followed any cunningly-devised fable," as ignorant Gentiles, or superstitious Jews, were wont to do. And to these things do we also make our appeal : for in these things the three Apostles could not be deceived : and their whole life and death shewed dearly enough, that they had no design or wish to deceive.]
Application —
1. Let not any of you then be moved by the im- pious and blasphemous attempts which are made to undermine the Gospel —
[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 advance- ment of their own interests. But who could ever disprove the truth and authority either of the Old or New Testament ? It is easy enough to sneer and cavil at any thing : and impious scoffers ever have treated in this way the truths of revelation, even from the days of Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses*, to the present hour"." " Men of corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the truth," ever have, and ever will, " sport in this manner with their own deceivingsV But, beloved, search the Scriptures for yourselves : examine the evidences which have been adduced in proof of their divine authority : see the suitableness of the provision which has been made for you by Almighty God in the person and work of his only-begotten Son : and you will soon see, that the great mys- tery of redemption carries its own evidence along with it, and that what is spoken in Scripture respecting it, is " a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation " ]
2. Let all of you get an experimental acquaintance 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 y." Thus do you seek, if not the evidences of your senses, yet the
* 2 Tim. hi. 8.
u February, 1820, just after the trial and condemnation of Carlile, for re-publishing a blasphemous and seditious libel — Paine's " Age of Reason."
x Compare 2 Tim. hi. 8. with 2 Pet. ii. 10—13. and iii. 3, 4.
y John iv. 42.