Since, then, it appears, that the books of the New Testament, as they now stand in the original, are, without any material alteration, such as they were, when they came from the hands of the persons whose names they bear, nothing remains to complete this part of the argument, but to show,

all things most

This is a fact not capable of

5. That the translation of them, now in your hands, may be depended upon, as, in material, agreeable to the original. of which the generality of you are judging immediately, yet it is a matter of great importance. It is, therefore, a very great pleasure to me to think, what ample evidence you may find another way, to make your minds as easy on this head as you could reasonably wish them. I mean, by the concurrent testimony of others, in circumstances in which you cannot imagine they would unite to deceive you.

There are very few of us whose office it is publicly to preach the gospel, who have not examined this matter with care, and who are not capable of judging in so easy a case. You know, indeed, that we do not scruple, on some occasions, to animadvert upon certain passages; but these remarks affect not the fundamentals of religion, and seldom reach any farther than the beauty of a figure, or, at most, the connection of an argument. Nay, I can confidently say, that, to the best of my knowledge and remembrance, as there is no copy of the Greek, so neither is there any translation of the New Testament, which I have seen, whether ancient or modern, how defective or faulty soever, from which all the principal facts and doctrines of Christianity might not

be learned, so far as the knowledge of them is necessary to salvation, or even to some considerable degrees of edification in piety.

But I desire not, that with respect to our own translation of the New Testament, a matter of so great moment as the fidelity of it should rest on my testimony alone, or entirely on that of any of my brethren, for whose integrity and learning you may have the greatest and justest esteem. I rejoice to say, that this is a head on which we cannot possibly deceive you, if we were ever so desirous to do it. And indeed, in this respect, that is our advantage, which in others is our great calamity; I mean, the diversity of our religious opinions. It is certain, that wheresoever there is a body of dissenters from the public establishment, who do yet agree with their brethren of that establishment in the use of the same translation, though they are capable of examining it, and judging of it, there is as great evidence as could reasonably be desired, that such a translation is in the main right; for if it were in any considerable article corrupted, most of the other debates would quickly lose themselves in this; and though such dissenters had all that candour, tenderness, and respect for their fellow Christians which I hope we shall always endeavour to maintain, yet they would, no doubt, think themselves obliged in conscience to bear a warm and loud testimony against so crying an abomination, as they would another day appear free from the guilt of a confederacy to poison the public fountains, and destroy the souls of men. But we make no complaint on this subject; we all unite in bearing our testimony to the oracles of God, as

delivered in our own language. Oh that we were equally united in regulating our doctrine and our discipline, our worship, and our practice by them!

You see then, on the whole, how much reason there is to believe, that the books of the New Testament, as they are now in your hands, were written by those whose names they bear, even the first preachers and publishers of Christianity. This is the grand point; and from hence it will follow, by a train of easy and natural consequences, that the Gospel is most certainly true: but that is a topic of argument, abundantly sufficient to furnish out matter for another discourse. May God command his blessing on what has been already laid before us, that, through the operation of his Spirit, it may be useful for establishing our regard to the Scripture, and for confirming our faith in that Almighty Redeemer, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last; whom to know is life everlasting, and in whom to believe is the great security of our eternal salvation ! Amen.

DISCOURSE II.

THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY DEDUCED FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT ALLOWED TO BE GENUINE.

WHEN we are addressing ourselves to an audience of professing Christians, I think we may reasonably take it for granted, in the main course of our ministry, that they believe the truth of the Gospel, and

may argue with them on that supposition. To be ever laying the foundation would be the part of an unwise builder, and be greatly detrimental to your edification and comfort, and, I may add, to our own. Nevertheless, Christians, we do not desire that you should take it merely upon our word, that your religion is divine, and your Scriptures inspired. We desire that your faith, as well as your worship, should ́ be a reasonable service; and wish that, in this respect, all the Lord's people were as prophets; that as every Christian is in his sphere set for the defence of the Gospel, each might, in some measure, be able to assert its truth, and, if possible, to convince gainsayers. Therefore, as we are often hinting at the chief arguments, on which this sacred cause is established, (established so firmly, that the gates of hell shall never prevail against it;) so I thought it might be agreeable and useful, on this occasion, to state them a little more largely, in their proper connection, and mutual dependence. And I chose the rather to do it, as these discourses are especially intended for young people, who, in an age in which infidelity so much abounds, can hardly expect to pass through the world, if they are called to converse much in it, without some attacks on their faith; which may be very dangerous, if they are not provided with some armour of proof against them. It is indeed, (as I before observed,) above all things to be desired, that the heart may be established with grace; for we are then most secure from the danger of forgetting God's precepts, when they are the blessed means of quickening us to a divine life. Yet as other arguments have their use, and in some de

gree their necessity too, I shall go on briefly to propose them.

I am now showing you, that Christianity, which before appeared in theory probable and rational, has in fact a convincing evidence; not only that it may be, but that it certainly is true;-as it is certain, that the New Testament, as now in your hands, is genuine and as it may with great evidence be argued from thence, that the Gospel is a revelation from God. The first of these points I have endeavoured to prove at large; and I now, proceed to show,

2. That from allowing the New Testament to be genuine, it will certainly follow, that Christianity is a divine revelation. And here a man is at first ready to be lost in the multiplicity of arguments which surround him. It is very easy to find proofs; but difficult to range and dispose them in such an order, as best to illustrate and confirm each other. Now I choose to offer them in the following series, which seems to me the most natural, and perhaps may be most intelligible to you.

The authors of the books contained in the New Testament were certainly capable of judging concerning the truth of the facts they attested;-their character, so far as we can judge of it by their writings, renders them worthy of regard; and they were under no temptation to attempt to impose on the world by such a story as they have given us, if it had been false; so that, considering all things, there is no reason to believe they would attempt it; -but if they had, they must probably have perished in the attempt, and could never have gained credit