Preached upon Several Occasions. By ROBERT SOUTH, D. D. Printed for CHARLES BATHURST, oppofite M.DCC.XLIV. [i] THE CHIEF HEADS OF THE SERMONS in VOL. VIII. SERMON I. MATTH. XXIII 5. former part. But all their works they do for to be feen of men. T Page 1. HIS notable inftance of religious oftentation in the Pharifees, leads to an enquiry, how far the love of glory is able to engage men in a virtuous and religious life, P. 1, 2. I. A love of glory is fufficient to produce all thofe virtuous actions that are visible in the lives of those that profefs religion: because, 1. It has done fo: This fhewn from the examples of the nobleft and most virtuous of the Heathens; from the abftinence of the antient Athletics; from the character of the antient Pharifees; and from that of many modern Chriftians, 2 to 6. 2. There is nothing visible in the very best actions, but what may proceed from the most depraved VOL. VIII. Α prin principles, if acted by prudence, caution, and defign, 7, 8. II. The reafons, whence this affection comes to have fuch an influence upon our actions, are thefe: 1. Because glory is the proper pleasure of the mind; it being, the complacency that a man finds within himself arifing from his conceit of the opinion that another has of fome excellency or perfection in him, 9 to 11. 2. Because it is founded in the innate defire of fuperiority, and greatness, that is in every man, 12 to 14. 3. Because a fair reputation opens a man's way to all the advantages of life: as, in the times of the rebellion, when the face of a diffembled piety gave men great credit and authority with the generality, 15, 16. III. This principle is infufficient to engage mankind in virtuous actions, without the affiftance of religion: Two confiderations premised, viz. 1. That virtue and a good life determines not in outward practices, but refpects the most inward actions of the mind, 17, 18. 2. That the principle of honour or glory, governs a man's actions intirely by the judgement and opinion of the world concerning them, 18, 19. Thefe confiderations premised, the principle of honour appears to be utterly infufficient to engage and argue men into the practice of virtue, in the following cafes: 1. When, by ill cuftoms and worse discourses, any vice (as fornication, theft, felf-murder, &c.) comes to have a reputation, or at least no difreputation, in the judgement of a nation; the fhame, God |