Father, and to be perfect as he is perfect; to imitate him in his goodness and holiness by our conftant endeavours to fubdue our paffions and corrupt affections, and to increase in virtue and piety; to imitate him in his grace and mercy by our kindness to all men, by forgiving injuries, and doing good to our very enemies; to imitate him also in his justice, by doing as we would be done by, and by keeping a confcience void of offence towards all men, and by a steady adherence to his religion.

Again: The nature of the duties prescribed in fcripture is such as is most reasonable for us to perform; becaufe religion is the fervice of our most reasonable faculties. The commands of fcripture reach to the heart; the service required is a spiritual service; not confifting in meats and drinks and outward ceremonies, but in a right temper of mind, and a due conformity of our actions to the law of God. Nothing is required but what it is our intereft to perform, and nothing is forbidden us but what would difturb the peace of our minds here, and be destructive to us hereafter.

And

And as the services are just and reasonable, fo the motives and encouragements to perform them are great and glorious. We have the promise of the divine Spirit to strengthen our weakness in running the race that is set before us; we have the meek and holy Jefus as an example of patience and perfeverance in holinefs; we have the noble army of apostles and martyrs for our patterns in faith and conftancy; we have the affurance, that God will never leave or forfake us; we have the holy fcriptures for our guide and comfort; and we have the certain hope of an immortal crown of glory for our reward hereafter.

Thus we fee then how excellent and comfortable the fcriptures are for all the purposes of a happy life; for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for inftruction in righteousness.

How much then does it become us to receive them with reverence and attention! For the clearer are their evidences, the more gracious their promises, the more extensive their privileges, the more noble their doctrines, the greater alfo will be our condemnation, if we neglect or defpife them.

What

What remains, then, but that we refolve to make them the conftant guides and companions of our lives. Let us meditate upon them, my brethren, when we lie down and when we rise up. Let us teach them to our children and families; let us be thankful to God for having given us so inestimable a blessing; and, above all, let us be careful to follow the commandments and copy the examples of holinefs contained in them. Thus fhall we enjoy the fureft support against the changes and chances of this mortal life; thus fhall we discharge the duties we owe to those committed to our care; thus fhall we be the happy instruments of leading others to God, and shall finally affure to ourselves a glorious place in his eternal kingdom,

VOL. III.

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SER

SERMON LVIII.

PROVERBS Xxii. 6.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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S our future welfare and eternal hap

piness depend upon our prefent conduct and behaviour in the well-ordering our lives; and as we fhall be intitled to an eter. nity of blifs or mifery, according to the manner and proportion of our religious exercises; fo we fhould make it our first and chief bufi, nefs to acquire fo much religious knowledge, as, when rightly obtained, and duly practifed, will make us wife unto falvation.

Yet there is nothing more clear, than that the bulk of mankind give themselves very little trouble to form right apprehenfions of the religion

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