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tween the increase of religious knowledge, SERMON and the happiness of mankind. The knowledge of the Lord filling the earth, is assigned as the cause why they shall not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain of God. To this I am now to lead your thoughts; as a subject both suited to the occasion of the present meeting, and proper to be illustrated in times, wherein total indifference to religious principles appears to gain ground. Whether Christianity shall be propagated farther or not, is treated as a matter of no great concern to mankind. The opinion prevails among many, that moral virtue may subsist, with equal advantage, independent of religion. For moral principles great regard is professed; but articles of religious belief are held to be abstract tenets, remote from life; points of mere speculation and debate, the influence of which is very inconsiderable on the actions of men. The general conduct, it is contended, will always proceed upon views and principles which have more relation to the present state of things; and religious knowledge can therefore stand in no necesVOL. II.

Dd

sary

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SERMON sary connection with their happiness and prosperity.- -How adverse such opinions are, both to the profession and practice of religion, is abundantly evident. How adverse they are to the general welfare and real interests of mankind, I hope to make appear to candid minds.

By the knowledge of the Lord, in the text, is not to be understood the natural knowledge of God only. It is plain that the Prophet speaks of the age of the Messiah, when more enlarged discoveries should be made to mankind of the Divine perfections and government, than unassisted reason could attain. The knowledge of the Lord, therefore, comprehends the principles of Christianity, as well as of natural religion. In order to discern the importance of such knowledge to general happiness, we shall consider man, I. as an individual; II. as a member of society.

I. CONSIDERING man as an individual, let us inquire how far the knowledge of true religion is important, first, to his improvement; next, to his consolation.

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FIRST, With respect to the improvement SERMON of man; the advancement of his nature in what is valuable and useful, the acquisition of such dispositions and habits as fit him for acting his part with propriety on this stage, and prepare him for a higher state of action, hereafter; what benefit does he receive, in these respects, from religious knowledge and belief? It it obvious, that all increase of knowledge is improvement to the understanding. The more that its sphere is enlarged, the greater number of objects that are submitted to its view, especially when these objects are of intrinsic excellence, the more must those rational powers, which are the glory of man, be in the course of attaining their proper strength and maturity. But were the knowledge of religion merely speculative, though the speculation must be admitted to be noble, yet less could be said of its importance. We recommend it to mankind, as forming the heart, and directing the life. Those pure and exalted conceptions which the Christian religion has taught us to entertain of the Deity, as the universal Father and righteous Governor Dd 2

of

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SERMON of the universe, the Standard of unspotted perfection; and the Author of every good and perfect gift; conducting his whole administration with an eternal regard to order, virtue, and truth; ever favouring the cause, and supporting the interests, of righteous men ; and applying, in this direction, the whole might of omnipotence, and the whole council of unerring wisdom, from the be ginning to the end of things; such conceptions both kindle devotion, and strengthen virtue. They give fortitude to the mind in the practice of righteousness, and establish the persuasion of its being our highest in

terest.

All the doctrines peculiar to the Gospel are great improvements on what the light of nature had imperfectly suggested. A high dispensation of Providence is made known particularly suited to the exigencies of man; calculated for recovering him from that corrupted state into which experience bears witness that he is fallen, and for restoring him to integrity, and favour with his Creator. The method of carrying on this great plan is such as gives us the most strik

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ing views of the importance of righteous- SERMON ness or virtue, and of the high account in which it stands with God. The Son of God appeared on the earth, and suffered as a propitiation for the sins of the world, with this express intention, that he might bring in everlasting righteousness; that he might purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God; that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Such a merciful interposition of the Creator of the world, while it illustriously displays his goodness, and signalizes his concern for the moral interests of mankind, affords us at the same time, the most satisfying ground of confidence and trust, It offers an object to the mind on which it can lay hold for the security of its future hopes; when with a certainty far beyond what any abstract argument could yield, it appeals to a distinguished fact; and is enabled to say, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall be not with him also freely give us all things *.