Page images
PDF
EPUB

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

COMPOSITION

OF A

SERMO N.

Translated from the original FRENCH of

The Revd. JOHN CLAUDE,

MINISTER OF THE FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH AT

CHARENTON.

WITH NOTES,

By ROBERT ROBINSON.

STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORK-
MAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD, OF TRUTH..

S. Paul

THE THIRD EDITION.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T. SCOLLICK, IN THE CITY-ROAD 3
AND T. WILSON AND R. SPENCE, YORK.

M,DCC,LXXXVIII.

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

7-15-1924

[blocks in formation]

P

HILOSOPHERS love to contraft the religion of nature with that of revelation, and fome of them afcribe fuperiority to the former. Chriftian minifters have much better reasons for afcribing it to the latter; and there are two, which deserve particular attention.

If we confider each as a body of Science, and allow, revelation contains all the articles of information included in natural religion, and many more than the religion of nature ever knew, all neceffary to the perfection of a fyftem of theology, and all important to the felicity of man, it will follow, fuperior excellence belongs to revealed religion.

If we advert to the mode of communication peculiar to each, and grant, it is not enough in an univerfal religion to have a body of fcience, there must VOL. II.

a

be

be also an easy method of imparting it, it will fol low, fuperiority is due to revelation. Nature is a fpeechless beauty, filently waiting till depraved man fhall find leisure and inclination to be inftructed by dumb figns, by figns, which even cultivated capacities find hard to understand, are not fure at any time they have understood at all, and never know when they have comprehended in the whole. Revelation is really and literally a voice, clear and expreffive, fpeaking at fundry times, and in divers manners. Shall I call it the mouth of nature? The wifeft fay, it is the voice of God! It was first delivered in audible founds by the Creator himself to our firft parents, it has been fince uttered in his name by prophets, then by his Son, and after him by infpired apoftles, and it has been repeated, explained, and enforced by a fucceffion of publick preachers. By it, in all ages and countries, the ignorant have been informed, the indolent aroufed, the profane placed before a tribunal of justice, and brought to genuine repentance, the penitent led to a throne of mercy, where pardon was proclaimed, the doubtful directed, the wavering confirmed, the timid emboldened, the dif treffed comforted. What fchool of philofophy has wrought effects fo beneficial to mankind as thefe? As, therefore, we prefer revelation on every other account, fo chiefly on this, its mode of tuition is all-fufficient, and at the fame time the fimpleft and easiest in the world. The things, that you have heard among many witnesses, the fame commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others alfo.

The argument for revelation, that arises from publick preaching, is defenfible in every point of view, and as it regards the bulk of mankind it has peculiar

peculiar energy. Were we to allow, that natural religion was a science of God as perfect as that which revelation poffeffes, yet all the benefits of understanding it would be attainable by only fuch as fhould have capacity and leifure, accuracy of obfervation, and juftnefs of reflection. The poor and illiterate, the bufy, the diffipated, and the dejected, the fick and the aged, thoughtless till fickness and age overtake them, the vigorous youth, in his career of fancied pleasure, the wretched malefactor, whom a dungeon brings to feel the want of religion; all thefe, that is to fay, the bulk of mankind, are deeply interested in a fimple fort of fyftem, which may be understood in a fhort, time, and which, while it provides for the payment of all due honours to natural religion, makes provifion alfo for plucking a criminal from the horrid jaws of yawning deftruction. Such a system revelation is. In natural religion, it is the creator giving laws, the judge trying causes, and condemning criminals, and how cold is the confolation, that arifes from these conjectures, It is poffible he may pardon the guilty, and it is poffible I may be the man! In revelation, it is the good fhepherd, traverfing the wildernefs in anxious pursuit of a lott fheep, that hears and knows the fhepherd's voice. It is the tender father, all melting with compaffion, and flowing with tears, calling to the prodigal beggar, his fon, to return from penury to felicity, from the company of brutes to the bofom of God. Beft of beings! what delight to hear thy voice, even wrapped in the gloom of the darkest thicket, and wilfully buried in the blacknefs of impenetrable fhadé!·

« PreviousContinue »