fies a fingular bleffing of God upon them that fear Him, may reafonably be supposed to imply somewhat of the contrary judgment against them that fear Him not.

1. My first propofition then is, that the Fear of God, or a pious regard to the plain and intelligible duties of Religion, is the readiest way to obtain fatisfaction in the obfcurer points of it.

Now, there are several natural reasons which make greatly for this-as, first of all, the direct tendency of fuch a difpofition to enquire after truth, and to receive it with pure affection.-A willing and unprejudiced mind is an excellent foundation for any human learning ; but especially is it the most auspicious entrance upon facred wifdom: Which, as it contradicts the corrupt opinions

and inordinate defires of mankind, does therefore require a fair and dispaffionate attention from all those who would lif ten to it's inftructions.-Forasmuch too as Religion is not merely a fpeculative fcience, propounded only to please the fancy, and entertain the imagination; but to be reduced to practice, and copied into our lives; and this moreover enforced with the most awful fanctions of eternal rewards and punishments; the beft preparation of the heart to know, because the greatest incitement to learn, is without doubt an aptnefs of will to act conformably to it when known.Let me add, even with regard to the mysteries of faith, as the meek and pious Christian may be easily prefumed to be best acquainted with the due extent and power of his own native reason; so may he upon this very account be conceived to be least entangled and most satisfied with those holy truths, which by the

light of that reafon fufficiently appear to have come from God.

Again The happy effects of Religion upon the hearts of men, whereby they come to understand wisdom secretly, being of a spiritual and invifible nature, and certain ordinances having been instituted for promoting these happy effects; it follows that those persons, who with most honesty and zeal apply themselves to the means, are in much the most promifing way to acquire the end. But what perfons fo likely to do this as the lowly and devout? Who, conscious of their own infufficiency, wait instantly upon God for his aid and affistance in those ways which He hath prescribed. The pride of the Syrian Leper was indeed offended at the Prophet, who bade him only wash and be clean; and the affectation of an Infidel may perhaps be as little fatisfied with the facraments of the

new covenant: But the humble Chriftian fubmits himself wholly to the will of his almighty Physician, in whatever way He shall be pleased to heal his infirmities. And seeing it is God alone who dispenseth to us our temporal as well as fpiritual fuftenance; not however without our co-operation; he therefore as diligently applies himself to the means revealed whereby to obtain the latter, as he doth to the methods of experience whereby to procure the former. Neither will he difregard the use of thefe, how ceremonial foever they may feem, out of any vain confidence of favour without the help of fuch conditions as in themselves appear little and infignificant: But will rather imitate the behaviour of good Hezekiah; who, though in his fickness he had received a fign and promise from God that he should recover, yet for allthis did not neglect the means: For, according to the counsel of the Prophet,

he

he took a lump of figs, faith the text, and laid it on the boyl, and he recovered. All pofitive duties are therefore good because commanded; as, on the other hand, all moral ones are therefore commanded because they are good: And a compliance with both is proportionably requifite to our acceptance with the God of Mercy,

Thus then it is that the humble and devout are naturally best disposed and qualified for the reception of divine truth: Which, that it shall be sufficient for their conduct, and fatisfactory to their understanding, we can have no room to doubt, when we confider farther that this is the faithful affurance of God himself, and his promifed bleffing upon all them that fear Him.

It must be owned, there are fundry articles in the gofpel-covenant beyond

the