for Nothing else, comparatively speaking, SER M than the promoting univerfally the Know- XIV. ledge of Truth and the Practice of Righteoufness in the World.

That the contrary Vice therefore, or the proper Sin of Uncharitableness, is That Spirit of Violence and Impofition, which reigns too much amongst Mankind; That Love of Imperioufness and Dominion, That prefumptuous Hating and ill-treatment of each other, which prevails fo much in the World, upon account of Matters either of indifferent Practice or of fincere Opinion.

That the Effect, which the General Practice of the Charity or Chriftian Temper here recommended by the Apostle, would produce in the World, could not fail to be The univerfal Spreading of the Gofpel of Truth and Peace, over all the Nations of the Earth.

AND, That for This reafon it is, that our Saviour and his Apoftles accordingly do conftantly lay fo Great and Singular a Stress upon This Virtue, as being the Principal Part, and the main End of Religion.

X 2

III. I PRO

SERM.

III. I PROCEED now, in the Third

XIV. place, to confider diftinctly the incredible Mifchiefs arifing to Mankind, from the Want of the practice of this excellent Virtue. And here opens itself to our View, one of the moft melancholy Scenes, that ever was beheld upon the face of the Earth. Our Bleffed Saviour came to teach Mankind a Doctrine of Truth and Purity, of Simplicity and Plainnefs; A DoЄtrine of Religion, which All men might eafily understand, and which 'tis infinitely every man's Interest to practise; A Doctrine, the Whole of which, as he himfelf affures us, is fummed up in Two particulars, the Love of God, and of our Neighbour; the Worship of the One True God, the Father and Lord of all things, through the One True Mediator whom he himself has appointed, in oppofition to every kind of Idolatry; and a conftant fincere indeavour of doing Good to all men, in oppofition to every degree of Unrighteousness, Iniquity and Uncharitableness. To the Happiness of Mankind even in This Life, 'tis manifest These are the Means which would con

tribute

tribute incomparably more, than any o-SER M. ther Methods whatsoever. But the prin- XIV. cipal View wherewith our Lord Lord gave

thefe Commands to his Followers, was that they might practise them in expectation of God's having appointed a day, wherein he would judge the World in righteousness by his Son Jefus Christ; and reward every man finally, in the future and eternal State, according to their Works. And because 'twas thus principally with regard to the Life to come, that our Lord gave all his Commandments; therefore with great earneftness he continually cautioned his Difciples, that as he had declared his own Kingdom was not to be of This World, fo They fhould continually take strict heed after him, never to make their preaching of His religion a pretenfe for afpiring after temporal Authority. In a Parable framed on purpose, he commands his Followers not to take upon them to pull up the Tares, left they root up alfo the Wheat with them. The meaning of which is not, that magiftrates are not to cut off Malefactors; but that in matters merely religious, ChriftiX 3

ans

SER M. ans are not to presume to judge the Con

other, before the day of

XIV. fciences of each the Lord cometh. The Princes of the Gentiles, fays he, exercife Dominion over them, and they that are Great, exercise Authority upon them: But it fall not be fo among You; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your Minifter; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your Servant; Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministred unto, but to minier, and to give his Life a Ransom for Many; Matt. xx. 25. So long, and fo far, as Christianity was planted according to This Standard of its Great Author; in plainnefs and Simplicity of uncorrupt Do&trine; and in Meeknefs, and Humility, Love and Charity, in Practice: When Chriftians continued fedfaftly in the ApoAtles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of Bread and in Prayers ;——— -continuing daily with one accord in the Temple,eating their Meat with gladness and finglenefs of Heart, praifing God, and having favour with all the people; When the Multitude of them that believed, were of one Heart, and of One Soul; and great Grace

Actsii. 42.

46.

fore men,

was upon them All; Acts iv. 32, 33.SERM. Then did their Light fhine forth indeed be- XIV. and cause them to praise and glorify the God of Heaven: Then were they in reality and indeed, acceptable to God, and approved of Men: Then was the Gospel truly and confpicuously, like a City upon an Hill, a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of God's people Ifrael: It was the Praife and Wonder of those who beheld its Bleffed Effects, and might have been the Joy of the whole Earth. Had Chriftians continued, as St Paul befeeched them, Eph. iv. 1. to walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith they were called; with all lowlinefs and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in Love; indeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace: Had they confidered the Argument he urges, that there could be but One Body and One Spi-ver. 6. rit, even as they were called in One Hope of their Calling; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptifm, One God and Father of all, who is Above All: Had they continued, (according to the exhortation and inference he draws from this Argument;) to X A Speak