itself, the ceremonial part in time eat away the moral part, and left nothing but a fhadow behind. - 'Tis to be feared the buffooneries of the Romish church, bid fair to do it the fame ill office, to the difgrace and utter ruin of christianity wherever popery is established. What then remains, but that we rectify these grofs and pernicious notions of religion, and place it upon its true bottom, which we can only do, by bringing back religion to that cool point of reafon which first shewed us its obligation by always remembering that God is a spiritand must be worshipped fuitable to his nature, i. e. in fpirit and in truth — and that the most acceptable facrifice we can offer him is a virtuous and an upright mind and however neceffary it is, not to leave the ceremonial and pofitive parts of religion undone - yet not like the pharifee to reft there - and omit the weightier matters, but keep this in view perpetually, that though the inftrumental duties are duties of unquestionable obligation to us yet they are still but INSTRUMENTAL DUTIES, condu |