one being. If there is a palpable abfurdity in this, it only proves that the Gospel teaches the Divine Unity fo decifively as to force every Christian to acknowledge it, however inconfiftent with his other opinions his acknowledgment of it may be.

But farther; the Gofpel teaches us, with perfect clearness, that this one God is poffeffed of all poffible perfection; that he is infinitely wife, powerful, righteous, and benevolent; that he is the moral governor of the world, an enemy to all wickednefs, and a friend to all goodnefs; and that he directs all events by his providence fo particularly as that the hairs of our head are all numbered, and that a fparrow does not fall to the ground without him. It teaches us alfo to imitate, to ferve, and to worship him, and to put our truft in him; and comprehends the whole of our duty in loving him with all our hearts, and in loving our neighbour as ourselves. It declares

to

to us the neceffity of repentance and a holy life; a future state of rewards and punishments; and a future period of univerfal retribution when all mankind shall be judged according to their works.

There are no doubts about any of these particulars among Chriftians; and they include all that it is most neceffary for us to know. But the doctrines which most properly constitute the Gospel are those which relate to Jesus Christ and his mediation. Here, alfo, there is an agreement with respect to all that can be deemed effential; for there is no fect of Chriftians who do not believe that Chrift was fent of God ; that he is the true Meffiah; that he worked miracles, and fuffered and died and rose again as related in the four Gospels; that after his refurrection he afcended to heaven and became poffeffed of universal dominion, being made head over all things in this world; and that he will hereafter make a fecond appearance on

this

this earth, and come from heaven to raise all mankind from death, to judge the world in righteousness, to bestow eternal life on the truly virtuous, and to punish the workers of iniquity.

These are the grand facts of Christianity, which Calvinifts and Arminians, Trinitarians and Unitarians, Papists and Proteftants, Churchmen and Diffenters all equally believe. More especially; with respect to the purpose of Chrift's miffion, we all equally hold that he came to call finners to repentance, to teach us the knowledge of God and our duty, to save us from fin and death, and to publish a covenant of grace by which all fincere penitents and good men are affured of favour and complete happiness in his future. everlasting kingdom.

But to bring all nearer to a point.

The information which most properly constitutes the Gospel does not confift of many particulars. It may be reduced to one propofition. The word GOSPEL I have

I have faid, fignifies GOOD NEWS; or (as the New Testament calls it) glad tidings of great joy to all people. And the New Teftament when it thus defcribes the Gospel has one particular information in view. An information which is indeed completely joyful. I mean, the future coming of Chrift to destroy death, and to reinftate us in a happy immortality; or, in other words, the glad tidings of pardon to penitents, and a refurrection from death to eternal life through Jefus Chrift. It is impoffible there should be any information so important as this; and all Chriftians believe it; and maintain that the truth of it has been demonftrated by figns and miracles, and, particularly, by the refurrection of Christ, and his confequent afcenfion and exaltation. This information includes all that we have any reason to be anxious about; and we should regard with indifference all disputes that leave us in poffeffion of it; and there are

no

no disputes among those who take the New Teftament for a rule of faith which do not leave us in poffeffion of it. A deliverance from death, through the power of Christ, to be judged according to our works; and, if virtuous, to enter upon a new and happy life which shall never end: THIS is the fum and fubftance of the Gofpel; and, alfo, the fum and fubftance of all that should intereft human beings. The evidence for it which the Gospel gives removes all doubts about it; and is fufficient, whether we believe any thing elfe or not, to carry us (if virtuous) with triumph through this world. What then fignify the differences among Christians about other points? Or of what confequence is it that they have different ways of explaining this point itself? Give me but the fact that Chrift is the refurrection and the life, and explain it as you will. Give me but this fingle truth, that ETERNAL LIFE is the gift of God through Jefus Christ our Lord and Saviour, and I shall

be