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under his sheltering wing, give us a glow of filial hope and joy; that it shall be difficult to say whether we are more awed or animated.

A reverence is likewise due to a Christian assembly; but it should not be a slavish fear of man. St. Paul's modest sensibility should indeed be prominent in every preacher; Unto me who am less than the least, &c. But we ought to derive a courage [a parresia] as he did, by considering in whose name we speak, whose protection is promised to us in the line of our duty, and who is able to make his strength perfect in the weakness of his servants. We should have a confidence in the word we deliver-when we are sure it is scriptural, and deeply interest ing to the souls of men; when we are conscious that "we preach not ourselves;" that it is not our own honour we are seek ing, but the honour of our divine Lord, and the eternal benefit of our fellow men. Such was the boldness of Peter and John before the Jewish council ;* and such the sources from which it sprung. And such are the views which must relieve us under the consciousness of not perform ing, as highly as we wish, in all respects.

Specially let us beware of car, rying into the sacred desk the anxieties of pride and ambition; or a too great solicitude respecting the brilliancy of composition, or other externals of preaching. If indeed there be a conscious. ness of not having applied our selves to be scriptural, to be per

Eph. iii. 8. • Acts iii.

spicuous, to be interesting, to express the divine truth according to its nature, and bring it home to the consciences and hearts of the hearers; or if with all our diligence in some things, our hearts have not been employed in due manner, nor our prayers ascending for divine help, and divine success; then indeed we may justly feel a misgiving; and no confidence of being divinely assisted in such a way, ought to relieve us, or ought to be indulged; for this would be rather tempting our Maker than trusting in him. But when we have religiously endeavoured, according to our time and means, to come prepared according to the preparations of the sanctuary; in this case the preacher ought to be at rest in a good measure respecting his preparations; and quite at liberty to look up for a blessing to feel his subject, and to speak as a dying man to dying men."

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In short, the same sentiment should actuate us in regard to the externals of sermonizing, as with respect to dress, when we are going to the sanctuary. We have a care to go decent; not with a view to be admired, but to be at liberty from every thought about our appearance; and have nothing to do in that sacred place, but to realize and feel the great subjects before us. Without such previous care we cannot be so at liberty. If we dress for admiration, dress will still take us off as effectually, as being ragged and dirty. In both cases, humility, and not ambi, tion, is the best directress of our preparations, and the best pre servative from improper anxieties.

In fact, our preparations should: men's shoulders; but they thembe such that when we come into, selves will not move them with public, neither ourselves nor oth- one of their fingers.". ers should be taken up with our manner, but with the great truths which are brought to view: As it has sometimes been remarked of style, that the most perfect of all is like the crystal of a watch, which shows the figures within, but does not show itself. O then

that clear sense, and strong sense, of divine truths and their interesting nature, that shall carry us to this, and whatever else in manner goes to convince, to move, and to persuade !

Indulge me in a hint or two more. While we hold up human depravity and guilt in their full extent, let us not do it as those who think themselves out of the question; but as remembering with deep abasement, that "we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, hateful," &c.* That so in time past we walked, &c. And still need mercy, for the sin which dwelleth in us ; and should therefore never exalt our selves in pride, over those who have not obtained mercy.

When we reprove others, let it be in a decided, but still in a kind of broken-hearted manner, which shews that we do not for get our own numerous failings. And when we excite our brethren to their duty, let it appear that we wish to stir up ourselves likewise. Perhaps there is not a more unamiable part in the whole character of the Scribes and Pharisees, as drawn by our Master, than this; "They bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on

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I have hinted heretofore the importance of preaching the grace of heaven with a gracious air and manner. On the other hand, when the terrors of the Lord are brought to view, this likewise is to "persuade men ;"* and must therefore be done with mingled solemnity and compassion. I have heard of thundering preachers: But he who would make sinners tremble, let him tremble himself: Not indeed with a slavish dread; but with sacred awe. As those among men display the most of true dignity, who show the profoundest reverence of a God above; so in this case, they speak with the most authority and power, who speak with the clearest reverence and godly fear.

On the whole, it deserves the inquiry of Christian philosophers, by what means the most interesting preachers, whom the world has known, became so impressive. They preached Christ crucified, and all those interesting truths, which the doctrine of the cross combines. And they did it in great simplicity; not attempting to dazzle by the splendour of philosophy, or of fine address. They had that kind of eloquence, which a strong sense of divine things, and a deep concern for their fellow immortals naturally produced. These gave an expression to their countenances, their tones of voice, air, actions, and whole manner; and that expression impressed othTheir concern for the

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2 €or. v. 11.

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From a Manuscript by the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy.

1. WRONG sentiments, in moral matters, are criminal, as well as wrong actions. To think ill of God's real moral character is criminal, as well as to make another God of a different moral character to suit our own hearts. When the Gentiles knew God, they glorified him not as God—they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Hence they made to themselves gods, such as they liked; and these they glorified, builded temples to their honour, and offered sacrifices to them with pleasure. And had the Israelites liked the moral character of their God, instead of adopting, they would have despised the worthless gods of their neighbours: Rom. i. 21-28; Jer. ii. 5-13. And as the Jews hated the light of the real moral character of their God, so they hated Jesus, who exhibited it to their view; Joh. iii. 19. & vii. 7. & viii. 40-45. & xv. 20-24. And as the Christian nations did not receive the truth in the love of it, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, this prepared them to

believe a lie, i. e. all the error's of the apostate church of Rome; 2 Thes. ii. Hatred of true morality, is the real source of all persecution; Matt. v. 10, 11, 12. 2. All the objections of the human heart against revealed religion originate from dislike to natural religion; Rom. viii. 7, 8, 9. He that loves true morality, will love true Christianity, as soon as he knows it. He that loves the moral law, will love the gospel of Christ. Every honest man will be a Christian, as soon as he hears the word, and understands it; Luke viii. 15.; Joh. vii. 17.; 1 Joh. v. t. He, who loves the Father, will love his own Son, his express image; Joh. viii. 42.

3. The enemies of Jesus, who hated him with a mortal hatred, alleged a variety of things against him, to keep themselves in countenance; but our Saviour, who was intimately acquainted with the whole affair, and even knew their very hearts, intimated privately to his brethren according to the flesh, who at that

time took sides with his enemies, what was the real cause, and the original foundation of all this illI will towards him. John vii. 7. The world cannot hate you, (as you think and feel as they do); but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Even so hath it happened ever since, that though those in Christendom, who have hated and persecuted the true follow ers of Christ, rejected the true scheme of religion, and invented other schemes to suit their various tastes; have at all times alleged a great variety of reasons to justify themselves: Yet as Jesus was hated, so real Christianity hath always been hated, because it testifies of the world, that the works thereof are evil. This was the true secret then, and it hath been the true secret ever since; although, then, Christ Jesus himself was publicly so odious, that those who murdered him, and killed his followers, thought they did God service, and were promoting the cause of morality; and although it hath frequently been so in since. If they persecute me, they will also persecute you: he that hateth me, hateth my Father also. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake; Matt. v. 10. Or, which is the same, for my sake; v. 11. And this hath been the real ground of all persecution for so perse cuted they the prophets which were before you; verse 12.

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4. Right sentiments concerning the moral character of God, and concerning the moral law, morality, moral obligation, moral agency; all which belong to nat ural religion, would prepare us to receive and entertain right Vol. III. No. 2.

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sentiments concerning the whole system of revealed religion; and if all our prejudices against nat ural religion were removed, we should have no prejudices left against revealed religion. Το be more particular :

5. The real moral character of God, the knowledge of which was lost among the nations of the earth, but is now brought to light in the sacred writings, were it understood and cordially viewed as an absolutely perfect character, would soon convince us that God is fit to sit at the head of the universe, and decree and conduct according to the good pleasure of his will; and all our objections against his eternal decrees and universal prov idence, would in effect vanish at once, and we should begin to sing, as in Psalm xcvii. 1. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice. And

6. Right sentiments of the moral law; of true morality; of the nature, extent, and excellence of all that duty which God requireth of man, and of our obligations to yield all that love and obedience which is required of us, together with a feeling that we in fact are moral agents with respect to the whole of that love and duty which is required; would at once prepare us to make a right estimate of the na ture and degree of our moral depravity, and of our guilt and ill desert, and of our need of that Redeemer and Sanctifier, and of that pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace, revealed in the gos pel; and dispose us with candour to understand scripture words and phrases relative to those subjects, and answer a thousand objections which otherwise will fill our minds.

7. We ought to love God with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves, so as to be influenced and governed by this love in the whole of our conduct; and our obligations hereunto, as they originate from, so they are equal unto the infinite dignity of Him who requires this of us. Were this understood, and cordially acquiesced in, an end would soon be put to all the disputes about the divinity and satisfaction of Christ, and the eternity of hell torments; about the nature and necessity of regeneration; of repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; of justification by free grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, &c. &c. &c. But,

8. So long as we differ in our sentiments concerning morality, moral obligation, what qualifications are necessary to constitute a moral agent; i. e. in effect, concerning the moral character of God, and of man; we shall not very readily agree in our understanding of any written revelation relative to these matters, let the revelation be ever so full, or ever so plain. Since the increase of learning in Europe, religious disputes have increased, and the number of heretics and infidels greatly multiplied; as if, in proportion to light externally exhibited, the internal vices of the human mind were the more alarmed. The true reason we find in Rom. viii. 7, 8.; John iii. 19..

9. If we are not bound by the divine law, any farther than our inclination corresponds; then Pharaoh was not bound to let Israel go, notwithstanding the express cominand of the Al

mighty; and not the divine law, but every man's inclination, becomes the rule of his duty in all cases whatsoever. If the infinite worthiness of the Deity doth not infinitely oblige us to love and obey him, then sin is not an infinite evil; and an atonement of infinite value, in order to our pardon, is not needed, if any at all; nor is a Saviour of infinite dignity requisité; nor will the doctrines of the divinity and satisfaction of Christ, and the eternity of hell torments, be readily believed, how plainly soever revealed. The passions justify themselves; and if the feelings of each man's heart ought to be the rule of duty to each man, then it will come to pass, that every way of each man will be right in his own eyes; and the whole need not a physician. And in these views, and with these feelings, men will not readily understand the Bible, or believe it to contain a revelation from heaven; and it must be entirely new modeled or totally rejected.

10. When once the Bible is rejected by men, because they do not like to retain God in their knowledge, a new god will be formed, who will approve, a new system of morality invented, which will justify the moral character of man, without any need at all of any redeemer, or any sanctifier: and it may now even be said, that any atonement for sin, besides what the sinner himself can make, is inconsistent with the moral character of God; and that any sanctifier whatsoever, is inconsistent with the character of man, as a moral agent.

11. Miracles, they will say, are of no use to prove what by

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