which misleads them. They have perhaps prepared themselves to feek a fanction in Scripture for gratifying thofe inclinations, to which their temper or circumstances particularly fubject them; and therefore are too ready to join those teachers, who pretend to have found it against every thing that difcourages fuch indulgence, But farther, befide the allurements of Preeminence, Pleafure, or Intereft, the common infirmities of our nature afford an aim to the enemies of truth. The Defire of Novelty, Curiofity, the Expectation of Perfection under another form of establishment, and fuch other natural principles, not to detail alfo the peculiar infirmities of Individuals, are inftruments in the hands of those who feek to beguile; and, though after a fimilar manner as in other publick or private concerns of life, yet with greater advantage in Religion.

By thefe and means like to these therefore, which are worthy of our ferious reflection, has Prejudice, Moral Prejudice, been able to raise and support even the most violent ill founded oppofitions against the Church of Chrift. In the Apoftolic times it led men to "the denial " of the Lord who bought them,"* to the adoption of Fables and Genealogies, to the

2 Pet. ii. 1.

1 Tim. i. 4. Tit. i. 14.

impofition

impofition of Jewish Ceremonies,* to a denial of the Resurrection, to the worship of Angels, to the obligation of unnatural Restraints, § to oppofition against Dignities and Government civil and ecclefiaftical, || to Contests for partypre-eminence,** and to Herefy in general.++ And if then to the dangers which, it has been shewn, follow the promulgation of the most irrational and pernicious errors, when introduced by the imposing fubtleties of deceit, and made fubfervient to the interests of our paffions, be farther added the confideration, that Herefies must alway abound, as long as the nature of men and things continues to be the fame, it remains for us to be aware how much we are concerned in this reprefentation. On this topic it is no part of my prefent defign to enter. I here leave the fubject; which as often as it may be neceffary to pursue farther, as it requires freedom and refolution, fo does it particularly exact candour, circumfpection, and charity. I fhall only add, that we are more highly and immediately concerned to confider, what Motives and Means we are furnished with to fecure ourselves against the evils that furround us.

+ 2 Tim. ii. 18. 1 Cor. xv. 12. § 1 Tim. iv. 1, &c. Tit. iii. 1, &c. 3 Joh. 9, &c. 1 Cor. iv. 19. ++ Gal. v. 19, 20.

I Cor.

SERMON

Therefore, Brethren, ftand faft, and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught.

I

is, I think, needless to spend any time in proving that the Traditions here mentioned, were fimply the Doctrines of the Gospel in oppofition to the delufion of those, "who believed "not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighte "oufnefs." It rather concerns us to obferve the reafoning pursued by the Apoftle. Because on one hand the herefies thus defcribed feduced unto eternal ruin, and on the other a fincere adherence to the truth led unto falvation, and the attainment of the glory of our Lord Jefus "Christ," therefore his difciples ought to “stand "faft, and hold the Traditions which they had "been taught, whether by word or by epistle.”

It is precifely the fame argument on which at this æra of the Chriftian Church we claim an adherence to the fame Gospel, and to those Establishments which are builded on its authority, and are agreeable to its nature.

That the Gofpel we preach is the Word of God, and that the Inftitutions of the Church of England, doctrinal and ceremonial, are not unworthy of it, we have, I hope, seen some reason to believe in the foregoing discourses.

We have feen, first, that Faith is a neceffary and fuccessful principle of Knowledge, and likewife, fecondly, a neceffary and beneficial principle of Conduct: that, if it be not our own fault, it is a fafe and applicable principle in matters important to our welfare, and that in many in ftances it is productive of a certainty as high and fatisfactory as the deductions of science : that the proof of the Authenticity and Authority, from external evidence, of the canonical books of Scripture, depending on this principle, poffeffes this full certainty: that though the internal evidence be not strictly neceffary, or always a fafe and expedient criterion of truth, yet it is alfo to a great extent ufeful and undeniable: that the Articles of Faith, of Morality, and of the Oeconomy of the Gofpel, are clear of all exception, which is fhewn at large in fome in

ftances

ftances of each that have been moft difputed: and, laftly, that the Chriftian Faith is recommended to us by the neceffity and use of it to our Religion and Morality, the effects which it tends to produce, and the glorious reward which it enables us to obtain.

We have seen also that the neceffity and divine authority of Government are applicable to religious Establishments: that thofe articles in them which concern the confcience, because indifpenfably enjoined by the law of God, are very few, and easily confpire with the various fyftems of civil authority that, beyond thefe, the fashion and mode of religious difcipline in every particular are the concern of the government in each country that Confeffions, and Articles of communion are the justifiable fences of religious and civil peace, being neceffarily adopted against the return of evils injurious to both that in particular, on this account, if rightly perufed, the Creed under the name of Athanafius is neceffary, and is confiftent with truth and charity: that for thefe and fuch like reafons, the Liturgy and Difcipline of our Church must be complied with, notwithstanding all im-" perfections and improprieties, if nothing pofitively wicked can be difcovered, which is not the cafe.

Laftly,