DISCOURSE XI.

The Circumcifion.

LUKE . 21.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcifing of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was fo named of the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

317

Preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, Jan. 1, 1763, being the Feftival of the Circumcifion.

DISCOURSE

The Epiphany.

MATTH. ii. 1, 2.

XII.

Now when Jefus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, bebold, there came wife men from the east to

Jerufalem,

Jerufalem, faying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have feen bis ftar in the east, and are come to worShip him

345

Preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, Jan. 6, 1772, being the Feftival of the Epiphany.

DISCOURSE I.

THE CREATION OF MAN.

GENESIS I. 26.

And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fifh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

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I.

URIOSITY naturally prompts us DISC. to enquire into the records of the family, or fociety, to which we belong. Every little incident, that befel our anceftors, is collected with care, and remembered with pleasure. The relation it bears to us gives it confequence in our eyes, though, in the eyes of others, it may seem The mind, in it's progrefs,

to have none.

finds attention excited, as the velocity of a

VOL. I.

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falling

DISC. falling body is increased; nor can it repofe

I.

itself at ease on any account, which stops

fhort of the original and first founder of the community.

Every motive of this fort confpires to animate our researches into the origination of mankind, and the hiftory of our common progenitor. We cannot but earnestly and anxiously wish to be acquainted with the circumstances relative to the father of that family, of which all nations are parts; to discover and furvey the root of that tree, whose branches have overspread the earth.

Nor can fuch investigation be deemed matter of curiofity only. To form proper ideas of man, it is neceffary we should view him as he came from the hands of his Creator. We must know, in what state he was placed, what were the duties resulting from that ftate, and what the powers whereby he was enabled to perform them. We must learn, whether he be now in the fame ftate, or whether an alteration in his

ftate

ftate may not have fubjected him to new DISC. wants, and new obligations. Upon a knowlege of thefe particulars, every system of religion and morality must be constructed, which is defigned for the ufe of men. A fyftem in which the confideration of these hath no place, is like a course of diet prescribed by a phyfician, unacquainted with his patient's conftitution, and with the nature of the disease under which he has the misfortune to labour.

It is obvious to remark, that this knowlege of human nature, of what it was at the beginning, and what alterations have fince happened in it, is a knowlege to the attainment of which no ftrength of genius, no depth of reasoning, no subtlety of metaphysical disquisition can ever lead us. It is a matter of fact, and must be afcertained, as matters of fact are, by evidence and testimony. But he only, who made man, can inform us, how man was made; with what endowments, and for what purposes. If he hath not done it, the world is, of neceffity

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