degree, be thus characterized, we have no doubt. But where shall we find the national character of a people under this description? In early days, when chriftians were of one heart, and one foul, we may suppose, that heart, and that foul were truly christian. But as christianity spread, its ties loofened by degrees; and an oppofition foon took place between the spirit of the world, and the fimplicity that is in Christ. This simplicity was in a degree tainted, even before the miraculous powers of the church ceased; and we may be affured the mischievous spirit, which then appeared, has not been idle through so long a tract of time; but hath continued extending its influence in fome countries more, in others less, according to the various circumstances of each. The New Testament is the record of the fimplicity of the gospel: and modern history, but above all ecclefiaftical history, is the record of its corruption.

*The apostle of the text is writing to the converts of a trading, and opulent town; not barbarous and uninformed; but enlightened by all the philofophy, and worldly wisdom at that time in esteem. He foresaw what temptations their peculiar circumstances would draw them into. into. Worldly ideas of various kinds-vanity, pride, and ambition-avarice, profusion, and sensuality; in a word, all the arts of raising a fortune; and all the arts of confuming one, he knew, would be continually operating before their eyes: and how the simplicity of the gospel might be able to oppose these fascinating delu. fions, was the object of his fear.

Again, it might be in equal danger from the refinements of philosophy; and the acute reason ings of learned men; who trying its fimple prin, ciples by canons of human invention, and rules of logical exactness, would from these pronounce boldly on its inconsistences, and defects,

The fimplicity of the gospel might be power fully oppofed too by the ridicule of men of wit; who, taking their topics of comparison from the fashions, and practices of the world, might difplay the folly, and abfurdity of fuch doctrines, as they were inclined to discountenance.

All this was perfectly easy: for as christianity and the world were at variance; arguments drawn from the world, and addressed to the world, were fure of being favourably heard.

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That these were the motives of the apostle's apprehenfion, is very plain: for he tells his converts,

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converts, he fears, they should be corrupted, as the ferpent had beguiled Eve. To know therefore how that matter stood, we need only turn to the record of the fatal deed. When the woman Saw that the tree was good for food; and that it was pleasant to the eye; and a tree to be desired to make one wife, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.

Short as this account is, we find in it a combination of interest, pleasure, vanity, and a false taste for knowledge, all co-operating, through the wiles of the devil, to impose upon our first parent. With these delufions she was corrupted; and with these delusions we conclude the apostle feared his Corinthian converts might be corrupted also.

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How far our cafe may be similar to that of the Corinthian converts, I should rather leave as matter of inference. All I wish to establish on this head, is, that we are assured, on the authority of an apostle, that the fimplicity which is in Christ, may be corrupted by such temptations, as certainly do abound amongst us-in our manners-in our amusements-in our literary pursuits; and in our general modes of intercourse with each other.

II. As

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II. As the minifters of the gospel make a part of this tainted mafs, we must not flatter ourselves, that we are not, in a degree, corrupted alfo. We read, in early days, of deceitful workers transforming themselves into the apostles of Chrift; and we cannot conceive, that these deceitful workers are more uncommon now, or these transformations more rare. I mean not however at present to pursue so ingrateful a theme; I should rather wish to inquire, how far we have it in our power to counteract such corruption.

Even to oppose this torrent, with any success, no doubt, may be difficult enough. To restore the fimplicity of the gospel is a vain thought. For that great event we must wait devoutly for those times in the womb of prophecy, when all offence shall be done away.

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Some things may be wrong, which the legislature only can rectify: and though we acknowledge the difficulty of moving thefe facred foundations; yet favourable opportunities may perhaps arife, in future time, when a few things, which are now rather offensive, may be brought nearer the fimplicity of the gospel. Many of our ablest churchmen have freely expressed their wishes on

this head; and as these wishes become more general,

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general, they will of course obtain more weight. Establishments, however, after all, necessary as they are, must neceffarily bring on their attendant evils; which ferious men may bemoan and in part may rectify; but, on the whole, they will ever have cause to lament, that the nature of things, in this corrupt state, is mixed with eviland that the nature of man will turn even his blessings into mischief.

We have also greatly to lament, that the manners of the great, are, in general, so far removed from the fimplicity of the gospel; because the manners of the great will ever be the principal fource of national manners. It is a happiness however, that in general these vitiated scenes are removed from the eyes of the people: and yet enough fometimes gets abroad to aftonish those, who happily live at a distance from them. There is one day particularly, on which the great, and little world are, in some degree, on a level; and one place, in which they meet on an equal footing. We have it ever to lament, that so pleasing a harmony-an inftitution so delightfully calculated to insure benevolence by united devotion through the whole mass of the people, should be so generally difregarded. Even the very