DEFENSE OF SOME Important Doctrines OF THE GOSPEL, In TWENTY SIX SERMONS. Moft of which were PREACHED in LIME-STREET. By feveral MINISTERS. In Two VOLUMES. LONDON: Printed for A. WARD, at the King's-Arms, and PREFACE. HEN doctrines of pure revelation are oppo fed, it is the duty of all who believe them, to appear in their de fense; and this is really engaging in a noble cause: It is ftanding up for the honour of the great God against those who set their imperfect reafon, and proud conceits, above infinite wisdom: To ftrive for the faith once deliver'd to the faints, is most neceffary, when it meets with the contradiction of finners. As (RCPXR) 5958 V.I A 2 78421 error error never raged with greater violence than it does in our unhappy times, and as lukewarmness never difcover'd it felf more, than in the present day of darkness, it never could be more expedient than now, to plead for the glorious gofpel of the bleffed God. The fufficience of the light of nature is warmly contended for, by fuch as do not profefs to reject revelation ; and most of the doctrines of fcripture have been given up, one after another, by fome who yet declare that the Bible is their religion. It is therefore now time, if ever, for those who see no reason to renounce the old Proteftant doctrines, the glory of the Reformation, to bear their teftimony against the errors of the day, and to ftand up for the great truths, which have been handed to them by their fathers, and which they embrace, not merely because they have received thei from from the worthies who have gone before them, but because, after ftrict and impartial examination, they find, that these, and no other, are the doctrines reveal'd in fcripture. Near two years fince, fome Gentlemen, who, it is to be hoped, have a true zeal, and a hearty concern, for the intereft of Chrift, judged it proper to fet up a Lecture* for one winter and spring season, that a course of Sermons might be preach'd, in defense of feveral truths, which they reckon'd to be of the laft importance, and which are, in our time, violently oppofed. Nine Minifters, who were chofe for this work, cheerfully undertook it. When this courfe was finish'd, it was the unanimous defire of the Gentlemen, that they would print *This Lecture was begun at the Meeting in Lime-street, where the Reverend Mr. Bragge flatedly preaches, on November 12, 1730. and was connued weekly till April 8, 1731. |