That this is preaching Chrift is evi- SERM. dent, beyond all reasonable difpute, from I. the text, and the verse immediately preceding, where we are told, that Felix fent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith of Christ; and as, i. e. in explaining the faith, or doctrine, of Christ, be reafon'd of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. And this method bears the neareft conformity to our faviour's own example, whose whole fermon on the mount, the longest he ever preach'd, is entirely taken up in recommending moral duties; and the drift of, almost, all his parables is either to inculcate, in general, honefty and integrity of mind, or urge the practice of particular virtues, or discountenance and restrain prevailing, and deftructive vices. The fum of our duty, in the opinion of this divine inftructor, confifts in the love of God, and of our neighbour; and according to St. James, pure religion and undefil'd, before God, even the Father, is this, to vifit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himSelf unspotted from the world. So that all those who decry moral virtue, which

I.

SERM. is the fupreme dignity of God himself, and infeparably connected with the happinefs of all rational beings, as a thing of no avail towards obtaining the divine favour, and the privileges and rewards of christianity, do, in effect, (tho', I am perfuaded, with a quite different design, even to exalt, instead of diminishing, the honour of the gospel) fubvert the very fundamental principles both of natural and reveal'd religion.

And from what has been faid it appears, that to explain and prefs the eternal laws of morality is not only a truly Chriftian, but, beyond comparison, the most useful method of preaching. In this I include enforcing the rules of virtue by all the peculiar motives which the Chrif tian religion fuggefts; and making all its doctrines fubfervient to holiness. There is a paffage, in St. Paul's epiftle to Titus, very particular, and ftrong to this purpofe; this is a faithful faying, and these things I will that thou affirm conftantly, that they who have believ'd in God might be careful to maintain good works; these things are good and profitable to men. They are of invariable importance; of

univerfal

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univerfal advantage; and tend to ad- SERM.! vance the highest interests of human nature in all ages, nations, and circumstances; and under every poffible denomination and form of true religion. To cultivate in the minds of men a fupreme reverence and love of God, and promote the mutual exercife of ftrict impartial justice, generous and extenfive benevolence, meekness and condefcenfion, peaceableness and humility, and a strict regard to all the rules of chastity and temperance, is to make them most amiable in themselves, useful to fociety, and the favourites of heaven.

But of what advantage is it to fet faith and reafon at variance, and lay more ftrefs on believing right, which is a qualification the most profligate and abandon'd may attain to (nay even the devils believe and tremble) than on purity of heart, and righteousness of life?

Of what advantage is it to magnify the grace of God, by difparaging and vilifying human nature, which is the work of God; by representing mankind as having lost their noble powers of reafon and liberty, and, confequently, being altoge

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SERM. ther as uncapable of religion as the brute creatures? — -What end does it anfwer to wrap religion up in darkness, and lay a great stress on the incomprehenfible fubtilties of School-divinity, but to confound weak understandings, make the ignorant conceited and cenforious, and foment a spirit of uncharitableness and party-zeal? What is the use of infifting on abfolute and irreverfible decrees, but to encourage prefumption, or drive to defpair? Or in fixing the whole of our falvation on the righteousness of another imputed to us, and giving a despicable representation of the most exalted human virtues, unless it be to mortify the best of men, and flacken their diligence and zeal, and flatter the very worst in their vices?

I may add to what has been already faid, that not only the recommending and inculcating, but reasoning about points of morality is of fingular advantage, and the very beft way to propagate the knowledge and practice of Christianity. Of this we have a plain example in the conduct of St. Paul, who is defcrib'd, in the text, as reafoning, with

Felix, of righteousness, temperance, and SERM. judgment to come. And, indeed, the I. more of reafon there appears in our religion, the brighter are the internal characters of its divine original. Men will be the more strongly difpos'd to obey it, when they are convinc'd that 'tis not impos'd by a mere arbitrary authority, but is excellent in itself, and conducive to their happiness. Befides, by this method we shall represent our duty in a greater variety of lights, to ftrike every paffion, and fuit it to all tempers and circumftances. So that whatever will not stand the test of free argument and enquiry can't be the religion of reasonable beings, nor proceed from a wife and beneficent governour; but is fit only for a TYRANT to enjoin, and SLAVES to fubmit to.

4. A sense of guilt makes those things the objects of averfion and horror, which, naturally, yield the highest delight and fatisfaction. We have an instance, in the text of one that was fhock'd at the strict obligations of justice, without which there can be no pleasure, or convenience in human life, and the whole frame of civil

focieties