SERM. ISHALL Conclude This Head, with VI. obferving that there are Two Particulars, wherein True Religion, the Religion taught by Christ himself, (for the Religion profeffed by many Nations who call themfelves Chriftian, is palpably nothing but Superftition;) the true Religion, I fay, as taught by Christ himself, has in Two Particulars principally, by men who receive not the Gospel, been objected to as encouraging Superftition. One is, that it teaches men to be obftinate and wilful, in parting with all Advantages, even with Life itself, for the fake of Religion. The Other is, that by teaching men to defpife the World, it hinders them from attending to the Good of the Publick, But the Answer to Both thefe Objections is not difficult. Without a Stedfaftness which cannot be moved by Temporal Inconveniencies, there is no Virtue to be depended upon, in natural Religion, any more than in Chriftian: Is therefore All Virtue, nothing but Superftition? And as to deSpifing the World, in the Senfe of withdrawing from the Business of the World, Christianity no where teaches this, but only in Times and Places of general Per fecution VI. fecution. In Other Cafes, defpifing the SER M. World, does not fignify defpifing the Bufiness of the World, or neglecting to attend the Publick Good, but defpifing all Temptations to the Wickedness of the World, the Temptations of lawless Pleafure, the Temptations of unjust Gains, the Temptations of corrupt Ambition. These only, are, in the Scripture-fense, That World which is an Enemy to God. SERMON SERMON VII Of the WISDOM of being Religious. PROV. ix. 10, II. The Fear of the Lord is the begining of Wisdom, and the Knowledge of the Holy is Understanding; For by me thy days fhall be multiplied, and the years of thy Life fhall be increased. T S VII. HERE is no Defire which SER M. Health, are the Foundation of all other enjoyments SER M. enjoyments; and are therefore of greater VII. value than all other Poffeffions put together, because they are neceffary in order to the Enjoyment of thofe Poffeffions ; And without Thefe, all other things that are the Objects of Men's Hopes and Defires in the World, have with regard to Us, no Being, no Subfiftence. For, what fall it profit a man, if he gain the whole World, and lofe his own Life? Or what fhall a man give in exchange for his Life? The principal Point of Wildom therefore in the Conduct of Human Life, is fo to use the enjoyments of this prefent World, as that they may not themselves fhorten that Period, wherein 'tis allowed. us to enjoy them. And if any part of Knowledge deferves a fteddier attention than other, and has of all others the jufteft Pretence to be efteemed invaluable 'tis unquestionably That Knowledge, by which, as the Wifeman here expreffes it, our days may be multiplied, and the Years of our Life may be increased. ; Let us eat and drink, for to morrow. we die; was the reafoning of the Epicure, mentioned by St Paul, I Cor. xv. 32. But it was very falfe reafoning, to make the |