“rents, without natural affection, impla"cable, unmerciful." And if such were the morals of the most enlightened part of the heathen nations, what may we conceive to have been the state of the rest of mankind? They were guided by no certain rule of duty,-they were unsupported by any hopes of a future life ;-their passions were violent,-their manners ferocious, their very virtues partaking of the wildest extravagance; and in short, though the image of God, in which man was originally created, was not wholly lost in them, yet was it to the greatest degree debased and obscured.

Such in fact were the nations of old, and such, indeed, at this day are they, to whom the laws and doctrines of Christ are still unknown. How truly great, therefore, was the blessing,-how divine the gift,-which spread over nearly the whole world the clear knowledge of the Almighty, and of His purposed goodness towards us in a future state. And who will not receive this gift with thankfulness? Who will not rejoice to see our common nature

rising again to that dignity of virtue, in which it first came from our Maker's hands? For however individuals may supinely or wilfully abuse Heaven's proffered mercy, yet a more general reliance upon its goodness, and reverential awe of its justice, purer morals and more enlarged benevolence, are unquestionably seen, wherever Christianity reigns. To improve these excellencies in us, to sustain us under afflictions, and to render us superior to the strongest temptations of infidelity and vice, was the prospect of a future state opened to man by the Gospel; and most foolish are we, most false to ourselves, and ungrateful to our Maker, if we do not gladly embrace this proffered redemption.

The Gospel was declared to be preached at first peculiarly for those of lowly estate, for the untaught, and for the poor; and for such condescending goodness we owe to God all thanks and praise :-but who amongst men is so wise and good, as not to have obtained an increase of knowledge or virtue from that Gospel? or whence are

our stores of wisdom, which can place us above the necessity of having recourse to a Divine Law for aid? And though we are too apt to think highly of ourselves in a comparison with one another, yet before the supremely wise, good, and great God, all distinctions disappear, and all are poor, and equally need His grace. From the mere light of reason alone we discern, that we are bound to shew towards Him a meek and quiet spirit, accepting His dispensations with patience, and cheerfully performing whatever we can discover of His pleasure. But from Christianity we farther learn to cherish an humble and meek spirit, whenever we reflect how great things the Saviour of the world hath done for us. His condescension in thus visiting mankind, sunk in ignorance, sorrow, and sin, should be ever made the theme of constant and fervent praise: but with the proud, with the disputer of this world, and impenitent obstinate sinners, all this goodness of God, so long abused, and producing in them so little amendment, must turn to their heavier condemnation, and

become for ever a source of the deepest self-reproach and confusion of face; for he, that "knew his Lord's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many

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SERMON IV.

ST. MATTHEW, xi. 2, 3, 4.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see.

THE general expectation of the Jews, founded upon their ancient prophecies, that a deliverer should soon appear to rescue them from bondage, was most strong at the time when our Lord came. Hence it came to pass that the false Christs and false Prophets, spoken of by our Lord, sprang up in such numbers, leading deluded multitudes after them into the neigh