BX 5133 065 √2 The Nature, Procedure, Extent, Va- In TWO SERMONS Preach'd before the UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, On March II. and June 24. 1744. By WILLIAM DOD WELL M. A. OXFORD, Printed for James Fletcher in the Turl; and English Blackwell 10-18-45 53389 [1] I 1 Pet. III. 15. Be ready always to give an Answer to Every Man that asketh You a Reason of the Hope that is in You. T HIS was the Direction of an Apostle, who well understood the Foundation of the Religion He was commiffioned to preach; This the Method by which He pro. pofed the Chriftian Faith fhould be received, diffused and continued in the World. The particular Arguments, with which They were to anfwer Enquirers, He had elsewhere inftructed them in, and He here directs Them to fix Them deep in their Minds, that they might be able to apply them upon any fudden Demand, for the Juftification of themselves and the Converfion of Others. Enquirers of all Sorts were naturally to be expected upon the Publication of a Religion, which prescribed fuch exalted Rules of Life, and enforced them with fuch exalted Motives. Some, for the Sake of the Hope that was in them, might be glad to fee fo defireable a Scheme well founded, whilft Others would be industriously folicitous to difprove a Syftem, which croffed their received Opinions, and forbad the Gratification of their beloved Lufts and Paffions. However whether They made the Enquiry of Envy and Strife, or of Good Will towards this Difpenfation, whether They asked a Reason of their Hope, of Contention, not fincerely, Suppofing to confound their beft Expectations, or of Love, knowing the comfortable Profpect which It afforded, The Difciples of this Religion were to be provided against all Demands however intended; They were to be prepared to offer fufficient Evidence for their Faith, for the Confutation of its Enemies, and the Satisfaction of Those, who were disposed to be its Friends. The peculiar Circumstances of their Situation made it neceffary for Them to be well-grounded in the Faith, which they might probably be called on to support at the Expence of their Lives; and the great Importance of the Doctrine must incline Thofe, who fincerely believe it Themselves, to use all Endeavours to fatisfy Others of the Truth of it. 161 And indeed had this Scheme been proposed in any other Light, had the First Preachers of our Religion placed it on any other than a Rational Foundation, the Philofophers had had had fufficient Matter of Triumph over a new Inftitution, which did not pretend to be founded on Argument, and there had been still the fame Room for the Ridicule of the Wits of the present Age; or rather It could never have continued for the Diverfion of their Pofterity, but must have funk defervedly under the Infult, Reproach and Contempt of those Times. But now in this Cafe Matter of Fact is an Argument of real Force. This Religion profpered against all oppofition, and Thofe, who according to St Peter's Direction were prepared to give a Reason of the Hope that was in Them, did actually defend it with Success against Persecution and Misrepresentation: By Strength of Reasoning They filenced the Objections of Wit and Learning, and by the Integrity of their Lives and Conftancy of their Deaths offered an Argument fuperior to what any other Inftitution had ever offered. --- Yet Oppofition has been made to this powerful Source of Light and Virtue in this very View of it, and Difficulties have been raised concerning the Nature, Procedure, Extent, Value and Effects of a Rational Faith, which it is of great Importance to examine and explain; for if our Religion be found defective in this Point, in vain fhall We seek out for any other A 2 fuf |