not obtain the Christian's reward; because they are practically ignorant of the first principles of salvation; because they forget the free and unmerited grace, by which they have been restored from their lost condition, and admitted to all the privileges of reconciliation with God. If they felt the truths which they profess to believe; their conduct would be totally different. Remembering their own former wretchedness, they would commiserate that of others. Remembering the condemnation, in which rigorous justice must have involved them; they would not be severe to those, who have so much less to be forgiven. Remembering the pity of Him, who "knew what was in man;" they would compassionate the errors, over which they mourn. The various instances of the bounty of Providence and of Grace, in the support of the helpless, and the restoration of the fallen, would lead them to care for all, to whom their influence may extend. While they disclaimed all idea of averting the vengeance which their sins have deserved, by any thing short of a cordial reliance on the merits of a

crucified

crucified Saviour, they would feel that for-
giveness was suspended, on a fervent desire
and strenuous effort, to glorify that Saviour
in all things; and in the exercise of mercy
among the number. They would feel that
he, who is careless to obey the precepts, and
imbibe the spirit of the Gospel, will find
its promises unavailing. Such is the lan-
guage of Scripture, which forbids us to "turn
the grace of God into lasciviousness, and to
deny the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ," under pretence of giving them
exclusive honour. May we never forget, that
a serious profession of Christian principles
is essential to salvation; but may we also
constantly remember, that "he that doeth
righteousness is righteous."
"Ye call me
Master and Lord:" said our

Saviour; " and

ye say well; for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do

them."

1

1

SERMON VI.

Sixth Beatitude.

5TH. CHAP. OF ST. MATTHEW, 8TH. VERSE.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

HE words which form the subject of

THE

the present discourse, were addressed to those, whose habits and whose prejudices, demanded the great and important truth which those words convey. The religion of the Scribes and Pharisees, was a religion of forms and ceremonies. The outward rites, which are only valuable, as they indicate, or as they produce, the inward dispositions of faith and holiness, superseded in their estimation these weightier matters of the law. They forgot the substance in the shadow; or rather, they wilfully substituted the sacrifice which cost them nothing, for that which

is the fruit of painful effort, of constant vigilance, and of unwearied prayer. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness." Many of those who heard our Saviour's sermon on the mount, were no doubt of this description: for if the Scribes and Pharisees themselves, were careful not to appear in his train, we may easily believe, that the greater number of those who heard his discourse, had listened to their perverted reasonings, or had imperceptibly imbibed their opinions and their spirit. To such characters, the declaration of Jesus Christ would appear a new and sublime doctrine, which might indeed alarm their pre-conceived opinions, but would at the same time approve itself to their reason and conscience. While it condemned the conduct