own Senfes, and the reft by converfing with those who were fo affur'd: Which Confiderations evince, that they were throughly inform'd of the Truth of what they reported, and take away all Sufpicion of their being imposed upon themselves.

And