his doctrines. To suppose that God, in such a ease, should enable an impostor to perform these stupendous works, or should perform them for him, is contrary to all our ideas of his moral character. All moral evidence depends on the veracity of God. They who saw Christ cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, still the tempests, only by a single word; and afterward yield himself to death; and then, exactly according to his prediction, rise from the dead, ascend into heaven, and shed down on his disciples the promised gifts of the spirit; could not rationally doubt, that he was, what he declared himself to be, the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world; and that, consequently, all his doctrines were true, his precepts pure, and his whole reli-gion a heavenly institution.

II. As these signs were evidence to those who saw them, so the record given of them is evidence to succeeding ages. This the evangelist teaches. us, when he says, "These signs are written that ye might believe." For if they could be evidence only to those who saw them, there was no reason why they should be written; nor would the writing of them be a mean of faith..

The apostle observes, that Christ performed them in the presence of his disciples. Most of them indeed, were wrought in the presence of multitudes: But as the disciples were to be witnesses of them to the world, the evangelist particularly mentions. this circumstance, to give credibility to their testimony. That which they saw and heard, they de clared to others. They did not relate Christ's miracles on fame or report, but from their own immediate knowledge. They testified that which they saw, and their testimony is worthy of belief..

*

The disciples of Jesus were credible witnesses of the facts which they related; because it was not possible that they should be deceived; they could

ON

VARIOUS SUBJECTS,

EVANGELICAL, DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL.

ADAPTED TO THE PROMOTION OF

CHRISTIAN PIETY, FAMILY RELIGION,
AND YOUTHFUL VIRTUE.

BY JOSEPH LATHROP, D. D.

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN WESTSPRINGFIELD.

PUBLISHED AT WORCESTER :

BY ISAIAH THOMAS, JUN.

SOLD AT HIS RESPECTIVE BOOKSTORES IN BOSTON AND WORCESTER.

THONAS DICKMAN, PRINTER.....1809.

A

The Vial poured into the Sun considered in accommodation to the Present Times.

SERMON XIII.

Religion essential in the Love of our Country.