SERMON VIII.

The wifdom of God in the various ranks, and fubordinations of Human life.

1 PET. V.

-Tea, all of you be fubject one to another.

HE Creator of the World, for SERM. the more glorious and clear VIII.

T

difplay of his perfect and un

limited goodness, has form'd

feveral orders of Intelligent

Beings, poffeffed of various Endowments,

and

SERM. and Excellencies, and Capacities for hapVIII. piness. This Revelation expreffly teaches ; and herein, as in most other points, it only corroborates, and carries to a higher degree of probability, the fuggeftions and intimations of the light of Nature itself.

FOR as we plainly fee, with refpect to the creatures below us, that there is a regular and admirable gradation, and, at the proper point, a direct tranfition from one species to another; fo that where the Rational ends, the Animal begins, and appears to be closely connected with it in the fcale of Beings; and this prodigious chain, that links the Universe together, is conti nued, without any vifible interruption, down to things merely Inanimate: Upon obferving this to be the conftant and unvaried courfe of Nature, our Reafon justly prefumes, that the only defect, with respect to extent of existence, cannot lie in the Rational World; which is moft worthy to be diverfified; and wherein, a variety of fuperior orders inuft be the strongeft and most illuftrious proof of the Divine wisdom and benignity. We therefore naturally conclude, that, in general,

the

the fame diftinctions take place here, as in SERM. the lower parts of the Creation; i. e. that VIII. there is a gradual afcent from Mankind, whose reasonings are minute and confus'd, laboriously traced, and easily perplex'd, and their capacities narrow and confined; that there is, I fay, a gradual afcent, through several intermediate claffes, to the Highest pitch of created Intellectual perfection, and Moral excellence.

AND to correfpond with this general Scheme, which gives us the most enlarg'd and exalted idea of the regularity, beauty, and magnificence of the works of God; his Almighty power has established a diverfity, not only upon the whole, but in every particular rank, or kind, of Beings: So that, in all, there is an exact harmony of defign, and operation..

A difference of Powers, Characters, and Conditions, is especially obvious in the Human Species; the Individuals belonging to which are remarkably diftinguished from each other.--And from hence neceffarily refult preheminence, fuperior dignity, and authority in fome; and dependence and fubjec→ tion in others. But then, as, in fome fort,

SERM, the dependence is, and ever must be, reci VIII, procal; and all Mankind are strictly allied by Nature, kept close together by their common wants and infirmities, and indif folubly united in point of Intereft, and the univerfal good; it must, upon thefe accounts, be acknowledged, that there is a folid ground, in reason, for the Apoftle's exhortation in the text That we fhould ALL of us be fubject one to another.

In the beginning of this chapter, St. Peter gives the Elders, or Bifhops of the Christian church, fome excellent rules for the due and faithful execution of their office; a ftrict adherence to which would force a refpect for it even from the Infidel, and the Libertine, as an office truly honourable, and eminently useful. Feed, fays he, the flock of Gad, which is among you i. e. "Inftead of diftracting their minds by needlefs Sub"tilties, or amufing their curiofity by

i. e.

infifting on vain and airy Theories, inftead of inflaming their zeal to a degree of rancour and infolence, and fo menting a Spirit of difcord, by blind "and

and intemperate difputes Inculcate SERM. fublime and amiable apprehenfions of VIII. "God, and generous fentiments towards "all Mankind: Inculcate the great and

essential duties of the Gospel, and thẻ

things which make for PEACE: Incul"cate the fubordination of the Means of "Religion to the End,of Speculations and "Rituals to the eternal laws of Morality: Explain the peculiar doctrines of Christianity in fuch a manner, as to "fhew that they are confiftent and reafonable, and have all a practical and purifying tendency: And, by these methods, cultivate in thofe, who are un"der your care, important and beneficial knowledge, and the habits of univerfal goodness; which are the health, the ftrength, and life of the Soul.- Neither ftarve, nor divide, nor fcatter the flock of God which is among you; but feed it.” The Apostle adds, Taking the overfight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: Neither as being Lords over God's heritage, but being enfamples to the flock. He then affures them, that—if they were

VOL. II.