all our fatisfaction and comfort, feeking reft, but finding none; ever unequal in our spirits, ever wretched and forlorn: although we have every good thing that this world can afford, yet we have really nothing, we shall enjoy nothing, we are most miserable, we are undone for ever. And therefore

Laftly, Since we know how to form fufficient ideas of God, and of the proper worship which we owe to him; fince we are well informed of the things which concern our everlasting peace, and of the way which leadeth unto it; let us often lay to heart, let us often remember this most useful admo

tion of our Lord," If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Now to God the Father, &c.

SER

SERMON IV.

THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

ACTs xix. 20.

So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.

N this book of the Acts, St. Luke (who

IN

is fuppofed to have been the writer) acquaints us with the first transactions of the apostles at Jerufalem; and he gives us alfo a narrative of the travels of St. Paul, whofe fellow-labourer and companion he most certainly was. The fimplicity of the ftyle, avoiding that refined elegance, which is more apt to dazzle than to convince the understanding, and the impartiality of the narration, recording the failings as well as the

wonderful

wonderful works of the apoftles, do ftrongly mark the fidelity of the hiftorian. On this fidelity refts the perfect proof, that the Chriftian religion came from God. If it did not, and if St. Luke's history were false, how was it that, about that time, the word of God. fo wonderfully grew and prevailed? That it did prevail, is on proof from the concurrent testimony of Pagan as well as Chriftian writers. If the amazing miracles which are recorded in this book were not actually performed, the apoftles furely could have made no converts. That these miracles were not deceptions upon the human understanding is evident for, by a juggler's art, could St. Peter and St. John give immediate strength to the feet and ancle-bones of a poor cripple, who was above forty years old, and who had been lame from his mother's womb? This poor man was placed daily at the gate of the temple. All perfons therefore who frequented the temple, of courfe faw and knew both him and his condition: they had all feen him impotent and lame for many years, and now they faw him ftanding upright, "walking, leaping, and praising God.". Was it by a juggler's art that Ananias, and Sapphira

Sapphira his wife, fell down dead at the apostle's feet for lying against the Holy Ghost or was it by any foul practice that these persons thus died? Surely not: for if fo, their deaths would have been publicly revenged: nay, in cafes of uncertain murder, the Jewish laws were very ftrict and fevere; the clofeft fearch being always made, and the greatest care taken to put away the guilt of innocent blood from among them. But, instead of the least suspicion of murder falling upon the apoftles for this deed, we find that they were, on the contrary, confidered by the people as the vicegerents of God, and therefore " great fear came on all the affembly, and alfo upon as many as heard thefe things." Nay more; when the rulers of the people laid their hands upon the apostles, and would willingly have put them to death, they could neither accuse them of this nor of any other capital offence. The fudden death then, of Ananias and Sapphira was not a murder, but it was a miracle, attefting, with severity indeed, but with mighty force, the truth and power of the Chriftian religion.

If the gofpel were not true, what could have induced St. Luke himself to become a Christian?