of Men, is most shamefully abfurd in all who SER M. profess a Veneration for the Gofpel. The VII. Inconfiftency of this Temper with the End' of Christianity is indeed fo very apparent, that it must be a moft blind and ungovernable Zeal that can hinder any from perceiving it. It is certain that all who reflect calmly upon it, must condemn it as the most preposterous and inexcufable thing in Christians that can be.

4. Laftly, From what has been discoursed, we may remark wherein that Perfection, which we should be always afpiring and growing up to, confifts; even in a Temper of Love freely exerting itself in all the Acts of a rational Piety and Devotion towards God, and of a generous and extenfive Beneficence to Mankind. This is what both the Frame of our Nature, and the Declarations of God in his Word, point out to us as our highest End and our greatest Excellence and Accomplishment. This Temper, therefore, we should by all means raise and cherish in ourselves, and never be contented with any lower Attainments in Religion. It may perhaps be allowable for thofe, who are but newly entered upon Religion, and who are to be confidered only as Babes and little Children in it, to act from a lefs generous and perfect Difpofition;

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SERM. pofition; but it may certainly be expected of VII. all who are of any confiderable standing in

the Profeffion of Religion, that they should proceed upon manly and noble Principles; that they fhould offer to God an ingenuous and liberal Service; that they fhould perform their good Works, not from Conftraint and Fear, but from a Mind touched with a lively Senfe of the Beauty of Virtue, with tender Impreffions of Gratitude towards God, and a fincere and pure Good-will to Mankind. Thefe are the Difpofitions which must be always prevailing and growing in us, if we would arrive at the true Perfection of Chriftianity, act up to the Dignity of our own Beings, and prepare ourselves for that perfect and happy State into which we hope to enter hereafter, where all other Affections and Principles of Action being done away, pure Love will influence our Behaviour for evermore.

SERMON

SERMON VIII.

The Evidence of a future Judgment, and its Influence for engaging Men to Repentance.

ACTS XVII. 30, 31,

And the Times of this Ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all Men every where to repent; because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness, by that Man whom be bath ordained, whereof he hath given affurance unto all Men, in that he hath raifed him from the Dead.

T

HE Confideration of a future Judgment, which is a thing very fully discovered and afcertained by the Gofpel, is frequently inculcated by our Lord and his Apostles, as a strong Motive and Argument

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SERM.gument for reclaiming Men from their Sins, VIII. and for engaging them to Repentance and the

Practice of Virtue: St. Paul particularly de

clares in the Text, that now that God has given the World the most authentick Affurance of an univerfal righteous Judgment, by the Refurrection of his Son from the Dead, he more than ever infifts upon the Repentance of Men. The former Times of Ignorance be winked at; he did not fo feverely animadvert as he might juftly have done, upon the Corruption and Wickedness of Mankind for feveral Ages preceding the Revela tion of the Gospel, in which the great Truths and Principles of Religion were most unhappily obfcured, and in fome measure loft, in that heap of Abfurdity and Folly, which the Weakness and Superftition of Men had introduced; but now fince the Doctrine of our Saviour has not only revived the natural Law, but has confirmed and enforced it with much stronger Sanctions than it had before, by a clear Revelation of a State of endless Rewards and Punishments, to which every one will be adjudged in another World, according to his good or bad Conduct in this, God expects that Mankind will fuffer this Confideration to have its proper Weight and Influence upon them, and commands them

all,

M• VIII.

upon pain of his highest Displeasure, SER M. h is to be declared in the future Judg

against all Ungodliness and Unrighteoujefs of Men, to forfake their evil Ways, and to lead Lives of the ftricteft Piety, Purity, and Virtue: But now commandeth all Men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a Day, in the which he will judge the World in Righteoufness, by that Man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given Aurance unto all Men, in that he hath raised him from the Dead. In treating of this Subject, I fhall,

I. Confider what Evidence and Affurance we have of a future Judgment.

II. Shew what Force the Confideration of this fhould have for engaging Men to Repentance and a Reformation of their Lives.

First, I fhall confider what Evidence and Affurance we have of a future Judgment. Now though this Point has received the fulleft Confirmation from the Gofpel, which must take away from the Minds of all who embrace it, every Doubt and Sufpicion about the Certainty of a future Judgment; yet our Belief of it does not depend entirely upon the Testimony of Revelation, nor were Man

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kind