VJ?'. ¦'*-« ¦ftp. ", YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY A REPRESENTATION * OF THE CONDUCT AND O.PINIONS OF THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS, WITH REMARKS O N CERTAIN AS.SERTIONS O F Mr. gibbon and Dr. PRIESTLET. SERMONS PREACHED BEFbRE TliE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD At ST. MARY^S IN THE YEAR MDGCXC. AT THE LECTURE FOUNDED BY THE LAT6 REV. JOHN BAMPTON, M.A. CANON OF SALISBURY. BY H E I^ R Y K E T T, M. A. FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE. OXFORD, SOLD BY J. FLETCHER; D. PRINCE AND J.COOKE: MERRIL, CAMBRIDGE: EGERTONS, WHITEHALL, PAYNE, MEWS-OATE, AND NICOL, PALL-MaLL, LONDON. MDCCXCI. IMPRIMATUR, JOHAN. COOKE, Vice-Can. Oxon. TO T H S ' RIGHT REVEREND LEWIS BAGOT, LL.D. LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH. My Lord, TH E fatisfadlion, which I feel on being permitted to dedicate the following work to your Lordihip, is greatly diminifhed when I reflect upon its deficiency in every point, which to perfons of your refined judg ment muft appear eflential to corred: and ele gant compofition. My fermons, therefore, can have no ftronger claim to your patronage, than that, which arifes from their connexion with thofe facred ftudies, which amid the moft important fcenes of adive life, ydu have ever DEDiCATldM. ever found leifure to cultivate. When yoii formerly prefided oVef thil eminent Society^ which owes fo large a {hare of its prefent re putation aiid fplendour to your falutary infti- tutions, your difcourfes from the pulpit were admirably calculated, by the energetick fe- rioufnefs of your delivery, and the judicious feledlion of your topicks, to confirm the Stu dents of, Oxford in the genuine principles of Chriftianity. Your writings have no lefs con tributed to the fame ufeful and honourable end J fince the Truflees of Warburton,' as well as the Society for the propagation of the Gofpel have happily afforded you an opportu-* nity of giving fimilar proofs of your pious labours. If my Lord other realbns were wanting, to induce me to make this publick addrefs, I fhould notwithftanding think myfelf jufti- fied in fheltering thefe earlieft fruits of my ecclefiaftical ftudies under your protection. I contemplate in your Lordfliip's charadler a jftriking refemblance, both with refpedt to firmnefs DEDICATION, firmnefs pf principles, and ?eal for the hon pour of religion, to thofe primitive Chriftians, \vhofe conduit I have endeavoured to deli-r neate, and whofe virtues furnifhed the bright- eft model for |he imitation of fuc^eeding ages. I have the honour to be, JVTy Lorp, Your moft obedient, ^nd humble Servant, HENRY KETT. ExfraB from the laji Will and 'tejlament of the late Reverend JOHNBAMPTON, Canon of Salisbury. *< I diredl and appoint, that the eight " Divinity Ledure Sermons ftmll be preach- *• ed upon either of the following fubjedts — ** to confirm and eftablifh the Chriftian Faith, *' and to confute all heretics and fchifmatics — " upon the' divine authority of the Holy Scrip- ** tures, &c," SERMON I. Jeremiah VI. i6. Stand ye in the ways and fee, and ajk for the old paths i ivhere is -the good -way f and -walk therein, and ye Jhall find reji for your fouls. THE Prophet, in the verfes preceding the text, reprefents in a ftrain of ani mated and ftriking defcription the fupine in difference of the Jews, not only to the divine commandments, but to the temporal judg ments which had been the immediate confe- quences of their impiety. Although they had been favoured by the peculiar protedion of the Almighty, and convinced of his power and goodnefs by his frequent interference to fhield them from impending danger, and to fcatter around them the bleffings of profperity, their difobedience was unchecked by his awful remonftrances, and their ftubbornefs was ob- A durate i s R il M o Isr f. durate and incorrigible. Delifded. by erroui'i and enflaved by fin, they were alike forgetful of the pure precepts of the law, and of the great examples of piety and obedience, whic-h the records of Ifrael held out to their obfer-- vation* The advice of the Prophet was not lefs adapted to the fpiritual wants of the Jews^ than calculated to difplay an intimate ac quaintance with the infirmities of human na ture. Man is ever averfe to that retrofpedlion which carries with it a fenfe of his own mif- condudt i and in his eagernefs to grafp the pleafures of the prefent moment, he liftens noil to the admonitions of paft experience. Scorning the falutary ties of prefcription, he miftakes novelty for excellence -, and refledls' not that in proportion as he differs from the wife and the exemplary who have gone before him, he may become profligate in fentiment' and degenerate in pracftife. The pride of opi nion weakens his reverence for departed virtue,- and abates his curiofity to ajkfor the old paths, which his Predeceflbrs trod, even when the purfuit of their fteps would free him from the tyranny of difordqred pafiions and confirm the principles of his wavering mind. At S fe R M 0 N t 3 . At a period, diftinguifhed as the prefent is, by an eager fpirit of inveftigatioHy it cannot be thought improper, in humble conformity with the advice contained in the text, to leave the beaten fields of literary refearch, and to explore thofe paths of EcclefiafticalLearning, which are too undefervedly negle(Sed. While the greateft diligence is applied to every fubjedt which is honoufed With the name of antiquity j he can-* not fairly be expofed to cenfure who recom mends to general notice thofe objefts of Ipe- culation, which combine an inquiry into re mote times with the furvey of charadters £o ren&wned for piety and virtue, as the Fathers of the Church* If his purfuit can in any degree counteradt the violence of licentious opinions, and check the progrefs of Infidelity, it cannot be derided for being frivolous, or condemned for being unprofitable. But if it fhould prove an objedt of higher confequence,.by fixing the attention more fteadily upon the great ftandard of moral and religious duty, which is fet up in the Gofpel of Chrift ; it may fairly be efteemed the faithful guide to ufeful knowledge, and the- powerful auxiliary to, true religion. Whatever relates to thofe, who have parti cipated with us the common privileges of Chriftianity, and made the" beft ufe of it& ad- A a vantages. 4 SERMON I. vantages, for the enrichment of their under- ftanding, as well as the diredtion of their con- dudt i is a fubjedt of curious and profitable inquiry. Their characters and adtions com mand our reverence, and their fentiments fail not to excite our curiofity. We naturally de- fire to know what fenfe they annexed to the fcriptures ; what was their convidtion of the divine origin of Chriftianity j and upon what grounds they embraced the faith themfelves, and recommended it to others. Objedtions rife in various? forms to ftop the progrefs of thefe refearches. As much dili gence .has been employed in multiplying their number, and augmenting their force : the fame diligence may not be wholly unfuccefsful in reducing them to their natural fize, and in fhewing that they are very far from being in- furmouutable. The Fathers of the Church then, have been feprefented as unfavourable to the cultivation of rational and manly piety -, becaufe we are told, that in their writings occur the reveries of fanaticifm, and the conjedtures of vifibnary refinement. Now, as the ufe which ought to be made of their works confifts in adhering to whatever is S E R M O N I. 5 is excellent, and difregarding whatever is fri volous; no danger can be incurred by the ju dicious ftudent, if he fhould meet witlx fome fcattered inftances of weak argument and un- reftrained imagination. Since there is the wideft difference between a blind and implicit reverence for every work which is fandtioned by the name of antiquity, and a feledtion of thofe parts of its genuine produdtions which may be made condugive to fblid improvement and moral benefit. Such a line pf difcrimina- tion is univerfally marked out in all depart ments of literature and fcience to make them produce the defired ends. To rejedt the ex- pofitions of the fathers, when they rejedt the obvious and rational interpretation of fcrip- ture, is a valuable and unerring rule, and an efl?edtual fecurity againft being mifled. The failings pf a few, in a few inftances, ought not to involve the works of all in indifcriminate and uncandid condemnation. To abandon them becaufe fome proofs of vifionary refine ment are to be found, is equally unreafonable and unjuft, as to cenfure the ftudy of the He brew language, on account .of the forced con- ftrudtions of Hutchinfon j or to relinquifh the refearches of natural philofophy, on perufing the fanciful theories of Cartefius. A 7 Moralifts 6 SERMON I. Moralifts obferve that due remarks on tho pernicious tendency of vitious indulgence may contribute materially to the regulation of the manners. Purfuing a fimilar train of reafon- ing we maintain that no fmall degree of intel lectual improvement may be derived from con templating the progrefs of errour, For if w? difcover the occafions on which great and en lightened minds have deviated from the path? of right reafon into the mazes of falfhood, our underflandings will be gradually weaned from that implicit hpmage which we too fondly pay to a favourite name, and we fhall become more fcrupulous and circumfpedt iji the admiffion of Opinions which are not founded on the bafis of truth. The furvey of fuch deviations wilj extinguifh, likewife, the petulance of dogma.? tifm, and the pride of conceit, He who ob- ferves, that writers confpicuous for vivacity of fancy, extent of learning, and acutenefs of penetration have fome times been hurried into weak eonclufions, or mifled by trifling fpecu^ lations ; will advance with more deliberate and cautious fteps in the progrefs of his; inquiries | he will be more candid in his obfervations, and more inclined to compaffionate fhan to cenfure- the infirmity of the human intelledt. When in the courfe of his ftudies he remarks that a great mind has in any inftance deferted the didtates S E R M O N I. 7 dictates pf fbber reafon for the phahtoms of paradox, he will feel a fenfation of regret fi.- inilar to that which is excited on feeing the virtuous fall a facrifice to the allurements of cafual teinptation. Comprehenfive knowledge and fplendid talents afford np conftant fecurity againft the delufipns pf fancy, apd the wiles of impofture. ' Ofigeii gave way to the mt)ft chimerical expofition§ of fcripturcj and Ter-t tullian embraced the preppfterous reveries pf Montanus. Thus as the great art of life coji- fifts in extradting good out of evil; fo even from the imperfedlions of thefe writers rnay be drawn thofe confideratiofis which encourage Humility of mind, and are favourably to ge^ jiuine Liberality of fentimei^t, Gonfiderable learning united with much Critical fkill has been employed, in endeavour^ ing to expofe the Credulity of the fathers, It has been urged that t-hey have admitted many FaCts arid Opinions to a place in their writings, which were adopted upon infufHcient grounds. Upon an- impartial examination of the paf- fages, upon which this charge principally de pends for fupport, it will appear, that many of the fuppofed errours arife from mifrepre- lentation ; that many relate to trifling circum- A 4 ftances. 8 SERMON I. ftances, many are difperfed among the fentl - ments of individuals, and not among the tenets of the church 3 and have no relation whatever, to publick principles of belief, . or publick terms of communion. How therefore thefe peculiarities confpire to make them" generally unferviceable in the caufe of religion, it is difficult to comprehend. If any attempts to elevate the fathers to the high rank of the apoftles, were made by their advocates ; if they were affirmed to have been afllfted by infpiration ; or to have been endowed, above the common lot of mankind, with infallibility ; the objedtion would, doubtlefs, carry great force againft fuch ambitious pretenfions. But we contend only . that they deferve our regard as witnefTes of the opinions of their refpedive ages i as hiftorians of the faCts which were acceflible to their inquiries; and as Igachers whofe piety and learning eminently diftin guifhed them from all their contemporaries. Sharing the imperfections of other writers, they fairly claim the fame indulgence. The faults imputed to them, ought frequently to be imputed to the times in which they lived ;. when accuracy of refearch was often precluded by numerous obftacles, and when ardent zeal induced them to prefs every circumftance into their fervice, which carried with it even the appearance S E R M O N I. 9 appearance of truth. If the plea of credulity deferves to be admitted as a ground of re jection, with equal or perhaps fuperiour force does it operate againft fome of the moft cele brated authors of Greece and Rome. But while judgment can difcern the probability of faCts ; while it can appretiate the credit of witnefTes, and difcriminate the gradations of evidence -, the faults of hiftorians will bq weighed againft their excellences, and fuch of them will unqueftionably be entitled to high efteem whofe veracity preponderates in the balance. This charge, therefore, cannot in any de gree induce us to conclude, that becaufe they admitted fome difputable faCts with too much precipitation, they therefore embraced Chrifti anity itfelf upon infufiicient grounds. For fuppofing their credulity to have been as exceffive as fome writers are willing to re-r prefent, whence arifes the probability that it was the bafis of their converfion ? Had " Chri|Vianity been ?, cunningly devifed fable, calculated to delude the imagination, and lay ing no reftraints on the conduCt, there would be fome colour for the charge ; but faith in a crucified Redeemer was not a merely fpeculative point. 10 SERMON I, point, which required no rnore than the paf-* five aflent of the underftanding. It by no means refembled an adherence to the Pagan mythology, which charmed the fancy by the beauty of its objeCts, and even authorized the moft depraved corruptions of the heart. The: Chriftian convert was obliged to turn afide from the profpeCt of wordly intereft, to oppofe iht tide of ridicule and perfecution, and to re commend himfelf to the church by a feries of Exertions the moft oppofite to his former pur- fuits, and the moft painful to human nature. His fincerjty was called to the fevereft trial by the aufterities of mortification, and by the voluntary rejection of fenfual pleafure. It wa^ his daily endeavour to correCt all his irregular' defires, and it was his fteadfaft refolve to for feit even life itfelf, rather, than recant the vows of baptifm, and bow before the altar of idolatry. His faith therefore muft neceffarily have been the refult of fober and ferious con vidtion, not of blind and headftrong credulity* In the exercife of his belief he difcovered an enlightened underftanding, which yielded a ready aflent to the evidences of revelation, and followed the dictates of divine truth with ala:» cri ty and gladnefs. The deficiency of the Fathers with refpeCt to topicks of porality has likewife been much mifre- SERMON I, 5j Mifreprefented,. They have been charged with deviating from the ftandard of fcripture, and with encouraging the fubtleties and evafipns of difingenuous cafuiftry. The accufation, however, carries not with it even the flighteft plaufibility, except when brought againft one jB'ather in particular, whofe general fentiments are far from juftifying fo vague a charge. While their accufers cenfure the rules pf cpn- duCt n^arked out by fome of the fathers, they piake the candid conceffion, that their cha^ raCters and aCtions were eminent for piety and virtue, This tribute pf juft applaufe furnifhes us with a ftrong prefumption jn favpur of the foundnefs of their inftruCtions ; fince it is highly improbable, that theory fhould dege nerate into corruption, where praCtife is cpn- fiftent with thp rules o£ morality and religion. As a decifive argument in vindication of their ethicks, it ought particularly to be obferved, that the moft judicious modern writers upon the fubjeCt of Jurifprudenee have derived in formation from them, and have gratefully ac- knovvledged the favour, The general princi ples and particular fentiments of Chryfoftom and of Bafil have given foHdity of argument and copioufnefs of illuftration to the celebrated fr,eatifes of Qrptius gnd of Pufendorf. Even 12 SERMON I. Even the Author whofe acute criticifms, and original remarks have given the greateft force to his cenfures, has candidly acknow ledged that peculiar merit which conftjtutes the ftrongeft recommendation of the ecclefiaf tical writers. " They abound in ftrong and *' folid proofs of the fundamental principles of " Chriftianity, and they teach many excellent " things which contribute to the clear under- *' ftanding of the fcriptures, in which thefe " myfteries are contained. In this refpeCt, " their authority is of great ufe, and may *' ferve as a probable argument of. the truth." A declaration fuch as this, is pf no fmall importance ; fince it manifeftly points out the great advantage of their teftimony, by de ducing the fundamental principles of the faith through their works. Thus they become emi nently ufeful by furnifhing a new and curious illuftration of the fcriptures, and by fupplying a fafe repofitory for the doCtrines of the gofpel. .From the conceflions, therefore, of cen- furers themfelves, may be drawn no fmall degree of encouragement to profecute eccle fiaftical ftudies, and to inveftigate the labours of the wife and good, who zealoufly efpoufing the SERMON I. 13 the caufe of Chriftianity have written in its vindication, and facrificed every worldly objedl to its glory. In their works may be found fpecimens of elegant Compofition to gratify the tafte ; interefting FaCts to enlarge the circle of knowledge; and Examples of piety to amend the heart. The reader of the fathers is convinced that although the prize of literature is borne away by the claffical authors of Greece and Rome ; yet fimilar beauties diftinguifh the compofi- tions which are the objeCts of his purfuit. Neither the graces of fimplicity, ner the fplendpur of ornament were confined to Xe- nophon and Plato, nor to Livy and Cicero ; for every impartial cri tick will commend the pure ftile of LaCtantius ; the rich imagery, and appofite illuftrations of Theodoret ; the claffical fluency of Minucius Felix ; the uni form perfpicuity of Bafil ; the glowing effu- fions of Gregory of Nazianzum ; and the ex uberant and attracting eloquence of Chryfof tom, and Cyprian. To connect the different provinces of lite rature by new afi!bciations, is a pleafing and a profitable tafk. If fcience has aCted as the ufeful ally to theology, the learning of Greece and 14 SERMON I. and Rome has the beft pretenfions W chitH the fame honourable employment in the fer-' vice of facred hiftory. The Works of Poly-* bins, Livy and Diodorus Siculus throw a ftrong light upon the prophecies of Ifaiah and Daniel. The relations of Suetonius, Tacitus,* and Pliny corroborate the evidence of thd gofpels, and illuftrate the early events of the church. The fentiments of Plato are no Ifefs ufeful in developing the principles of the an-* tient herefies ; and even from the farcafticfc falhes of Lucian, and the illiberal reprefenta-- tions of Julian, may be derived confiderable information refpeCting the condud: of their chriftian contemporaries. From the fathers we may learn with what unremitting care the Holy Scriptures were pre- ferved during fucceffive ages. The quotations which abound in their works furnifh ftrong and convincing proofs of the authenticity of the prefent copies. By them we are informed that thefe fcriptures were zealoufly appealed to and confulted by writers who were unanimous upon no other fubjeCt. Their authenticity was held to be indifputable. They were re peatedly made the arbiters of controverfy, and the guides of faith and praCtife." Hence alfa we eftimate the veneration in which they were S E R M O N 1. 15 Were! held], and the vigilance with which they Were guarded. Hence we derive the moft perfect affurance and ftrongeft evidence that they have efcaped unmutilated, and uncor- rupted from the tumult of Controverfy, the artifice of Fraud, the hoftility pf Paganifm, and the ravages pf Time. We may npt pnly trace the prpgrefs of the fcriptures until the ancient manufcripts which now exift, give the ftrongeft aiTurance that no fubfequent corruption took place ; but we may remark likewife the various Revolutions of the church. The profpeCt of primitive chriftianity, in all its various ftates of depref^ fion and of triumph, is open to oUr view* We behold it rifing froiri the fhade of obfcu- rity, oppofed in its advances to general ob- fervation by formidable obftacles, and at length eftablifhing an extenfive arid fupreme dominion. The celebrated work of Eufebius ftands firft as a regular hiftory, in the order both of time and of excellence, to throw hght upon this interefting fubjeCt. The variety and ori ginality of its contents ; as well as the dili gence and judgment of the writer, fuperfede in a great degree, the necefilty of recurring tp other fources for early intelligence ; and fup- ply no fmall confolation for the lofs of many monuments i6 SERMON L monuments of chriftian antiquity which have long fince perifhed. In a furvey fo comprehenfive, examples may be found of the pureft and moft exalted virtue. Here we may contemplate the ftriCteft integrity of conduCt, and the moft unremitting attention to duty ; zeal tempered by modera tion in oppofing the encroachments of herefy, and courage free from rafhnefs in defying the maUce of power. To the volumes of claffical hiftory we are directed by the wifdom of our early teachers, for incentives to the praCtife of whatever is fair and good. We admire the tranquil dignity of Socrates, the noble mode ration of Cincinnatus, and the unconquerable Ipirit of Hannibal. But is not example more powerfully recommended, and ought it not to . have greater efficacy when fuperiour virtues Ipring from fuperiour principles, and are pro ductive of more valuable effeCts ? When obe dience to the Supreme Being is the leading in ducement to action, and the attainment of everlafting happinefs is its tranfcendant and invaluable end ? ,For this reafon, the com mendation beftowed upon the illuftrious cha racters of prophane hiftory is languid and tranfitory, when compared with the fenti ments with which we are infpired, on con templating SERMON L 17 templating the conduCt of thofe who have -gone before us in the faith. The ingenuous mind is ftruck with the perfection of chriftian principles and with the moft chearful obe dience to the dictates of the gofpel, when it remarks the frugality of the venerable Bafil, who although he was the opulent Metropoli tan of Caefarea, beftowed all his revenues upon the poor; the noble moderation of Gregory of Nazianzum, who voluntarily refigned his bifhoprick to preferve the harmony of the church ; the benevolent condefcenfion of the Emprefs Pulcheria, who frequently retired from the fplendour of a court, to vifit the abodes of indigence and ficknefs ; and the mildnefs of the amiable and learned Pamphi- lus when placidly refigning himfelf to the flaming pile. Examples fuch as thefe, while they roufe the mind of a Chriftian to facred emulation, have likewife an immediate tendency to con firm his Faith. The early Converts had the beft opportunity to examine the grounds' of their religion ; fince they lived fo near ,to the period when its divine Author appeared upon earth. As they were prompted to aCt with fuch unfhakeh coriftancy, upon the mpft try ing pccafipns of hfe, they muft have had fuH B afTurance 18 SERMON I. afliirance and perfeCt fatisfaCtlon for the truth and the importance of all they believed. Their conduCt therefore naturally ImprefTes upon our minds a ftronger perfuafion of the truth of their principles, than the moft in genious and acute reafonings of modern Theb- logifts. The arguments in favour bf a divine revelation may be oppofed by the arguments for Deifm, but the evidence of FaCts can never be difproved. It is level to the capacities of all Mankind, and produces the fpeedieft, the clear eft and the moft durable conviction. Such is the nature of thefe ftudies, fuch is the information which they hold out to the inquifitive, and fuch are the advantages which they 'Confer on the impartial. Far be it however from our defign, to paint them in colours that ' are too fplendid, or to beftow on them the commendation of equal and indifcriminate excellence. To render the ftudy of the Fathers truly ufeful, a diftlndtlon muft not only be made between the feveral works of one Author, but between the works of different Authors of different ages. With out fubfcribing to the cenfures which are fre quently thrown upon the later Fathers of the Church, It may properly be remarked, that the SERMON I. 19 the manners and cuftoms, the inftitutions, and the literature of the two centuries which im mediately fucceeded the Incarnation of our Lord form objeCts of infinitely great import ance in the opinion of an ecclefiaftical Student than any thing which relates to the following • times. The feeds of chriftian degeneracy be gan to be fpwn in the fourth century. At that peripd, and perhaps not before, there are vifible traces of thpfe rites and eftablifhments which encumbered Chriftianity with bur- thenfpme appendages and afterwards brought down upon the Church of Rome the juft and weighty charge of corruption. Many Writers have been led into uncandid and confufed mlf- reprefentation by lofing fight of this Important dIftinCtion, and by throwing the fame cenfure upon all the Fathers have held out fallacious lights to miflead their unfufpeCtIng Readers. The failings of a few have been unjuftly at tributed to all ; the fentiments of individuals have been reprefented as the language of com munities ; and the motives, which aCtuated degenerate ages, have been Imputed to the pureft times. In vain therefore we may fome- times look for that accurate delineation of Hiftory which carefully affigns to each period of time its appropriate defeCts and virtues, and vvhich never blends the difcordant cha- B 2 raCterifticks 20 SERMON I. raCterifticks of various ages in one confufed mafs of unqualified generalization. The utility of the writings of the Fathers is in many refpeCts difputable, if placed in competition with more modern Theologifts vv^ho have brought more extenfive learning and more found philofophy to the elucidation of fcripture, and have combated the attacks of Infidels with more profound and more fub- tle arguments. The ftudy of the Oriental lan guages. In particular, which among the An- tients was almoft intirely confined to Origen and Jerom, and the improvement of the ge neral art of Critlcifm have given a manifeft fuperiority to the Moderns. If however the palm of victory be adjudged to them on ac count of more extenfive attainments, there is one advantage on the fide of the earlier Fathers which cannot be counterbalanced. Their antiquity places them in an exalted fi- tuation, from which they addrefs us in a tone of fuch folemnity as excites our earneft at tention. In the foremoft rank of Chrlftiains ftand the Apoftles, to whom we pay that re verential deference which is due to the in fpired Ambafladours of Heaven. The next In order are thofe, who enjoyed the unfpeakable fatisfaCtlon and peculiar privilege of converfing familiarly SERMON L 21 familiarly with them, and hearing from their facred lips the words of eternal life. Their evidence in the caufe of our religion is truly important and valuable. If we confider the high improbability of their deviation in any fundamental point from the principles of doc trine and practice laid down by their great Mafters. They will recommend themfelves more ftrongly to our notice, if we recolleCt any Inftances in which the government of the primitive Churches was committed to their care. From the qualifications enumerated by St. Paul as requifite for a charge fo weighty, we may conclude that the Apoftles were- par-. ticularly careful in confining the fuperlnten-r dance of the chriftian communities to thofe, who were not only eminent for moral graces, bat for rectitude of fentiment in all the articles of the faith, as well as for peculiar abilities to ^ornmunicate inftruCtlon to their flocks. The immediate fucceflbrs of thefe apoftollcal Fa thers claim likewife great regard, if we con fider their conformity in efTential points with the precepts of the Gofpel, and the fentiments of their JPredeceflbrs. Thus the connections with the DIfcIples of pur Lord, although they are in fome degree remote, eftablifh the re-f ipeCtabillty, and confirm the credit of the B 3 writers 22 SERMON L writers of the firft and fecond century ; and thus the Apoftles become not only confpi cuous from their own luftre, but impart fplen dour to all around them. Hence from the great ftore of literature which the Church has accumulated from age to age, there are certain productions which deferve to be feleCted with peculiar care. The works of thofe, whofe names have been re cited, are valuable for elegance of Stile, faith- fulnefs of Narrative, fervour of Piety, or copioufnefs of Examples. But allowing the ftrength of thefe recommendations, we hefitate not to conclude that the firft attention of an ecclefiaftical ftudent is moft properly direCted to Clemens Romanus, Ignatius, Polycarp, Juftin Martyr, Irenjeus, and Athenagoras. If it be confidered that their writings im mediately fucceeded the publication of the New Teftament ; that they are the repofita- ries of facred Hiftory which in the order of time claim the neareft place to the Gofpel ; that they are the monuments of the fincerlty of the early Converts, and the evidences of the authenticity of the New Teftament, they become very interefting fubjeCts of fpecula- tion. SERMON I. 23 tion. We fhall raife thefe works to a much greater height of efteem if we confider the fituations and the attainments of their re- fpedtive Authors. The ages In which they flourifhed were Angularly propitious to the acquirement of evangelical knowledge, as they drew chriftianity from Its fource. Some of them were exalted to the higheft rank in the Church, and others were diftinguifhed by comprehenfive learning. Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp and Irenaeus were Bifhops of the moft populous and celebrated cities of the Roman empire, and Juftin and Athenagoras were inftrudted in the wifdom of the antient Philofophers. The lives of all were confe- crated to the faith ; and fuch was their un conquerable adherence to the chriftian caufe, that Ignatius, Polycarp and Juftin fealed its truth with their blood. The field of information which their works open to our view is v/ide and interefting. Here are to be found the prevailing fentiments of the firft Chriftians, the teftimony borne to the infpired volume, and the interpretatloB firft n^ade of its contents. Here are defcribed the firft herefies, and what meafures were adopted to confute them ; the difclpline efta- B 4 bliflied 24 SERMON I. blifhed in the Infant Church, the form of its government, and the various and cruel ma chinations of its enemies. Moreover, in them may be feen the earneftnefs of the primitive Believers for the glory of God, and their foli- citude for the falvation of Man; what was thejr fupport during the viciffitudes pf life j and what the ground of their hopes, amid the fufferings of rnartyrdom. Such topicks are at all times curious and edifying. In the prefent day an accurate in quiry into them Is more particularly feafop- able, when the adtlons and opinions of the firft Chriftians have been placed in the moft unfavourable light, and painted in the darkefl colours. When one writer prompted by blind partiality to their implacable enemies, has ftripped them of their moft diftinguifhed vir tues, and defrauded them of their juft praife : and when another has elevated the earllefl Heretlcks to the rank of Orthodox Believers, and drawn arguments from the fuppofed te nets of the primitive ages, in order tp deprive Chriftianity of its efTential dodtrlne, by re ducing the Eternal Son of God to thg common level of hunian nature, Such SERMON I. 25 Suph manifeft prejudice, and fuch perver- fion of hiftory need not difturb the tranquil-. lity of the timiil, nor unfettle the prInejpks of the pious ; vmlefs truth will relinquifh her antient conquefts, and leave her caufe to be tried at the tribunal of the moft unjuft rnifre^ pfefentation. For the elegant Hifiorian of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire is too precipitate in his decifions, if he thinks that the Religion which has overcome the afTaults of violence, land repelled the arguments of fcepticifm j which has triumphed over ev?ry obftacle that has impeded its progrefs for the long period of feventeen centuries is at length to be fhaken by the cavils of farcafm, and fubverted by the artifices of fophiftry. Before au implicit regard be paid to the in defatigable Author of the Early Opinions con cerning Ghrifl, juftice and Impartiality feem to require, that the decifions of the ecclefiaf- |:ical Writers fhould be fully and accurately exhibited ; and that their evidence fliould not be tortured by prejudice to fpeak the language pf his favourite hypothefis. The 26 SERMON L The air of novelty which is dIfTufed over the productions of thefe Writers may operate as an attraction upon the Inconfiderate and the unwary. But where novelty Is fometimes fuppofed to exift, on a clofer examination, it is not to be found. The drefs may ftrike by its fingularlty, but on a more accurate in- Ipedtion, the features of ancient errour will be recognized and detedted. Many of their fen timents are the fame or nearly the fame to . thofe which formerly prevailed. Like a fub- terraneous river they are concealed for a time, and again come forth to view. The funda mental errour of the Unitarians is a modifica tion of the opinion of Socinus, which was de rived from the Heretlcks of the early ages. Their Interpretations of fcripture and their fophiftical arguments are either drawn from the works of Zulcker and of Epifcopius, or from the ample compilations of the Brethren of Poland. The degrading defcription which the Hijiorian of the decline and fall of the Ro man Empire has given of the Jewifh nation may be traced through the popular narratives of Voltaire, and the obfolete works of Collins and Tindal. To trace the progrefs of thefe fentiments and. characters, and to afcertain their original Authors, S E R M O N L 27 Authors, is a pleafing purfuit to the ecclefiaf tical Student. His defire to make an accurate eftimate of the conduCt and fentiments of the primitive Chriftians gives additional vigour to his refearches into the pious monuments of antiquity. He compares the antient portrait with the copies of modern artifts, and care fully examines how far they have preferred a refemblance of thofe original features which he has been ever accuftomed to contemplate with veneration and delight. In order to take as comprehenfive a furvey of the fubjedt, as feems fully necefTary for the occafion ; he confiders the conduct of the Chriftians of the firft and fecond century, by examining the fix immediate caufes which cooperated In the propagation of the Gofpel ; viz. I. The miracles wrought In the primi tive Church. 2. The apologies addrefTed to Emperors in vindication of the Chriftian caufe. 3. The Zeal of the first Preachers in diffeminatlng the Knowledge of Chriftianityw 4. The Fortitude of the early Martyrs. 5. The ^8 SERMON L 5. The discipline of the priniitive Church. 6. The Conformity of the manners of the firft Chriftians with the precepts of the Gpfpel. He moreover confiders their sentiments with refpedt to the evidence given to the New Teftanient ; he examines certain Afl^er- tions made by the Writers before mentioned, ^u4 clpfes his DIfquifitlpn with pradtical in^ ferences. Such will be the fubjedts pf the following Ledtures. The advantages which the ferious lover of Truth, and the fincere follower of Chrift may derive from the inveftlgation, are manifold and important. Juftice will be ren dered to injured merit and to afperfed inno cence; the fuperintendance of the Almighty in the diffufion of the Gofpel will be fairly ftated; the eftimatlon, in which the facred volume was at firft held, will be manifefted ; and the faith, which was once delivered to the Saints, will be vindicated and con firmed. Moreover, SERMON I. 29 Moreover, this inquiry will enable us to afcertain the high refpeCt which the moft authentick and moft antient remains of chrif tian antiquity merit ; it will illuftrate the ex ternal evidences of Chriftianity, demonftrate that the dodtrlne of the primitive ages is the dodtrlne of the Church of England ; and thus ultimately confirm the fteadinefs of out faith, and invigorate the motives of our obe dience. SERMON IL Mark XVI. 20. ./ind they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word, with fgns following. OF all the Revolutions which have taken place upon the great theatre of the world, there is no one fo calculated to attraCl the attention of the learned, to roufe the cu riofity of the inquifitive, or to excite the gratitude of the pious, as that which has been effected by the Eftablifhment of Chriftianity. The page of Hiftory difplays to us various inftances. In which conquered nations have been compelled to acknowledge the authority of one mighty Sovereign, and to yield a re- luCtant and temporary fubmiffion to the ter rour of his arms. It alfo prefents us with examples of Philofophers who have difTemi- nated 32 SERMON ir. nated difcoveries of fcience, and taught fyftems of ethicks within the narrow circle of their difciples. But to fimplify the leading princi ples of fecial and religious obligation, to har monize them in one comprehenfive plan, to accommodate them to the capacity of every in dividual, and to propagate them by the gentle arts of perfuafion, has never been the projeCt of any Leglflator, or of any Phllofopher. Such a defign was as far above human ingenuity to contrive, as furpaffing human power to exe cute. The Plan, and the Execution were re- ferved for the Prince of Peace ; and the final caufe for which he cbndefcended to be fo em ployed, and for which fuch efTential changes have been made in the fentiments of the moft (enlightened part of the globe, equally includes the Glory of God, and the temporal and eter nal Welfare of Mankind. The obftacles however which oppofed the firft reception of Chriftianity were fo nume rous and formidable ; and the human inftru- jnents employed for its diffufion fo apparently tveak and Infufficient, that a comparifon be tween them will not only fhew that the paf- fions and oppofitlon of man far from impeding the divine defigns, may ultimately become the ' means of their perfeCt accomplifhment ; but will SERMON IL .33 will fully demonftrate the divine origin of Chriftianity by difpjiaylng the powerful affift- ance which the Almighty fupplied for Its efta* blifhment; The limple arid illiterate Filhermen of Ga lilee and their Difciples in converting a cpr* rupted, were obliged alfo to propitiate an hpf-* tile world. They difpelled the bigotry of the Jewj and confuted the cavils of the Philofo-» pheri Though afperfed by the flander of the malicious, and expofed to the fword of the powerful, in a fhort period of time they in duced multitudes of various Nations who were equally diftinguifhed by the peculiarity of their mannersj and the diverfity of their language, to forfake the religion of their anceftors. The converts whom they made deferted ceremonies and inftitutions which were defended by vi gorous authority, fanCtified by remote age, and affociated with the mpft alluring gratificdtion of the Paffions. Their minds were purified as well as enlightened by the new Faith which they had pmbraced, and the incomparable ex cellency of its precepts was vifible in the rapid groyvth of private virtues, and the gradual re formation of publick enormities. The Six grand Caufes by which this Revo lution was produced, were as extraordinary C in 34 SERMON IL in their nature, as falutary in their effedts. On fome occafions, the divine affiftance was vouchfafed to the firft chriftians, and they were endued with the power of working Mi racles. The exertions of the Apologifts were called forth to vindicate the ProfefTors of the faith from flander, and to explain the nature and defign of their Religion. Infpired by the moft ardent zeal, the firft MifRonaries tra velled into various countries to fow the feeds of the gofpel. The fortitude of the moft eminent Martyrs was brought to the fevereft trial by torture and by death. A peculiar form of Government was eftablifhed in the infant church, arid its inftitutions were ac- com|Mnied by that regularity of Manners* which as it was uniformly confiftent with the evangelical precepts, gave to thofe precepts a powerful recommendation among the Gen tiles, and left a bright example for the imita tion of fucceeding ages. Of all thefe various caufes combinkig to produce one great effe