us for, let us always endeavour to cultivate SER M. and strengthen in ourselves becoming difpo- IV. fitions and principles of action, fuch as a filial reverence and love of God, gratitude to Jefus Chrift, and affection to the things above, where he fitteth at the right hand of God, a delight in virtue and goodness, and a contempt for the pleasures of fin, and the mean tranfitory enjoyments of this world, that fo under the influence of these noble principles, we may always walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

I hope we will not be the lefs, but the more inclined to the chriftian fervice, because it is not rigorously enjoined as a burdenfome task, and extorted by the threatnings of temporal punishment, but we are invited to it from hearty affection, and by rational motives. Slaves are dragged unwilling before their mafter to hear with terror his fevere commandments, and with a dread of penal infliction; but children come of choice into the presence of their gracious father, and with confidence in his paternal tenderness. The worship which the gospel prefcribeth is fo reasonable and fimple, fo worthy of men, and perfective of their higher powers, that one would think we should need no exhortation to it;

SERM. and ingenuous fpirits would be better recons IV. ciled to the yoke of Chrift, because it iş

eafy and light. Surely freedom must be pleafing to the human nature, and those actions the moft agreeable which are our own choice: But the true reafon why religious exercises are infipid to many, and fo much neglected, is the want or weakness of thofe fublime fentiments and pious affections which christianity infpireth; the impreffions of God are not lively, of his prefence with his creatures, preferving and governing them with perfect wisdom and equity, of his love and grace to finful mankind; love to him is cold; fo is the defire of righteousness, far fhort of that hunger and thirft which our Saviour recommendeth; there is little relish of moral worth and perfection; therefore are pious meditations, prayer, and other acts of devotion, fo little relifhed; nay, fo much defpifed by many profeffed chriftians, very unfuitably to the principles and fpirit of their profeffion, the Ipirit of adoption, crying Abba Father, inclining his children to ferve him with alacrity and joy, with fervent affection and dutiful refpect. The earnestness and intention of mind, the joy and enlargement of heart, the defire and delight with which

the

the fervants of God under the Old Tefta- SER M. ment performed his worship, which then IV. was earthly, carnal, and illiberal, in comparifon, reproacheth our floth and indifference in attending the better worship in Spirit and truth, which our Saviour hath taught us; they rejoyced when they went up to the boufe of God; they esteemed a day in it better than a thousand elsewhere; they meditated in the divine law night and day, and made it their fongs in the boufe of their pilgrimage; though it was but a weak and low œconomy they were under, they came to a terrestrial mount, a law given by angels with prodigies, causing the utmost confternation and horror; but fince better things are provided for us, we are come to mount Zion, to the Jerufalem above, which is free, that happy state, which is not put in subjection to the angels, but in which they minifter to them who shall be heirs of falvation, to a clearer knowledge, and freer access to God, with open face bebolding in a glass his glory by Jefus Christ his brightest image: Since it is fo, and we have received a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

SERM.

.

To proceed farther on this subject, it is IV. to be observed, that the liberty last mentioned, and principally meant in the text, the freedom of chriftians from the obligations of the ceremonial law and the Jewish traditions, fo ftrenuously afferted by the writers of the New Teftament; that, I fay, it refteth upon this principle, that chriftianity, as originally delivered by our Saviour and his apostles, is a perfect plan of instituted religion, fufficient to all the purposes of such an inftitution without any addition to it, or the mixture of any other religious opinions or rites for ever. This is the truth of the gofpel which St. Paul would have to continue with the churches; and the reason why he fo warmly oppofed the introduction of any ceremonies which Chrift had not appointed in the paffage above referred to. And in another place, (Rom. xiv.) treating of the fame fubject, the Jewish ceremonies, the impofition whereof he zealously refisteth, teaching that every christian should be left to his liberty in ufing or forbearing them, as prudence and charity fhculd direct; he thus defcribeth the kingdom of God, or the gofpel inftitution, that it is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghoft and addeth, for he that

in those things ferveth Chrift, is acceptable to SERM. God, and approved of men. The end of the IV. gofpel inftitution, is to inftruct men how they may obtain the divine acceptance, and to be the foundation of a religious fociety. Now to these ends nothing more is neceffary than the great substantials of religion, univerfal righteousnefs, and peace, and fpiritual joy, arifing from them; for he that in those things ferveth Chrift, fulfilleth the design of christianity, is intitled to the favour of God, and approved by men, to be received by chriftians into all the intimacies of their religi ous fellowship, without fubmitting to any other imposition.

It followeth, that chriftians can be under no human appointment whatever, in matters purely of religion and confcience; and this alfo is one part of the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made them free. There never was, nor ever will be, a more plausible appearance of reafon for ufing, or requiring to be used, any external observances not inftituted by Jefus Chrift, than for fome at least of the Jewish ceremonies, which, befides their being inftructive emblems of moral purity, and probably fo originally intended, had once the fanction of divine authority, a strong argument of their innocence, and be