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IX.

reputation upon the Gospel itself. This is fo s E R M. true, that, if take you their little Stories away of Perfons, and Things, many Years after Jefus Chrift; their Harangues about Abfurdities, and Contradictions, of some weak and pasfionate Men, which are not in the Gofpel; their long and jocofe Accounts of Modern Miracles, and Tricks, played to fupport Designs, which the Gospel doth, not only not own, but, condemn: I fay, that, if these be all taken away; together with a Word or two of mysterious Reasoning, (of which the Bulk of Mankind are not Judges;) nothing of Importance will be found to remain against the Gospel itself, or those Evidences which support it. And this must be ever accounted a vast Advantage to Chriftianity; as it was delivered, by Chrift, to the World.

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Concerning impartial Enquiry in Religion: and the two Extremes of implicit Subjection and Infidelity.

SERMON X.

Preached at St. Peter's Poor, in Jan. 1712-13.

SERM.

X.

I THESS. V. 21.

Prove all Things: hold fast that which is good.

I

N my Former Difcourfes upon

thefe Words,

I. I have, under the first General Head, fhewn you the Duty, and Nature, of a Just Examination into our Religion.

II. Under the fecond, I have confidered, on one side the Conduct of those profeffed Chriftians, who would impofe their own Additions to the Gospel, as of equal Importance with it; and this by way of fuch Authority, and Infallibility, as to demand an Implicit Subjection, without any Enquiries: And, on the other hand, the Conduct of fome others, in the contrary Extreme, who feem to have rejected the whole of Christianity, under the

Shew,

Shew, but without the Reality, of Impartials ER M. and Just Examination.

III. I propofe now, to draw fome useful Inferences, or Lefons, from what hath been already faid.

1. The first that offers itself, is this, That it is but too probable, that many, and especially the Chief, of Those who are in the former of the Two Extremes, which I have treated of, have no more real Belief of the Truth of the Gofpel; than Those who profeffedly reject it. I would not be understood to mean, that there may not be many fimple, and otherwise honest Men, acting, under Thefe, for the bringing all the World to Implicit Subjection; who may think that they truly believe the Gospel, and are doing God Service: Or that there may not be many fincere Perfons amongst those who profefs this Implicit Subjection. But, if you examine into the great Worldly Interest ; the Riches, the Power, the Grandeur, that are fupported meerly by these Additions; as well as into the Cunning and Understanding of Thofe, who enjoy the greatest Share of these Advantages; and confider how plain a Contradiction, their whole Scheme is, to Chriflianity itself: You cannot forbear fufpecting, that all their Zeal against others; all their Perfecution

X.

SER M. of those they call Heretics; all their Madnes

X.

fes, and Extravagancies; their Inquifitions, and Tortures; are founded upon Infidelity: and that nothing could induce them to be guilty of fuch Proceedings, but an Opinion that this World is their all; and that there is no Account to be given in another.

That Truth is not their Concern, is very plain: Because Truth neither wants fuch Advocates, as outward Torments; nor is ever helped by them. An outward Profeffion may be obtained and forced by them. But then this will be only Hypocrify: For the inward Perfuafion will be rather diverted another way, than towards any thing that is to be worked into Men by fuch Methods. Fire and Faggot; Imprisonment, and Confifcation of Goods; Hardship and Preffure; Hunger and Thirft; Cold and Nakedness; may make Human Nature yield; and extort a Confeffion from the Lips: But the Heart will be farther from going along with it, then it would be, were the Methods of Gentleness, and Goodnefs, applied to it. The only thing, therefore, aimed at, by the great Patrons of Implicit Submiflion, is an outward, uniform, Profeffion of the fame things; that is, an Agreement in Sounds: Which is no more to Truth itself, than the most diftant thing in the World,

World. Were the Belief of the Truth of the SER M. Gofpel, the Matter aimed at; or Faith in Je- X. fus Chrift, the great Defign; nothing of all this could be feen in the World. But because fo much of this is feen; that whoever will profefs the fame Things, and utter the fame Sounds in Public, is fafe, and well received by thofe who gain most by Implicit Subjection: Therefore, I fay, is there little Reason to judge that any fincere Belief of the Gospel itself is either embraced, or aimed at, by Them.

This is fo apparent in all thofe Countries, where Implicit Subjection is at it's Heighth, and yet Polite Learning flourishes in any Degree; that it is a very common and profeffed, as well as profane, Notion amongst themfelves, that Faith and Folly go together. The true Account of which, is this, That they think of no other Faith, but that which is converfant about the monftrous Opinions, and ridiculous or abfurd Tenets, which support the Power and Riches of their Ecclefiaftical Governors And have loft all Regard to the Gofpel, in it's Simplicity; and all Defire to enquire into it. For,

2. As there is little Reafon to fufpect any true Faith amongst thofe, who, either gain fo much of worldly good things, or, avoid fo many worldly Evils, by Implicit Subjection:

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