knowledge, and the Treafury of moral principles; but freely to exhibit the goodness, and wise care of providence, in the direction and government of free agents. By these divine manifestations, may be feen, the kindness and love of God our Saviour, to miferably deluded rebels, in a way that tallies with unbiaffed reason, and the eftablished order of nature, through the several periods of their being, to their glorious state of existence, and happiness in futurity. The learned and pious Dr.Prideaux, in his letter to the Deifts, fays very truly, "Let what is written in all the books of the new teftament, be tried by that which is the touchftone of all religion, I mean that religion of nature and reafon, which God has written in the hearts of every one of us, from the first creation, and if it varies from it in any one particular, if it prefcribes any one thing, which may, in the minuteft circumftances thereof, be contrary to its righteousness, I will then acknowledge this to be an argument against us, ftrong enough to overthrow the whole cause, and make all things elfe, that can be faid for it, totally ineffectual for its fupport." There is nothing in fcripture repugnant to reafon, or to our natural notions of God, and the rational faculties of man; but the whole is contrived, not merely to inform the judgment, but to correct the will; to check the luftful power of appetite, and to controul all its extravagant and unjustifiable demands. The obtaining this conquest, will procure us fufficient leifure and convenient season, to prepare for the fruition and enjoyment of that peaceable kingdom, which is

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without comparison and is without end; where each bleffed Inhabitant is warmed and cheered with the reviving and animating prefence of God. When influenced by this bleffedness, and folely actuated by its power we need not be under any terrible apprehenfions, nor dread the alarming threats of the enemy, if we will commit ourselves to God, and keep close to him in well doing; who is be that Shall harm you, while you are followers of that which is good, and haters of that which is evil; who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect, who shall dare to accufe them? It is God that juftifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift that dieth, yea rather that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, as our great high priest, who alfo maketh interceffion for us, that after this painful life is ended, we may dwell together with him in glory. Hence the apoftle declares, with that full and firm perfuafion,that nothing can totally destroy believers peace, nor finally feparate good men from God, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things prefent, nor things to come, Nor length, nor depth, nor any other creature, Shall be able to feparate us from the love of God, which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord. The free discovery of those ineftimable mercies, which God has peremporily promised to obedience, and to final perfeverance in the faith, is that men, by these bright difplays of wisdom, power and goodness, may know in whom their strength lies,and in whom they may find relief and fuccour, in the gloomy hours of adverfity. Were men truly fenfible of these things, and the importance of them, they no longer would be contending about forms, or the external mode

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of religion, which favours too much of pride and the spirit of oftentation; but they, in perceiving their weakness, will be brought with humility (a grace fo amiable and lovely in itself, that it adorns every station, and dignifies every condition) inwardly to worship God, who is an inconceivable and eternal fpirit,and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth. The reverence thus paid to God is infi-" nitely more pleafing and more acceptable to him, who is eternally happy in himself, and wants none of our perifhable breath, to declare his fovereign authority, than all the false glitter of the world, or the dazzling luftre of its magnificence. These inducements are abundantly fufficient, were there no other; they carry fuch weight and energy with them, as will oblige us to renounce felf confidence, and to fubmit to God's righteoufnefs, and to all his allwife dealings and equitable determinations. When we are thus fubmiffive, and our hearts are really fanctified, we shall admire the riches of divine grace, and extol the fundry declarations of him, who has acquainted us how to exercife and improve the flying moments of time, that we may recover the use of our moral, and intellectual abilities, and the enjoyment of ourselves, and of our God. The better to facilitate and haften this important and defirable bufinefs, no inethods are ufed, nor any arguments urged, but fuch as confcience approves, and reafon recommends to our ferious confideration, and to our conftant practice. In this christianity excels all other religions, as carrying with it the characters of truth, and the vifible, and indelible evidence, and fignatures of its G z

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Divinity. For at our Lord's glorious Epiphany, religion in general was fo difguifed with fables, fo blinded with the falfe ornaments of fuper- . ftition, and the groffeft impieties (impieties that fhould be concealed in impenetrable darkness) that men who were governed by reason, and inviolably attached to its intereft, could not facrifice their understandings to fuch vanities, nor credit thofe palpable and horrid delufions. In order to obviate every objection, and render religion rational and delightful, our Lord purged it of thofe corruptions, and recovered this ancient inftitution to its beauty, and to its original perfection, that fuch as were open to conviction, might fee the image of holinets in fpotlefs purity, and this divine director in its native fimplicity and complexion. Thus ftripped of its deteftable disguises, and freed from every just exception, true religion, on the principles of undefiled reafon, and the unprejudiced maxims of mankind, independent of any other proof, has an undoubted right to our obedience, and to demand impartial and univerfal fubmiffion to its precepts. Did men really believe moral duties invariable, and that they are in all ages and in all countries the fame, in their own unchangeable nature, and that Chrift came not to reverse them, but to revive and inforce thefe eternal truths; they, inftead of depreciating them, would fteadily adhere to them, and confcientiously obferve and obey them. Contemplative beings could not, confiftent with that belief, or the vehement craving defires of immortality, refufe the eligible injunctions of christianity, without undermining

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the unalterable laws of nature, and deftroying the main end and usefulness of both, which is to forward the glory of God, and perfect bleffedness of man. Because both are framed with proper fupports, and fuitable encouragements, to advance the fame valuable and important ends, of making men wife and virtuous, holy and happy, and ready to affist and inftruct one another; that the divine image may be completed, and God in all things may be glorified. The true religion of nature, and the pure religion of Jefus, fpeak the fame language, and both are so closely cemented, and fo infeparably united, that you cannot poffibly divide them, unless you break the order of things, and fubvert that fyftem of mercy, which brings reft and comfort to the wearied foul, and joy and gladness to the broken hearted. With what warmth of heart and affection, with what life and fpirit does chriftianity inspire us with? So falutary and enlivening are its principles, that you cannot poffibly fet them afide, without increafing your doubts, and multiplying your fears, or diminishing your faireft hopes, and brightest profpect of futurity. It is obvious then to all unprejudiced apprehenfions, that this religion is of an heavenly extraction, and defcends from the clear chrystal streams of light, which if duly confidered, and effectually applied, will produce fuch permanent resolutions, as will cause us to delight in it, and fo fteadily to purfue our duty, that no temptations are fufficient, to divert our wife and prudent determinations. For men, fince the publishing of revelation, are on the generous returns of gratitude, under far greater obligations to obferve

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