Religion, by turning it into Cuftomarinefs, or Formality, or Superftition: In a Word, of all thofe Doctrines that do any way hinder or obftruct Good Life. For 'tis certain we may affirm of all fuch, that they are not of GOD; that Chrift never taught them; that the Holy Scripture, in the true Sense of it, cannot poffibly own them, as being directly contradictory to the great Design and Intendment of it, which, as we have feen, is to plant in Men all manner of Virtue and Holy Conversa

tion.

This is an excellent Rule to examine the Truth of Religious Opinions by, and may be of great Ufe for the guiding our Judgments as to many Points, which are with great Eagernefs difputed among Chriftians at this Day: And I mention it, not without a particular Reflection upon many of the Doctrines taught in the Church of Reme; and upon fome, likewife, that are too much propagated among our felves, (though, GOD be thanked, never own'd by our Church :) Both of which Sorts, if they be brought to this Teft, will appear manifeftly Falfe and Unchriftian; as being either apparently contriv'd to serve a fecular Turn; or if not that, yet all of them, directly, or by neceffary Confequence, encouraging Men in a careless or a vicious Life.

But

But, Secondly, fince the End and Defign of our Lord's coming into the World is fuch as hath been faid; then, in the Name of GOD, let every one that names the Name of Christ depart from all Iniquity. This is the most natural Inference that can be drawn from this Do&rine.

All of us here prefent do call our felves Christians; nay, and I believe, would take it ill of any one that should think otherwife of us. For GOD's fake then, let us make it appear that we are fo, by living up to the Defign of our Christianity. Let us fhew that we are indeed the Disciples of Chrift, by walking as we have him for an Example: Let us make all the World fee, that we believe his Doctrines, by conforming our felves to his Precepts: That we fear his Threatnings, by flying every Thing that is bafe and finful: That we expect his Rewards in the other World, by living above the Vanities of this: Let our conftant and vigorous Purfuit of every Thing that is Good, of every Thing that is Juft, of every Thing that is Lovely, that is Venerable, that is of Good Report, bear Witness for us, to what Mafter, and to what Religion, we do belong.

There is no other Way but this to eyidence, that we are indeed what we 0 3

pre

66

pretend to be. It is not fufficient to entitle us to the Name of Chriftians, that we were baptiz'd into Chrift, that we profefs his Faith, that we reft upon him for Salvation, that we are Members of an Orthodox Church: No; what St. Paul faid of Circumcifion, the fame may be faid of Baptifm, and all thofe other Things, (I ufe the Words of a late Eminent Divine of our Church) "They do verily profit, if we keep the Law of Christ: "but if we be Tranfgreffors of that Law, 66 our Baptifm is no Baptifm, our Faith is mere Infidelity, our Chriftianity is 66 no better than Heathenifm. Nay, further, I will be bold to fay, There is not a Turk, or a Heathen, but, if he live better than we, if he be more Innocent, more Chafte, more Humble, more Juft, more Charitable than we, he is to all Intents and Purposes a better Chriftian; forafmuch as he lives more up to the Ends of Chrift's Religion. And a Thoufand times rather would I chufe to appear at the last Day, before the great Tribunal of GOD, in the Perfon of fuch a poor Infidel, than in the Condition of the most Orthodox Christian, if he foil and unhallow his Profeffion by a vicious Life. God Almighty touch all our Hearts with a Senfe of thefe Things, and grant that that Grace of his, which as on this Day bath appear'd unto Men, may effectually

teach

teach every one of us to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lufts, and to live Righteously, and Soberly, and Godly in this prefent World, looking for the Bleffed Hope, and the Second and more Glorious Appearance of the Great GO D, and our Saviour. whom, &c.

Το

200

SERMON VIII.

Preached before the

QUEEN

A T

St. JAMES's Chapel,

On EASTER-DAY, 1705.

ACTS X. 40, 41:

Him God raifed up the Third Day, and fhewed him openly;

Not to all the People, but unto Witnesses, chofen before of God; even to us, who did Eat and Drink with him after he rofe from the Dead.

T

HE Solemnity of this Day leading me to treat of for fomething relating to our Lord's Refurrection from the Dead, I fhall beg Leave at this time to give an Account of one Circumstance