because he is unknown, but because he. is known to love virtue, his country and its true interefts. It would appear that thofe harangues concerning virtue and its rewards are to be read backwards, and fo to be underfood, as if virtuous men were not to be rewarded, because your faith does not produce those works which you profefs are excellencies in the Almighty. If any believe, that God approves of virtue, and will reward it, he will certainly fhew an example of his belief, by rewarding virtuous men, whenever he canIt is no good proof, that men love either religion or virtue, by only fpeaking of them: The regard the wn thereto by good works, and the doing what is truly virtuous; are the beft teftimonies of a man's understanding and believing what they are. There are many things in which, perhaps, my audience and I may differ; but there is one thing in which we cannot differ, unless we be defperately wicked, and that is, to do to others as we in the like circumftances, would wifh them to do to us. This is the fpirit of both the law and the prophets. It is a matter, my Lords, not at all doubtful, that there is fome prodigious error in the government of nations, when fins of all forts openly abound. A king, whofe autho rity I have more than once referred to, affirms it as an indifputable point, that when vile men are exalted, the wicked walk on every fide. It is not fo much the influence of penal laws, as the example of lawgivers and magiftrates, that will keep the people in order, and reftrain them from the commiffion of vice.. If a method can be found to make men: good, they will neither offend nor do evil; bur till then, not all the fanctions in the world can fupport government. rulers, by their example, lead the fub.. jects aftray, and by fetting an ill pattern before them, pervert their manners, they may execute penal laws till they leave If but but one individual, and that fame individual will still be wicked, when it is in his power. It is the foftening, humbling, and meliorating truths of the gofpel that form men's hearts to fear God, and obey his laws. Believers will neither tranfgrefs. good laws, nor defpife good government; they know their duty, and will do it from choice. Thefe men will give you but very little trouble; but if by your example you have ledinen, who have been looking up unto you, aftray from the paths of truth, you must not expect that they will walk uprightly, when they find that you yourselves account it no crime to wander out of the way of underflanding. If the doctrines of the gofpel were more inculeated by you, my Lords, in your feveral departments, and more care observed. to see them propagated among the fub. jects than they are.-If this were the cafe, I fay, it would be a more effectual method of making the laws to be ob ferved, than by the force of a ftanding army.. army. But this is more than can be expected from fuch, as are really ignorant of that grace and felf-denial, which the gospel contains in it; and from men, whofe paffions are their mafters, and whofe appetites govern them. This is wearifome practical doctrine, my Lords, I hall therefore conclude.. SER. SERMON III. MARK XVI. 15. . Preach the Gospel to every MOR Creature. ORE gospel ftill! Is it not a mercy, my Lords, confidering what bad entertainment it meets with, that it is not taken away altogether? But can any thing be more agreeable than good news, and glad tidings? tidings from a far country, a country you never daw, though your greateft interefts are in it, and the chief of treasures is there. Good news of mercy, pardon, forgivenefs, and purification, for guilty, vile, and filthy creatures, who will be iniferable to eternity, without the benefit of those bleffings that are contained in this heavenly news. It is reported that fome of |