hold faft our profeffion, fince "we may come boldly to the throne of grace, in order to ob"tain mercy and to find grace to help in the "time of need?" May we not, lastly, ask, if these are the inferences drawn expressly and at length in the New Testament, by what name fhall we call the blindness of those who contend against these doctrines of our Church as vain immaterial fpeculations? Phil. ii. 7. &c. Heb. i. 2, &c. ii. 1, &c. iv. 14. &c. In afferting and contending for these and such articles, the Church which acts in exact imitation of her founder and the inspired teachers of "the faith delivered to the faints" does, as it might be expected from ruch a rule of procedure, act with the trueft and most perfect wisdom. Indeed, in all her measures, as I hope it does in fome degree appear from the foregoing discourses, she makes her appeal as to the true and plain sense of revelation, fo alfo to the common sense, natural feelings, and the experience of men in the ordinary affairs of this life. Had not, befide the personal insufficiency of her advocate added to the shortness of the time prescribed for the compofition of these Lectures, the neceffity of concifenefs in treating of fo large a fubject detracted too much from its merit, I am fully confident that fuch an appeal would have been placed beyond all doubt. If things are then thus conftituted, how can any sober mind bear the idea of giving e up up the present establishment of religion among us, and throwing all again into a wild chaos and heap of confufion? or, by furrendering any one of the fences that protect us against an attack, under a pretence of peace by fuch ceffion, both invite an affault hereafter, and render it more effectual? For, furely, it is plain to all, that this would in the common courfe of things be the confequence; as also farther, that no one or more conceffions to the ignorance and prejudices of any men would avail to the fatisfaction of a whole community, wherein there must be members of all kinds of temper, and every variety of opinion that can be entertained. It is obvious that a plan of accommodation begun on this ground could have no other end than in the demolition of the whole of that excellent ftructure, which is the pride of this country, and the admiration of others; a confideration that calls for the fervent wish and prayer of every honeft and prudent man amongst us, in the words of the expiring Patriot,* Efto perpetua! * Father Paul. See his Life, prefixed to Courayer's Translation of his Hiftory. THE END. P. 48. 1. 26. for derived, read derived. P. 60. 1. 26, 27. for themselve read themselves P. 69. 1. 8. for Accuracy read Authority P. 142. 1. 14. dele are P. 146. 1. 8. for man :--- read man. P. 152. 1. 16. for by the Prefbytery read of the Presbytery P. .157. 1. 11, 12. grave, correct. roman, not italic. P. 160. 1. 18. for them, chiefly read them, chiefly, P. 168. dele See note, p. 13. P. 173. 1. 23. for informs read informs us |