have a great many Examples to follow, of greater Men, Men of greater Gifts, and greater Petformances, than any that were under the Law.

(3.) We are obliged to give the best Examples, because we have the greatest Encouragements. The Promises of the Gofpel are justly called exceeding great and precious Promifes; for Life and Immortality is brought to Light by the Gospel. 2 Tim. i. 10. And all other Spiritual Bleffings are plentifully poured out through the Mediation of Christ Jefus; and all Temporal Bleffings are likewife promised to be added unto us; and why should not we add too, among the Encouragements, the New Covenant itfelf with all its gracious Terms; where Sincerity is accepted instead of Perfection; Repentance instead of Innocence; Grace is granted upon afking in Chrift's Name; and the Improvement of our Talents, upon the right Use of what we have? So that there is nothing wanting in Point of Encouragement.

(4.) We have the greatest Affiftance from the beft Means of Grace; the Word, the Sacraments, Prayer, the Holy Spirit ready to affift our Infirmities, a Bleffed, Meritorious, All-fufficient Mediator and Interceffor at the Father's Right Hand, a ftanding Miniftry in the Church; all Things fitted and contrived to enable us to live up to our holy Profeffion, and to shine as Lights in the World.

(5.) We have the greateft Obligations to holy Practice and good Example from Gratitude, that ever any Men had. For we are redeemed not with Silver and Gold from our vain Converfation, but with the precious Blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without Spot and Blemish, 1 Pet. i. 18. We have

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[SERM. been treated with the greatest Mercy and Goodnefs, and long-fuffering Patience; nò Advantage has been taken of our frequent Lapfes and Relapfes into finful Courfes; we have been allowed both Time for Repentance, and Means of Grace, and Opportunities for Well-doing; we have had many Advantages of being well instructed in the Knowledge of our Duty, and of being excited to the Performance of it; God's Holy Spirit has fuggested to us many good Thoughts and Defires, and our own Confciences have often proved faithful Monitors: We have innumerable Obligations to Almighty God for all the Bleffings we enjoy at prefent, and all we hope for hereafter. And what is the Defign and Tendency of all he requires of us? The Defign of all is, only to make us happy. So that if we are to be wrought upon from Principles of Gratitude and Ingenuity, we lie under mighty Obligations to be Good, and to do Good, and to shine forth by good Example in the World.

(6.) Laftly, The whole Business of the Christian Religion is a Mystery of Godliness. It is the very Defign of all that Chrift has done and suffered for us, to make us firft Holy, then Happy. All the Parts of our Religion have a direct Tendency this Way; and we are no further true and genuine Difciples of Chrift, than as we fall in with this Defign, and ftudy to promote Holiness in outfelves and others; as might be fhewed from a Multitude of Paffages of the New Teftament, if it were not now Time to draw to a Conclufion. I shall only leave with you one famous Paffage to this Purpofe, Tit. ii. 11, 12, 13, 14 The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all

Men;

Men; teaching us that denying Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent World; looking for that blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift: who gave bimfelf for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. This is the fame Thing with my Text taken out of the Metaphor; the denying Ungodlinefs and worldly Lufts, is the breaking through and difpelling the Clouds; the living foberly, righteously, and godly in this fent World, and the being zealous for good Works, is the letting our Light fo fhine before Men, that they may fee our goods Works, and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.

pre

So much for the First Thing I propofed to confider from the Words, that it is the Duty of Chriftians to live moft Exemplary good Lives, eminent for all Manner of good Works. The other two Points I have not now Time to enter upon, and fhall therefore refer them to another Opportunity. Now to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, &c.

SERMON XXX.

MAT. V. 16.

Let your Light fo fhine before Men, that they may fee your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

The Seventh Sermon on this Text.

N a former Difcourfe on thefe Words, after I had explained the Terms, there were Three Things I propofed to confider from them, as being the Scope and Defign of our Saviour, in this Paffage of his Sermon on the Mount,

I. That it is the Duty of us Chriftians, to live exemplary Lives, eminent for all manner of good Works.

II. That in so doing we ought not only to have Regard to God, fo as to keep a good Confcience toward him; but to have Regard likewife to Men, that they may be made better by our good Example.

III. That as to the Praife and Honour of this good Example, we are to have a special Care both to defign and contrive it fo, that it may not terminate in ourselves, but in God our Heavenly Father.

Now

Now having at the laft Occafion spoke to the First of thefe, (at least as far as Time would permit) that it is the Duty of Chriftians to live Exemplary Lives, eminent for all manner of good Works; I proceed now to the Second, which is, That in doing our good Works, we ought not only to have Regard to God, fo as to keep a good Confcience toward him; but to have Regard likewife to Men, that they may be made better by our good Example. Let your Light fo fine before Men, that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Where it is plain, the Good Works are to be contrived to be Publick and Exemplary on Purpose that Men may fee them, and take notice of them; and be excited by them to glorify God. The Glory of God indeed is the ultimate End we ought to propofe to ourfelves in our good Actions; but the Edification of Men is a fubordinate End; and likewife has a direct Tendency to the Glory of God, which is the ultimate End. Now that I may handle this Part of our Duty more distinctly, I fhall comprehend it in these Two. 1. I will a little further confider the Act of being Exemplary in good Works. And 2. the View or Aim we are to have in this Act, namely, the Good of Others, that they may be duly affected with this good Example, fo as to be excited to glorify God thereby.

(1.) I will a little further confider the Act of being Exemplary in good Works. And First, as

to Good Works.

That there is a natural Diftinction between Good and Evil; and that the very Heathen World understood

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