NAMES OF LECTURERS.

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1804. Richard Laurence, LL. D. of Univerfity College; "An attempt to illuftrate thofe Articles of the "Church of England which the Calvinifts im"properly confider as Calvinistical."

1805. Edward Nares, M. A. late Fellow of Merton College; "A view of the evidences of Chrif

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tianity at the close of the pretended age of " reafon."

1806. John Browne, M. A. late Fellow of Corpus Christi College. In these Lectures the following principle is variously applied in the vindication of religion; that "there has been an infancy of "the fpecies, analogous to that of the indivi"duals of whom it is compofed, and that the "infancy of human nature required a different "mode of treatment from that which was fuit"able to its advanced state."

1807. Thomas Le Mefurier, M. A. late Fellow of New College; "The nature and guilt of Schifm con"fidered with a particular reference to the prin"ciples of the Reformation."

1808. John Penrofe, M. A. of Corpus Chrifti College; "An attempt to prove the truth of Christianity "from the wisdom difplayed in its original esta"blishment, and from the history of false and corrupted fyftems of religion."

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1809. J. B. S. Carwithen, M. A. of St. Mary Hall; " A "view of the Brahminical religion in its confir"mation of the truth of the facred history, and "in its influence on the moral character."

1819. Thomas Falconer, M. A. of Corpus Chrifti College; "Certain principles in Evanfon's Diffo"nance of the four generally received Evange"lifts, &c. examined."

LECTURE I.

HEBREWS iii. 12.

Take heed, brethren, left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

THIS exhortation of the Apostle is founded

on an affurance that the fcheme both of the Mofaic and Christian revelation is the work of God. For every houfe, fays he, is builded by Some man; but he that built all things is God. And Mofes verily was faithful in all his house, as a fervant, for a teftimony of those things which were to be Spoken after; but Chrift as a Son over his own house; whofe house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end a. And fubfequently, in the words of the text, Take heed, brethren, left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

a Ver. 4, 5, and 6.

B

For though the origin of our faith be attested by a series of the most fatisfactory proofs, there have been perverse, difputatious, and wicked characters in every period, who have denied and contradicted its authority.

But our church has not been established by the mere prefcriptive ordinances of men; it has been confirmed by rational inquiry and by folid argument: and, having been purified from the corruption of former ages, and triumphed over perfecution, is at length fixed on fuch a broad and firm bafis, that while it has the fulleft confidence and rejoicing of hope in the divine power that fupports it, it shrinks not from examination, but even challenges fair investigation. Our faith at the fame time we truft is fincere; but not arrogant. We would recommend to thofe who are in error or in doubt, who are feduced or hardened through the deceitfulness of fin, to endeavour to rectify their mifapprehenfions, and to confirm their opinions on the fame rational principles; to prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good. But while we are thus difpofed to promote liberal and honeft inquiry, we muft, we ought to difcourage that prefumptive and unyielding spirit which disdains instruction; a fpirit, which ever fince the publication of

Christianity, has been too prevalent. There ftill exift tempers too proud to fubmit to conviction, and who entertain no deference for the fentiments of others. When the Saviour of mankind condefcended to receive and to bless the little children which were brought unto him, how inftructive is his obfervation ! Except, faid he to his difciples, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven þ.

That docile temper, which is neceffary for the attainment of human wisdom, can alone qualify us to become wife unto falvation. From the earlier promulgation of the doctrine of Chrift to the present hour, there have been opponents hoftile to its fublime and affectionate fcheme. Many who have poffeffed talents, the undeniable gift of God, in the proud consciousness of that poffeffion have employed them in oppofition to the giver. They have converted the light, dispensed to them by divine grace, into darkness. They have dared, according to the allufion of one of our best divines, to lift the arm once withered, but now ftrengthened, against him, who was gracioufly pleased to reftore it. Thus, while