Page images
PDF
EPUB

the inconveniences which attend them, they SER M. are repented of and not executed, whereby X. as imprudence and levity of mind is discovered, fo the tendency is to an habitual trifling in, and irreverence for facred things. Therefore in things which are of an arbitrary nature (I do not speak of the effential duties of piety and virtue, to which we are under an antecedent indifpenfable obligation, though our repeated purposes of performing them ought to be made deliberately; but as to those matters which are more properly under our power) we should avoid precipitancy; and the thing being in itself lawful, what we have promifed hould be done without delay, for the reafons, already infinuated, and because fuch foolish instability is difpleafing to God. Wherefore, faith Solomon in the text, should God be angry at thy voice, and defroy the work of thine hands.

Having infifted fo much on the faults which, thro' the folly, inattention, and depravity of men, attend the performance of pofitive inftrumental duties of religion, whereby they are rendered ineffectual to their proper ends, and unacceptable to God; it is neceffary to add one caution, and with it I fhall conclude; namely, that thefe duties do not come into difufe and contempt with us. This is an U 2

extreme

SERM. extreme which fome have fallen into, and X. perhaps never more than now.

But how

unreasonable is it? Because inftituted religious fervices have been groffly abused, doth it therefore follow that they are altogether infignificant? Because they are not in themfelves, and by the original defign of the inftitutor, of equal importance with judgment, faith, mercy, and the love of God, but fubordinated to them as means, therefore they are of no importance at all? Or, because they have been turned into superstition, and perverted fo as to make void the moral commandments of God, and defeat virtue and goodness among men, by being fubftituted in the place of them, and relied on in oppofition to them, as founding a claim to the favour of God, therefore the proper use of them for promoting virtue and goodness is to be laid afide? Surely God hath an unalienable right to our obedience; and fince his institutions are mercifully intended for our

advantage, and we ourselves may fee the ap

titude of them for that purpose, we ought to attend them dutifully and diligently from an affectionate regard to the authority by which they are enjoined; only taking care that we do it in a proper manner, with understanding, and an upright intention to ferve the true

ends

X.

ends and purposes of them; for as experience SER M.
sheweth, that the fuperftitious abuse of exter-
nal fervices in religion is infinitely hurtful, fo
on the other hand, it is matter of moft fen-
fible obfervation, that through the neglect and
difefteem of them, true piety declineth,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

SERMON XI.

The EVIL and FOLLY of COVE

TOUSNESS.

SERM.

XI.

Luke XII. 15:

And be faid unto them, take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life confifteth not in the abundance of the things which be pofSelleth.

C

Ovetoufnefs denoteth two different tempers of the mind; the firft is an undue defire of that which is another perfon's property, contrary to justice, which is an univerfal law to mankind, and to that feparate and peculiar right, to the enjoyment of life belonging to every individual which neceffarily taketh place in our present condition. This fin is expreffly prohibited in the tenth commandment, and feemeth to be added as a fecurity to fome other precepts of the law, and a barrier against the violation of them. Our ftate in the world being fuch, that the ends of it could not be

obtained

pur

XI.

obtained by a community of goods, and SERM. therefore requiring a distinction of property, the divine wisdom hath established it as a perpetual rule for the common fafety and for preferving publick order and peace, that no man should invade the juft poffeffion of another by open violence, or endeavour to deprive him of it by fecret fraud; which design also is pursued, and ought to be fued, by human political conftitutions. But the authority of God goeth farther than that of men; he not only forbiddeth outward acts of violence and deceit, which they forbid likewise, he layeth also a restraint on the appetites of the mind, and under the penalty of grievous inward remorse, and of his future difpleasure, forbideth entering into any fecret devices and purposes of heart which may have a tendency to injure our neighbour. The second fignification of the word covetoufness is, an immoderate defire of worldly poffeffions in whatever way they are to be acquired, even fuppofing it should be without injuftice of any kind. This is certainly the fource of the other evil: when riches become the idol of the heart, esteemed and defired far above what the real value and the proper use of them will justify, the next step is to wish for a deliverance from

U 4

the

« PreviousContinue »