by parables very expreffive, and, well chofen; not drawn from abftracted notions, nor the abftrufe fpeculatians of philofophers, whose heads too often dwell in the clouds; but from things fimilar to things meant, and illuftrated by fome material reprefentations and actions, frequent among men; fuch as they were accustomed to, and had been long acquainted with; as of an husbandman's fowing corn in the field; of a fisher's throwing his net into the fea; of a man's looking for a loft fheep; of a master's reckoning with his fervant; of the reproachful extravagancies of the prodigal fon, and his return to his indulgent father, who embraces him in the arms of love, and with the tendereft and warmest affections; and of the importunity of an oppreffed and diftreffed widow, to affwage her forrows, to mitigate her griefs, and to redress her grievances and lighten her heavy burden. Relations of this nature, are eafily remembered, and perfons of the meaneft and loweft capacities, can readily apprehend and clearly understand them. Moreover the miracles of Chrift, are of fingular use and of extraordinary benefit to such, as confider those wonders with attentive ferioufnefs, to make them revere the divine omnipotence, which is most amazingly and generoully exhibited, not in

*The natural world, feems to be fubject to certain regular laws, impreffed upon all matter at its first creation, and never to be altered but upon fome extraordinary occafion, requiring the manifeftation of God himself, and an awful and folemn appeal to the fenfes of men. is what we properly ftile a miracle, and which is not to be expected, after the last revelation made by Chrift and his holy apofties, has been fufficiently promulged and established in the world.

This

in tragical and frightful spectres, or astonishing prodigies, but in works of mercy and compaffion, and of the most benevolent actions, in raising the dejected and oppreffed fpirits of men, and reftoring them to their priftine foundness, and their primitive state of alacrity. For they not only engage the affections, ftrike the mind with the deepest awe and the profoundest reverence, and cause it filently to adóre that power, which it cannot poffibly comprehend, nor is able to describe, but they are alfo evidences of divine benignity, and of that diffufive bounty, that overflows the whole creation, and renders its vast productions beneficial and ferviceable, for the prefervation and fupport of every living creature. They admirably difplay that paffionate concern, and those bowels of infinite tenderness, which our all-fufficient Saviour, and skilful phyfician of foul and body, exercised for the fpiritual and temporal welfare of mankind, by his going about doing good, and healing the moft ftubborn and inveterate diseases, the sharpeft and acuteft diftempers, without any external or outward application. These are irrefragabie indications of God's love, and demonftrations of his fatherly care, and the transcendent munificence of Jefus, our for ever indulgent redeemer. These illuftrious inftances of mercy, are fufficient to lower our pride and self-conceit; to infpire our hearts with fpiritual freedom; to elevate our thoughts to God, to contemplate the divine power and wisdom, which fhines fo vifibly in pure minds, in the Renovation and Salvation of forrowful and returning tranfgreffors. Here let it be carefully

re

remarked, and often remembered, that among our bleffed Lord's miracles, there are none that brought grief, or did harm to any one's perfon; but all contributed to the eafe and relief of the forrowful and diftreffed. They adminiftred food to the Hungry, and fupplies to those in want and neceffity, and brought feasonable help and deliverance to those in imminent danger, and that were almoft ready to perish. How can we but admire that astonishing power, which runs thro' this mighty fabric, and the various tribes of different animals, and numberless myriads of inanimate creatures, when we fee it fo liberally employed, in recovering fight to the blind, feet to the lame, and calling the dead back to life again; Oh power truly divine, thus kindly exerted, in curing the fick of their diseases, and reftoring health to thofe, who were ready to expire, and paft all hopes of recovery; not to a feeble and languishing state, but to confirmed health and ftrength; to the just use and enjoyment of every organ and faculty in full fection. By thefe fupernatural and matchless wonders, and inftantaneously repairing natural infirmities and accidental defects, our adorable Redeemer, the Lord and Judge of the world, proved his Divinity and his Miffion. Wonders of gentleness and beneficence, of kindness and love, fuch as allure us with their charms, and draw us with the cords of a man, and are undeniable tokens of God's immediate prefence, and uncontroulable power and dominion over univerfal nature. Having now confidered the Gospel doctrines and precepts, threatnings and promifes, parables and miracles, and fhewn that no fyftem is better fitted, to exterminate vice and impiety; to retard F

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the naufeous torrents of prophanenefs, and the floods of ungodliness, than that which is taught by our Jefus, and revealed in fcripture for our inftruction and edification. Nor can the importance and neceffity of virtue be represented to greater advantage, or an expedient better devifed, than that which is propofed by Chrift, and taken in the counsel of heaven, to preferve the human fpecie from ruin, and reconcile them to an incenfed God. For what can better enforce moral obligation, and engage us more to watch over ourselves, and over all our words and actions, than the example of the Son of God, flowing from the pureft benevolence; that perfect pattern of unfullied purity, which is fo confpicuous and exquifite in all its parts? Nor will any thing thine brighter, or do fo great honour to human nature, as clothing it with the beautiful robes of innocency, and religiously exerting our mental faculties; to approve ourselves to that benign Being, who

In the chriftian fyftem the laws of reafon are clearly exhibited, there they fhine with inimitable brightness, without any mixture of impurity, to fully their primitive luftre, as. they originally proceeded from him, who is our fupreme benefactor. Nor is the matter of thofe laws fet off with lefs beauty, than the motives joined to them, which are fo contrived, that were it not for the depravity of nature, they could not fail of exciting the attention, and quickening us in all holy obedience.

It has been, and often is objected, that fome of our Lord's parables are difficult, and of little use to common apprehenfions, or perfons of dull intellects. I answer, that thofe parables, which are fo abftrufe, that their fenfe is not eafily perceived, or hard to be understood, were at the time delivered very familiar, and in every refpect of eminent ufe and fervice, to promote the glory of God, the good of our fellow-creature, and the real advancement and intereft of genuine christianity.

who will exhibit his excellent glory, when he Shall come to be glorified in his faints, and to be admired in them that believe. For God hath not appointed us to Wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jefus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or fleep, we should live together with him. And therefore we who are candidates for eternity, must be like the hoft of heavenly angels in godly difpofitions, and a readiness to obey our Maker, that we may not be alarmed, or repulfed by the deceiver; but may safely arrive at our quiet retreat, and enter in without any obftruction, through the gates into the holy city. In this facred place, are no perverfe fpirits, no vexatious adverfaries, or litigious finners, to teaze and moleft us; but the Redeemed of the Lord shall walk there, and the Ranfomed of the Lord fhall return and come to Zion, with Songs and everlafting Joy upon their Heads. They fhall obtain joy and gladness; forrow and fighing fhall flee away. They are freed from pains and uneafineffes of body and mind, and advanced to fuch an elevated ftation, as renders them glorious in holiness, and caufes them to exult in facred admiration, and cry out in extafies of divine wonder; former things are paffed away, and behold, all things are become new. But if men will arrogantly contend with God, with that great and omnipotent being, who fet bounds to the tremendous ocean, and made his arm bare in their defence, to relieve their oppreffed fpirits and the anguish of their fouls; he will not only difcontinue his intreaties, and fhut up his tender bowels in difpleafure; but they must also F 2 fuffer