IV.

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feriously confider, that as Chrift alone SE RM. was crucified for them, fo in His Name only were they All baptized, and not in the Name of Paul, or of any other man, or of any Sect of men, whatsoever: And that confequently they ought All to continue in the Simplicity of the Profeffion and Practice of That Gofpel, into which they were All baptized; without contentiously adding, each of them their own peculiar Doctrines, to the Doctrine of Chrift; which muft unavoidably be the Occafion of never-ceafing Divifions. In the Great Foundations of Faith and Practice, they do already agree. In other matters, if every one would but allow to Others, what he knows and expects fhould in Chriftian Charity be by Them allowed to Him; however men might and cannot but differ about many Things, yet with regard to each other's perfons they might eafily (according to St Paul's advice) be of the Rom. xii. Jame mind one towards another, perfectly joined together in the fame mind and in the fame judgment, 1 Cor. i. 10; holding

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the

16.

IV. peace.

SERM.the unity of the Spirit in the bond of So the Apostle expreffes it with great accuracy: Holding, not unity of opinion in the bond of ignorance, nor unity of practice in the bond of hypocrify; but the Unity of the Spirit, the unity of a Chriftian and Charitable Spirit, in the bond of Peace.

SERMON

SERMON V.

The Nature, End and Defign of the Holy Communion.

I COR. xi. 25.

After the fame manner also he took
the cup, when he had Jupped,
faying, This Cup is the new Te-
Aament in my Blood; This do
as oft as ye drink it, in remem-
brance of me.

ye,

NE great End of our Savi- SERM. our's coming into the World,

was to deliver Men from that yoke of ceremonious performances, which neither they nor their

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4

V.

SERM their Fathers were able to bear: and to V. eftablish Religion upon the Foot of Vir

that

tue and everlasting Righteoufnefs. The
World had from the beginning been fo
addicted to ritual and external obfer-
vances, and laid fo great ftrefs on fenfitive
and outward parts of Worfhip;
God, in condefcenfion to their infirmity,
and confidering the hardness of their
Hearts, had for feveral ages thought fit
to prove the difobedience of his peculiar
people the Jews, by giving them fuch
pofitive precepts, as had not in them-
elves any real and intrinfick worth; but
their Obligation depended wholly, upon
their being pofitively commanded. These
rites, were external and fenfible; fuited
to the capacity of fuch perfons, whose
minds could not immediately relish the
more fublime and fpiritual parts of Re-
ligion. A willing and diligent obferv-
ance of them, was indeed an evident
proof of an obedient and fincere Mind;
and a wilful neglect of them, when
commanded, a manifeft token of a ftiff
necked, ftubborn, and perverfe genera-

V.

tion; but yet they were not, in their own SER M. nature, Acts of Piety; or conduced any thing of themselves, towards the perfecting of the Soul, and making it like unto God. Hence, though these things were not to be left undone; yet the weightier matters of the Law, were always judgment, mercy, and truth. To thefe, God continually exhorted his people by the Prophets; and declared upon all occafions, that their ritual obfervations, in comparifon of these more important Duties, were of no value; and without them, were even abominations in his Sight. Thinkeft thou that I will eat bulls fleft, or drink the blood of Goats? No; But offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most High, Pfal, 1. 13. God did therefore, by a Succeffion of Prophets, wean the Jews by degrees, as they were able to bear it, from their too high esteem of ritual and ceremonious performances and inculcated to them the true and spiritual nature of Religion; till at last, in the fulness of time, when the World was prepared for the recepti

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on