evidence of your own experience; for it is certain, that "he who truly believeth in Christ, hath the witness in himself2:" 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 say, " What my eyes have seen, my ears have heard, my hands have handled of the word of life, that declare I unto youa." 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.]
z 1 John v. 10. a 1 John i. 1.
2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a, more sure tvord of prophecy ; ivhereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.
THAT persons ignorant of the grounds on which Christianity is established should doubt the truth of it, ought not to occasion us any surprise : for it must be confessed, that on a superficial view of the leading points contained in it, it does appear to surpass the bounds of credibility. That the God of heaven and earth should assume our nature, and be made in the likeness of sinful flesh ; that he should thus humble himself, in order that he might in his own person bear, and expiate, the sins of his rebellious creatures ; that, having wrought out in our nature a perfect righteous- ness, he should offer that righteousness to all who will believe in him, and accept it in their behalf for the justification of their souls before him ; there is in all this something so wonderful, so glorious, so de- lightful, that it does indeed appear like " a cunningly- devised fable ;" and one is tempted to say concerning