being carried away with a falfe Prefump- SER M. tion of Truth and Conftancy to their Prin- XIII. ciples. Their own Failings, doubtless, might convince them: But where Pride is the Caufe of an Error, it may be difficult to obtain a Confeffion.

However, if for themselves, they will not acknowledge the Infufficiency of this Way; yet, for the reft of Mankind, the main Body of the World, they may furely be perfuaded to it. They will not deny, that the Divine Revelation has added to their Motives for Innocence and Virtue, the moft powerful and beft adapted to human Nature that it is poffible to imagin; nor yet, that Mul titudes, even of those who receive that Revelation, do nevertheless live in a shameful Unprofitablenefs and Immorality. And what Madness is it to set up the smaller Strength as fufficient, when the greater is feen fo frequently to fail of Effect? To depend upon a Philofophy without Religion to reform and govern the World, that is fo little reform'd and govern'd by Religion itself, which comprehends all their Philofophy, and fuperadds to it a Weight for a Purpose incomparably greater? Let

SERM. us therefore, if we would find a true XIII. Guide of our Life, fubmit to the Fear of

the Lord; and be affured, that to overcome the World, the Victory must be our Faith.

This will be made plainer to our particular Purpose, by examining diftinctly, how Faith in God and his Gofpel operates to promote Charity out of a pure Heart and a good Confcience; and how naturally the Want of it is attended with the Want of the other. He that looks no farther than the Concerns of this prefent World, and even in them apprehends not the Authority and Juftice of a Divine Governor, (which is the Cafe of the faithlefs Man) may indeed do Acts of Kindness and Beneficence to others. It is likely, he may be induced to it by a fpecial Affection; it is poffible, a general Defire of Honour may fway him, or a particular Defign of Ambition: He may likewife think of a wife Security against the Change of Fortune; and there are in whom a natural Tenderderness will prevail. But fome of these Inducements go but a little Way; fome do more Hurt than they do Good; fome

of

of them are to be found but in few Men; SERM. and many Men are found without one of XIII. them, at least in any ftrong Degree. Such Principles therefore give no Hope to the World of an univerfal Charity, or even of helping the State of Mankind confiderably by numerous Benefactions. Tendernefs of Nature, which is the best of them, amounts to little more than a Weakness to bear the Sight of a lamentable Object. The laying up of Friends against an evil Day is meer Policy of Self-Intereft, and takes Place but in one of a Thoufand." Fondness of Men's Efteem, when it goes alone, must be confefs'd a Vanity; affects likewise but few, and them uncertainly. We may fay the fame of a form'd Ambition, and a great deal worfe befides. The Bounty of that is no more than baiting a Hook: Mischief to Mankind and not Beneficence is its End, or at least its general Iffue. Laftly, as for particular Affections; they are justly accused of narrowing and monopolizing Men's Kindness, and often to Objects of little Worth. So that Principle too is an Adverfary rather than a Friend to doing Good at large; nay, very commonly

Y 4

SERM. Commonly works more to the Prejudice XIII. than Service of the very Perfons to which its Favours are limited. And this is the State of fuch Charity as can confist with Infidelity; mean, defective, and fallacious to a wretched Degree. But if we speak of Charity indeed; fuch as the Apostle has described, and we have been explaining, administer'd by clean Hands, and flowing from a pure Heart: Here is no Seed to produce it, and furely it is too excellent to grow by Chance.

But on the other Side (which we are now to confider) it is in the first Place clear, that he who believes the Will of God revealed to us, wants not a certain Foundation for doing Good. That Will requires it of him; and it requires it with the two Circumstances of the pure Heart and good Confcience. But the Point chiefly before us is, how unfeigned Faith confirms and enforces that Practice. The Confiderations are numerous which it ministers to this Purpose: I fhall infift upon one, (which comprehends many) the Reward to be obtained or forfeited in Confequence of our Behaviour on this Occafion. We

have learn'd by the Scriptures, that our SERM. XIII. great Mafter, from whom we have our Being, and all Things that we have, has intrusted with his Servants divers Talents to be employ'd for his Honour and Service; and that he will, in the Laft Day, hold a general Audit, wherein shall be distributed infinite Recompences to fuch as employ them accordingly, and to such only. Thus the gaining or lofing Eternal Life and Happiness is the Result of our giving then a good or bad Account of our Trust. This Faith muft determine him that receives it, not only to be useful and beneficent to the World, according to his Power, but to be fo in the This Faith Manner prescribed to him. and Hope of Reward will oblige every

Man to purify himself, commands it is pure.

even as he that

Such a one will

place his Services and Benefactions, not where mean or corrupt Defigns, but, where Want and Worth invite; where his Reafon will tell him, it fhall beft answer bis Pleasure, whofe Steward he knows himfelf to be. He has before him, it may be, the ferving an ambitious Purpose, or a

falfe