Strength of my life, of whom shall I be SER M. afraid? and again, The Lord is on my IX. fide, I will not fear what man can do pf. cxviii,

unto me.

Finally, as the most effectual remedy against the fear of man, let us cultivate a fupreme reverence of God. These two are abfolutely inconfiftent, and cannot fubfift together. For as the fear of man deftroys our due regards to the divine majefty, the true fear of God will limit, and reduce within reasonable bounds, the dread of our fellow-creatures. Let us, therefore, by frequent meditation, fix in our minds a lively idea of his abfolute perfection. Let us contemplate his fpotlefs holiness, ftrict impartial justice, infinite power, and boundless wisdom, in order to excite the highest poffible awe and veneration of him. Let us seriously confider that he is the author of our being, and of every thing we enjoy, that we are neceffarily dependent upon him, that our happiness and mifery are entirely in his power, who has univerfal nature at his command, and is the foyereign uncontroulable difpofer of all

events;

6.

SERM.events; and, confequently, that his faIX. vour is our life, and his displeasure the moft dreadful of all evils. And if we are afraid of the reproaches of ignorant, prejudiced, and finful men, how much more strongly should we be concerned to prevent his having an ill opinion of us, who is the greatest and best of beings, and whofe judgment is always according to truth, certain and infallible? To conclude, the wisdom of God is capable of contriving, and his power of executing vengeance infinitely more terrible on impenitent finners, than any thing they can undergo in the present ftate ; and whereas the scene of all the tyranny and oppreffion which we can fuffer from our fellow-creatures, is confined within the narrow compass of this mortal and uncertain existence, he has an unchangeable and endless life, and, confequently, can not only punish in what degree, but to what length of duration he pleases. Our faviour's advice, therefore, is certainly very juft and reafonMat.x. 28. able; not to fear them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul; but ra

ther

ther to fear him, who after having made S E R M. perverfe and irreclaimable offenders IX. miferable, in fuch a measure, and for fo long a period, as the wife ends of his government require, can abfolutely deStroy both foul and body in hell.

SERMON

SERMON X.

Rules for the profitable reading the Holy Scriptures.

JOHN V. 39.

Search the fcriptures.

A

S mankind are endued with SER M. moral powers, and confe- X. quently accountable creatures, it neceffarily follows, that they had always a law or rule of action fufficient to direct their conduct. The original and univerfal law was what we call the law, or religion of nature. This