IV. ceeding Joy. In the Apostles days, Suf- SER M. fering for or with Chrift, fignified being perfecuted for the Profeffion of Chriftianity in general. In later Ages, fince the religion of Chrift has in Name and Form been profeffed among the Nations, Persecution has more frequently been brought upon men for adhering to fome particular Truths, and for oppofing fome particular Corruptions in practice. For, not only the Apostles fuffered in Their days, but many also of the Best men in our days; yea, and All, in All days, fays the Apostle St Paul, that will live godly in Chrift Fefus, fhall fuffer perfecution. But whether they be perfecuted by men, or no; yet if by stedfaftly refifting the Temptations of Sin, they be planted together with Chrift in the likeness of his Death, they fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the Body of Sin might be deftroyed, that henceforth we should not ferve, Sin. Now if we be dead with Chrift, we believe that we shall alfo live with him, Rom. vi. 5, 6, 8. This is what the Spirit of God constantly and uniformly declares and teftifies, through the IV. SER M.the whole Scripture. And therefore they who by these declarations, and by the confideration of these religious motives, are influenced to live in fuch manner, as that they can fay with St Paul, Our rejoicing is This, the testimony of our confcience, that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity we have had our converfation in the world; Thefe, as often as they compare their own hearts and actions with the things that God has revealed unto us by his Spirit; have, according to the expreffion in the Text, the Spirit of God bearing witness with Their Spirit, that they are the Children of God. SERMON a very excellent jush sense formon [93] SERMON V. MATT. xxii. 37, 38. Jefus faid unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Mind; This is the First and Great Commandment. I V. N these words there is obfer-S ER M vable; 1ft, The Duty injoined; Thou shalt love the Lord thy God: 2dly, The Circumftances requifite, to make the performance of this Duty acceptable and complete; SER M. complete; Thou shalt love him, with all V. thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Mind: 3dly, The Weight, and Importance, of the Duty; It is the First and Great Commandment. 1. THE Duty injoined, is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. A Duty, in every man's mouth, of all Religions, and in all Sects: But, upon what Ground its Obligation is founded, and in what particulars the rational Practice of it con fifts, is not fo clearly and universally understood. Men often talk very earnestly of loving God, while at the fame time they in their doctrine represent him as the most hateful Being in the Universe; cruel, and partial; arbitrary, and tyrannical; fhowing favour to fome, and making others miferable, for no other reason, but because he has abfolute and irrefiftible Power. But what fuch persons fpeak concerning loving of God, is evidently nothing but mere Forms of empty words, without any meaning or fignification at all; because there is in their Minds no real Object, upon which the Love they speak of can be fixt. And where the Root thus is rottennefs; (to ufe the Prophet Ifaiah's Compa V. Comparison,) what wonder if the Blof-SER M fom, and the Fruit, accordingly goes up as Duft? what wonder if the expreffions of their Love towards God, end in nothing but peevishness, contentiousness, and perhaps Hatred towards their Brethren? A True Love of God, must be founded upon a right Senfe of his Perfections being really amiable in themselves, and beneficial to Us: And fuch a Love of God, will of Neceffity fhow forth itself, in our endeavouring to practife the fame virtues ourselves, and exercise them towards others, which we profefs to love and admire in Him. ALL Perfection, is in itself lovely, and amiable in the very nature of the Thing: The Virtues and Excellencies of Men remote in Hiftory, from whom we can receive no perfonal Advantage, excite in us an Efteem whether we will or no: And every good mind, when it reads or thinks upon the character of an Angel, loves the Idea, though it has no prefent communication with the Subject, to whom so lovely a character belongs: Much more, the inexhauftible Fountain of All Perfections of Perfections without number, and with out |