Nor is their practice more commendable, who are ever on the watch to pick out the worst actions of good men, by way of juftifying their own conduct on the comparison. The faults of the best "for there is not a juft man upon "the earth who finneth not," can in no wife juftify the errors of the worst

men,

and

it is not invariably the example of even good men that we must take for our unerring rule of conduct: nor is it by a fingle action that either they or we fhall be judged; for in that case who could be faved? but it is by the general prevalence of right principles and good habits; by the predominance of holiness and righteousness, and temperance in the life, and by the power of humility, faith and love in the heart.

CHAP. XIX.

On the leading doctrines of Christianity.The corruption of human nature.-The doctrine of redemption.-The neceffity of a change of heart, and of the divine inAluences to produce that change.-With a Sketch of the Chriftian characler.

THE author having in this little work

taken a view of the falfe notions often imbibed in early life from a bad education, and of their pernicious effects; and having attempted to point out the refpective remedies to thefe; fhe would now draw all that has been faid to a point, and declare plainly what the humbly conceives to be the fource whence all thefe falfe notions, and this wrong conduct, have proceeded : The prophet Jeremiah fhall anfwer: "It "is becaufe they have forfaken the fountain of living waters, and have hewn

out to themselves cifterns, broken cif"terns that can hold no water." It is an ignorance paft belief of what Chriftianity really is the remedy, therefore, and the only remedy that can be applied with any profpect of fuccefs, is RELIGION, and by Religion she would be understood to mean the Gospel of Jefus Christ.

It has been before hinted, that Religion fhould be taught at an early period of life; that children fhould be brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the "Lord." The manner in which they fhould be taught has likewife with great plainness been fuggefted; that it should be done in fo lively and familiar a manner as to make Religion amiable, and her ways to appear, what they really are, << ways of pleasantnefs." And a flight fketch has been given of the genius of Christianity, by which her amiableness would more clearly appear. But this,

being a subject of such vast importance, compared with which every other subject finks into nothing; it seems not fufficient to

fpeak

fpeak on the doctrines and duties of Chriftianity in detached parts, but it is of importance to point out, though in a brief manner, the mutual dependence of one doctrine upon another, and the influence which thefe doctrines have upon the heart and life, so that the duties of Chriftianity may be feen to grow out of its doctrines: by which it will appear that Christian virtue differs effentially from Pagan it is of a quite different kind the plant itself is different, it comes from a different root, and grows in a dif, ferent foil.

By this it will be feen how the hum bling doctrine of the difobedience of our first parents, and the confequent corrup tion of human nature, make way for the bright difplay of redeeming love. How from the abafing thought that "we are

all as fheep going aftray, every one in "his own way:" that none can return to the fhepherd of our fouls," except the Father draw him :" that "the natural man cannot receive the things

❝ of

"of the fpirit, because they are fpiritually "difcerned:" how from this humiliating view of the helplessness, as well as the corruption of human nature, we are to turn to that animating doctrine, the offer of divine affiftance. So that, though human nature will appear from this view in a deeply degraded ftate, and confequently all have caufe for humility, yet not one has cause for defpair: the disease indeed is dreadful, but a phyfician is at hand, both able and willing to fave us though we are naturally " without ftrength, our help is laid upon one that " is mighty."

'

We fhould obferve then, that the doctrines of our Saviour are, if I may fo fpeak, like his coat, all woven into one piece. We fhould get fuch a view of their reciprocal dependence as to be perfuaded that without a deep fense of our own corruptions we can never seriously believe in a Saviour, becaufe the fubftantial and acceptable belief in Him must

always