CHAP. VIII.

THE NATURE AND TENDENCY OF CHRISTIANITY.

MR. P. has disingenuously and studiously, as far as man can judge, confounded christianity with all the abuses and perversions of it; and with all the crimes that masked atheists have taken occasion from it to perpetrate. Let him, however, have full licence to abuse domineering churchmen and persecuting priests; let him exhaust his rhetoric in declaiming against purgatory, penances, and dispensations; or that kind of christianity which is inimical to solid learning and sober inquiry. But let not the pure religion of Scripture be blamed for those things, which are there both expressly predicted, and most severely condemned. I would not even go out of the way, to dispute for establishments, or national religions, though, when connected with an equal toleration, they do not at all cramp free inquiry; and, when properly managed, they secure to the bulk of mankind a measure of religious instruction, which would not otherwise be afforded them.

The religion of the Scriptures must be distinguished, not only from all corruption but from all appendages; and all modes of promoting it, however expe

dient, which are not expressly commanded. This religion makes known to us the one living and true God; not only in his eternal power and Deity, but also in the mysteries of his nature, and the perfections of his character, as far as we are concerned to know them. Infinite wisdom, justice, purity, faithfulness,goodness, and mercy, harmoniously displayed, are here viewed in connexion with omnipotence, omniscience, unchangeableness, omnipresence, self-existence,and incomprehensible greatness and majesty. The Lord, being thus altogether glorious and lovely, the Creator of our bodies and souls, our continual and bounteous Benefactor, and our moral Governor and Judge, commands us to love him with all our hearts, and to love our neighbour as ourselves: and these comprehensive precepts reach to all our thoughts, words, and actions, and every possible duty to God and man.

This law, universally kept, would produce universal order, peace, and felicity; for it is in all respects, "holy, just, and good." By this rule all our conduct must be tried; and all the other precepts of Scripture are elucidations of it, and applications of its general requirements to our several cases and circumstances.-The Bible reveals also an eternal state of righteous retributions: and as all have broken the holy law of our God, we are no more able of ourselves to escape future condemnation, than we now are to elude the sentence of death; for, like other laws, it requires perfect obedience, and condemns every transgressor. Some information the Scriptures afford us, concerning the manner, in which our race was thus involved in sin and misery: but far more concerning the method of our recovery. The de

scription, there given of our nature and character, does not indeed accord to the soothing speculations. of many philosophers: but universal history, observation, and experience,prove that they answer exactly to facts; and the more any one studies his own heart, and compares his actions with the perfect law of God, the deeper will his conviction be, that the statement of Scripture is just, and his own self-flattering conclusions erroneous. The view given of the evil and demerit of sin is very offensive to our pride, and alarming to our consciences: yet deep reflection on the subject will convince us, that we cannot estimate, what degree or continuance of punishment crimes committed against God do actually deserve.

These things premised, we observe that the Scriptures especially reveal the plan of salvation for sinners, which infinite wisdom and love have formed and completed. This plan centres in the person of Christ, Emmanuel, God manifested in the flesh; in his righteousness, atonement, mediation, and grace; in his offices of Prophet, High Priest, and King; in his power to save to the uttermost all that come to God "by him;" and in the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and our renewal unto the divine image by his gracious influences.

All things having been made ready, in the obedience, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and his appearance in the presence of God for us: christianity consists in humble repentance of sin; a believing reliance on the merits and atonement of the Son of God, and on the mercy of the Father through him a cordial acceptance of Christ in all his characters and offices; and dependance, connected with expe

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rience, on the Holy Spirit, for divine illumination, progressive sanctification, and pure consolation, all springing from regeneration. Thus the sinner, being converted and reconciled to God, justified by faith, and sealed by the Spirit of adoption, expects the performance of the promises in the use of appointed means; and animated by the motives and encouragements of the Gospel, he is inwardly and effectually taught by the "grace of God, to deny ungodliness "and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, "and godly in this present world." Thenceforth " he walks in newness of life." Love to God in

Christ Jesus, and to men for his sake, becomes the temper of his heart, and the business and delight of his life. He is indeed still imperfect, and in a state of conflict: but as far as he acts according to his rule and obligations, he does no harm to any man, but all good to every one; in every way, which is in his power, and consistent with propriety. Humility, meekness, gentleness, forgiveness,benevolence, courteousness, compassion, self-denying, active beneficence, sincerity, equity, fidelity, sobriety, temperance, and purity, as well as piety, are the genuine effect of his principles. Were all men true and consistent Christians, wars would be impossible; fraud, oppression, slander, licentiousness, contentions, and all the crimes that disturb society, would cease: the stormy ocean of the world would be hushed into a calm: men would sooner lay down their lives for their enemies, than persecute: they would rather endure wrong, than commit it; or even contest their right unless required by other duties.

This is assuredly the religion of the Scriptures.These have been, and still are, its effects on thousands and could those believers, who are now scattered abroad in the world, be collected together into one society, and separated from all other men: such a scene of piety, purity, harmony, and felicity would be witnessed, as has never yet appeared on earth, except in the Christian church for a short time after the day of Pentecost. Though even these persons would in many respects come short of their duty, and the genuine tendency of their principles.

Every thing, contrary to this statement, militates against the very end of Christianity. No countenance is given in the Bible to persecutions, religious wars or massacres, pious frauds or imprecations: indeed all such things are condemned more severely in it than in any other book in the world. The judgments of God on his impenitent enemies, executed by men expressly commissioned, have nothing to do with our general conduct: but to inspire us with abhorrence of sin, which thus provokes a God of infinite goodness and mercy. The whole Scripture teaches us meekness and love of persecutors; love expressed, even by suffering or dying for them, if that could save them from destruction.-Excommunication denotes no more than seclusion from religious ordinances and societies, to preserve them pure, and to make the censured person ashamed, that he may be brought to repentance: for we are required not to "count him "as an enemy, but to admonish him as a brother:" and if any penal consequences followed in the primitive times, they were miraculous, and consequently cannot be imitated by us.