without praying that He would overlook his weakness, forgive his manifold fins, errors, and fecret faults. And true it is, God does deal with us in the way of great pity and lovingkindness; He is not extreme to mark what is done amifs, for then who should ftand? But he gives us time to repent of our tranfgreffions; urges us to it by the impulses of his Spirit; and has fent his Son into the world to die for us, in order to make our repentance effectual to pardon and falvation. Now, if God hath so loved us, if we expect fuch fruits of his love, how ought we also to love one another? Should we not "put on as the Elect of God, bowels of mercy and kindness For he fhall have judgment without mercy, who hath fhewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." But, fince men are not to reft in mere civil duties, how excellent foever, with out out Religion, which is infeparably connected with true morality; nor is it enough for us to be just and boneft, merciful and compaffionate toward our brethren; unlefs we are likewife pious and devout, and live in the due faith and fear of God; therefore follows in the last place what the Lord requires farther of his people, to walk humbly before Him. 3. Humility, with refpect to our behaviour towards God, implies in general a due inward fenfe and outward acknowledgment of our relation to, and dependance on Him, who is the author of our being, the preferver of our life, and the judge of our actions. And this one would think no one could withhold from him, who confiders his own natural and moral impotence. For what pretenfion has man to felf-fufficiency, who is unable to make fo much as one hair white or black, to add a cubit to his ftature, or a moment to his age? Or how shall he pride himself in his goodnefs, who is subject to fo many paffions, and obnoxious to fuch a variety of temptations, that he can fcarce help falling seven times a day? Our Bleffed Lord therefore, who came to heal the fick, to call finners to repentance, fet humility in the front of his beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in fpirit;" as well knowing the Spiritual Physician could produce no good effect upon those who are infenfible of their malady.- Indeed Humility is a virtue that lies at the very foundation of all religion: It is from a feeling of our own wants and dependent ftate, that we pray to God the giver.of all good things; it is too from a persuasion of his majesty and beneficence, and our own frailty and unworthinefs, that we offer up unto him the facrifice of praise and thanksgiving. But in a more particular manner on; manner is an humble difpofition neceffary to the embracing of Chrift's religiwhich though it requires us to be juft, merciful, charitable, according to the most perfect pattern; yet does it teach us not to rely on our own righteousness, but on his merits who only was without fin, and was therefore alone fufficient to expiate the fins of the whole world. Having thus briefly represented the three great inftances of duty specified in the text, Justice, Mercy, and an humble Piety; I fhall conclude with obferving, that in these things true religion confifts; and that the actual performance of thefe is the reasonable service which God requires at our hands. We are, 'tis true, bound to comply with whatever external ordinances God is pleafed to institute in his Church; being fo far of moral moral obligation as they are of divine appointment, and as they are too of moral tendency. Such were the purgations, the facrifices, and folemn affemblies, in ufe among the Jews: And fuch are the facraments of baptifm and of the fupper of the Lord, and the publick worship of God on the Lord's day, ordained amongst Chriftians. But we find the Prophets of old frequently reprefenting God as taking no pleasure in, as even abominating the incenfe and oblations of those, who pretended to honour him with outward fervices, whilft their inward parts were very wickedness. And we too may be affured, no profeffions of faith in Christ, no pomp of godliness, no faftings, no penances, will fatisfy for the neglect of real virtue and substantial goodness. 'Tis abfurd and impious to prefume they will. God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; he is too righteous |