As I. They exhibit no particular defcription of the invifible world. The future happinefs of the good, and the mifery of the bad, which is all we want to be affured of, is directly and pofitively affirmed, and is reprefented by metaphors and comparisons, which were plainly intended as metaphors and comparisons, and as nothing more. to the reft, a folemn referve is maintained. The question concerning the woman who had been married to feven brothers, "Whofe fhall fhe be on the refurrection?" was of a nature calculated to have drawn from Chrift a more circumftantial account of the ftate of the human fpecies in their future exiftHe cut fhort, however, the enquiry by an answer, which at once rebuked intruding curiofity, and was agreeable to the beft apprehenfions we are able to form upon the subject, viz. "That they who are accounted worthy of that refurrection, shall be as the angels of God in heaven." I lay a ftrefs upon this referve, because it repels the fufpicion of enthufiafm; for enthufiafm is wont to expatiate upon the condition of ence. the departed, above all other fubjects; and with a wild particularity. It is moreover a topic which is always liftened to with greedinefs. The teacher, therefore, whose principal purpose is to draw upon himself attention, is fure to be full of it. The Koran of Mahomet is half made up of it. II. Our Lord enjoined no aufterities. He not only enjoined none as abfolute duties, but he recommended none as carrying men to a higher degree of divine favour. Place Christianity, in this refpect, by the fide of all inftitutions which have been founded in the fanaticifm, either of their author, or of his first followers: or rather compare, in this refpect, Christianity as it came from Chrift, with the fame religion after it fell into other hands; with the extravagant merit very. foon afcribed to celibacy, folitude, voluntary poverty; with the rigours of an afcetic, and the vows of a monaftic life; the hair fhirt, the watchings, the midnight prayers, the obmutefcence, the gloom and morti mortification, of religious orders, and of those who aspired to religious perfection. III. Our Saviour uttered no impaffioned devotion. There was no heat in his piety, or in the language in which he expreffed it; no vehement or rapturous ejaculations, no violent urgency in his prayers. The Lord's prayer is a model of calm devotion. His words in the garden are unaffected expreffions, of a deep indeed, but fober piety. He never appears to have been worked up into any thing like that elation, or that emotion of fpirits, which is occafionally obferved in moft of thofe, to whom the name of enthusiast can in any degree be applied. I feel a respect for methodists, because I believe that there is to be found amongst them, much fincere piety, and availing, though not always well-informed, Chriftianity: yet I never attended a meeting of theirs, but I came away with the reflection, how different what I heard was from what I read; I do not mean in doctrine, with which, at prefent, I have no concern, but in manner; how different from the calmnefs, the fobriety, the good fenfe, and, I may add, the ftrength and authority, of our Lord's difcourses. IV. It is very ufual with the human mind, to fubftitute forwardness and fervency in a particular caufe, for the merit of general and regular morality; and it is natural, and politic alfo, in the leader of a fect or party, to encourage fuch a difpofition in his followers. Chrift did not overlook this turn of thought: yet, though avowedly placing himfelf at, the head of a new inftitution, he notices it only to condemn it." Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will fay unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name? and in thy name have caft out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profefs unto unto you, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity*." So far was the author of Christianity from courting the attachment of his followers by any facrifice of principle, or by a condefcenfion to the errors which even zeal in his service might have infpired! This was a proof both of fincerity and judgement. V. Nor, fifthly, did he fall in with any of the depraved fashions of his country, or with the natural biafs of his own education. Bred up a Jew, under a religion extremely technical, in an age, and amongst a people more tenacious of the ceremonies, than of any other part of that religion, he delivered an inftitution, containing lefs of ritual, and that more fimple, than is to be found in any religion, which ever prevailed amongst mankind. We have known, I do allow, examples of an enthusiasm, which has swept away all external ordinances before it.. But this fpirit certainly did not dictate our Saviour's conduct, either in his treatment of VOL II. *Mat. vii. 21, 22. the |