great a number was found to faulter in his testimony, and many of them, after persevering in it calmly through life, amidst every difcouragement and affliction, fealed it at laft in their blood.

WHY it pleafed our bleffed Lord to fhew himself to thefe chofen witneffes, and not to all the people, it would be of no confequence to the validity of their teftimony whether we could difcover or not. Convincing reafons have, however, been af figned by able and difpaffionate inquirers; for, I had almost said, the neceffity of such a felection.

THE fact of Chrift's refurrection is fo intimately connected with every other fact and doctrine contained in the new teftament, that it's truth, once established, implies the truth of the reft. They are, however, capable of an independent proof, and from

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from arguments exactly fimilar to those which have been adduced. In their reports of their mafter's miracles and difcourfes, the apoftles had no inducement to deceive others, they could not be deceived themfelves.

It is not poffible to fee, without equal furprise and concern, perfons profeffing to be employed in the fearch of truth, and yet from prejudice, or the affectation of fingularity, refifting fuch accumulated evidence, and rejecting a religion which alone affords a foundation of reasonable hope, confiftent principles, and uniform conduct.

SERMON

SERMON X.

DEUTERONOMY, Ch. xxix. V. 29.

THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD; BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED BELONG UNTO US AND OUR CHILDREN FOR EVER, THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW."

THE more attention we pay to the con

duct of mankind, the more we shall be convinced of the truth of an old obfervation; that nothing is a greater proof of found judgement than the avoiding all extremes; and yet, few are to be found who steadily maintain that middle courfe which leads to the attainment of happinefs, and

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to the degree of perfection in virtue, and fcience, of which human nature is capable. Inftances are perpetually forcing themselves on our notice in the ordinary transactions of life; and, if we direct our view to (what may be confidered as a fuperior department) the conduct of the understanding, by men who profefs to exercife thought and reflection; we shall fee abilities, that might have been fuccefsfully employed in the fearch of truth, prevented and rendered useless by prefumption, fcepticism, or refinement.

MANY there are fo confident of their abilities, as to perfuade themselves that they are capable of penetrating the inmost receffes of nature, and the most mysterious difpenfations of providence. Accordingly, whatever they cannot comprehend is pronounced to have no existence; whatever they suppose they have difcovered, how

ever fubtle and abftrufe, however contradictory to the general fense of mankind, is affirmed with the most dogmatical affurance. On the other hand, there are perfons, who, because some things are infcrutable, and many things admit only a partial investigation, confider the purfuit of truth as the pursuit of a chimæra, and give themfelves up to univerfal fcepticism, or fink into intellectual indolence. Antient philofophy furnishes examples of both these dangerous extremes ; and would that modern philofophy, would that modern theology did not! The words of the text contain a concife direction by which they may both be avoided. They suggest that there are fome things which concern God only, and which man will in vain attempt to difcover; but that others, in which also God is concerned, it is not only allowable, but abfolutely incumbent on man to investigate, fince the performance of the duty he

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