not directed to every command of God alike, as they all stand upon the fame authority. Because, fuch an allowance would in effect amount to a toleration of every vice in the world. 66 And because, the ftrain of fcripture language excludes any fuch hope. When our duties are recited, they are put collectively, that is, as all and every of them required in the Chriftian character. "Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to "temperance patience, and to patience godliness, "and to godlinefs brotherly kindness, and to bro"therly kindness charity." On the other hand, when vices are enumerated, they are put disjunc tively, that is, as feparately and feverally excluding the finner from heaven. "Neither fornicators, "nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, "nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor ex"tortioners, fhall inherit the kingdom of hea"ven."t 66 Thofe texts of fcripture, which feem to lean a contrary way, as that "charity fhall cover the mul❝titude of fins ;"I that " he which converteth a "finner from the error of his way shall hide a mul❝titude of fins ;" || cannot, I think, for the rea-. fons above-mentioned, be extended to fins deliberately, habitually, and obftinately perfifted in. 3. That a state of mere unprofitableness will not go unpunished. This is exprefsly laid down by Chrift in the parable of the talents, which fuperfedes all farther reafoning upon the fubject. "Then he which had re"ceived one talent, came and faid, Lord, I know "thee that thou art an auftere man, reaping where "thou haft not fown, and gathering where thou 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, 7. James v. 20. † 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. 1 Pet. iv D "haft kind, I und continent. ing both the cupied in de independent a work whi respondence offices of do claffical quo pages aboun it will not b extracts be i compofition one kind. they can m as ferious a establish or timony of a with the att take it off fi in morals. Of our ov the common 1. That a fare of happiness is not to be ex ed by thule who are conicious of no more gloss rue, I mean those, who cannot v, that they have been prompted to one a er wed, from one gratification, by arr gard to virtue or religion, eller innedder There need no other proof of this, that coneration, that a brute would be as efect of reward as luch a man; and ta', cak were lo, the penal larctions of reg Lave no pace For whom would you p you make luch a one as this happy-er · indeed religion inelf, both natural and revie would cease to have either ufe or author 2. That a fate of happiness is not to be cared by thoic, who referve to them.e'ves the practice of any one lin, or neglect of cre Becaule, no obedience can proceed spe motives which is not univertal, that s to every command of God alike, as upon the fame authority. fuch an allowance would in effect a›leration of every vice in the world. fe, the strain of fcripture language exuch hope. When our duties are reare put collectively, that is, as all and em required in the Chriftian character. our faith virtue, and to virtue knowhd to knowledge temperance, and to ce patience, and to patience godliness, linefs brotherly kindness, and to bro!dnefs charity." * On the other hand, are enumerated, they are put disjuncis, as feparately and severally excluding from heaven. "Neither fornicators, tors, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, ers of themselves with mankind, nor nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor exs, fhall inherit the kingdom of hea xts of fcripture, which feem to lean a y, as that" charity fhall cover the mulfins;" that "he which converteth a om the error of his way fhall hide a mulf fins;" cannot, I think, for the rea-mentioned, be extended to fins delibebitually, and obftinately persisted in. a state of mere unprofitableness will not hed. exprefsly laid down by Chrift in the parae talents, which fuperfedes all farther reaon the fubject. "Then he which had reone talent, came and faid, Lord, I know hat thou art an auftere man, reaping where haft not fown, and gathering where thou i. 5, 6, 7. + Cor. vi. 9, 10. 1 Pet. iv. 20. D "haft |
