of his Father, with his angels, and then he SERM. shall reward every man according to his

works."

This

you will find invariably to be the manper of proceeding in all the other places of scripture where our Lord speaks of the last day; acceptance or condemnation are constantly annexed to doing or not doing, without any notice of believing: let me not, however, be misunderstood. I do not mean that faith in Christ is unnecessary; on the contrary, in those who have the gospel proposed to them it is absolutely necessary, but that faith which shews itself in a good life, is alone a faith unto salvation.

What doth it profit a man (saith St. James) though he say he hath faith and hath not works; can faith save him? Faith without works is dead, being alone; by works faith is made perfect. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. To conclude this head, it is evident be

yond

I.

SERM. yond all dispute, from the whole tenor of the

I.

scriptures, that purity of conduct, as well as firmness of belief, is absolutely essential to entitle us to a place in the mansions of the blessed. But lastly, even if the scriptures had not spoken so expressly, the absurdity of expecting the favour of God, and the rewards of Heaven, on any other terms than by adding to a sound faith, good works, is evident from common sense and reason. God, it is universally agreed, possesses in the most perfect degree the attributes of purity and holiness; is it then at all credible that a being of this kind should send down, and reveal to his creatures, a religion which should let loose the reins to every corrupt passion, and authorize them in the indulgence of every evil inclination? which should hold forth to themthe promise of eternal happiness on the sole condition of yielding their affent to some few points of faith, but should leave them under the same slavish submission to their lusts in

I.

which it found them? It is not credible ; SER M. every suggestion of sense and reason cries. out against it. For consider whither such a position would carry us! Religion only aims to regulate our belief: very well; I firmly credit all which it requires of me, and on this ground I look for the rewards which it promises, let my practice be what it may; I will only take care not to subject myself to the punishment of human laws, and I will be as wicked as interest invites or impels me, fearless on this account of any after reckoning in futurity. Am I avaricious? I will take every opportunity of defrauding my neighbour of his property. Am I revengeful? neither the reputation nor the person of him who has accidentally injured me, or whose interest interferes with mine, shall be sacred from my attacks. Am I sensual? Let my friend beware of me; I will seduce from him the affections of his wife, or I will rob him of the innocence of his child; for so long as

I.

SERM. I am a believer, I can commit all these enor mities unchecked or undisturbed by my conscience. Honour and honesty may here be alledged as restraints upon me; with some men I grant they would, but with far the majority they will be found feeble ties against the allurements of passion, supported by the hopes of impunity. You see then into what absurdities the idea of the sufficiency of faith without works leads; you perceive what a world this would be, if such a persuasion were universally prevalent.

Let us not then separate those two friends which agree so well together, religion and morality; let us not content ourselves with taking up the shield of faith, but let us put on, at the same time, the whole armour of righteousness; it is that alone which can empower us to withstand the assaults and be victorious over the malice of our grand adversary; it is that alone which can enable us to appear with decent confidence before the tri

9

bunal

bunal of our judge and Saviour. They wor- SERM. ship God best who resemble him most; let I. us then not only believe what he has revealed, but let us practise what he has commanded; let us endeavour to be like him in purity and goodness; let us conduct all which relates to ourselves with decency and propriety; all which concerns our fellow creatures with justice and benevolence; let us possess our own vessels with sanctification and honour, and do unto others, as we would they should do unto us.

SERMON