continually as the Lord of all; and in particular, befides the holy Ordinance of Baptifm, to celebrate with the devoutest Affection, that other folemn Rite, which he hath instituted, commanding us, This do in Remembrance of me. The distinct Office of the third Perfon, the Spirit, hath consisted from the Beginning, first in revealing and confirming the Truths of Religion to Men, from Age to Age, till the Knowledge of them was completed in the New Testament; for holy Men of old fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost : then in disposing their Minds, by the outward Ministry of the Word, and the inward Workings of his Grace, to receive and obey them : giving those, who comply with his Motions, Strength against Temptation, Comfort under Afliction, Fervency in Prayer, Growth in Goodness, reviving Hope, and sometimes joyful Assurance, of divine Favour: All which Operations tending wholly to improve us in Piety and Virtue, which together make up true Sanctity or Holiness, he is accordingly styled the Sanctifier. And our Duty to him plainly is, to be thankful to him for what he hath done, and pray for what he is ready to

do, towards our Salvation; never to grieve or do despite to him by wilful Sin or Negligence; but to learn from his Instructions, and yield to his Influences, that he may abide with us for ever, and make us, as the Apostle expresses himself, Temples of the Holy Ghost *.

SERMON II,

MATTH. xxviii. 19, 20.

Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Teaching them to observe all Things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the End of the World. Amen.

I

N my former Discourse on these Words I have shewn both what is meant by being baptized in, or rather into the Name of any one, particularly of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and what Faith in them that Baptifm obliges us to profess: endeavouring so to fet forth our Christian Belief, as neither to decide concerning what is hidden from us, nor to omit what is made known to us. For the Secret Things belong

B 3

belong unto the Lord our God: but those Things, which are revealed, belong unto us and to our Children for ever; that we may do all the Words of this Law. Let us now therefore go on to the practical Part of Christianity, comprehended under the

Second Branch of the Text, in which our Saviour directs his Apostles, what Duties they were to enjoin Men, in Consequence of their Faith. Teaching them to obferve all Things, whatsoever I have commanded you.

Now of these, our Duties to the several Persons of the Holy Trinity are so closely connected with our Faith in them, that I thought it most natural to mention them together. And of the rest, it would be impoffible at present to specify every one in particular. And therefore I shall only treat of the more general Heads and Divifions of them. By this Commiffion of our blessed Lord then, the Ministers of the Gospel are bound to teach, and the Professors of the Gofpel to observe, the Precepts of Piety, as well as Morality; of revealed Religion, as well as natural; difficult, as well as casy Duties; those of Self-Government, as well

* Deut. xxix. 29.

as

as of social Behaviour; all Things whatsoever he hath commanded, and nothing else.

I. Precepts of Piety, as well as Morality. In some Ages of the World the Generality of Persons, and in all too many, have almost intirely difregarded Virtue, at least some Parts of it, while yet they seemed very zealous in Religion. That the Religion of such is vain b, requires little Proof. Indeed it must be, either mere Pretence, or gross Mistake. Either they have really none of that Devotion, which they profess, or it is Devotion to an unknown God. For did they at all apprehend his Nature aright; the Love of him could not but incline them to the Love of whatever was good; and the Fear of him could not but deter them from whatever was evil. These Things are so easily demonftrable, and the Mischiefs of not attending to them have been so dreadful; that whereever Knowledge and Liberty have prevailed, such wrong Notions of Duty to our Maker have (amongst the more confiderable Part of the World at least,) quickly fallen into the Contempt and Hatred, which they well deserve. But then, as it is natural for the Warmth of Men to carry them too far; and

b

James i. 26.

c Acts xvii. 23. B 4

the