ce which they had of his death
and resurrection--declared the opportunities which they had with him
after his passion--the instructions they received from him--the orders
which he gave them, and his ascension from the mount of Olives, of
which they were witnesses, "confirming their words with
signs following."

To persuade men to receive and obey the gospel, they declared the
consequences to those who received, and to those who rejected it
--that the same Jesus who had died on the cross, was appointed by the
Father, "to be the Judge of quick and dead--that he would come again
in like manner as he had gone away--that all mankind must appear
before his judgment seat to give an account of themselves, and receive
the deeds done in the body," that those who flee for refuge to the
hope of the gospel, will find mercy, and be made forever happy with
God, but those who neglect the gospel will be sent away into
everlasting punishment.

Such interesting truths, those ministers of Christ laid before
mankind, and left with them for their consideration. But they used no
rhetoric to impress them. Neither did they appeal to the passions of
their hearers; in which they followed the pattern set them by their
Lord, who "did not strive, nor cry, nor cause any man to hear his
voice in the streets." With only a fair statement of those truths,
accompanied with the offer of "mercy and grace to help in time of
need," they left mankind to choose for themselves and abide the
consequences.

This some have thought an improper manner of calling men into the
kingdom of Christ; that had been more pathetic in their addresses, and
more argumentative in their applications, they would have labored with
more effect; that this plain and simple method is unworthy of God,
and, not likely to be from him.

If we consider the nature and design of Christianity, such objections
will have little weight. It is not the design of heaven to compel men
to obey the gospel, or to drive them to an unwilling submission to
Christ. If an exhibition of gospel truth and beauty, and the
consequences of receiving or rejecting its overtures, are discarded;
if men refuse, by these means to be persuaded, they are left, and the
consequences follow. To People of sober sense, this method appears
rational. It is not probable that those who are not thus prevailed
with to embrace the gospel, would in any other way be made Christians
indeed. People who are frightened into religion se