CONTENTS

OF THE

SECOND VOLUME.

LECTURE XIV.

SUITABLENESS OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE

STATE AND WANTS OF MAN.-1 COR. xiv. 24, 25

The Christian Revelation is suited to man as it speaks a

DECISIVE LANGUAGE, and gives repose and satisfaction

to the mind in the greatest and most perplexing diffi-
culties

As it UNFOLDS ALL THE MYSTERIES OF HIS CONDITION

Accounts for the apparent contradiction of his state, and

addresses him in this condition, and no other

As it PROVIDES A REMEDY FOR ALL HIS WANTS

Proposes adequate motives

Places man in a new and more favourable state of pro-

bation

Sets before him a system of means

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All agreeing with his outward circumstances in this world 21

This remedy is also calculated to draw out to the utmost,

all the powers and faculties of man

And carry him on to his true end

As it is CALCULATED for UNIVERSAL DIFFUSION under the

endless diversities of his state and character

This adaptation does not STRIKE the mind at once

IS A PROSPECTIVE SCHEME formed by the wisdom of GOD,

and revealed perfect and complete at once

And is VIEWED ARIGHT from the MIDST OF HUMAN WEAK-

NESS, MISERY, AND SORROW

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LECTURE XV.

THE EXCELLENCIES OF THE DOCTRINES OF

CHRISTIANITY.-1 JOHN iv. 8-10

The CHIEF DOCTRINES ENUMERATED

The being, perfection and providence of the one living

and true GoD

The guilt and condemnation of man

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Redemption in the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of

GOD

The personality and operations of the HOLY SPIRIT

The Sacraments, and other means of grace

The resurrection of the dead, and the last solemn judgment 40

The EXCELLENCY of the doctrines

They all emanate from the character of God

Possess simplicity

And a surpassing grandeur and sublimity

Their harmony

Meet all the necessities of man, and yet promote the ends

of God's moral government

Are deeply humiliating, and in the highest degree conso-
latory

The magnitude and sublimity of the great design of Al-
mighty GoD, of which the doctrines are the result

AN APPEAL; whether the inward evidence of Christianity,

from its peculiar doctrines, does not shine brighter and

brighter

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A correspondent love and gratitude to God on the part of

the true Christian, ought to be produced

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LECTURE XVI.

THE UNSPOTTED PURITY OF THE CHRISTIAN

MORALS.-TITUS ii. 11–15.

The EXTENT and PURITY of the Christian morals

They embrace all that was really good in the ethics of

Heathen sages

Erect the only true and unbending standard of duty to

God and man

Omit many false virtues of heathenism, and insist on

many real ones unknown to it

Dwell chiefly on the mild and retiring virtues

Require an abstinence from the proximate causes of evil. 63

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Christian morality regards outward forms of devotion and

piety, as means to a higher end

All Christian precepts aid each other

And go to form a particular sort of character

The WAY THE GOSPEL PROCEEDS to make these precepts
practicable

Christianity begins with the heart

Aims at achieving its object by the formation of habits
Directs men to aim at the highest attainments, whilst she
encourages the weakest efforts

Keeps aloof from secular policy

Delivers her code in the form of maxims and prohibitions,

clear and decisive

Works by setting forth strong and affecting examples

Refers men to the ALL-SEEING EYE OF GOD

The CONNEXION OF THE MORALS of Christianity with EVERY

OTHER PART OF REVELATION, and especially with its

PECULIAR DOCTRINES

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The facts on which the doctrines rest, prepare for the

operation of motives

The doctrines are expressly designed, and admirably
adapted, to produce Christian obedience

They go to form that sort of character which the morals

require

The love of Christ constrains

The promises and privileges of the gospel are attached to

certain dispositions and states of mind

Christianity holds out to men further advances in holiness 75

The doctrine of the heavenly state

The manner in which the precepts are involved in all the

other parts of Revelation

The SANCTIONS by which the Christian morals ARE ULTI-

MATELY ENFORCED

The WILL OF GOD is the authority of moral obedience

The MORALITY of the gospel makes it IMPOSSIBLE, in the

nature of things, that Christianity should be an IMPOS-

TURE

The above is strengthened by the WRETCHED SYSTEM

which modern infidels propose for the direction of man-

kind

Men ought, therefore, to HOLD FAST by the CHRISTIAN

FAITH

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LECTURE XVII.

THE PRE-EMINENT CHARACTER AND CON-

DUCT OF OUR LORD.--MARK Vii. 37.

Claims of CHRIST

The conduct of our LORD in his more peculiar character

as MEDIATOR

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The manner in which he sustained his high claims of

being the Son of God and the Saviour of the world

His conduct as a Teacher and Revealer of the will of

God

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His manner of instruction

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The matter of his instruction

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The manner in which our Lord supported the state of

humiliation

The heavenly reward that he promised to his disciples

The conduct of our Lord as THE EXAMPLE OF HUMAN

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His piety and devotion to his heavenly Father

His benevolence and compassion towards man

His meekness and lowliness of spirit

His virtues were unalloyed with the kindred failings

The opposite, and to us apparently contradictory, graces

were found in him in equal proportion

All was carried to the greatest height, and continued in

The character of our LORD AS THE FOUNDER OF THE

The different parts of our LORD's character correspond

with his undertaking

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The impression and effect of the whole public character

of CHRIST

The manner in which it is given by the Evangelists

This argument springs from a FAIR PRESUMPTION upon

the first statement of the case