SERM. Interpretations of the Jewish Doctors VII. would admit of, then it is plain, that the

Gospel does not only not make void the Law, but establish and confirm it. It comes not to us indeed, like Bernice and Agrippa, in great Pomp and Magnificence, as before; but when we have examined what Improvements the Gofpel has made upon it, we shall fee it in the more beautiful Garments of Holinefs and Purity.

In the firft Commandment, the Jews are taught to have the Lord for their God, and to have none other befides Him. The Gospel teaches us the fame, but adds mightily to it, by informing us, that the putting too great a Value upon the things of this Life is a having other Gods befides Him; and therefore the giving up our felves to the Love of Riches is called the ferving of Mammon, which we can't do, and obey God at the fame time, because it is a putting that Truft in Mammon, that is due only to the true God; and is as much a fetting up of other Gods, as that was, when the Ifraelites worshipped Baalim and Afhtaroth, and the Gods of

Aram

Aram and Sidon Hence it is, that the
Apoftle calls Covetoufnefs, Idolatry.

The Second Commandment teaches them what they are to obferve, as to the Manner of worshipping God; that they should not do it under any Representation what foever. This too is much improved by the Gofpel, which teaches us that it must not be done in a ritual figurative Manner, which after all was the greatest Pitch of Worship they could attain to under the Law, but in Spirit, and in Truth; and gives us a clearer Notion of the Divine Being, and of his wonderful Love to his Creatures, difcovered in the furprizing Method of our Redemption.

The Third Commandment

teaches

them not to take the Name of the Lord their God in vain; and is much established and improved by the Gofpel, when it teaches us, not only not to take the Name of God in vain by fwearing falfely by him, but that in our ordinary Communication we should not fwear at all; nay we are not fo much as to fwear by Heaven, for it is God's Throne, nor by the Earth, for it is his Footstool. And we are further told

SERM,

VII.

SERM. by our Saviour, that we are to give an Ac count for every idle Word.

VII.

As to the Fourth Commandment, the Gospel clears it from the false Constructi ons, which the Scribes and Pharifees had put upon it, by condemning A&s of Charity and Beneficence on the Seventh Day, as a Breach of the Sabbath; and yet fo great was their Hypocrify, that they themselves would not, if an Afs or an Ox were fallen into a Pit, refuse to help him out on the Sabbath-Day.

The Fifth Commandment, which is very strict in enjoining the Duty of Children to Parents, is also established by the Gospel, which condemns the evil Practices of the Jews, as to that Matter: For they faid, Whofoever shall fay to his Father, or his Mother, It is a Gift, by whatsoever thou might'st be profited by me, and shall not honour his Father, or bis Mother, he fhall be free. Thus, fays our Saviour, made the Commmandments of God of none Effect by your Tradition.

bave

ye

The Sixth Commandment forbidding Murder is fulfilled, and improved by the Gofpel:

Gospel: For their Tradition ran thus, It SERM. was faid by them of old time, Thou shalt VII. not kill; and whosoever fhall kill, shall be in Danger of the Judgment: But, fays our Saviour, I fay unto you, that whosoever is angry with his Brother without a Cause, fhall be in Danger of the Judgment, &c.

The Seventh Commandment prohibiting Adultery is confirmed and established by the Gospel, with this Improvement, that it adds the Adultery of the Heart.

The Eighth Commandment prohibiting Theft is fully confirmed and established by thefe Words of our Saviour; All things whatfoever ye would that Men Should do do ye even fo unto them.

unto you,

As to the Ninth Commandment, the Gospel has improved it to fuch a Degree, that we are not only not to bear falfe Witness against our Neighbour, but we are commanded not to judge him, or entertain an evil Thought of him; Judge not, that ye be not judged.

The Tenth Commandment, which for bids us to covet another's Property, is fulfilled and perfected by the Gofpel; which

com

SERM. commands us to drive away all covetous VII. Thoughts and Defires, in that Prohibition

of taking no Thought for the Morrow, Several other Paffages might be produced, would the Time admit of it, to fhew, that the Gofpel confirms and establishes the Law, either by making Additions to it, or by explaining and clearing it from the falfe Gloffes and Traditions of the Jews; fo that the Gospel is fo far from making void the Law, that it diftinguishes us from all the reft of the World, by a greater Degree of Purity and Holiness, and by a more steady Adherence to that Moral Law it felf, which fome thought Chrift came to deftroy.

How beautiful does the Gofpel appear in the lovely Ornaments of Righteousness and Good Works; when we fee her vifiting the Fatherlefs and Widow, comforting the Broken-hearted, and difpenfing univerfal Love and Benevolence to all the World! This is the King's Daughter that is all glorious within, who is fairer than the Children of Men, because God hath bleffed ber for ever. 'Tis by the Gofpel that we

know