the Truth of them is enough to fortify a Man SER M. against all poffible Temptations to defert his XI. Duty, and to make him adhere to it in the moft difficult Circumstances; whoever, I fay, confiders this, must fee that the Institution of our Saviour, by bringing these Principles out of the Uncertainty in which they formerly lay, and fettling them upon a fure Foundation, has done a most important fervice to the Cause of Virtue, has provided much more effectually for its prevailing, and given it a vastly stronger Support and Establishment than any Institution ever did before. 3. The Religion of our Saviour has fuggested some most noble and powerful Motives for engaging Men to Virtue, which are peculiar to itself, and which the World were never acquainted with before: I mean those which arife from the infinite Love of God, in fending bis only-begotten Son into the World, to make a Revelation of his Will to Mankind, to propofe and declare the Terms of Acceptance with him, and to give us all neceffary Help and Encouragement for coming up to these Terms; and from the infinite Condefcenfion and Love of our Bleffed Saviour in taking our Nature upon him, and all that he acted, taught, and fuffered, for recovering us more effectually from our finful and miseX 4 rable SERM.rable Condition, and bringing us to a State of from the great Goodness of appointing the 4. The pofitive Inftitutions and external Rites of Christianity contribute much better to the Advancement of Piety and Virtue, than those of any other Religion have ever done. Something of this fort feems to be necessary in every Religion, both for continuing and propagating the Profeffion of it, and conveying the Doctrines and Principles of it with a ftronger and more lively Impreffion into the Minds of Men. But But the Rites and Forms of moft of the Re- SER M. ligions which have been ever known in the XI. World, instead of serving the Interest of true Religion, and promoting what must be the End of that, have either had no relation to this purpose, or been unhappily the means of prejudicing and defeating it: This is notoriously true of a great part, at least, of the religious Rites and Customs of the Heathens, many of which were altogether foolish and ridiculous, and feveral of them flagrantly impious and immoral. Nor can it be denied, that the Ceremonies and Forms of the Jews, though originally very well intended, did always, by the Multiplicity and great Variety of them, too much ingrofs the Minds, and engage the Attention of that People, and came at last to shut out almost all folid Piety and Goodness from among them. But now the pofitive and ritual Precepts of Christianity are but few, and require nothing but what is very fimple and easy, and are all wifely framed for fecuring the main End of the Gospel, and have the moft direct and plain Tendency to promote it: For what can be more proper to keep up in our Minds a lively Sense of Virtue, and to confirm and fet us forward in the Practice of it, than to enter ourselves into the Society of Christians, and SERM. and take upon us the Profeffion of the GoXI. fpel in an open and folemn Manner; to meet together at stated times in religious Affemblies, for worshipping God by Prayer and Thankf giving; for receiving Inftructions in the great Duties of our Religion, and having the Principles and Motives of it strongly and affectionately inculcated upon us; and for commemorating the Death of the great Founder of the Gofpel, and the Benefits which we obtain by his Appearance in the World. These Institutions are manifeftly calculated for raifing pious and good Difpofitions in the Hearts of Men, and we will not attend to them with Judgment and true Devotion, without perceiving the great Benefit and Use of them, in fubduing our irregular Defires and Inclinations, in preferving us in a Divine Temper, and making us more expert and active in every part of our Duty. 5. Lastly, the Institution of the Gospel is compleated, and perfectly fitted for the Purpofe of reforming Mankind by its divine Sanction, or the Confirmation which it receives from the Miracles of our Lord and his Apoftles. The Religion of our Saviour in this refpect, ftands at leaft upon a level with the Inftitution of Mofes, and the Doctrines of all the moft famous Prophets of the Old ~ Old Teftament, and has a mighty advan- SER M, tage above the Inftitutions of the ancient XI. Heathen Legiflators and Philosophers, whose Doctrines and Precepts did indeed by their own Light and Evidence infinuate themselves into feveral inquifitive and free Minds, but for want of proper Methods to propagate them, and a proper Authority to enforce them, could never make any progress among the main Body of Men, Indeed the Geneṛality of the World have naturally so much Levity and Inconftancy of Mind, and for the most part labour under fo much Prejudice and Corruption, that it is very difficult to fix their Attention even on the most noble and important Objects, and to bring them fo far as to hearken to a Doctrine which is perfectly pure and holy, and much more to make them heartily confent to it and live under its Power and Influence; fo that whoever attempts to inftruct and reform them, and would expect any great Success from his Endeavours, muft find, if he can, fome more powerful Means of engaging their Attention, and influencing their Minds, than the wifeft and jufteft Reasoning which he can use with them, will be. Upon this account it was that the Lawgivers among the Heathens endeavoured to found their Inftitutions upon the |