Sermons on Various Important Subjects | Page 2

strand measure of the same spirit.....a spirit which hath damped inquiry
and prevented improvement.
Hence, probably, the silence of some expositors on difficult scriptures,
and the sameness observable in some others. For the complaint of the
poet is not without reason,
"That commentators each dark passage shun, and hold their farthing
candle to the fun."
And the sameness which we see in several writers is probably dictated
by fear of singularity, and of incurring the charge of heresy. Minds are
different. When a dozen expositors interpret a difficult text alike, they
must, for some reason, have borrowed from one another.

The writer of the following pages claims no superiority to others, either
in genius or learning; but he claims a right to judge for himself in
matters of faith, and sense of scripture, and presumes to exercise
it--calling no man master. He hath found the original scriptures,
compared with the different translations, to be the best exposition. To
these he early had recourse, and in this way formed an opinion of the
meaning of sundry difficult passages in the volume of truth. But
comparing them afterwards with several expositions, perceived their
meaning to have been mistaken, either by those writers, or by himself.
As they did not convince him that his constructions were erroneous, he
now offers them to the public--Not as certainly devoid of error--He
knows himself to be fallible--but as the result of some attention; and as
that which he conceives their most probable meaning.
On the prayer of Moses to be blotted out of God's book--the wish of
Paul to be accused from Christ, and the prevalence of infidelity before
the coming of the Son of Man, he published a summary of his views,
some years ago. By the advice of several respected literary friends, they
are now corrected, enlarged and inserted. On the last of these he wrote
A.D. 1785. Subsequent events tend to confirm him in the sentiments
then entertained. Expositors generally consider the prayer of Moses and
the wish of St. Paul to stand related as expressions of the same temper,
and argue from the one to the other. The author conceives them
perfectly foreign to each other, and totally mistaken by every expositor
he hath consulted; as also several of the other scriptures on which he
hath written.
A hint dropped, some years ago, in conversation, by a respected
father,* gave an opening to the writer, relative to one+ of the following
subjects, and occasioned his writing upon it. For the rest, he is
conscious of having borrowed from no writer, except a few quotations,
which are credited in their places. He doth not flatter himself that his co
constructions of scripture will be universally received. Nor hath he a
desire to dictate to others, or a wish that his own views only should see
the light. The press is open to those who are otherwise minded. The
author will read with pleasure, the different constructions of the candid
and ingenuous. But should strictures of another description appear, they

will be viewed with indifference, and treated with neglect.
* Rev. Dr. Cogswell, of Windham + On 2 Samuel xii, 13.

CONTENTS
SERMON I.
The Wisdom of God in the Means used to Propagate the Gospel. 1 Cor.
i. 27, 28.--But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise, &c.
SERMON II.
The Subject Continued.
SERMON III.
The Declensions of Christianity an argument of its truth. Luke xviii.
8.--When the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?
SERMON IV.
The Subject Continued.
SERMON V.
Abram's Horror of Great Darkness. Gen. xv. 12.--And when the sun
was going down a deep sleep fell upon Abram, &c.
SERMON VI.
Divine Impartiality Considered. Rom. ii. 11.--For there is no respect of
persons with God.
SERMON VII.
Moses' Prayer to be Blotted out of God's Book. Exod. xxxii.

31,32.--And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh! This people
have sinned, &c.
SERMON VIII. The Same Subject Continued.
SERMON IX.
St. Paul's wish to be Accused from Christ. Rom. ix. 3.--For I could with
that myself were accursed from Christ, &c.
SERMON X.
David's Sin in the Matter of Uriah. 2 Sam. xii. 13.--And David said
unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord, &c.
SERMON XI.
The General Character of Christian. Gal. v. 24.--And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections, &c.
SERMON XII.
The Aggravated Guilt of him who delivered Christ to Pilate. John xix.
10, 11.--Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? &c.
SERMON XIII.
The Trial of Peter's Love to Christ. John xxi. 15, 16, 17.--So when they
had dined, Jesus faith to Simon Peter, Simon, &c.
SERMON XIV.
Gifts no Certain Evidence of Grace. Luke x. 20.--In this rejoice