[You may see in my text the construction which infidels and blasphemers are wont to put upon the truths of revelation : they pour contempt upon them as " cunningly-devised fables," invented and propagated by designing priests for the ad- vancement of their own interests. But who ' could ever dis- prove the trudi and authority either of the Old or New Tes- tament ? It is easy enough to sneer and cavil at any thing : and impious scoifers ever hare treated in this way the truths of revelation, even from the days of Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses*, to the present houi>". " Men of corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the truth," ever have, and ever will, " sport in this manner with their own deceivings\" But, beloved, search the Scriptures for your- selves : examine tlie evidences which have been adduced in proof of their divine authority : see the suitableness of the proN-ision which has been made for you by Almighty God in tiie ])erson and work of his only begotten Son : and you will soon see, that the great mystery of redemption carries its own evidence along with it, and that what is spoken in Scripture re- .specting it, is " a faithful saying," and worthy of all accepta- tion" ]
2. Let
' 2 Tim. ill. S.
" February 1820, jiT^t after tlie trial and conclemnation ofCarlile.
" Compare 2 Tim. iii. S. witli 2 Pet. ii. 10—13. & iii. 3, 4.
1. Let all of you get an experimental acquaint- ance with the Gospel in your own souls —
[Peter believed the evidences which he had in common with others : but he felt peculiar conviction from those which he derived from his own personal experience. So the people of Samaria, who had believed on Jesus on account of the woman's testimony, told her afterwards, " Now we believe, not because of thy saying ; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world \" Thus do you seek, if not the evidences of your senses, yet the evidence o£ 7/our oicJie.Tperiejice ; for it is certain, that "he who truly believeth in Christ, hath the witness in himself"^;" he knows the power and grace of Christ in a way that he never could know it from mere argument : and in speaking of Christ he can sa}-, " What my eyes have seen, my ears have heard, my hands have handled of the word of life, that declare I unto you ^" There are " spiritual senses which may be exercised ;" and though their testimony is not satisfactory to others, it is peculiarly convincing to those who possess it. For the good of others then I say. Seek an acquaintance with the established evidences of the Gospel : but for your own good I say. Go up to Jesus upon the Holy Mount, and there hear and see what God will reveal for the conviction and consolation of your souls. So shall you have an evidence which nothing can shake, and feel yourselves standing on a rock, which defies the assaults both of earth and hell.]
y John iv. 42. ' 1 John v. 10. * 1 John i. 1.