in those great commandments, thofe SER M. weightier matters of the Law, the Love XVII. of God and of our Neighbour: and then we may with more fafety proceed to confider the Superftructure, of doctrines more fpeculative and lefs certain, of rites more difficult and of less importance. But for any man who is profane and a blafphemer of the Name of God, who is unjust and unrighteous towards his Neighbour, or who lives in the Habitual Practice of Intemperance and Debauchery; for fuch an One to pretend to feek zealously the Kingdom of God, in matters of external form, or in contending for Laws and Doctrines of Men, is like labouring to fet in order the garments upon a dead Body; or like watering a Plant, whofe very roots are dead. roots are dead. 'Tis contending about the Name of Religion, where the Thing is not; and for the Shadow, where there is no Subftance. And here comes in that great and never-failing Rule of our Saviour, By their Fruits ye fball know them. Whoever is more concerned for particular Forms and Ceremonies, for Doctrines of a Sect or Party, for Dominion XVI. SER M. Dominion over other men's Confciences, for any thing that depends on temporal Authority, than for the Discovery of Truth and the Practice of Virtue; very fure we may be, that That Man's religion is Vain. 4thly and lastly, SEEKING any thing heartily, fincerely, and effectually, implies, that we immediately Practise and put in Execution, what we are once fatisfied is the true Means to obtain it. Refting in the fpeculative part of Religi on, is as if a man fhould hope to arrive at his journey's end, merely by inftructing himself in the knowledge of the Way. No: He that in earnest seeks the Kingdom of God, muft not only know and understand, but muft in the courfe of his Life put in Practice alfo the Rightcoufness thereof. Though I speak (faith St Paul) with the Tongues of Men and of Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as founding brafs or a tinkling cymbal: and though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all Faith, fo that I could remove mountains, and have not The SER M. ; not Charity, it profiteth me nothing. Pharifees understood, the Scribes difputed well about the Law; and mony at the day of judgment fhall fay, Lord, have we not taught in thy fireets, and in thy name done many wonderful works and yet he will fay unto them, I know ye not; depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity: For, not he that knows, but he only that does righteoufnefs, is righteous. And this is evidently the Work, not of a few hours, but of a whole life: So that they who put off their Repentance to their Death-bed, far from feeking first, do plainly feck only in the last place the Kingdom of God and his righteousness: i. e. they are the greateft neglecters and defpifers of it: And confequently they shall be least in the Kingdom of Heaven ¿ i. e. in Scripture-Phrase, far fhall they be from ever arriving there. Which brings me to the IId thing I proposed to speak to, viz. the manner and degree of the Obligation; Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all thefe things fhall be added unto you. SERMON XVI. SERMON XVII. Of the KINGDOM of GOD. St MATT. vi. 33 But feek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. T IS a very lively and affect- SER M. ing defcription of Provi- XVII. dence, which our Saviour gives us in his excellent difcourfe to his Disciples in this chapter: That our heavenly Father knoweth what things we |