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II.

we also learn that many who have the high- SERM. eft pretenfions to the love of the Deity, are utterly deftitute of this affection. I mean those who place its effence in certain enthusiastic raptures, unconnected with virtuous practice. It is not the infinitely gracious and wife God, but an idol of their own imaginations, that such persons adore. This falfe deity poffeffes a character fimilar to their own; and devotion to him, instead of having a tendency to reform their vices, has the effect of confirming them. While they exclaim, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these §, they are the worshippers of their own violent and irregular paffions.

Thirdly, It is evident that the love of God is the foundation of all religion and virtue. If we devote not our hearts to our Creator, there is nothing we can offer in their stead. Every fpecies of religion, which proteeds not from reverence and admiration of his moral attributes, is an infult to him, and can admit of no excufe, but that of ignorance, which, however, cannot take place under

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II.

SERM. the difpenfation of the gospel, wherever its light is not obfcured by human corruption. Bring no more vain oblations, faith God; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons, and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons, and your appointed feasts, my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow †.

The love of God implies, as we have already feen, the love of moral excellence; and this is the true principle of all virtue. While, therefore, we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, let us, also, love our neighbour as ourselves; for, on these two hang all the law and the prophets ‡.

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SERMON

Isai. i. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. ‡ Math. xxii. 37, 39, 40.

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SERMON III.

ON THE JOY AND PEACE OF BELIEVING
AND PRACTISING THE GOSPEL.

PHILIPPIANS iv. 4.

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice.

Joy and forrow, the defire of happiness, SERM. and averfion from mifery are the great II. fprings of human action. The poffeffion of good, whether real or imaginary, raises agreeable fenfations, nor can these exist, when the former is wanting. It may, therefore, appear fuperfluous to exhort men to rejoice, or be happy, fince this delightful state of mind is always produced by its proper caufes, and, without them, can be effected by no exertion of the will.

But

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But, though the attempt to perfuade men to rejoice, without an adequate cause, be nugatory and abfurd, there is no abfurdity in the invitation to come and participate and relish the springs of happiness disclosed to their view. It is certain that the greatest part of human mifery arifes from erroneous notions of the chief good, and from the purfuit of it. in paths which have a contrary direction. A greater benefit, therefore, cannot be conferred on mankind, than by unfolding to them the real nature of the felicity which they are formed to enjoy, and by leading them to its attainment.

This benefit has been conferred on us by our Saviour. He has removed every obftruction to our happiness, defined its nature, discovered the road to it, and furnished us in that road with information to guide, and with strength to fupport our steps. If we would harken to his inftructions, embrace his doctrines, and obey his precepts, we fhould poffefs a perpetual spring of fatisfaction and delight. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again 1say rejoice. Believe the

doctrines,

III.

doctrines, obey the precepts of the gofpel, SERM. and rejoice in this world; rejoice to all eternity. To evince the truth of this pofition, is the object of this difcourfe. May the divine Author of our religion impart to me his gracious aid in this important difcuffion, and render it conducive to the happy effect of removing certain prejudices against the gofpel, of recommending it even to its enemies, and of confirming believers in their faith! I fhall, first, endeavour to rectify the erroneous opinions entertained with regard to the moral obligations of Christianity; secondly, exhibit the fources of happinefs which it affords in this world; and, lastly, attempt fome faint representation of the glorious prospects of futurity which it unfolds.

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I. It would not, perhaps, be difficult to perfuade the generality of men that Chriftianity is calculated to procure to those who believe and practise it, perfect and unfading felicity in a future world. They are prejudiced against it, and unwilling to fubmit

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