in the general Interpretation, but with this Difference, that they apply it to a Meffiah already come, is as evident from the Part which it bears in the daily Worship of our Church, as well as in other Christian Liturgies.

Such a Foundation have we for the pious Enterprize we are engaged in, Luke 10. that we know it to have been the Defire of many righteous Men, as our blessed Matt. 13. Saviour tells us, of Kings and Prophets,

24.

17.

and of the faithful under both Covenants; that it has been all along the Subject of good Mens Prayers, their point in View, and their most pleasing Expectation. And fuch is our Affurance of Succefs, that how unequal foever our natural Powers may be to the Undertaking, how great foever the Difficulties in our Way, how difcouraging foever the flow Progrefs may be which we have yet been able to make in it, we have nevertheless an unfhaken confidence, that the Favour of the Almighty, and the Decrees of Providence are on our fide; and that if any Regard be due to the inspired Writers of the old Law, or to the Evangelists and Apostles of the new, we have a clear

Tefti

Testimony, and a fure Word of Prophecy, that the good Work we are labouring at fhall be at length accomplished, and the Kingdom of the Meffiah extend it felf over the whole Globe; that the People, or Nations, hall every where praise and acknowledge him, yea all the People praise him.

In difcourfing upon which Words thus explained, I fhall take Occafion to obferve from them these three Things, viz.

I. The Excellency of the Meffiah's Gofpel, and the Ufe and Importance of it to all Mankind.

II. The just and reasonable Motives of engaging in this Bufinefs of propagating his Religion throughout the World. And,

III. What are the best Expedients, and the most likely Means of being fuccefsful in this Enterprise.

As for the Excellency of the Meffiah's Gospel, and the Ufe and Importance of it, they may be clearly gathered from its valuable

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valuable and myfterious Doctrines, which are undifcoverable by bare Reafon; from the great Purity and Holinefs of its Precepts; from that perfect and lively Pattern which the Author of it has fet before us; and from thofe powerful and coercive Sanctions, whereby our Obedience to it is enforced.

It might indeed have been discovered by the Light of Nature, that Man was in a corrupt degenerate State, deftitute of moral Virtue, and with a strong Inclination to every evil Way; but how to reconcile him to the Favour of God in fuch Circumftances, to make Atonement for his Guilt, and to fatisfie the great Governour of the World's offended Juftice, was a Secret unknown to the greatest Proficients in humane Learning; nor could any of the Philofophers have unfolded the ftupendious Work of Man's Redemption, by the Son of God's beEphef. 3. coming incarnate. That Mystery, as the Apoftle obferves, which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of Men, and which from the beginning of the World bad been bid in God, was firft proclaimed at the Meffiah's Coming, and it was by his

glorious

glorious Gospel that the Almighty declared himself reconcileable to the Gentile World, and that Life and Immortality were brought to Light.

Nor is the Chriftian Inftitution lefs admirable for its refined and holy Precepts, in which the Duty of Man in all his relative Offices is compleatly and accurately fet before him. He is there taught a rational Worship of God without Superstition or Infincerity; an affectionate Love to his Brother without Weakness, Self-intereft, or Flattery; a regular and virtuous Government of himself, free from all Affectation, Pride, or Cenforioufnefs. In this Evangelical Syftem of Ethics, the Seeds and first Principles of Vice are extinguished; and every Tincture or Refemblance of an evil Action is guarded against and difallowed; the noble Virtue of Fortitude, and the amiable Grace of Charity, fhine here with a double Luftre, feem raised to an Height above Nature, and ftretched to a Degree beyond humane ; and yet that the Science taught is not merely fpeculative, nor a bare Theory of Morals, but fuch a Rule of Life as is redu

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reducible to Practice, and may be copied after, is evidently proved, and was intended to be fhewn by that compleat and lively Pattern, which the Author of this Gofpel cloathed himself in our own Nature to fet before us.

By following after other Models, how celebrated foever, tho' of Heroes, Philofophers, or Saints, we are fure of being defective, because the best of them have been fo; and we expofe our felves to the Hazard of being led into Tranfgreffions by the Fame and Reputation of their Characters; for the greatest Genius's, the most eminent in fome particular Accomplishments, have been commonly obferved to be not without their Imperfections, and fometimes their Vices, to counterballance them: Whereas, in the Pattern of the bleffed Jefus, we have an infallible Guide, and an unerring Rule to walk by; his Ways and Precepts were entirely correfpondent, and his Life and Manners a compleat Tranfcript of his Doctrine.

Had the Religion of the Gofpel indeed, even under the Advantage of fuch holy Laws, and fo fafe an Example, been

taught