XVII. There are three things which chiefly pro- SER M. cure a juft, a great, an immortal renown among men. These are, First, Eminent perfonal virtues and talents. Secondly, Many great, illuftrious, and beneficial actions. And, Thirdly, The leaving to after-ages, inftitutions or establishments of the most univerfal and everlasting utility. That Jefus is entitled to the highest honours upon all these accounts, is manifeft from what has already been faid, and needs no farther illuftration. It is true, that Jefus conquered no kingdom, created no worldly empire, invented no arts or sciences; but, notwithstanding, his name is juftly more glorious than that of thofe heroes or fages who are moft renowned in the hiftory of the world. The monuments of his greatness and beneficence are of a more noble, more extenfive, and more durable kind than those of of the most celebrated generals, legislaany tors, or philofophers of ancient or modern ages. The advantages and improvements derived to the world from the revelation of the Gospel, relate to mankind in their moft exalted capacity, as the rational and immorral XVII. SER M. immortal fubjects of the kingdom of God. It is the great and ultimate end of this revelation, to make men wife unto falvation; to purify, exalt, and perfect their natures, fo as to render them zealous of all good works while in this world, and to qualify them for the immortality and glory of the world to come. Whereas the most glorious atchievements of the most renowned among the fons of men, feldom point at any thing higher than to promote the external ease and happiness of this tranfitory life; or to advance the wealth, or prosperity and grandeur of fome particular kingdom. But surely there can be no comparison between the value of bleffings which relate only to this mortal ftate, and those which relate to the felicity and glory of an eternal world. this view of things we see the fure grounds on which the prophet foretels, Pfalm lxxii. 17, 18, 19. His name shall endure for ever: His name fhall be continued as long as the fun; and men shall be blessed in him; all nations fhall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Ifrael, who only doth wondrous things. And bleed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole In earth earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and SER M. Amen. 3. Is it fo, that Jefus Chrift is full of Grace, and full of Truth? Hence we fee that there is no caufe of being afhamed of the Gospel. On the contrary, there are the jufteft grounds of glorying in it. Strange indeed it is, that any human creature fhould be ashamed of a difpenfation. which is the light of the world, and the power of God unto falvation. Instead, therefore, of being afhamed of Jefus and his religion, let us do every thing in our power to propagate it, and extend its influence over the minds of men. Let us employ, with the greatest alacrity, all the means, which are appointed for promoting this great end: and, particularly, let us embrace every proper opportunity of remembering our Saviour in that public and folemn manner which he has commanded. And, in order to difpofe our minds for the proper and acceptable remembrance of Jefus Chrift in this folemn fervice, let us contemplate him as full of Grace and Truth: let us recollect all the excellencies and beauties of his character, all his wonder ful XVII. SERM. XVII. ful acts of friendship to the children of men, and all the spiritual and eternal bleffings which he affures us fhall be bestowed upon those who love him in fincerity. And while we endeavour to impress on our minds a juft fense of his transcendent excellence and dignity, and of our unspeakable obligations to him who fuffered and died for us, let us, by joining together in the public celebration of this folemn inftitution of the Supper, do what we can to transmit the memory of him, and of his divine religion, to fucceeding generations. To conclude: Let us meditate on the fulness of Grace and Truth in Jefus, till we feel our hearts burning within us, and disposed to join fully with Mary in the fublimeft expreffions of her hymn of praise: "My foul doth magnify the Lord, "and my fpirit rejoices in God my Saviour." And till, from the bottom of our hearts, we can afcribe praife and glory to Him who loved us, who washed us from our fins in his own blood, and makes us kings and priests to God his Father for ever and ever*. Both fermons delivered in the College Chapel, March 1771, before the celebration of the Lord's Supper. SERMON XVIII. Youth guarded against Licentious Pleasure. [Preached in the College Chapel.] PROV. xix. 27. Ceafe, my fon, to hear the inftruction which caufeth to err from the words of knowledge. THE XVIII. HE author of this book, fo juftly SER M. celebrated for his wifdom, has laid together a great many excellent maxims for the conduct of life. The greatest part of these relate to the practice of virtue and piety, which he every where inculcates under the name of wisdom: the rest of them relate to prudence in the of the ordinary affairs of life. evident to every one, who reads VOL. II. K management the book with |