followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Cor. xi. 1.) By this also we fhall be inabled to give a fatisfactory Reafon of all our Actions, and put to filence the Gainfaying of foolish Men without the Affiftance of any profound Knowledge, or deep Speculation. If they deride our Chriftian Vertues, and fcoff at the Duties of Humility, Self-denial, and Mortification; it will be fufficient to answer, That in practifing them, we imitate the Example of the Son of God, the eternal Wisdom of the Father. Let them please themselves with their Mirth, and falfe fuppofal of a more refined Knowledge. We follow an infallible Guide and Pattern; who if he hath not placed the Wisdom of his Precepts in fo clear a Light, as the Sun in Heaven, hath at least recommended them by his Practice, and can affert them by his Power. Such are the Obligations of all Christians, to imitate the Example of their Saviour; and fuch are the Benefits which refult from it. Let us by an earnest endeavour to follow this moft excellent Example, fulfil the Obligations, and obtain the Benefits, that as we have been on Earth made like unto him in Vertue and Holiness; fo we may hereafter in Heaven be made yet more like unto him in Glory and Immortality. SERMON 83 SERMON III. Preach'd October, 1688. at Lambeth Chapel. 1 Pet. III. 15. Be ready always to give an anfwer to every man, that asketh you a reafon of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.. TH HE moft Wife God hath fo contrived that most holy and excellent Religion, which he intended as the most perfect, and ultimate Revelation of his Will to the World; that it tendeth equally to manifeft his own infinite Wisdom and Goodness, and to procure the Salvation of Mankind. His Wifdom appeareth in the Excellency and Simplicity of those Rules which it propofeth; in its immediate tendency to beget and establish due Notions and Apprehenfions of the Deity; in the reasonableness of its Constitution, and admirable Congruity to the Nature of Mankind. His Goodness is confpicuous, not only in those infinite Rewards, which he hath affixed to the performance of it; in the free Pardon of rebellious Sinners, and liberal diftribution of G2 his his Graces; but, which more directly comes under our present Confideration, in adapting that Religion, which he intended for the Benefit of all, to the Capacity of all; and thereby rendring it no lefs eafie than advantageous. And in this the Christian Religion infinitely exceeds all other Syftems of Religion, whether true or falfe. Among the Heathens many great and learned Perfons had imployed their Wits in refining the Superftitions of their Country; and affigning Reasons for that way of Worship, which obtained among them. But their Notions were abftrufe and myftical, their Conceptions dark and unaccountable, above the Understanding and Capacity of the common People, fitted only for the Contemplation of Philofophers; and after all, no other than the products of a volatile Fancy: So little adapted to the understanding of the vulgar, or indeed intended for their benefit; that they were ftudioufly concealed under the venerable Name of Mysteries, and imparted only to Confidents. Among the Jews all imaginable Care was taken to inftruct the People in all neceffary Duties relating to God, themfelves, and their Neighbours: But even the more Learned of them knew not the Reafons of those many Ceremonies and Legal Obfervations imposed on them. They knew in general, that many of them typified the coming of a future Mellias, who fhould inftitute a more excellent Religion, and be the Author of fignal Bencfits to their Nation. But alas, this know ledge ledge was lame and imperfect in its own Nature; and infinitely unfatisfactory to them; who defired to know fomewhat more certain, yet ftill continued to wander in the dark without any certain Guide. This appears from the Writings of those Learned Jews, who lived about the time of our Saviour's coming. These employed their Labours in finding out the hidden meaning of the Mofaick Law, and discovering the Reafons of all thofe Ceremonial Inftitutions; but fo unfuccefsfully, that they plainly mistook the defign of their Divine Lawgiver, and by turning all his Ritual Precepts into Allegories and obfcure Myfteries, defeated their Inftitution and corrupted the Truth of their Religion, with falfe Notions and Interpretations. And no wonder indeed: For the veil was not yet taken from them, nor to be removed, but by the coming of the Meffias, who was to be the Sun of righteoufnefs, difperfing the dark Clouds of Ignorance, and giving Light unto the World. He alone hath made a full Discovery of the Will of God, rendred the knowledge of it eafie to all, and thereby made the Ignorance of neceffary Truths to be inexcufable: Herein compleating the Covenant, which God made with the House of Ifrael in the Prophet Jeremy, xxxi. 33, 34. After thofe days faith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, faying, know the Lord. For they G 3 (ball fball all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, faith the Lord. Yet must we not imagine, that in proposing this plain and eafie Religion, God intended to fupercede all Labours of Mankind, and imprint the knowledge of it even violently upon our Minds. He hath dealt with us as rational Creatures, propofed the Truth clearly to us, enforced it with the most perswasive Arguments, fitted it to our Capacity, and afforded us eafie means of obtaining a perfect knowledge of it. After fuch abundant provifion for the free entertainment of it in our Minds, he leaves it to the Liberty of our Will, whether we will embrace or reject it. To deal otherwife with us were to fuppofe us meer Brutes and Machines, not capable of entertaining any Religion, and unfit to receive either Rewards or Punishments. It was not only the Precept of our Saviour, but the Wisdom of all Ages, Not to caft holy things before Dogs, nor Pearls before Swine; to create a knowledge of Divine Truths in Perfons infenfible of the Benefit conferred upon Mankind in the Revelation of them, and who make no advancement towards their Reception. The Divine Wisdom hath chofen to propose those eternal Truths in fuch a method, as that a perfect acquifition of the knowledge of them might exercise the diligence and obedience of Mankind. We must bring Minds freed from all Prejudices and Pathions, ufe due Attention, fearch the Scriptures, weigh the Reasons and Arguments which perfwade their |