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led to wifh it were. But when we come to confider the evidences, upon which it is received by multitudes as of divine authority, proofs taken from prophefies and miracles, they at first fight seem to be very convincing; and it appeareth very natural, that a revelation from God fhould be fo attefted: thefe are indeed the proper proofs of a divine interpofition. Yet the Chriftian religion hath been much and with great warmth opposed. For a long time, the civil powers all over the world being fet againft it, did cruelly perfecute all, who profeffed it, while fome men of learning did likewise endeavour to overthrow it by reasoning and argument. Still it prevailed. It hath of late, after seventeen hundred years poffeffion, been very strenuously attacked, and the opponents among us have not been reftrained

reftrained from bringing forth all their fhew of reafon and argument; nor, whatever the importance and gravity of the fubject be, have they been fparing of ridicule, which, when just and well supported by reafon and nature, may be of great use to make men afhamed of their follies and abfurdities; but when it is not fo, maketh only the perfons, who ufe it, truly ridiculous. It is to be hoped however, that mankind will at last be determined by argument, and that the unprejudiced world will embrace what is recommended by fufficient evidence.

Whatever force the writers against Christianity may think there is in the objections raised against it, or in the exceptions offered against the evidences, upon which the faith of Chriftians refteth,certainly the friends of that religion have reafon to com

plain of the manner, in which these writers have managed the debate, which doth not discover that franknefs of fpirit and ingenuoufness, that becometh a candid inquiry after truth. The cry of priestcraft hath been very loud, and without the leaft reafon. For whatever may in this refpect be justly said concerning some particular persons, or orders of men, who have indeed corrupted Christianity, the institution itself must be acknowledged to be at enmity with all fuch low and hateful art. It giveth no man any authority over another in matters of confcience; but in the moft express manner declareth against all fuch authority and it doth not fo much as fuppofe, that ever the power of the magistrate should be exerted in fupport of it by the methods of compulfion and force. Our bleffed Sa

viour never had any fuch defign. His religion plainly referreth itself to the judgments and confciences of mankind, and knoweth no way of recommending itself to their acceptance but by manifeftation of the truth. And it forbiddeth among the disciples of Chrift all domination whatsoever, and establisheth for every individual an abfolute independence in matters of conscience on all the powers on earth; binding every man under the greatest penalties, though not of a temporal kind, to do the will of God, without slavish regard to other authority; and fhewing, that it is the right of every man, and his duty, to inquire and judge what the will of God concerning him is. In this religion there are no fecrets. Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are the sum of it. It declareth

declareth every ingenuous penitent and true believer to be in the favour of God, and pronounceth fentence upon all, who are impenitent; which terms of acceptance no power on earth can alter. Nor can the minifters of the Christian church do any thing, by which a man's state, with respect to the favour of God, is affected, more or less, than any private Christian. Now, if this is a just representation of the genius of Chriftianity, (whether it is or not, let thofe, who are acquainted with the New Testament, judge) how unreasonable must it be to bring a charge of priestcraft against it? Wherever that hateful art is found, let it be expofed with all the indignation it deferveth: but let not an inftitution the most distant imaginable from any appearances of it, or giving any encouragement to it, be fo injuriously

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