I. 1. IT is not my present design to touch on any particular _opinions_, whether they are right or wrong; nor on any of those smaller points of practice, which are variously held by men of different persuasions: but first, to point out some things which on _common_ principles are condemned by men of every denomination, and yet found in all; and secondly, some wherein those of each denomination, are more particularly inconsistent with _their own_ principles.
And, first, it is my design, abstracting from _opinions_ of every kind, as well as from disputable points of practice, to mention such of those things as occur to my mind, which are on _common_ principles condemned, and notwithstanding found, more or less, among men of every denomination.
2. But before I enter on this unpleasing task, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, by whatever love you bear to God, to your country, to your own souls; do not consider _who_ speaks, but _what_ is spoken. If it be possible, for one hour lay prejudice aside; give what is advanced a fair hearing. Consider simply on each head, Is this true, or is it false? Is it reasonable, or is it not? If you ask, “But in whose judgment?” I answer, in your own; I appeal to the light of your own mind. Is there not a faithful witness in your own breast? By this you must stand or fall. You cannot be judged by another man’s conscience. Judge for yourself by the best light you have. And the merciful God teach me and thee whatsoever we know not!
Now, as I speak chiefly to those who believe the scriptures, the method I propose is this, first, To observe what account is given therein of the _Jews_, the ancient church of God, inasmuch as _all these things were written for our instruction_, who say, we are _now_ the visible church of the God of _Israel_. Secondly, To appeal to all who profess to be members thereof, to every one who is called a Christian, how far, in each instance, the parallel holds? And how much _we_ are better than _they_?
3. First, I am to observe what account the scriptures give of the _Jews_, the ancient church of God. I mean, with regard to their moral character; their tempers and outward behaviour.
No sooner were they brought out of _Egypt_, than we find them _murmuring against_ God, (Exodus xiv. 12.) Again, when he had just brought them through the _Red Sea with a mighty hand and stretched out arm_, (chapter xv. 24.) And yet again, quickly after, in the wilderness of _Zin, your murmurings_ (saith _Moses_) _are not against us, but against the_ Lord. (chapter xvi. 8.) Nay, even while he was _giving them bread from heaven_, they were still _murmuring and tempting_ God, (chapter xviii. 2, 3.) and their amazing language at that season was, _Is the_ Lord _among us or not_? (chapter xvii. 4.)
The same spirit they shewed, during the whole forty years, that he _bore their manners in the wilderness_: a solemn testimony whereof, _Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel_, when God was about to take him away from their head; _They have corrupted themselves_ (saith he) _their spot was not of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. The_ Lord _led Jacob about; he instructed him; he kept him as the apple of his eye_, (Deuteronomy xxxii. 5, 10.) _He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields: then he forsook_ God _which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation_, (chapter v. 11, 13, 15.)
In like manner God complains long after this, _Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth! I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, have forsaken the_ Lord, _they have provoked the Holy One of Israel_, (Isaiah i. 2, 3, 4.) _Can a maid forget her ornaments, and a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number_, (Jeremiah ii. 32.)
4. And _as they did not like to retain_ God _in their knowledge_, so they had small regard to the ordinances of God. _Even from the days of your fathers_, (saith God by his prophets) _ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them_, (Malachi iii. 7.) _Ye have said, it is vain to serve God; and, what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances?_ (verse 14.) _Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel: Thou hast not brought me my burnt-offerings, neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices_, (Isaiah xliv. 22, 23.) And so the prophet himself confesses, _Thou meetest those that remember thee in thy ways――But there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee_, (Isaiah lxiv. 5, 7.)