SERMON IX. I JOHN ii. 7, 8. Brethren, I write no new Commandment unto you, but an old Commandment, which ye had from the Beginning: the old Commandment is the Word, which ye have heard from the Beginning. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you: which Thing is true in him and in you; becaufe the Darkness is past, and the true Light now shineth. HESE Words contain a very useful ΤΗ Piece of Inftruction, expreffed in a Manner fomewhat obfcure and enigmatical, on Purpose to excite that Attention, which they will foon reward by the Discovery of their Meaning. Probably they were defigned to be more especially understood of the great Precept, inculcated immediately after them, of univerfal Good-will: an original Duty of Mankind, but ftrangely forgotten throughout the Earth, till our Saviour taught it more O 2 clearly clearly, and inforced it more ftrongly, than had ever been done before. Yet they are equally applicable to the Whole of Chriftianity and it might very well be the Apostle's Meaning to extend them fo far, and set forth in them a Truth, wonderfully fitted to give both a juft and engaging Notion of the Gofpel: that its general Purpofe is to make Men happy, by restoring amongst them the Belief and Practice of the primitive universal Religion of rational Beings; that its peculiar Doctrines were all introduced by the Change of human Circumstances, and are the fame in Substance with those, of which the Patriarchs and Jews received imperfect Notices, and typical Reprefentations in antient Time: that being thus, in Respect of God's early Promulgation of it, an old Commandment; it was yet, with Respect to the Age in which our Saviour republished it, a new one; as Darkness had covered the World, which by his Means was driven away; and the Light of Truth difplayed again, with a Brightness. and reviving Warmth, till then unknown. For Chriftianity added much Evidence and Diftin&tness to many important, and many comfortable Articles of Faith; and then building on them the correfponding Obliga tion s tions of Duty, completed on the old Foundations a Structure, only fo far new as the State of Mankind required it fhould be. This is, doubtlefs, an advantageous View of the Chrif tian Difpenfation; representing it as doing for us exactly what we needed to have done; and that it is likewise a juft View of it, I fhall endeavour to fhew, by laying before you, The Nature of Religion as it ftood at first. The Condition of Mankind afterwards: and The Fitness of the Gospel to that Condition. The Duty of Man, fo far as it was discoverable to him by Reason, whilft he continued innocent, must confist in Love, Honour, and Obedience, to his Maker, Benefactor, and Sovereign Lord, joined with the Care of copying the divine Goodness in his Behaviour to his Fellow-creatures, and the divine Holinefs in the rational Government of himself. It is plain, that he could be obliged to no more, unless God was pleafed, by Revelation, to fuperadd more; and as plain, that he was obliged to the Whole of this. For to pretend Reverence to our Father in Heaven, yet to misuse his Children and our Brethren on Earth; or to behave with Affection, Dutifulness and Gratitude amongst them, and yet fhew none to him; and to profess both a righteous and godly Life, yet to fail of the Obligations of a fober one, contradicting and debafing Reafon by brutal Exceffes and Irregularities, is evidently faulty and inconfiftent. The fame Regard to Truth and Right, which requires any of these Things, requires them all. So that, neither Piety and Morals can be feparated from each other, nor any Part of either from the reft: but the Whole hath one Foundation; and is indeed one Temper of mind, only exerted towards different Objects. In this happy Rectitude of Heart and Behaviour, confifts the Image of God, the Perfection of Man, the original Religion of all Creatures, capable of Religion, throughout the Universe. Suppofing, therefore, any Creature fallen from this bleffed State, reftoring him to it again must be the only ultimate End to which any useful Endeavours of his own, or any gracious Defigns of Heaven for his Good, can be directed. Now, this is our Cafe. We are fallen, by the Fault of our first Parents tranfgreffing an eafy revealed Commandment, fuperadded very juftly to the natural ones, as a further Trial of their Obedience; we are fallen, I fay, thus from Uprightness |