he is could we view his internal and external lifewe should see him ftand a pure, fpotlefs form of love and charity-all within the mind, heaven, peace, tranquility, and joy. We fhould fee him in the prefence of his beloved LORD GOD and SAVIOURfurrounded with angelic forms of love, excellence, and beauty-affociated with them, partaking of their felicity, uniting with them in all the infinitely delightful exercises of that kingdom-dwelling in a manfion erected by the hand of omnipotence and wifdom-and ten thousand times ten thousand internal and external pleasures perpetually awaiting him, in continual and everlasting fucceffion. fhort, we fhould behold him fully and eternally delivered from all evil, pain, forrow, and death; and everlastingly in the poffeffion of all good, reft, joy, peace, life, and pleasure,

In

But here all buman language fails-no tongue can tell, no pencil paint, no heart conceive THOSE JOYS. However, glorious, great, and infinite as they are, they are not too glorious, too great, or too lafting, for God to give. He hath promised them, and referved them for every good man and woman; and he will give them to all who are fuch. Millions of millions are now in the poffeffion of them-thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, conftantly entering into poffeffion-and in a very few years, or days, we who are now before the Lord, fhall poffefs them likewife; if we are truly religious men and women.

Now,

Now, my christian brethren, fay what you think of religion-is not the yoke of Jefus eafy, and his burden light? Love him-love your neighbourkeep the commandments of your God. There is your whole duty-this is all the yoke and burden. Is it not a light one? Efpecially, when you confider what unspeakable pleasures attend fuch a life. We have seen that the man of no religion, is perpetually unhappy-has no peace, joy, or true pleasurehe lives in trouble, dies in pain, and finks in woe. But the man of real religion is happy here, cheerful through life—he dies in hope, and rifes to a glorious immortality.

Surely, then, we shall all take the advice of our adorable and merciful Lord. He fays "take my "yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am "meek and lowly, and ye fhall find reft unto "your fouls." If we have not obeyed this injunction, let us do it now; and if we have, let us continue in the service of the Lord-and by fcripture and experience make ourselves acquainted with the true pleasures of a religious life. I am confident my good friends, that only fuch a life can make us happy-you know it too. And, therefore, I hope we shall all be united, and with one heart and mind engage in it. Not forgetting that true religion makes us good fubjects-good members of fociety-good neighbours-as well as happy in our own fouls. If we abftain from that which is evil, and do that which is good, we must be useful in life

to

to all, according to our ability. And the more we are fo, the more pleasure shall we feel in our own minds.

little

Let us daily labor to get free of every evil of heart and life (for that alone is the cause of all mifery) and diligently pursue the path of goodness, faith, and love; that we may be filled with the joys and happiness of heaven. And in a very time we shall find our regeneration compleatedbe called away into the eternal world-behold the Lord Jefus our God, whom we have loved and obeyed-mingle with the angels of heaven-enter our mansions of peace and rest-partake the namelefs felicities of that blessed world—and enjoy the rewards and pleasures thereof, which our God hath promised (and will then give) through the boundlefs ages of a happy and joyful eternity! Which may the Lord Jefus grant unto every one of us, for his name and mercy fake. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON VII.

THE LAW OF GOD ESTABLISHED;

OR,

THE DECALOGUE A RULE OF LIFE TO ALL, AND THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF ALL RELIGION.

MATT. V. 17, 18.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I fay unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

I AM perfuaded there are not any articles

in our holy religion, in which mankind have been more mistaken, than in the nature of divine laws, and the redemption of Jefus Chrift; two fubjects these which, one would fuppofe, all christians should be agreed in, however they may differ in other

matters

matters because these mentals of chriftianity. fermon upon the mount

appear to be real fundaAnd, indeed, our Lord's (which our text is a part

of) has fet the firit article in fo clear and express a light, that one would imagine a close attention to that difcourfe would fet us right in our judgment upon it. For it seems THAT VERY DISCOURSE was chiefly defigned to expound to us the nature of his divine laws, and our obligations to obferve them.

I fhall, in fpeaking from our text, endeavor to fhew the fallacy of those opinions which are generally maintained concerning the moral law (fo called) and the redemption of Jefus Chrift. And then attempt to fet those subjects in their true and fcriptural light.

And here permit me to request not only your attention, but your candor; for any attempt to refute popular opinions is, confeffedly, a disagreeable tafk; as those perfons who maintain them will find themselves more or lefs hurt by that refutation. Every perfon, who is fincere and upright in his profeffion, fuppofes his own fentiments right and true; and therefore whatever opposes thofe fentitiments, will give him a degree of pain: and the more fo, in proportion to his confirmation in those opinions.

Nevertheless, I prefume, fincere and upright perfons will be willing to hear what may be advanced against THEIR view of things; and with candor and impartiality weigh what may be said on

the