SERM. according to truth, certain and infallible? IX. To conclude, the wisdom of God is ca

Mat.x.28.

pable of contriving, and his power of executing vengeance infinitely more terrible on impenitent finners, than any thing they can undergo in the prefent ftate; and whereas the scene of all the tyranny and oppreffion which we can fuffer from our fellow-creatures, is confined within the narrow compass of this mortal and uncertain existence, he has an unchangeable and endlefs life, and, confequently, can not only punish in what degree, but to what length of duration he pleafes. Our Saviour's advice, therefore, is certainly very just and reasonable; not to fear them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul; but rather to fear him, who after having made perverfe and irreclaimable offenders miferable, in fuch a measure, and for fo long a period, as the wife ends of his government require, can abfolutely deftroy both foul and body in hell.

SER

SERMON X.

Rules for the profitable reading the Holy Scriptures.

A

JOHN V. 39.

Search the Scriptures.--

X.

S mankind are endued with SERM. moral powers, and confequently accountable creatures, it neceffarily follows, that they had always a law or rule of action fufficient to direct their conduct. The original and univerfal law was what we call the law, or religion of nature: This their

Q4

SERM. their reafon was capable of discovering; X. and it would have taught them, if they had confulted, and carefully attended to it, the being and perfections of God, his providential government of the world, the duties they owed to him, and one another, and which related to the right government of their affections and appetites; and, in fhort, how to behave in the various circumftances and relations of human life. In like manner, it would have furnished proper motives to a regular and virtuous conduct, from the excellency of virtue in itself;-its neceffary tendency to the perfection and happiness of human nature, and the good of society;--and by giving a well grounded hope, in fome way or other worthy his infinite wifdom, and concern for the rectitude and order of the moral world, of the special protection and favour of their Creator, and fupreme Governour.

But notwithstanding this wife provifion, by the natural light planted in every man's mind, the world became, in fact, grossly and almost universally depraved;

ran

ran into deplorable ignorance of God; in- SERM. to childish and very dishonourable con- X. ceptions of his nature and attributes; into idolatry; and an abfurd, hurtful, and endless fuperftition; and their RELIGION corrupted their morals. 'Twas not because their reafon was, in itself, infufficient to direct to better fentiments of things, but because it was not improved and cultivated. However, as mankind was really thus corrupted, and had loft, in a great measure, the knowledge of the true religion of nature, the expediency and usefulness of a revelation was not at all the lefs, merely because reason, if rightly exercifed, was capable of discovering all the neceffary principles of morality; nay, indeed, the advantage of it is altogether as evident, as it would have been, if men were unavoidably ignorant of the great truths of religion. For how they came to be out of the way is not the question, whether it proceeded from a defect in their natural powers, or from want of attention, and not ufing thefe powers as they ought; in both cafes, 'tis certain, they needed to be fet right a

gain,

SERM. gain, and recovered to a just sense of their X. duty, and happiness: And accordingly

God was pleased graciously to interpose, and give a revelation suited to the circumftances and neceffities of an ignorant and degenerate world: But tho' this revelation was an unfpeakable privilege at firft, by putting a stop to superstition and wickedness, and diffusing light and knowledge amongst men; tho' it may fill be of the utmost use, to the bulk of mankind, as a fanding rule, by fupplying them constantly with proper thoughts, which is what the common people, in all ages, have most wanted, and prescribing a plain, intelligible, and compleat rule of morals; notwithstanding, I say, that a revelation is fo defireable a bleffing, and may answer fuch valuable purposes, 'tis certain that men may pervert it, as well as extinguish their reafon; and that if it be neglected, and not examined into with care and impartiality, it will be, just as that natural light was, and is at prefent, in the more ignorant and fuperftitious parts of the world, dark and useless: Of which the monstrous corruptions of chriftianity in Popish countries, equal to any