be clearly seen in the goodly fruits it produces. By thus fulfilling the true defign of our own faith, we may recover others to the acknowledgment of it. For to make "our light fo fhine before men, that they may fee our good works," is, perhaps, one of the ftrongest inducements we can set before them to imitate our example; to engage them to embrace the fame faith; and by the practice of the fame virtues, "to glorify our Father, who is in heaven." To whom, with the Son and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all honour and glory, &c. Amen.

SERMON

II,

1 PET, iii. 15,

Be ready always to give an answer to every man, that asketh you a reafon of the hope that is in you.

Inious worém, how the moft inIT nious writer P, how closely

T is furprising to obferve, fays an inge

terefting and momentous truths are conpected together; and in how regular a train they iffue forth, and flow from each other.

That there is a God, the frame of the univerfe, on every part of which the fignatures of divinity are fo vifibly impreffed, plainly demonftrates to us.

But if there be a God, the creator and governor of the world; then there must be,

PSEED, vol. II. Serm. VI.

of

of course, fome homage due to him from his rational and dependant creatures: that is, in other words, there must be some religion. And if fome religion be neceffary, it must be fuch a religion as is properly calculated for the general benefit of mankind. And what religion is there in the world, that is fo well adapted to the circumftances, and makes fo noble a provifion for the improvement and happiness of mankind, as that which is revealed in the holy Scriptures?

Such reflections as thefe naturally remind us of the precept in the text, and prepare us in fome measure for the discharge of it. They lead us to examine the grounds of our religion, and to weigh the evidences by which it is fupported. These researches into the grounds and evidences of it, will enable us, according to the degrees of our proficiency, to "give an answer to every man, that afketh us a reafon of the hope that is in us."

But to render ourfelves fuch mafters of the fubject, as to be able to return a fatisfactory answer, and to fhew the reasonable

nefs

nefs of every part; we muft previously acquire a true and perfect notion of the real design of religion in general; and then confider the fitness and propriety of its feveral difpenfations to promote and accomplish that design, through the various ftates and conditions of the world. For it is from the state and condition, that is, from the moral exigences of mankind, that revelation takes its rife: and it is to the nature of these exigencies that its contents are adapted. And therefore it must be from a comparative view of both together, that the reasonableness and excellency of any dispensation can be rightly deduced and illuftrated.

Now, fuch a comparative view of the ftates of the world, and the revealed difpenfations connected with them, the Scripture faithfully exhibits to us; and thereby fupplies us with a proper clue, to trace the beauties, and to unfold the wisdom, of this mighty, ftupendous plan.

If then we confult the Scripture-account, it will manifeftly appear, that, whilft man preserved his original state, and acted

up to

his.