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examined it, and declare, that whatever SERM. V Frailties he may have, yet he has strove to the best of his Power, in every Stage of Life, to fubdue each inordinate Paffion, to discharge every Duty, and to cultivate each virtuous Habit ? Let him stand forth at the last decisive Day, and put in his Claim, (for an equitable Claim he perhaps may have) to such a Degree of Happiness, as will preponderate, or be superior to any Short-lived Mifery, which he may have endured here, and be proportioned to his Deserts. But even he could have no wellgrounded Reafon to expect, unless the Merits of our Saviour had ensured it to him, a Happiness unallayed in it's Nature, exceeding in it's Degree, whatever he could have imagined, and everlasting in it's Duration.

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After all, such a Being, as is described before, is, I am afraid, merely vifionary: Men of the most distinguished Piety having Reason to pray, Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant, O Lord: For in thy Sight shall no Man living be justified.

Several indeed are too apt, in the Pride and Bloom of Life, to flatter themselves into groundless Presumptions, and a fanguine Con

SARM. V. Confidence. But when they come, just upon the Verge of another World, coolly, and calmly to adjust Accounts between their Maker and themselves; I doubt thofe Sins, which, like Shadows, looked so little at the Noon of Life, will greatly lengthen with their fetting Sun. Be that as it will; it is certain, that the Observation, viz. that none ever pushed their Capacity, in Matters of Knowledge, as far as it was able to extend; holds as true in Matters of Morality: None ever exerted their Abilities as far as they were able to carry them, to the utmost Extent of their Capacity in the Purfuit and Practice of Virtue.

And yet natural Religion may require not only the Being, and Reality of each Virtue; but the utmost Degree of Virtue in our Power under the Penalty of future Punishment. Because every Thing which we have, being derived from God; every Thing which we can do, is but our bounden Tribute to Him. Christianity, on the other Hand, requires indeed the Being and Reality of Virtue, under the Penalty of Damnation. But it requires the utmost Degree, and the highest Attainments, in Virtue, only under the Penalty of an Abate

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The Redemption.

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ment or Discount of Happiness. He that SERM. V. has fowed sparingly; according to that gracious Dispensation, shall reap proportionably, though in a less Degree; than he, that has sowed bountifully. He, that has cultivated virtuous Habits, though in a lower Meafure, shall be happy, though not equally with him, who has made much nearer Approaches to the Standard of Perfection.

So much Reason have we to be thankful to him, who has rescued us from the Punishment; provided we strive to rescue ourselves from the Dominion of Sin; in Confidence of whose all-fufficient Merits, we may fecurely launch out into the Depths of Eternity, as St. Peter ventured to walk upon the Sea, while we have a Saviour to lend an helping Hand, and to support us, as he did him, from finking into the deep Abyss below.

SERMON

Preached at the

Lady MOYER'S LECTURE.

On the REDEMPTION.

I PETER III. 18.

Christ hath also once fuffered for Sins, the Just for the Unjust, that he might bring us unto God.

AVING, in a former Discourse, SERM. VI. shewn the Weakness and Insufficiency of those Schemes, which have been fet up in Opposition to Scripture; I now proceed to my

IId general Head, to establish and confirm the true Scripture Doctrine of the Satisfaction. After which

VOL. II.

Cc

I shall