longer they had been left to themselves, the greater need would they have been in of a Leader and Teacher from God. As is evident not only from the lamentable depravity of the bulk of mankind, but more especially from the corruption of the Jewish Doctors; who, at the time of Christ's coming, had rendered the commandments of God, and that too in some of the most effential points of morality, fuch as filial duty, charity, and beneficence, of no effect through their traditions.

It is true (what has been fometimes opposed to the necessity of any revelation) that human reason is by nature qualified for the attainment of pure natural religion, as a means for effecting it's proper end: Neither did Christ, we allow, teach any moral doctrine but what is perfectly agreeable to the light of reafon; He himfelf directed men to this light, thereby to form

form their judgments in divine matters; why even of yourselves (faid He to the Jews) judge ye not what is right?" But ftill there is a wide difference betwixt a capacity for comprehending truth, and the actual comprehenfion of it. The reafoning faculty may be obstructed through paffion, may be injured through neglect, may move under a wrong influence; at beft is never found fufficient to any confiderable degree of knowledge, without the procefs of education and learning. It is well known there are in every science certain axioms or avowed rules which, when fairly explained, a man neceffarily affents to; but fuch as he would never have difcovered by the best efforts of his own ftrength. And what wonder if the powers of the mind, crazed and disordered by vice and error, fhould stand in need of an inftructor to clear up and ascertain the limits even of moral fitneffes ?

Now fuch an inftructor was Chrift: Of whom it might well be faid, " Never Man Spake like this Man."- The precepts of Mofes were indeed fanctified under the feal of a divine commiffion; and many Prophets and inspired perfons have given excellent rules for the direction and good government of human life; who Spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. There are too, it must be granted, many fine fentiments scattered up and down the writings of the Heathen Moralifts, which right reafon and true religion approve and juftify. But it was Christ who explained, refined, and perfected the Law of Moses; he spiritualised the letter, making it quick and powerful, fo as to affect the inward man, and reach even to the moft fecret receffes of the heart. The Prophets were but his meffengers and forerunners: He was Lord to David, greater than Jonas, greater than Solomon; greater-not barely in person,

but

but in precept; not in authority and majesty only, but likewife in instruction and example; his life and actions, as well as his doctrine, being a continued leffon of morality. Laftly, his precepts were not, like thofe of the Philofophers, loofe and undigefted, furrounded with numberless errors, more than enough to render the truths they delivered of no general effect; little able to persuade, lefs fo to oblige; but correct and entire, free from all inconfiftent and contradictory notions, cogent in their own nature and tendency, and backed with the higheft and most forcible fanctions. So true was what He himself faid of his own doctrine" The words which I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. In short-it is Chrift who hath given the world a fyftem of morals fo elevated and compleat, that corrupt nature could never have collected, would never have followed it; yet withal fo reasonable in

itself, and enforced by fuch motives, that nothing but obftinacy can prevent our feeing, nothing but vicious inclinations hinder us from pursuing it.

2. I should now proceed, fecondly, to enquire into the other branch of Christ's preaching; which confifts of a revelation of the means, by virtue of which, man, who in his fallen ftate cannot keep the moral law, may be reconciled to his offended God, and obtain eternal salvation.

But, as the profecution of this head would unavoidably lead me to trespass on your time and patience, I fhall conclude for the prefent with this general application of what has been faid already, viz. that, as we all profefs ourfelves the followers of fo heavenly a Teacher, we would approve ourfelves fuch in good earnest by candidly attending to his holy laws, and confcientiously endeavouring

to