SERMON XXI. 2 TIM. i. 10. And hath brought life and immortality to light, through the Gospel. E have already feen, what a perfect Wand complete rule of life Jefus Chrift has delivered in the Gospel for the moral improvement of mankind. And we have also seen, what powerful affistances he has graciously vouchsafed to enable them to obey its directions. But, notwithstanding mankind were thus enlightned with the knowledge of their duty, and and strengthned likewife with abilities to perform it; yet, as they found themselves obliged to refrain from many things which appeared defirable, and to embrace as many that were very grievous, to flesh and blood; fo was it moreover neceffary, that fome weighty and affecting motives fhould be proposed and laid before them, to dispose and determine them to act accordingly :—motives fufficient, as well to reftrain them from the pursuit of vice under its most engaging appearance; as to urge them forwards in the practice of virtue against the most preffing difcouragements. But fuch motives could not be drawn from any thing that occurred in the prefent ftate. The arguments founded on the dignity, amiableness, and advantages of virtue, how clearly foever and elegantly difplayed, had but little effect on the general conduct of mankind; and were much too weak to withstand the violence of strong temptations, and the terrours of fevere and alarming trials. To men, whofe views were confined to this world, that conduct muft neceffarily appear by far the the wifeft and most advantageous, which was most likely to ease them of the pains and troubles, and to procure them the pleafures, of the prefent life. And fince the pleasures and pains, or the happiness and mifery of the prefent life, are by no means regularly connected with the moral character of mankind; but rather dispensed in a seemingly promifcuous and indiscriminate man▲ ner; it is obvious to conclude, that perfons, actuated by the foregoing principles, would naturally be led to facrifice the intereft of diftreffed virtue to the engaging allurements of more profperous vice. But, though the appetites and paffions generally prevailed, and inclined them to low and unworthy purfuits; yet there still fubfifted in every man's breaft an indelible fenfe of the manifeft difference between good and evil; and the dictates of confcience, felt within ", forcibly preffed them to avoid the one, and to embrace the other. Hence they perceived themfelves to be as well moral, as rational, agents; and confequently account "Dominans ille in nobis deus. Ciccro. VOL. II. able able for all their actions. And fince they clearly faw, from the prefent unequal difpenfations of providence, that a proper account of human actions was not taken in this world; the wifeft and most confiderate of them reasonably inferred, or rather feelingly prefaged, that there must be of neceffity a future ftate; in which all these things would be finally fettled, and every one should receive the juft and due reward of his deeds. Such notice did nature fuggeft concerning the reality of another life. And upon this notice, ftrengthned perhaps by traditionary accounts, the world entertained fome confused belief of a future invisible state, throughout all ages. But this belief, however univerfal, was fo weak and languid, that it could never fupport the cause of virtue; efpecially when struggling with difficulties and diftrefs. In that cafe, men ftood in need of fuller evidence; and feem in truth to have occafionally obtained it, in a degree and manner fuited to their peculiar conditions and capacities. In general however, man kind |