corrected by his reproofs, we obey him in his precept, and we follow him in his example. While we believe in him as a Prieft, who gave himself a ranfom for all, we are moved by this stupendous act of grace to entertain the greatest horror for fin, and the highest gratitude to our Redeemer; and we thence determine to renounce our fins, to take up our cross with him, to present our bodies a living facrifice to God; in full affurance of faith, that through his interceffion they will not be offered up in vain. While we believe in him as a King, we fhall be touched with gratitude for the great deliverance he has accomplished for us; we shall be perfuaded to reverence his Laws, and to submit ourselves to his government; we shall be encouraged to refort to him for pardon of the fins of which we repent, for asfiftance and support in all our religious labours, for protection and defence against all our enemies; we fhall be refolved to arrange ourselves under his banner against the several adversaries of the Christian cause, and to continue his faithful Soldiers for the remainder of our days. If thus we comply with the terms of acceptance, as propofed by our Lord himfelf, by repenting of our fins and believing the Gofpel, it is humbly to be hoped on the promise he has given, that we have an intereft in the Kingdom of God both in the present and the future life. Even while we continue in this field of discipline, we are partakers in the Kingdom of Grace; and when the scene of discipline is closed, we fhall have our portion in the Kingdom of Glory. SERMONS ON THE BEATITUDES. MATTHEW V. 3—10. Blessed are the Poor in fpirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven: &c, &c. men. THE great purpose of our Saviour's miffion was to procure and advance the happiness of It was therefore the leading object of his ministry to inculcate all those dispositions and habits of holiness, which in the dispensation of divine providence and grace are effential to this important end. For which intent he commands our reverence and regard in the character of a Lawgiver, who has a certain course of duty to propose, supported and fanctioned by a certain train of recompence. The laws which he delivered are spread through all his difcourfes: But they seem to be collected and comprized in his Sermon on the Mount. This valuable difcourse was delivered it is probable in the early part of his miniftry, foon after he had begun Q3 begun to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom; and feems intended for a fummary to his Difciples both of Chriftian duty and of Chriftian hope. It does not indeed unfold thofe myfteries of godliness, which are now propofed for the objects of our faith, such as our redemption and juftification by the merits, the atonement, and interceffion of our Redeemer: For thefe it was expedient to reprefent, not so much in words, as in facts; and these accordingly our Lord expreffed, not fo much in his doctrine, as in his paffion and crucifixion, his refurrection and afcenfion. But it inftructs us very fully in those virtuous difpofitions, which all who name the name of Christ must cultivate; and it affures us very clearly of that divine recompence, which awaits our fidelity and obedience. This is placed in a confpicuous light in the front of his discourse. • With a spirit of benevolence, congenial to the character of a Minister of grace and peace from God to Man, he opens his difcourfe with a series of Beatitudes he pronounces a bleffing on all thofe virtuous qualities, which are essential to his true Difciples; and to each of those qualities he affigns a correfponding recom pence. It was unquestionably the design of our holy Teacher through all this series of Beatitudes to rectify the difpofitions and pursuits of men, which are generally too intent on worldly things, and to fix them on objects, wherein alone true happiness is to be attained. According to their feveral propenfities of mind the Children of this world are proud and ambitious after worldly confequence, are turbulent and grafping after worldly poffeffions, are inordinate lovers of pleasures, are intemperate followers after the luxuries of this life. But in all these purfuits, even if they attain the fummit of their wishes, they never find that fovereign good they feek, as it does not centre in any temporal acquifition. It continually evades their grafp, and disappoints their hope. Thus by the ordinary course of providence, even in this life, the denunciations of our Lord are feverally fulfilled upon them: Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your confolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye fhall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye fhall mourn and weep." In oppofition to these vain pursuits our bleffed Lord inftructs his Difciples to feek a Luke vi 24, 25. for |