that he endeavour (according to the capacity which God has given him) that he endeavour to understand the manner, and the conditions of our redemption by Jefus Chrift. For example: that the Son of God took our nature upon him, that he might in our nature suffer what we ought to fuffer; that God laid on him the iniquities of us all; and that he hath obtained everlasting redemption for all them that obey him.

It will therefore be required of every foul of us, that we endeavour to obey his laws, and follow his example; that is, to do what we believe Jefus Chrift would have us to do, and what we believe he himself would have done, were he in our place and circumftances.

Particularly it will be required of us, that we fet before our eyes his fufferings, his humility, his patience, his charity, his fubmiffion to the will of God, and endeavour to imitate them; that we give entire credit to all that God hath made known to us by his Son, and especially this important truth-that we must all appear before his judgment feat; by whofe righteous fentence, they that have done good fhall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil, and have not repented them of the evil they have done, fhall go into everlasting mifery.

It will, I fay, be required, that we live like people who profefs to believe all this, and that we be careful of our thoughts, words, and actions, which must then be judged.

VOL. II.

U

And

And forafmuch as in baptifm we are dedicated to the Holy Ghost, that he may fanctify our nature, enlighten our understandings, and give us a power to do what God has commanded us; it will be required of us, that we have not grieved that holy Spirit, nor driven him from us by our evil deeds, or by continuing in any known fin.

And this holy Spirit having made known to us,' That God added to his church daily, that is, from time to time, fuch as fhould be faved, it will be required of every man, as he hopes to be faved, that by a righteous baptifm, he be a member of Chrift's holy catholick church, in order to be a partaker of all its blessed privileges.

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And it being to the governors and pastors of this church that Jefus Chrift has made this fure promife, Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world; that is, to direct them, and bless those whom they bless in his name; it will be ftrictly required of every member of this fociety, that he attend to the word preached by them; highly value their prayers and bleffing, and fubmit to the authority of Jefus Chrift in his ministers.

Every Christian who profeffes to believe the communion of faints, it will be required of him that he has had a concern, a fellow-feeling, for all Chriftians; fuch as there should be amongst the members of the fame body;

Acts ii. 47.

Matth. xxviii. 20.

that

that he has communicated his talents, whether of wisdom, or riches, or power, to others, in order to make the whole body of Chrift as happy as may be.

And, forafmuch as Jefus Chrift has commanded, that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name; that is, repentance on man's part, and remiffion of fins on the part of God; every Chriftian will fadly fuffer for it, if this goodness of God has not led him to repentance, has not put him upon begging of God the grace of repentance, even that repentance to which God has promised mercy and pardon.

There is not a Christian so ignorant, who does not believe and confefs this truth, That the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves fhall come forth; they that have done good unto the refurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the refurrection of damnation. And will any Chriftian flatter himself, that' this hour will not make a prodigious difference betwixt good and bad livers.

Is there a Chriftian fo ignorant or unlearned as not to know, that now is the time in which we are to choose where, and what, we are to be to all eternity? And will it not be required of every Chriftian who knows this, that he did not fet his heart upon a world which he was fo foon to leave; and that he has laid up his treasure in heaven, where he did hope to live for ever?

d John v. 28.

Thefe,

These, good Chriftians, are all truths which we could not have known, had not God revealed them unto us; but now we do know them, you fee plainly how much depends upon our living as becomes people to whom fuch things are revealed; that is, that we obey the laws which God has given us to walk by, and that we do not do what he has forbidden, upon pain of his everlasting displeasure.

But how fhall we know this? fay the ignorant and unlearned; fure much will not be required of us, to whom fo little knowledge, fo few talents, are given!

Why now, the most unlearned Chriftian, who flatters himself with these hopes, that little will be required of him, will be condemned of his own conscience, (as well as by his great Judge) when he fees that the duties which he is commanded, and the things forbidden him, are in themselves neceffary, reafonable, and easily known; and (what is our great happiness and comfort) when he knows that we shall have all neceffary affistance for afking, and that a fincere endeavour of doing what God has commanded will be accepted instead of a perfect obedience.

Will it not then, do we think, be required of every Chriftian, that he make the law of God the rule of his life; that he love and fear God above all things; depend upon his providence; worship him with reverence; never take his name in vain; that he abhor

all

all manner of oaths, except when called before a magistrate, and then to speak the truth, as he hopes the Lord, who knows it, will hold him guiltless?

Does not every Christian know, and will it not be required of him, that he has confcientiously observed the Lord's Day, to keep it holy, by laying afide all business or pleasures which may divert the mind from ferving God; by going to the place of publick worship, where God is acknowledged, honoured, and prayed to?

Áre not children taught from their very infancy, and will it not be required of them, that they have honoured their parents? And do they not know the meaning of this: that they are to obey them in all lawful things; that they are not to grieve them, by any stubborn or evil courfe of life; and that they are to affift them, if ever they should stand in need of their help?

And do not all parents know their duty? And they will feverely answer for it, if they have not brought up their children in the fear of God; if they have not taken care to have them inftructed; if they have not set them a good example; if they have not corrected them when they have done amifs; and if they have not conftantly prayed for them.

Will the meaneft fubject have it to say, that he did not know that it was his duty to obey, and that disobedience and rebellion

were