THE EXCELLENCY OF THE SPIRIT OF BENEVOLENCE. A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1772. Χρισιανισμός εςι της Θείας φυσεως μίμησις. Christianity confifts in the imitation of the divine nature. GREGORY NYSSEN. IT is the peculiar glory of the religion we profess, that, at the same time that it tends to inform our understandings, it meliorates our focial nature; and, with irrefiftible energy, inclines us to regard both God and man, with fentiments of fervent love. For this reafon, in the discharge of my duty as a lecturer upon the gofpels, I always earnestly exhorted you to confider religion as a fcience, B 3 * November 21, 1768. (6) a fcience, which has for its proper object the culture of the human heart. A conftant attention to the end, evidently propofed in the gofpel difpenfation, is one of the most likely means to lead us to a juft conception of each particular doctrine. And, as good will to man was the declared purpose of the almighty in revealing it, and was uniformly displayed in every action of our redeemer, we have reafon to conclude, that thofe doctrines are of prime importance to our falvation, which appear to be more immediately productive of a beneficent practice. Riches, falfe pleafures, and the luft of power, are generally efeemed the grand corrupters of our nature; but the pride of heart, which the reputation of fuperior knowledge, or abilities, too frequently infpires, may be equally prejudicial to the interefts of fociety, and in no lefs measure deftructive of our virtue, and our inward peace. Happy indeed would it have been for the christian world, if the profeffors, of what is termed religious knowledge, had been able to |
