SERM. pearances, but only not to trust too much VIII. to them. Let us remember the fame Rule likewife whenever we are called to form our Judgment of things, efpecially of things that relate to Religion. It will make us wiser, more folid, steady and judicious Chriftians. Efpecially if any Duty appears to us difagreeable or difficult. If it be a plain, certain Duty, that is enough to determine us: the Appearance of things is not to goBut what should recommend it above all, is the exprefs Command of Jefus Christ himself; whom we profefs to obey in all things, after which I need add nothing further to enforce it.

vern us.

SER

SERMON

IX.

RULES to form a Righteous JUDGMENT.

JOHN vii. 24.

Judge not according to the Appearance, but judge righteous Judg

ment.

I

N thefe Words we have a double Precept; one negative, and the other pofitive. The nega

tive Precept is, Judge not according to the Appearance. This I have already particularly handled; and opened to you the excellency of this Rule, by fhewing you in several instances, how apt we are to be impofed upon, and led to form a wrong P 2 Judg

IX.

SERM. Judgment by the mere external Appearance of things; and in what cafes this negative Rule is more especially to be applied.

I proceed now to the positive part of the Injunction, Fudge righteous Judgment. In treating of which I propose,

I. To confider the Importance of this
Précept.

II. What it contains; or how we are to
form our Practice by it.

I. I am to confider the Importance of it. This Command of Chrift equally concerns us with thofe Jews to whom it was at first immediately delivered. And a Command of great Importance it is; whether we confider the Authority of him from whom it came, the Circumftances of those to whom it is given, or the neceffary Confequences either of obeying, or neglecting it.

1. If we consider the Authority of him from whom it came; viz. Jefus Chrift our divine Mafter, to whofe Authority we are bound by the most folemn Obligations to fubmit, and whofe Laws we acknowledge ourselves ready fincerely to obey. This is implied in

our

our Christian Profeffion. It is not a diftant SERM. confequence, or inference drawn from the IX. obfcure Words of Chrift's Apoftles, but a plain and exprefs Precept of Chrift himself; and which therefore in Duty to him we are obliged to make a Rule of Life; that is, to take care how we judge rafhly, or determine precipitantly in any cafe whatsoever, and efpecially in Affairs that relate to Religion. A wilful neglect of this Rule is a wilful Contempt of the Authority of him who enjoined it: nor do we act a part confiftent with the character of his Disciples and Followers, if when we know it to be his express Command, we pay it no more regard than if it were the Advice of an equal, or an inferior, whofe Authority we do not acknowledge.

2. The importance of this Duty further appears, if we confider to whom this Command is given. The Perfons to whom this Advice was immediately directed most certainly flood in the greatest need of it. No Men were more apt to form a rash and wrong Judgment of things (efpecially of those that concerned Religion) or were more apt to be misled by their native Prejudices

SERM. than the Jewish Priests and Pharifees. AndTM IX. if, by the Grace of GoD, and the Favour

of Providence in difpofing of our Circumftances in Life, and the manner of our Education, we have a better Temper and Understanding than they, yet there is in all of us fomething of the fame Pride, Darkness and Prejudice, the fame Carnality, Paffion and Perverseness, which led them into the moft fatal Miftakes. Which renders the Advice given immediately to them exceedingly proper, and pertinent to us; and in this view it may imply in it a Warning to us all, to beware of thofe evil Difpofitions of Mind which betrayed them into the most dange rous Mifapprehenfions and Mistakes, concerning Chrift's Perfon, Character and Conduct.

3. The importance of this Precept further appears by confidering the mifchievous Consequences of neglecting it. All the miferies of Mankind arife from their Sin and Error; and all their Sin and Error from a wrong Practice, in purfuance of a wrong Judgment. Whence arofe all that enormous Heap of Errors maintained at this Day by the Church of Rome, but from this Source? They