SERM. and Arguments have been found out to XIV. fupport a Converfion without turning from Evil to Good, and a Regeneration without Newness of Life and Converfation: In a Word, to find People just without Juftice, and fanctified without Holiness. This is an Error fubverfive of all true Religion; and nurfes up a fatal Prefumption, fuch as cuts off the only Remedy, Repentance. But when Faith is magnify'd (which it may be justly) as of fall Effect to our Salvation; it ought to be understood, not only a Perfuafion of the Truth, but an Obedience of the Heart to it. If that be wanting, the Reliance on the Mercy of God is fo far from true Faith in him, that it is a direct disbelieving of his Word. It is to believe he will grant that without Condition, which he has declared he will hot. They that fail in this Manner could not do it, if they kept their Eye fteadily on the true Point of Aim, the End of the Commandment. That would prove, (as in alf Affairs the End to be compafs'd is) a right Direction what Labours to be employ'd in, and a fure Rule to judge of the Measure of their Attainment; even whe ther ther or no, and how far they have run the SERM. Way of God's Commandments. XIV. And as this would well and certainly correct fuch undue and pernicious Confidence; it may be no lefs ferviceable in raifing and confirming the Hearts that fink under an unreasonable Diffidence and Dejection. It is a Thing often feen, that the Terrors, which fhould with great Caufe feize upon wicked Men, are entertain'd in the Bofoms of fome of the moft faithful Servants of God. Their anxious Doubts and Fears are commonly concern'd about fome of these Points; The Sincerity of their Love to God, Vehemence of Sorrow in Repentance, Ardency of Devotion, Practice of Aufterities, and Retirement from the World. And all thefe Difficulties may be truly judged and fet right by Application of the Doctrine before us, as a Rule to determine of ourselves by. Have we Charity from a pure Intention and Confcience, and unfeigned Faith? We are af fured that we love God fincerely, because we keep his Commandments for his Sake. That Repentance, and thofe Devotions, that produce Purity of Heart and Obedience of SERM. of Life, cannot be unaccepted; because XIV. they reach their own End, and the End of the Commandment. The Sufficiency of Mortifications and Aufterities is in the fame Manner to be feen, by their producing thofe fame Fruits. Neither can there be any of them more excellent, than the denying ourselves for the Good of our Neighbour. Laftly, if this Doctrine of St. Paul may ftand against the Pretences of Monkery, it is evidently better (to fay no more) to do Good in the World, than to fly from it. I will conclude with fhewing you, that my valuing what we are taught in the Text, as fo proper, fo fufficient, to reprefs the vain Affurance on one Hand, and on the other, diffipate the Fears of fuch as are run into wrong Notions of Religion, in a Word, to distinguish clearly, who are indeed the Children of God; is no Strain to make the most of a Subject; but merely the fober, folid, and fafe Chriftian Ufe of it. This will appear, if St. John makes the very fame, Hear therefore his Words, 1 Ephef. iii. 10, 11. In this the Children of God are manifeft " manifeft, and the Children of the Devil: SERM. Whofoever doth not Righteousness, is not XIV. of God, neither be that loveth not bis Brother. For this is the Meffage, that ye beard from the Beginning, that we should love one another. SERM. XV. SERMON XV. An Expofition of our Saviour's PART I. Of the Perfection of the Chriftian MATT. V. For I fay unto you, that except your Righteoufnefs exceed the Righteoufness of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye shall in no cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. HE main End of our . Saviour's Coming and Teaching is fo clearly fet forth to us by his Evangelifts and Apoftles, that honeft Men could never mistake it, but that the Spirit of Contention taking Advantage of their un wary |