would not have been thus abufed; if its SERM.

doctrines had not been pure, they would not have been thus perverted,

Thirdly, From what hath been here observed, we may learn, how utterly irreconcileable with Chriftianity all those doctrines and principles are, which are prejudicial to the interests of mankind, which tend either to destroy or diminish the happiness of human fociety. Of this. kind there have been, and ftill continue. to be too many amongst all the profeffors of Christianity, and more especially among thofe of the church of Rome, to the great reproach of the Gospel, and the infinite. prejudice of all mankind. Such, for instance, is that fatal and pernicious doctrine which teaches men, under the fpecious pretence to extraordinary goodness. and piety, and leading a more fublime and spiritual life, to withdraw from the world,

S

3

XXIX.

XXIX.

SERM. World, and all the concerns of it, and to give themselves up intirely to the exercifes of meditation, reading, fafting, and prayer. The confequence of which has been, the rendering vaft multitudes of people not only infignificant and ufelefs, but very expenfive and burthenfome to fociety.

Of the fame kind, and perhaps even attended with still more destructive confequences, is the doctrine of propagating religion by external force; which hath been often put in practice, not only to the difcouragement and fuppreffion of virtue and piety, but to the total fubverfion of all the most important rights and privileges of men, to the violation of all the order and peace of the public, to the committing of the most horrid outrages and cruelties, and the turning whole countries into fields of blood.

Of

XXIX.

Of the fame nature and tendency are SERM. the doctrines concerning the fupremacy of the Pope; the depofing of princes, and abfolving fubjects from their allegiance; the spiritual power which the church of Rome hath affumed, of fhutting up and opening the kingdom of heaven, of binding and loofing, retaining and remitting fins; doctrines which have been the perpetual fource of general confufion and univerfal calamity,

These and all fuch pernicious tenets are directly oppofite to the righteous and merciful principles of the Gofpel of Christ, and so far as they take effect, intirely deftructive of the defign of it. Men may pretend to a more than ordinary zeal for the cause of God and his Son, but whilst they act in fuch direct opposition to the great and evident defign of the Gospel, every man who has the least de$ 4

gree

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SERM. gree of fenfe and reflection, muft fee the hypocrify of their pretences, and that the spirit which really actuates them is totally different from the spirit of Chriftianity.

Laftly, From what has been faid, we may learn how much it fhould be the concern and business of every one of us to promote the happiness of our fellowcreatures, and to do good in the world: this is what nature dictates, and religion binds upon us the only method of approving ourselves fincere and good Chriftians is to cultivate in ourfelves a temper of universal juftice, meekness, and benevolence, and to be as ufeful to mankind as our several stations and capacities will permit us to be. There are fome (too many perhaps) who imagine that they can fufficiently discharge the obligations of their religion, by being barely just and

honeft,

XXIX.

honeft, and abstaining from all pofitive SERM. wrongs and injuries, without the practice of one moral or focial virtue, looking upon certain points of faith, defended with zeal, together with a punctual attendance on all the external forms of devotion, as the only things of moment, and the very heighth and perfection of Christianity; but these are abfurd and grofs mistakes, which it is hardly to be fuppofed men can poffibly fall into, without the most criminal negligence and inattention, according to the plainest and most obvious notions which both reafon and revelation give us of true religion it is undoubtedly intended for the benefit of the world, for making mankind live fo as to be both happy in themfelves, and kind and beneficent to one another; and this effect it will most certainly produce in us, if we duly attend to it, and are governed by its authority.

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