in order to give fcope to the exercise of benevolence among the members of that body, which is fitly joined and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, and of which the head is Christ. An intimate knowledge of hiftory, of the language and opinions, the customs and manners of antiquity, especially of the countries which were the scenes of the principal events recorded in holy writ, joined to an acquaintance with thofe improvements in science which God has afforded to thefe later ages, enables men to avail themselves more and more of that light which shined fo long in darkness, while the darkness comprehended it not; and caufes the fcorn with which feeming inconfistences have been treated by a fuperficial petulant fect, in modern times mif-named philofophers, to recoil on themselves.

THE

THE rule, laid down in the former part of the text, is not infringed by the most accurate investigation of fcripture, nor by fair deductions from what it really contains, but by unauthorised theories, which minifter questions, rather than godly edifying; and confident conclufions refpecting the ways of providence, the refult of crude conceptions, and short fighted views. Those who are defirous to know all the words of the law, in order to do them, proceed step by step, and with reverential caution: it cannot indeed be denied, that perfons whofe lives and principles, in the main, were truly pious, have fometimes overftepped the boundary prescribed to them, and in this inftance betrayed an over weening opinion of themselves, and a fondness for admiration; faults far removed from the genuine fpirit of christianity. Let us not, however, be feduced by what is laudable in their conduct, into a participation of R 2

their

their error; but above all, let us beware of the example of those who offend in both points; who are fo engroffed by unprofitable speculations as to difregard the fubftance of religion, and incur at once the blame of prefumption and neglect.

SERMON

SERMON XI.*

HAGGAI, Ch. i. V. 5.

"THUS SAITH THE LORD, CONSIDER YOUR

WAYS."

WHEN one perfon defires another only

to confider what is moft for his real good, and whether he be purfuing it or not, he would be fure, we may prefume, of obtaining his request.

WHEN the Almighty, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, who gave mankind their existence, and fupports it by his continual favour, condefcends to addrefs himself

R 3

*Preached in Lent 1794.

himself to them in fimilar language, it must be the height of obftinacy and perverfness to neglect it; and that it may not be neglected, the church has taken care to have it particularly offered to our attention, by appointing a feafon for felf-recollection.

ON confidering the nature of man, it is apparent, not only that it is compofed of two parts, the one external, which we perceive with our fenfes, and the other internal, which we difcover only by reflection; but that this internal part is likewise made up of various particulars, poffeffing different degrees of importance, all of which are united together and form a whole, fome being evidently in fubordination to others. The real happiness therefore of such a being, mutt arise from keeping each part in due order, that the general constitution of his inward frame may not be injured: he must afford to each particular only fuch in

dulgence