hearts, against all poffible conviction, — namely, pride, covetousness, and fenfuality. May we all comply with the apostle's advice, in walking circumfpectly towards them that are without; fince the reafon affigned is, in fome refpects, of as great force at present; because the days are evil. As infidelity still abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold, we, who profefs the faith of Christ, and think we have more perfect understanding of it, and are to communicate the fame to others; ought to contend so much the more earnestly for it, and labour to adorn the doctrine of our Lord in all things. To our daily prayers, therefore, let us add our conftant endeavours, that the kingdom of God may come on those who have not yet received it; and be restored in purity, and perfection, to such as have unhappily rejected it: and finally, let us beware left in any of us be found an evil heart of unbelief; let us take care that we be not of those, who, either in principle, or practice, draw back anto perdition; but of them that believe, to the faving of the foul. PART II. The Scheme of PROVIDENCE, With regard to The Time and Manner of the feveral Difpenfations of Revealed Religion. Crefcat igitur oportet, et multum vehementerque proficiat, tam fingulorum quam omnium, tam unius hominis quam totius ecclefia, atatum ac feculorum gradibus, intelligentia, fcientia, fapientia. Vinc. Lir. Common. 1. 28. If wisdom and understanding be to be found with the ancient, and in length of days, that time is the oldest from which men appeal to the infancy of the world; and this advances more the veneration that is always due to the grey hairs of the aged, who must be prefumed to know more than the young; who likewife shall have much to anfwer, if when they come to be old, they do not know more, and judge better than they could, who were old before them. And this is the best way to preserve the reverence that is due to age, by hoping and believing that the next age may know more and be better, than that in which we live; and not to rob that of the respect that will still be due to antiquity, by unreasonably imputing it to the time which we have outlived. Ld. Clarendon. Eff. p. 220. The Scheme of PROVIDENCE, With regard to The Time and Manner of the feveral. GAL. IV. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his fon. HE coming of Christ in the flesh is a dif TH penfation fo full of wisdom and goodness, that in what light foever it be viewed by us, it will appear most worthy of its divine Author. The precife time in which he was manifested, though this has been made the subject of more cavils, ancient and modern, than any other circumstance attending it, yet I doubt not but, upon a fair examination, even this may be discovered to bear the fame characters. On which head the following questions are usually asked. If the common Father of mankind be infinite in goodness, and the Chriftian scheme be the only acceptable way of worshipping him, and abfolutely neceffary to our falvation; why was it not communicated to the world much fooner? Why was this greatest of all bleffings kept back to |