SER M. have been Some in St John's time, against VIII. whom he directs his Difcourfe, in his First

to a

Epiftle, ch. i. 8. If we fay that we have no Sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. But in our prefent Age, men are apt to run much rather into the contrary extreme; not pretending perfection above what is human, but neglecting to endeavour after what is their Duty to obtain. They know God to be a Being of infinite Holiness; that he charges even his Angels with Folly, and the Heavens are not pure in his Sight: And therefore they think frail men may be excufed from attempting to imitate him at all. But This is a very wicked and profane Suggeftion. For though the Goodnefs indeed of fuch imperfect crea-. tures as we are, can be but in a very mean and low degree; yet in that proportion and degree, we are indifpenfably bound to follow after it. And as a Finite can refemble infinite, fo we are to resemble God, by partaking of the fame moral excellencies in kind, though they cannot but be infinitely inferiour in degree. The Light of a Star, though it bears no proportion at all to the glorious Beauty of

the

he Sun, yet Light it is nevertheless, and SER M. directly contrary to Darkness: So the VIII. Virtues of Angels and of Men, though they bear no proportion to the adorable Perfections of God, yet, in their proper meafure and degree, they refemble them, as being of the fame nature and kind; oppofite and contrary to wickedness, just as every degree of Light is contrary to Darkness. The Apostle aptly expreffes This, by the fimilitude of a Child learning to imitate the Virtues of a wife man, and an affectionate Parent; Eph. v. 1. Be ye therefore Followers of God, faith he, as Dear Children.

3dly, BUT though our Imitation of the moral Perfections of God, is always to be understood with thefe great Limitations; as fignifying an imitation of Likenefs only, and not of Equality; fuitable to the weak nature of fuch frail, imperfect, and fallible Creatures. Yet ought we alfo to confider, that even in the Degrees of Goodness it is our Duty continually to improve, if we will at all anfwer the Precept in the Text, Be ye Haly, for I am Holy. A perfect and most complete Example is fet before us to N 4 imitate,

SER M. imitate, that aiming always at That which VIII. is moft excellent, we may grow conti

nually and make a perpetual Progress in the ways of Virtue: And though we can never come up to our Pattern itself, yet, by fuch imitation as our frail and mortal nature is capable of, we may attain to what St Peter calls being made Partakers of the Divine Nature. Which participation of true Holiness after the Image of him that created us, is truly and in a proper Senfe the comparative Perfection of our Humane nature, as abfolute Perfection is the Perfection of the Divine. Which clearly explains the meaning and extent of St Paul's exhortation, 2 Cor. vii. 1.

that we should perfect Holiness in the Fear of God; and That Advice of our Saviour himself, St Matt. v. 48. Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in

fect.

Heaven is per

III. It remains now in the last place, that I draw fome ufeful Obfervations from the Whole of what has been faid; and fo concludę. And

ift, Ir true Religion confifts in the imi- SER M. tation of God; and all imitation of God, VIII.

is of neceffity confined to his moral Perfections only; then it hence evidently follows, that moral Virtue is the chief End of Religion; and that, to place the main stress of religion in any thing elfe befides true Virtue, is Enthusiasm or Superftition. When our Saviour gave his Apostles Power over unclean Spirits, he thought it neceffary to add at the fame time the following Caution, Luke x. 20. Notwithstanding in This rejoice not, that the Spirits are fubject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your Names are written in Heaven: your Names are written in Heaven, that is, your Repentance and Obedience is acceptable to God: For fo, in Scripture-phrafe, they who keep the Commandments of God, are faid to be written in the Book of Life; and those who Sin against him, he threatens that he will blot out of his Book, Exod. xxxii. 33. Again: In his description of the day of Judgment, Many, fays our Saviour, will fay to me in That day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy Name, and in thy Name have caft out devils, and in thy

Name

VIII.

SERM. Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, Depart from Me ye that work iniquity; that is, all ye who have lived vitioufly and immorally. manner, I Cor. xiii. 1.

St Paul in like Though I speak fays he, with the Tongues of Men and Angels; and though I have the gift of Prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all Faith, fo that I could remove Mountains, and have not charity,it profiteth me nothing. The greateft part of the Rulers of this World, are ftrangely guilty of This Erfour; when they affect rather to be like God in Power, which is not an imitable Attribute, than in Goodness, wherein alone 'tis their Glory to be like him.

2dly, I true Religion confifts in the imitation of God; and that which is imitable in God, be his moral Perfections: hence it follows neceflarily, that moral Excellencies, Justice, Justice, Goodness, Truth, and the like, are of the fame kind in God as in Men. For otherwife, if (as fome have imagined in order to maintain unintelligible doctrines,) Justice, Goodnefs, and Truth in God, did not answer

our