us, that it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, yea for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for those who have the privilege of knowing the gospel, if they reject it *, To them much is given, and of them much will be required. Do not think ministers affuming if they magnify their office. We have no reason to think highly of ourselves. Nor would you be blameable for difregarding us if we spoke in our own names. But if we preach the truth of the gospel, in fimplicity and fincerity, then we fpeak in the name of the Lord, and demand your attention. Do you afk for our authority and commiffion? Afk your own confciences. If, like Felix, when you mean only to indulge your curiofity by hearing us, you are constrained to tremble +: if we force upon your mind the remembrance of what you have faid or done; if our meffage makes you uneafy and diffatisfied with yourselves; if you cannot avoid feeling at fome times. the truth of our principles, and the neceffity of the change we would press upon you; if, though you have been repeatedly difpleafed and offended with what you hear, † Acts xxiv. 25.

* Matt. xi, 20-24.

and,

and, perhaps, have gone away purpofing or threatening that you would hear it no more,

you

ftill appear amongst us-then, you have a fufficient proof, that the ministers are sent and authorized to speak to you, and we take your confciences to witness that we preach the truth,

SER

SERMON XXXIII.

OPPOSITION TO MESSIAH UNREASONABLE,

PSALM ii. I-3.

Wy do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth fet themfelves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed; faying, Let us break his bonds afunder, and caft away his cords from us.

IT

Tis generally admitted, that the inftitutes of Christianity, as contained in the New Teftament, do at least exhibit a beautiful and falutary system of morals; and that a fincere compliance with the precepts of our Lord and his apostles, would have a good effect upon fociety. Few infidels have ventured to contradict the common sense of man

Though

kind, fo far as to deny this. Nor can it be denied, that the author of this inftitution, if we judge by the hiftory and character given of him by the evangelifts, exemplified, in the highest perfection, by his own conduct, the precepts which he enjoined to his followers. While he lived as a man amongst men, the tenor of his behaviour was fuch as became the friend of mankind. he fubmitted to a low eftate, and often suffered hunger, thirst, and wearinefs, we do not read of his having wrought a fingle miracle, merely for his own relief. But the wants and calamities of others, continually excited his compaffion, and engaged his affiftance. He gave fight to the blind, health to the fick, and fometimes wiped away the tears of mourners, by reftoring their dead to life. He endured hunger himfelf; but, once and again, provided food for multitudes, lest they, having nothing to eat, fhould faint by the way. Nor did he confine his acts of benevolence to his followers, but was eafy of accefs, and granted the requests of all indifcriminately, who applied to him. He went about doing good*, and often put him* Acts x. 38.

felf