Let, therefore, the true servants of the Lord labour diligently to counteract the rationalizing spirit in theology, the neglect of Divine Providence, the ascription of every thing to natural causes, the endeavour, in short, to do without Christianity in the affairs of life, which so extensively prevail. And let them discountenance and repress, and, when fitted by previous education and study, refute the objections which scepticism and infidelity now advance in society, not only unblushingly avowing their unbelief, but attempting to spread its poison in private families. It would not be for the advantage of religion to commit to inexperienced hands the weapons of controversy, for the great strength of infidelity lies in perplexing subtilities and ingenious sophisms, which are calculated to puzzle an ill-read and illogical disputant. But every Christian should “know the certainty of those things wherein he has been instructed.” {175} “And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear.” {176} The neglect of instruction in the evidences, in the general system of religious education, is at once most unwise, and most calculated fearfully to promote the spread of unbelief: in the first place, it is like attempting to build a house without laying a good foundation: the winds and floods of infidelity assail it, and it falls, because built on sand: in the second place, the fall of one house generally more or less injures those adjoining: thus the cause of unbelief is advanced, not only by the accession of every new convert, but by the shock which his fall occasions to the faith of his friends and acquaintance. Let, therefore, the friends of religion at once secure to the evidences their proper place in every system of education, and also take care that their own principles be fortified by that sound “knowledge which maketh not ashamed.” Let them never suffer the cause of God to be blasphemed, or the truth of religion denied in society, without entering, at least, their protest; and let them never suffer the questions and doubts of scepticism to be propounded in their families, without at once silencing the dangerous inmate, who seeks to spread his secret poison, by inviting enquiry and provoking discussion. It is true many of the objections urged in society are of a nature which little learning, in addition to good common sense, may suffice to answer. As, for instance, the existence of mysteries in Christianity; whilst, in truth, the absence of mysteries in a Revelation would be a strong argument against its Divine origin: the terms employed in creeds and articles, the form of worship and the discipline of the Church; for all of which Christianity is not strictly liable, as, though in perfect conformity with, some of them have been engrafted upon, Revelation: and the sins into which believers, who disgrace their profession, are betrayed; for which