tries of all around them, and their ill Treat-Serm. I ment, were taught to confider themselves as not of the World in which they lived, but as a distinct Society of themselves, with Laws, and Ends, and Principles of Life and Action, quite contrary to thofe which the World profefs'd themselves at that Time influenced by. Hence the Relation of a Christian was by them confidered as nearer than that of Affinity and Blood, and they almost literally esteemed themselves as Members one of another. It cannot indeed poffibly be denied, that our being God's Creatures, and Virtue being the natural Law we are born under, and the whole Conftitution of Man being plainly adapted to it, are prior Obligations to Piety and Virtue, than the Confideration that God fent his Son into the World to fave it, and the Motives which arise from the peculiar Relation of Christians, as Members one of another under Chrift our Head. Yet its manifeft, that though all this be allowed, as it exprefly is by the inspired Writers; yet Christians at the Time of the Revelation, and immediately after, could not but infift moftly upon Confiderations of this latter Kind. Upon the Government of the Upon Self-Deceit. Tongue. Upon Compaffion. Upon the Love of our Neigh bour. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon the Love of God. Upon Refentment. Upon the Ignorance of Man. By JOSEPH BUTLER, L. L. B. Preacher at the Rolls, and Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durham. LONDON: Printed by W. Botham, for JAMES and JOHN KNAPTON, at the Crown in St. Paul's ChurchYard. MDCC XXVI. |