ldom persevere.
Neither do those whose passions are so inflamed that they appear, for
a time, in ecstasies. When their passions subside, they grow cool, and
their religion dies. If the great truths of religion, laid before men,
as was done by Christ and his apostles, do not avail to render them
rationally and sincerely religious, little value is to be put on those
heats of imagination, which produce temporary raptures, and set some
on fire in religion. Such ardent love doth not abide; it soon cools,
and commonly leaves those who had been the subjects of it no better
than it found them, and but too often much worse.

But while some object to the simplicity of the gospel, and to the
plain language and address of the primitive ministry, others are
offended at the mysteries in the Christian system. Who can understand
some things contained in what is called a revelation? And what
valuable ends can be answered by a revelation which is unintelligible?
say these objectors.

But, those points in the Christian scheme which are too deep for human
comprehension, do not relate to practice. All required, in relation to
them, is an assent to their truth, on the credit of God's word. This
is neither difficult nor unreasonable.

Perhaps with only human powers, it may be impossible to comprehend
those subjects which are left mysterious in divine revelation; but are
they incredible if God hath declared them? Few would be the articles
of our creed, did we admit the belief of nothing which we do not
understand. We carry mysteries in ourselves. We are compounded of soul
and body, but who explain the connexion; tell us the essence of either
the one or the other, or define the principles on which the soul
commands the body? We are lost in ourselves, and in all the objects
which surround us.

Whatever God hath declared, we are bound to believe because he hath
declared it; and whatever he hath enjoined, we are bound to do
because he hath enjoined it, though the reasons of his injunctions may
not be revealed. God is under no obligations to explain matters to us.
"God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive with him? He giveth not
account of his matters."

Others object because the Gospel is not sent to all nations. That God
should be supposed to communicate to some, and not to others they
allege to be unreasonable and sufficient to destroy its
credit; especially, as the book which claims to be a revelation
teacheth that "there it no resp