If a Man at Noon Day, with a clear Sky, fhall fay the Sun does not fhine, and that there is no fuch Thing as the Sun, he either is blind, or belies his Senfes, and either he has no Reafon, or knowingly contradicts it.

And thus if a Man fhall fay, the Gospel of Christ is not true, (fince Chrift by many infallible Proofs has established it,) he fpeaks and acts against Reason in rejecting it.

What the Holy Jefus faid of the Jews, is applicable to thefe Unbelievers. In John xv. 24. the bleffed Jefus faid of them; If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did, they had not had Sin; but now have they both feen and hated me and my Father. And it may be faid of the Infidels (who have the Gofpel among them, and will not believe it,) that they have Sin, and no Cloke for their Sin.

They fhut their Eyes and will not fee, but they shall fee, and be ashamed, as it is faid; Ifa. xxvi. 17. and it may be very foon: For when Death comes, tho' it clofes the Eyes of their Bodies, it will open the Eyes of their Minds: And then they will fee that the Holy Scriptures are indeed the Word of God, and that the Gospel came from God, publishing and offering Salvation to all Sorts of Sinners, by Jefus Chrift: Then they will fee the Worth of their Souls, and the Excellency of the Happine's purchased by Chrift, and offered to them, and refused by them.

O what Horror, what Diftrefs filled the Mind of St. Paul, when Jefus of Nazareth appeared to him in the Way, as he went to Damafcus, and when he found that juft One, whom the Jews had crucified, both Lord and Chrift!

But how much greater Horrors, and even a dreadful and irremoveable Defpair join'd with D 2 them,

them, will fill the Souls of the Infidels, as foon as they are taken from their Bodies, by an Angry and a Sin-revenging God!

Thefe Infidels are more guilty, and their Guilt more aggravated than that of the Devils.

The Devils believe that Jefus of Nazareth is the Son of God, and the Saviour of Men; they believe all the Facts relating to him, mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

But the Infidels deny them; and their Guilt is the more heinous, as Chrift came into the World on purpose not to fave the Devils, but the finful Children of Men. And as the whole Series of his Actions, were Acts of Pity, of Love manifefted both to the Bodies and Souls of Men, as he came to purchase the Pardon of Sins, Peace with God, and everlasting Felicity for all that would become his Difciples.

O Merciful God, awaken the Confciences of those desperate Sinners; bring them to believe that Faith which they have hitherto been labouring to destroy! Bring them to read, and confider what the bleffed Jefus fays, (in Matt. x. 32, 33.) whosoever therefore fhall confefs me before Men, bim will I confefs alfo before my Father, which is in Heaven. But whofoever shall deny me before Men, bim will I alfo deny before my Father which is in

Heaven.

These Words should engage us not only to believe in Chrift, but readily to own and acknow→ ledge him to be our Redeemer, in whom we trust for Salvation, and they should restrain us from denying him.

In Mark viii. 36, 37, 38. Chrift fays, For what fall it profit a Man, if he gain the whole World, and lofe his own Soul? or what shall a Man give in Exchange for bis Soul? Whoever therefore fhall he ashamed of me, and of my

Words

(which include his Doctrines and Laws,) in this adulterous, and Sinful Generations, of him alfo fhall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the Glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels.

These Sayings of Chrift import not only that the Unbelievers, but alfo that thofe Profeffors of his Gospel, who to avoid Sufferings, or to gain any Worldly Advantage, fhall either deny Chrift, or be ashamed of him, or his Words and Doctrines, are appointed to inexpreffible and everlafting Punishments, they lofe their own Souls, and all the Happiness purchafed by Chrift, and offered to Sinners by the Gospel, and are not to be reckoned real Chriftians.

But though Men in Words may own Chrift, and call themselves Chriftians, yet if they live in allowed Difobedience to the Rules of his Gofpel, they are not fincere Chriftians. In Tit. i. 6. The Apoftle fays, They profefs that they know God, but in Works deny him, being abominable and difobedient, and to every good Work reprobate.

Thus it appears from infallible Proofs, that JESUS of Nazareth who was born of the Virgin Mary, who led a Life of Sufferings and Sorrows, who was crucified and put to Death under Pontius Pilate, and who rofe again from the Dead the third Day; is Chrift, the promised Saviour.

I have faid thus much concerning the Sin of Unbelief, and of Profeffors being ashamed to own Chrift, and his Gofpel, to warn People against complying with any Temptations, which may incline them to be guilty of thofe Crimes.

LETTER IV.

Containing Remarks on feme Parts of the Holy Scriptures, by which Perfons may know themfelves, whether they are fincere Chriftians, to whom the predicted Bleffings do belong: And of their being in Covenant with God, and having the Holy Spirit dwelling in them: Likewife of the different Manner, in which the Holy Spirit bringeth Perfons to be fincere Chriftians.

Shall now take Notice of fome Parts of the Holy Scriptures from which we may know, who are real, ferious Chriftians.

In Matt. x. 3. the Holy Jefus fays, Except ye be converted, and

become as little Children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: Therefore they who are not converted, and do not become as little Children, are not real, and ferious Chriftians; because fincere Chriftians have many Promises, which are a folid Ground of Affurance that they fhall be admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Another plain Conclufion may be added, viz. that therefore the Minifters of Chrift, fhould explain, and prove the Neceffity of that Converfion, which Chrift fpeaks of.

In John iii. 3, 5. Chrift the glorious Teacher, who came down from Heaven, fays, Except a Man be born again be cannot fee the Kingdom of God. Except a Man be born of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Therefore they who are not born again, born of Water, and of the Spirit, are not to be reckoned fincere Chriftians.

And therefore the Minifters of Chrift should explain the Nature, and preach the Neceffity of being born again, according to our Saviour's Doctrine.

In 2 Cor. v. 17. It is faid, If any Man be in Chrift, he is a new Creature, old Things are paft away, behold all Things are become new. Therefore, they who are not new Creatures, they in whom the old Things are not paft away, and in whom all Things are not become new, are not ferious, or real Chriftians: And therefore also the Ministers of Christ should explain, and preach the Doctrine of the new Creature, and of the paffing away of the old Things, and of the Nature, and Neceffity of all Things becoming new.

True Christians are diftinguished from others by their receiving Chrift, and trufting in him, In John i. 12, It is faid, But as many as received bim, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them, that believe on his Name.

The Devils believe that Chrift is the Saviour of Men, and believe what is related in the Gofpels of his Birth, of his Doctrines, Miracles, Sufferings, Death and Refurrection, but they do not receive Chrift; He was not offered to them;

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True Believers receive him as their Saviour, and Prince, and confent to be fubject to his Authority, and obedient to his Laws; and they trust in him for his great Salvation.

St.