than His nativity, and obliges us to σε go on from "strength to strength." So liberal of His instructions, and yet so sparing of His reproofs, as if He came not with the spirit of a Prophet, to denounce judgment against our transgressions, but with the temper of a brother, to charm us into obedience.

His life was the very original of all virtue; and His sermons were a perfect copy of His life, which He has transmitted for our imitation, and transcribed for our use and what Religion ever appeared in the world with so much evidence, to approve itself to our judgment; and so much goodness to recommend it to our affections?

Our Saviour's death was such a demonstration of His love unto His creatures, as no sensible creature can resist.

The earth trembled, and the veil of the temple split; the dead arose, and the sun withdrew its light. And shall man alone, whose great concern this is, be the only thing unconcerned?

Our Saviour died for sin, to shew us what punishment it deserves, and what judgment is like to fall upon us: but He died for our sins, that we might see our ransom paid, and the prospect of our pardon might encourage us to repent. And, at last, to assure us that our repentance shall be effectual, He rose again from the dead, to give us an undeniable proof, that if we also, with Him, have died unto sin, with Him also we shall rise to eternal life.

These are the helps of Grace which we gain by the knowlege of the Son of God. These are the advantages which are peculiar to our Religion. And thus we see the mutual dependence which Faith and Virtue have upon one another.

I am, lastly, to make some remarks on the decay both of Faith and Virtue. Now it must be confessed, that we are very failing in both these points, and yet there are no means either of Faith or Virtue wanting.

IV. We live in such a Church where we are supplied with all the means of Grace, where religious duties are, duly, taught, where devout prayers are, daily, made, and Holy Sacraments are, regularly, administered; and yet, for the most part, our lives are far from being either religious, or holy, or devout: that is, we have all the means of Grace ready at hand, but do not apply them. We have all the artillery of the Gospel lying by us, but will not be at the trouble to take it up.

We are daily set upon with all the forces, and stratagems, of the devil, and yet we will neither take "the

sword of the Spirit," to make any opposition; nor the breast-plate of righteousness" to make our defence; but, tamely, deliver up ourselves into the enemy's power, and so become his vassals: and, instead of perfecting ourselves in virtue, we grow perfect in nothing but in licentious wickedness; are rebels to God, and slaves to the devil.

What can the meaning of this miscarriage be, but that we have not the knowlege of Jesus Christ? And it is for want of being more orthodox in our Creed, that we are not more punctual in the Commandments.

Indeed, it has been the scandalous practice of our age, to run down the Creed, and persuade the people that the Christian belief is only a speculative thing, an indifferent matter, and nothing in comparison of a Christian life. And when men are once cheated out of the one, they must needs lose the other. As soon

as the Creed is gone, the Commandments will, quickly, follow after.

Thus, instead of supporting, men, by these means, really, undermine, and betray, Religion, and advance the devil's cause; whose usual stratagem it is to cheat us out of our Faith, and then he makes no doubt of baffling our morality.

And to do this more effectually, he has his agents among us, who make it their business to beat down the credit of the Church, where this Faith is preserved, and tell us that mysteries are unintelligible, and ceremonies are little, things: that no ecclesiastical discipline is worth contending for; and it is no great matter whether we hold with this, or with another, Church; and when the devil has once got us out of the Church, he easily strips us of our Religion. When the sheep have deserted that fold which our Saviour erected for their security, they are then at the mercy of the wolf: nay, and it is God's great mercy if they do not turn wolves themselves.

If, therefore, we would advance in the knowlege of Jesus Christ, we must adhere, zealously, to the Church, where this knowlege is propagated, and preserved. If we would advance in virtue, we must advance in the knowlege of Jesus Christ, and be tender of our Faith, as we would be of our Salvation. For after all the morals of men have done their best, it is by our Faith that we must be justified, and by our Faith that we must be saved, and by our Faith only that we must be enabled to bring forth good moral works.

Should it be asked, how this Faith and knowlege of Jesus Christ happens to be so degenerated amongst us, I answer, that it can only be for want of virtue; for, God

P 4

God knows, there are no other means of Faith or knowlege wanting.

Let us consider this, before it is too late. And whilst we have the opportunity, whilst the season of improvement lasts, let us study to improve our virtue; and, as our knowlege encreases, so let our Grace also abound. For when the axe is once laid to the root of the tree, there will be no more time for growth, but as the tree falls, so it lies; and when the Justice. of God has pronounced the sentence, his Judgment will, surely, be put in execution.

:

We may neglect the knowlege of the Son of God, and despise his Grace, and think to live more pleasantly without it but if we turn his Grace into wantonness, He will, certainly, turn it into wrath: if we reject His knowlege now, and will not give ear to His saving doctrine; He has a doctrine of terror for us in reserve, that will be sure to convince us, and "re66 venge the quarrel of his Covenant." They that will not allow Him to be their Saviour, will find Him at last to be their Judge.

SERMON

IF

ON CONFIRMATION,

1 COR. XVI, 13.*

Quit you like men, be strong.

F from the instructions you have received, and the pains which have been taken with you, you understand the nature of Baptism and Confirmation, you will be at no loss for the application of these words to yourselves.

Lest, however, you should, in any degree, be still ignorant of them, I shall,

First, briefly explain them, and then endeavor to in the application of them.

assist you

In Baptism you are called out of this vain and sinful world, washed from sin, and gathered into the Church, or Family of God, by a Covenant of peace made between Him and your soul, through the blood, and mediation of Christ, wherein God, on His part, promises to receive you as one with his Son, as His own adopted child, and as the heir ofan eternal kingdom, infinitely more happy and glorious than all the kingdoms of this world, were they united in one; and wherein, encouraged by these high and interesting promises, you, on your part, solemnly vow to re

* Skelton.

nounce,