It remains now that I inforce our Lord's Exhortation from the most weighty and important Motives.

If we reft in External Religion, be it of what Kind it will; if our Opinions and Obfervances are the real Truths of Christianity; and the acknowledg'd Inftitutions of God, things that we ought to believe and do; yet if we omit the weightier Matters of the Law, here's no room for Diftinction, then we are Hypocrites: And if the meek and lowly Jefus, who came to feek and to fave that which was loft, could pronounce fo many Woes and Curfes upon this Hypocrify of the Jews, whofe Religion was very external and ceremonial; from whose Heart the Vail was untaken away; whofe Obfervances alfo were rigorous and fevere, costly and expenfive; what can a Chriftian Hypocrite expect, whofe Religion is divefted of all external Pomp and Shew, who has VOL. I.

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the

the Life and Spirit of the Law laid open to his first View; whofe Acceptance with God is continually and undeniably founded on the Renewal of his Nature, and whofe outward Obfervances, whatsoever they may be, must come far fhort of those of the Pharifees? If God fays to his People of old (Ifa. 66. 3.) He that killeth an Ox, is as if he flew a Man; he that facrificeth a Lamb, as if he cut off a Dog's Neck; he that offereth an Oblation, as tho' he offered Swine's Blood; he that burneth Incenfe, as if he bleffed an Idol; yea, they have chofen their own Ways, and their Soul delighteth in their Abominations; If God here interprets the Obfervance of his own Inftitutions, by thofe, who had in other things chosen their own ways, as the most notorious Acts of Immorality, Murder and Idolatry; with what Eye must the Almighty behold formal and hypocritical Christians?

what

what Words can reach their Cafe? No wonder that the Portion of the Hypocrite is represented in the New Teftament as the most terrible and fevere, there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.

If we confider the End or Use of Religion, which is to perfect our Natures and enlarge our Happiness here and for ever; we cannot but fee at once, that the Observation of a few external Rites, or affenting to fome particular Opinions, contribute not at all to this End, if in the mean time our evil Difpofitions remain uncorrected; if we indulge our Paffions, and gratify our Appetites, and distress and annoy each other in the fame manner, as if no fuch Rites were inftituted, or Opinions contracted. What Advance is there, in this Cafe, towards Perfection or Happiness? Can those things be of any Service to our Souls, which never come near them, which reform H 2

not

not one of our moral Habits, but leave us the very fame, or perhaps worfe Men than they found us? This kind of Religion is fo far from being of any Advantage to us, that it is the greatest Obftruction to true Perfection: Generally speaking, Men had better have no Religion at all. For 'tis by means of this we fhut up the Kingdom of Heaven against ourselves; being fecure in this, we look after no other Righteousness; and fo the Publicans and Harlots, who are felf-condemn'd in their Behaviour, and have nothing to trust to, and therefore lie open to Conviction, enter in before us. Was this the whole of Chriftianity, as indeed it is of too many Men's, it would be as ridiculous as fome Men endeavour to represent it. But he who purfues the End of the Commandment, which is Charity, the two Points on which hang all the Law and the Prophets; whofe Temple,

and

and Altar, and Incenfe, are in his own Breaft, and who there makes a Covenant with God by Sacrifice; fuch a Man's Religion, instead of Figure and Shadow, is all Subftance and Evidence, Spirit and Life; and he can fooner admit any Contradiction or Abfurdity whatfoever, than once fuppofe it poffible that God should fail them who seek him diligently in this

manner.

The Words immediately following my Text are these --- For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Words which carry in them the greatest Discouragement to Shew and Appearance; and the highest Reason for our adorning the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible. Who would put on a Mask, if he confider'd how foon it must be taken off, and the Shame and Confufion which must attend his Discovery? Unto

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