that divinely charitable prayer; "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Nor was his wisdom inferior to his virtues. The doctrines he taught were the most sublime and the most important that were ever before delivered to mankind, and every way worthy of that God, from whom he professed to derive them, and whose Son he declared himself to be.

His precepts inculcated the purest and most perfect morality; his discourses were full of dignity and wisdom, yet intelligible and clear; his parables conveyed instruction in the most pleasing, familiar, and impressive manner; and his answers to the many insidious questions that were put to him, showed uncommon quickness of conception, soundness of judgment, and presence of mind, completely baffled all the artifices and malice of his enemies, and enabled

him to elude all the snares that were laid for him. It appears then, even from this short and imperfect sketch of our Saviour's character, that he was beyond comparison, the wisest and most virtuous person that ever appeared; and even his bitterest enemies allow that he was so. If, then he was confessedly so great and so good a man, it unavoidably follows that he must be, what he pretended to be, a divine person, and of course his religion also must be divine; for he certainly laid claim to a divine original. He asserted, that he was the Son of God; that he and his religion came from heaven; and that he had. the power of working miracles. If this was not the case, he must, in a matter of infinite importance, have asserted. what had no foundation in truth. But. is such a supposition as this in the smallest degree credible? Is it probable, is it conceivable, is it consistent with the

general conduct of man, is it reconcileable with the acknowledged character of our Lord, to suppose, that any thing but truth could proceed from him whom his very enemies allow to have been in every respect (and of course in point of veracity) the best and most virtuous of men? Was it ever known, is there a single instance to be produced in the history of mankind of any one so unblemished in morals as Christ confessedly was, persisting for so great a length of time as he did in assertions, which, if untrue, would be repugnant to the clearest principles of morality, and most fatal in their consequences to those he loved best, his followers and his friends? Is it possible, that the pure, the upright, the pious, the devout, the meek, the gentle, the humane, the merciful Jesus, could engage multitudes of innocent and virtuous people in the belief and support of a religion which he

knew must draw on them persecution, misery and death, unless he had been authorized by God himself to establish that religion; and unless he was conscious that he possessed the power of amply recompensing those who preferred his religion to every other consideration? The common sense and common feelings of mankind must revolt at such a preposterous idea.

It follows, then, that Christ was, in truth, a divine teacher, and his rcligion the gift of God.

PROPOSITION VI.

The sublimity of our Lord's doctrines and the purity of his moral precepts confirm the belief of his divine mission.

THERE is no where to be found. such important information, and such. just and noble sentiments concerning God and religion, as in the scriptures of the New Testament.

They teach us, in the first place, that there is one Almighty Being, who created all things, of infinite power, wisdom, justice, mercy, goodness; that he is the governor and preserver of this world, which he has made; that his providential care is over all his works; and that he more particularly regards the affairs and conduct of men. They teach us, that we are to worship this