continued in the Grace and walked in the Light and Love of God; " for he was not a

Few which was one outwardly, neither was "that Circumcifion which was outward in ff the Flesh; but he was a few which was "one inwardly, and Circumcifion was that

of the Heart, in the Spirit and not in the Letter;" the outward Ordinance reprefenting to them that Corruption of our Nature by original Sin which was to be cut off and renounced, and that they were to be a fpiritual People, holy to the Lord, and "born again, not of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God." And here we cannot but lament among the many fad Effects of the Fall, its having introduced fuch Groffnefs and Darkness into the Mind of Man, that it fo hardly elevates itfelf to the Confideration of heavenly Things. From this Propenfity to Matter and Senfe, Idolatry first took its Rife - Men wanted Objects of Worship that they could fee with their bodily Eyes, and fo adored the Hoft of Heaven, or Images of their own making: And hence it is that among thofe who profefs to worship the true God fo many are wholly taken up with what is external in Religion: "See what Manner of "Stones

g 4

"Stones and great Buildings are here!" faid one of the Disciples to our Lord: "And "Jefus answering faid unto him: Seeft "[admireft] thou thefe great Buildings? "There fhall not be left one Stone upon "another that shall not be thrown down.".

And as there is an outfide Worship void of the Spirit of Devotion, which availeth not, fo likewife there is an outfide Knowledge in Religion, without the Spirit of Wisdom, that profiteth not; for it is not a literal or hiftorical Understanding of the Scriptures that maketh wife unto Salvation : The Art of Criticism and Skill in Languages may make a fair Show in the Flesh, and procure us the Reputation of learned Men, but unless the Spirit give an affecting and edifying Interpretation of them, they will be but as a fealed Book to us in Things pertaining to God. St Paul difclaims all human Knowledge and Self Ability, confidered separately from the divine Teachings of the Spirit, as infufficient for the Work of the Miniftry CC Our "Sufficiency, fays he, is of God, who "hath made us able Minifters of the New "Teftament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit." Thefe things rightly confidered, there will be little need of an Apo

logy

logy for infifting, and that ftrenuously, upon the Neceffity of the inward and fpiritual Life, the Kingdom of God within us, as that divine Source from which alone all holy Defires, all good Counsels and all just Works can proceed; as that heavenly Light which alone gives true Wisdom, and makes all our other Knowledge and Learning of any real Benefit to us in the Chriftian Life; and as that Principle of Holinefs which fanctifies all our Morality and Religious Services, and without which they are nothing worth.

It is further evident, that nothing lefs than calling People to the Spirit and Power of Godliness can be fufficient at this time to bring about a Reformation both of Principles and Practice amongst us; and most serious People think, that this was never more needed. That the best things when corrup ted become the worst, is a proverbial Truth, and if fo, bad Chriftians must be the worst of Men. Corruption did perhaps never fpread wider nor fink deeper than at prefent; and the want of Truth and Justice in the Words and Dealings of Chriftians is become our Reproach in the Mouths of Turks and Infidels: Nay, are not the Provifions made by publick Appointment

pointment for the Redrefs of Injustice become, fome how, fo flow in Execution, fo vexatious and burdenfome oftentimes in their Process, that to fuffer Oppreffion in many Cafes is a lefs Evil than the tedious and expenfive Operation of its Remedy? What shall we say of the Sophiftication of Wares and Merchandize, and other Frauds in Trade commonly practifed, nay Frauds fupported by customary Perjury: And lastly, what fhall we fay of a Depravation of Manners fo horrid and worse than heathenish, that the very Savage Indians of America are afraid to fuffer their Children to converse with certain Europeans left they fhould be debauched by them *. Muft not that be a falfe Charity that cafts over fuch national Sins as thefe? that Zeal for Religion have loft both its Name and Nature that can be filent here !!

its Mantle

Muft not

Laftly, it is from a Revival of the Spirit of true Chriflianity in the Hearts of Men alone that we can hope to fee Peace reftored on Earth among the divided Churches of Christendom. Whilft Religion refides only in the reafoning Part of Man, it is

* See the late Bishop Berkeley's Tracts, and Dr. Hales's Advice to Dram Drinkers.

tinctured

But

tinctured with all the Prejudices and Paffions of his Nature, and his Reafon will be ready to plead for or against the Truth, as Intereft or Education sways the Man, it being little better than that hired kind of Logic that wrangles at the Bar, whether it rails in the Pulpit, harangues in the Synod, or weilds the Club of Controverfy. Much of political and polemical Divinity is of this Sort. the Wisdom that is from Above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of Mercy, and without Partiality; for the fame good Spirit that enlightens the Underftanding, clean fes the Heart from all Bitternefs, Malice, and Hypocrify, and therefore operates by Purenefs, by Knowledge, by Love unfeigned. A Party Spirit, whether it be in Religion or Politics, proceeds from Littleness of Mind and Narrowness of Heart, and it puts out both the Eye of the Judgment and the Eye of Charity, and fo hinders us from feeing the brightest Excellence in our Neighbour that is not just as high or low as ourselves, as I heard a Man of Learning once fay that he could not allow Milton's Paradife Loft to be a good Book, because written by an Oliverian. But the Chriftian knows no fuch Strait

nefs,