SERM. them the woes denounced against them; XXII. still, however, their final condemnation rests with God. In this, however, we are all agreed. We say, what the Scriptures teach us, that Christ is not " the author of "salvation" but "to those" who in their lives "obey his laws;" now his laws are admitted to be the most perfect system of morality extant, so congenial to the natural sentiments of the human heart, as to have led some vainly to suppose it required no new promulgation; in the worst of times, the distinction of good and evil does not appear to be so lost to the world, but that all men acknowledge the obligations springing from it, though some differ greatly about the motive. But why it should be greater slavery to serve and to obey a merciful Redeemer, who laid down his life for us, and gave us these invaluable laws, than to follow the accidental dictates of our own understandings, and to trust in nothing but our own righteousness, must be left to be decided by those who have less modesty or more subtlety than my self. self. We must indeed admit that there is SERM. more liberty in living according to the pri- XXII. vate suggestions of one's own fancy, than according to the written and express laws of God; more liberty in judging one's self, than being subject to the judgment and inspection of an all-seeing and perfect Being! But who, that values his own liberty, and is capable of judging of conse quences, would live with persons of this description * ? Such opinions, however, are abroad; and therefore, as it may well be expected of me as a minister of Christ's Gospel, as well as of all others who are so, now more particularly to " confess him be"fore men," I shall not scruple here to declare, which I do most solemnly and confidently, that, without neglecting any arguments of our adversaries that I can find means to examine, yet every day's re *Though there may be something quaint in the following remark, what can be more reasonable? "I do "not rejoice to hear that men may do what they please "unless I know what it pleases them to do."-Burke on the French Revolution. flection SERM. flection and consideration only serves to XXII. convince me more and more of the truth of Christianity, and of the fatal deception those give way to, who are moved, by any attacks so capable of refutation, to renounce. and abandon it! To conclude-Let us consider the victories we are now commemorating, as a proof that, notwithstanding our manifold sins and wickednesses, the Almighty is on our side that principles so ferocious and so repugnant to the established order of society, as those of our enemy; that impiety so monstrous as that of rejecting the God of their salvation, will not be permitted to prevail against us; so long as we fulfil all the religious and moral duties of Christianity, maintain the happy constitution we were born under, and waver nothing in our faith; remembering always, that whensoever the victorious Israelites did waver and incline to the principles of their enemies, as I have stated above, God then forsook them also, and delivered delivered them over to their foes. Let us SERM. hope that we are preserved to be hereafter XXII. an example to the world, as professing those principles which the God of heaven is pleased to sanction, and which in his own good time may put to silence those who now disturb the world. Let us daily pray to God, in the comprehensive words of our Litany, that he will continue "to "preserve us in battle and from murder; from all sedition, privy conspiracy, and re"bellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, " and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of his word and commandments. "That it may please him to restore to all "nations unity, peace, and concord; that be "will bring back into the way of truth all "those who have erred and been deceived; "and, finally, that he will forgive our enemies "and persecutors, and turn their hearts!" So that, contemplating the religion and laws we profess, they may discover, in the protection of God, the evil of their own ways, and be brought back to a sense of what is right. Let us pray the good God E e to |