channel opened to it: and fome few of those many hours, and those fine talents, which are ftill, I fear, too lavishly wasted here on abftract fpeculations, in the most precious and improveable part of life, would be then more profitably employed in learning the rudiments of evangelical truth; and thereby enabling one part of our youth to preserve their religious principles uncorrupted by the artifices of infidelity, in their future commerce with the world; and the other part to become powerful defenders and fuccessful difpenfers of the word of God *.

This univerfity had, in the conclufion of

Since the firft publication of this fermon, fome advance has been made towards the accomplishment of the author's wishes. Mr. Norris, a gentleman of fortune in Norfolk (into whofe hands fome extracts from this difcourfe happened to fall) left by his will, a few years ago, a rent-charge of a hundred guineas a year, for the establishment and maintenance of a Profeffor in the univerfity of Cambridge, for the fole purpose of reading lectures to the ftudents there, on the Christian Revelation. To this he added twelve pounds a year for a medal and fome books, as a premium for the beft profe English effay on the fame fubject. It would be a real confolation to the friends of religion, and especially to those whose province it is to examine candidates for orders, if these well-meant inftitutions, in conjunction with any other fubfidiary one which the wisdom of the univerfity might think fit to adopt, fhould in due time effectually answer the great purposes enlarged upon and recommended in the preceding pages.

the last century, the honour of giving birth to a stupendous system of philofophy, erected by its great disciple NEWTON, on the immoveable basis of experiment and demonftration ; which, by degrees, fupplanted and overthrew a visionary though ingenious representation of nature, drawn by fancy, and fupported by conjecture. Animated with this fuccefs, let it now endeavour to push its conquests still further into the regions of ignorance and error, to banish from the kingdom the extravagant conceits of modern fcepticifm, no lefs deftitute of all foundation in truth, utility, and found reafoning, than the philofophical romance of Defcartes; and to eftablish for ever in the minds of the British youth, a religion founded not on "the en"ticing words of man's wifdom," but on "demonstration of the fpirit and of the power of God *."

This will be to promote, in the most effectual manner, the benevolent purposes of thofe great and pious benefactors we are now going to commemorate; whofe first object in these magnificent foundations was, un

#1 Cor. ii. 4, 5°

doubtedly,

doubtedly, the advancement of religion; who, with a true greatnefs of foul, carried their views forwards into eternity, and plainly meant, that in these elegant retreats, we fhould not only lay the foundations of immortal fame on earth, but qualify ourselves for obtaining, through the merits of our Redeemer, a real and truly glorious immortality in heaven.

SERMON IX.

DEUTERONOMY V. 12.

KEEP THE SABBATH-DAY, TO SANCTIFY IT, AS THE LORD THY GOD HATH COMMANDED THEE.

HE appropriation of one day in feven

TH

to the purposes of religion, is a practice peculiar to the Jewish and the Christian revelations. And it is a practice so full of wisdom, utility, and humanity, that it may well be produced as one argument, among many others ftill more convincing, of their divine original.

By comparing together the primary inftitution of the fabbath, as related in the Book of Genefis, and the alterations it afterwards received from our Saviour and his apoftles, it