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ftrable. To expect therefore that this SER M. Supreme Being will judge according to Right, that is, according to the necessary nature of Things; In other words, To fear that he will punish us if we act unreasonably, and to hope for his Favour if we be Followers of Truth and Right; is the Voice of Reafon, and not of SuperAition.

Superftitious Apprehenfions, arifing in particular from Timoroufness of Temper, teach men to fear they know not what, or to be afraid of God they know not why; to fear him, not as a juft and righteous Judge, but merely as vefted with irrefiftible Power; to fear him, not so as by That Fear to be deterred from unrighteous Practices, but fo, as to be perpetually commuting for a vicious Life with the repetition of unprofitable Ceremonies without number. Superftitions founded upon Customary Tradition, teach men to be afraid of things which have no existence; or of Beings which have no Power and Dominion over us; to place Religion in Practices which have no Tendency to Virtue; to lay Strefs upon Opinions, which have no Senfe, or no Truth in them; upon VOL II

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things,

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SER M. things, whereof no man can give a ra VI. tional Account, or, in St Peter's language, 1 Pet. i give an Answer to any one that afketh a Reafon of the Hope, or of the Fear, that is in him. Superflitions derived from political Fiction, teach men to make Religion confift in Parties and Factions; in things which, in different countries, are contrary to each other, and in the fame country, contrary at different Times; in things which promote not at all the Honour of God, nor univerfal Meekness and Goodwill towards Men; but on the contrary, fometimes are directly deftructive both of Truth and Charity.

INSTANCES of all thefe feveral kinds of Superftitions in the Heathen World, were their worshipping of fictitious Deities, instead of the Great God and Governour of the Univerfe, of whom by the Light of Nature and Reason they were not ignorant And more particularly, their mixing fometimes barbarous and cruel, fometimes beaftly and impure Rites, even amongst their facred and religious Performances. In the Jewish Nation, the general and prevailing Superstition always was, their relying upon

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outward Forms and Ceremonies, (which SER M. ought not indeed to be left undone,) and VI. laying the stress of Religion upon them, more than upon the weightier matters of Mat. xxiii. the Law, Juftice, Mercy, and Fidelity; 23. of which, all external Purifications were but Shadows and Memorials. In the Christian World, Inftances of no lefs fhameful Superftitions, are, mens departing from the Everlasting Gospel, which requires us (Rev. xiv. 6, 7.) to worship bim that made Heaven and Earth; and fetting up the Worship of the Hoft, and of the Bleffed Virgin, and of Angels, and Saints, and Relicks, and Images: Alfo relying upon Indulgences, Pilgrimages, Proceffions, Maffes for the Dead, and the like: Nay, and upon the most ridiculously extravagant Abfurdities in Belief; and the moft inbuman Perfecution and Barbarities in Practife. All which things have no Foundation in Reafon, nor any Appearance of being commanded of God. The true Religion of Chrift, as taught by Himself and his Apoftles, has nothing of This Sort in it; requiring nothing of us, but This most reafonable Service, that in expectation of a righteous Judgment to K 3

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SER M. come, we continually worship the God of VI. the Univerfe; living in Sobriety, Righteoufnefs, and Charity towards All men ; and making conftant Acknowledgements of the Divine Goodness and Compaffion, in receiving Sinners to Repentance through the Atonement and Interceffion of Chrift. Than which Doctrine, nothing can be more firm in its Foundation, or more excellent in its Effects.

2. AND This is the Second great or characteristick Mark, by which Religion and Superftition may be diftinguished from each other. As they differ entirely in their Ground and Foundation, fo do they likewife in their Effects. By their Fruits ye shall know them, Matt. vii. 20. Religion, which is founded in Truth, always makes men impartially inquifitive after Truth, Lovers of Reafon, Meek, Gentle, Patient, Willing to be informed: Superftition, on the contrary, naturally makes men blind and paffionate, defpifers of Reafon, careless in inquiring after Truth, Hafly, Cenforious, Contentious, and Impatient of inftruction. Religion teaches men to be exactly just, equitable, and charitable towards all men: Superftition, on

the

the contrary, frequently puts men upon undervaluing the eternal Rules of Morality, and upon preferring the Interest of particular Sects and Parties, the prevalency of fome uncertain Opinions, and the practice of fome needless Ceremonies, before the unalterable Precepts of the everlasting Law and the everlasting GoSpel. Laftly, True Religion, the Religion of Nature in general, and the Religion of Chrift in particular, by fecuring the Belief of a future Judgment, tends greatly to promote the Happiness of Nations and good Governments, in obliging the Confciences of men to real Fidelity, Juftice, and the fincere Practice of every Virtue, which the very best human Law's can but imperfectly fecure, by compelling merely the External Action: But Superftition, on the contrary, frequently produces Wars, and Tumults, and PerJecutions, and Tyrannies without end; there being nothing fo wicked, which men of Superftitious Principles will not think pious and neceffary, and which men of No Principles will not upon occafion bring themselves to fubmit to.

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