6 examined it, and declare, that whatever SERM. Frailties he may have, yet he has ftrove to the best of his Power, in every Stage of Life, to fubdue each inordinate Paffion, to discharge every Duty, and to cultivate each virtuous Habit? Let him ftand forth at the last decifive Day, and put in his Claim, (for an equitable Claim he perhaps may have) to fuch a Degree of Happiness, as will preponderate, or be fuperior to any fhort-lived Mifery, which he may have endured here, and be proportioned to his Deferts. But even he could have no wellgrounded Reafon to expect, unless the Merits of our Saviour had enfured it to him, a Happiness unallayed in it's Nature, exceeding in it's Degree, whatever he could have imagined, and everlasting in it's Du ration. After all, fuch a Being, as is described before, is, I am afraid, merely vifionary Men of the most distinguished Piety having Reason to pray, Enter not into Judg ment with thy Servant, O Lord: For in thy Sight shall no Man living be justified. Several indeed are too apt, in the Pride and Bloom of Life, to flatter themselves into groundless Presumptions, and a fanguine Con SARM. V. Confidence. But when they come, juft upon the Verge of another World, coolly, and calmly to adjuft Accounts between their Maker and themselves; I doubt thofe Sins, which, like Shadows, looked fo little at the Noon of Life, will greatly lengthen with their fetting Sun. Be that as it will; it is certain, that the Obfervation, viz. that none ever pushed their Capacity, in Matters of Knowledge, as far as it was able to extend; holds as true in Matters of Morality: None ever exerted their Abilities as far as they were able to carry them, to the ut most Extent of their Capacity in the Pursuit and Practice of Virtue. And yet natural Religion may require not only the Being, and Reality of each Virtue; but the utmost Degree of Virtue in our Power under the Penalty of future Punishment. Becaufe every Thing which we have, being derived from God; every Thing which we can do, is but our bounden Tribute to Him. Chriftianity, on the other Hand, requires indeed the Being and Reality of Virtue, under the Penalty of Damnation. But it requires the utmoft Degree, and the highest Attainments, in Virtue, only under the Penalty of an Abate ment ment or Discount of Happiness. He that SERM. V. has fowed fparingly; according to that gracious Difpenfation, fhall reap proportionably, though in a lefs Degree; than he, that has fowed bountifully.. He, that has cultivated virtuous Habits, though in a lower Meafure, shall be happy, though not equally with him, who has made much nearer Approaches to the Standard of Perfection. So much Reason have we to be thankful to him, who has rescued us from the Punishment; provided we ftrive to rescue ourselves from the Dominion of Sin; in Confidence of whofe all-fufficient Merits, we may fecurely launch out into the Depths of Eternity, as St. Peter ventured to walk upon the Sea, while we have a Saviour to lend an helping Hand, and to support us, as he did him, from finking into the deep Abyss below. SERMON Preached at the Lady MOYER'S LECTURE. On the REDEMPTION. I PETER III. 18. Chrift bath alfo once fuffered for Sins, the Just for the Unjust, that he might bring us unto God. H AVING, in a former Discourse, SERm.VI. fhewn the Weakness and Infufficiency of thofe Schemes, which have been set up in Oppofition to Scripture; I now proceed to my IId general Head, to establish and confirm the true Scripture Doctrine of the Satisfaction. After which VOL. II. Cc I fhall |