Page images
PDF
EPUB

Followers from amongst those who had been thus prepar'd for him by John; that he trained them up gradually, and try'd them in a way adapted to their growing Capacities; that he first gave them Milk, and then Strong Meat, and for a Time with-held from them fuch Duties as they were not able to bear. That the Apostles afterwards had their Children, their Young-men and Fathers, in Spiritual Improvement, and that for feveral Ages fuch like Claffes were preferv'd in the Church, as long as it preferv'd its first Lustre. From these Hints we may conclude, that the Attainment of internal rectitude, the procuring a clean Heart and a right Spirit is a Business of greater Delicacy as well as Importance than is commonly apprehended. Strive, therefore, to enter in at the ftrait Gate, for many I fay unto you shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able, Luke xiii. 24.

DISCOURSE III.

Repentance the leading Principle of Christianity.

MA T. iii. 2.

Repent ye.

AVING in a former Dif courfe fhewn you at large, that Love is the fulfilling of the Law and the end of the Commandment; That the principal and most peculiar Doctrine of Christianity, and the most distinguishing Teft or Characteristick of our being the Dif ciples of Chrift, is that we love one

another

another as he loved us; and further, that Love is the proper and most excellent Source of all Religion and Virtue; and that the fame Acts, whether they be of Worship towards God, or of Beneficence to our Neighbour, differ in their Value or Degrees of Acceptance, as they proceed more or less from this Principle of Love; That this Love which is fo emphatically prefs'd upon us by our Lord, is the true and real Perfection of our Nature, as we are focial and immortal Beings; That whofoever is poffefs'd of it, or any good Degrees of it, does thereby become a Law unto himself, and does not stand in need of those little and low moral Inftructions, which the World at prefent feems to be fo fond of, but is ready upon all Occafions, from the Influence of his own Mind, to fuffer long and to be kind, not to envy, vaunt himself or be puffed up, not to behave himself

un

unfeemly, not to feek his own, or to be eafily provoked, or to think Evil; not to rejoice in Iniquity but in the Truth, to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things; That this Love fuperfedes all the ordinary Rules of Morality, and breaks forth into an exalted and heroic Virtue, taught only of God, and exemplified only by Chrift and his Difciples; and further, that this Love of his is the only Principle of clear and distinct Knowledge in Matters of Religion and Virtue; that whilft our Love is irregular it will blind our Understandings, make us rejoice in Iniquity and hate the Truth, and thofe that prefs it upon us; that it is alfo the only Principle of Power by which we can be enabled to difchage the Offices we are convinced of; Having, I fay, fet before you the principal Scope and Design of the Christian Revelation which is to love God and one another after the Example

ample of Christ's Love, the bare Representation whereof fets it above the Mifinterpretations of its falfe Friends, and the Afperfions of its avowed Enemies. I come now, according to a former Intimation, to confider the Provision made, the Means furnish'd forth, by the Ufe of which we may acquire this Love which we are affur'd not only from the Word of God, but alfo from the Nature and Reason of things, as far as we are acquainted with them, is the utmost Perfection and Happiness of our Natures. The End must stand approv'd as most beneficial to Man, and of Confequence, moft worthy of God; and the Means, I doubt not upon further Enquiry, will carry in them the fame Marks of divine Wildom and Goodness.

The first Means prescrib'd is that of Repentance. It is term'd in the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Foundation, (vi. 1.) It stands foremost in the

Cata

« PreviousContinue »