SERM. Righteoufnefs will be transferred upon them, VI. and available to Salvation, though they have none of their own, and are neither qualified to receive, nor prepared to enjoy the Glories of his Kingdom?

AGAIN, among fuch, as erroneously affect to build Religion on the Ruins of Virtue, fome there are, who please themselves with alledging, that if they are barren of an inherent Righteoufnefs, they are yet well stored with Faith, which, the Apostle allows them to conclude from the Inftance of Abraham, fhall be imputed to them alfo for Righteousness (r).

THIS, we readily confefs, is St. Paul's Doctrine, and he had a full Commiffion from our Lord to preach it: But let him only be fuppofed to fpeak confiftently with. himself, and his Words will do very little

For that the facred

Service to those who urge.
Writer does not understand Faith in the Senfe,
wherein it is here taken, is evident from
divers Paffages in his Epiftles: He does not
conceive it to fignify a bare Belief in Chrift,
or a prefumptuous Reliance on his Merits,
but an hearty Clofing with all the Terms.

(r) Rom. iv. 33, 24.

of

of the Gospel;---he gives not Encourage- SER M. ment to wicked Men, who hold the Truth VI. in Unrighteousness (s)----he exempts from Condemnation fuch alone, as being in Chrift Jefus and having embraced the Faith, live not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit (t)---and he lays it down to Titus as a fundamental Truth, This is a faithful Saying, and I will that thou affirm conftantly, that they, which bave believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works: Thefe Things are good and profitable unto Men (u).

AFTER there unexceptionable Teftimonies, let not any, who would oppofe Faith to Righteousness, think to fhelter themfelves under St. Paul's Authority: He is fo far from setting them at Variance, that he fuppoïes them most strictly united, and the one to be perfective of the other. To advance the contrary is a thameful wren's wrefting of the Scriptures; and they, who are guilty of that Crime, muft be fo to their own Destruction.

P2

BUT

() Rom. 1. 18.. (u) ch. iii. 8.

(t) ch. viii. 1.

SERM.

VI.

BUT let us not be found among them, who either thruft the Kingdom of God from them, or elfe live under his Government on their own Terms: As we know what he offers to us, Grace for the Means, and Glory for the End----As we know what he demands of us, That denying Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly, let us learn to feek thefe Things as connected together, and never expect to receive the Reward without performing the Work, Now the Work here enjoin'd us is, to feek the Kingdom of God, and to do this, is to defire it with Eager. nefs, and to purfue it with Spirit, under the Guidance of him who is the Way of Truth,

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237

and the Life. It must be uppermost in our Efteem, and be the fixed View of our Thoughts and Actions: A languid Tendency or an unactive Wish, will never obtain what fo much Indifference feems to defpife. We are to covet it earnestly, and profecute it refolutely, otherwise we fhall not seek fo, as to find. All the Injunctions of Scripture to this Purpose imply the greatest warmth of Affection, the utmost Vehemence of Application, Diligence, and Courage; Care and Zeal fhould never be wanting, fince we are

called

.VI.

called upon to strive to enter in at the ftrait SERM. Gate (x), to labour for the Meat which endureth to everlasting Life (y), to watch, to ftand fast in the Faith, to quit ourselves like Men, and be ftrong (z) to ftrive for the Mastery, and fo run that we may obtain (a); and have at the End of our' Chriftian Race an Enterance administered unto us into God's heavenly Kingdom. Such muft be our manner of feeking it, which in its true Meaning imports, that we make Heaven the great and fupreme Object of our Love,----that we never lofe Sight of it,---that we frequently entertain our Minds with the Contemplation of it, and that we leave nothing undone, which may excite the highest Ardour, and quicken our moft hearty Endeavour after it.

WE must seek the Kingdom of Glory thro', the Kingdom of Grace and in the Paths of Righteousness And yet how few are there who take this only right Course to arrive at it, and confirm their Hopes of God's Promifes by obeying his Laws! It is much to be doubted that too many are not apprized, how closely Happinefs is link'd with Holiness. They are admitted into God's Church, and enjoy the Name

(x) St. Luke xiii. 24. (z) 1 Cor. xvi. 13.

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3

(y) St. John vi. 27.

(a) ch. ix. 24.

3

SERM, Name of Chriftians, and this contents them, VI. but they are diverted from drawing the neceffary Confequences from them by numerous Amusements, by fenfual Pleasures, and the empty Engagements of Wealth and Honour; their Lives are spent in regarding, Trifles too much, and their Intereft too little; they are over-loaded with the Cares of this World, and perfectly indolent with Regard to a better, and in their Pursuits after, temporal Goods, they caft behind them all Attention towards Spiritual.

AND if this be thought to be feeking the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, what fhall be called the neglecting them? To feek them, in fhort, can fignify nothing lefs, than a diligent Acquifition and Ufe of the one, as the inftituted Means of at laft obtaining the other. They must be fought by embracing readily whatever God has revealed, and executing faithfully whatever he has commanded,---by our being fruitful in all divine Graces,---by the Regülarity and Ear neftnefs of our Devotions,---by our Truth and Justice,---by a conftant Difpofition to do Good, and forgive Evil, and to follow after Righteoufnefs with a perfect. Heart and a pure Confcience.

;

THE