which our religion depends: let us confider what light and luftre they throw on each other, and how exactly, and how bleffedly all their predictions were fulfilled. If then we would be happy in our alliances, in our focieties, our relations, our friendships, and all our mutual endearments, let us pray to that God who maketh men to be of one mind in one house, to pour into our hearts that spirit of unity and godly love, of benevolence, patience, and charity, and which may bless us with all the good things of this life, and bring us to thofe feats of rest and peace, of unity and concord, of tranquillity and happinefs, which he hath prepared for the good and righteous in that which is to come. MATTHEW V. 20. Except your righteousness exceed the righteoufness of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye fhall in no wife enter into the kingdom of heaven. HE Scribes and Pharifees, whom SERM. ΤΗ our bleffed Saviour doth in the words of my text fo feverely reprehend, were men of such high rank and esteem amongst the Jews, as to command the deepest reverence, refpect, and, veneration from the multitude, who confidered them, especially with regard to religious matters, as the most perfect examples of purity and virtue; to doubt therefore their truth, and to call in queftion their integrity; to unmask their sophisms, detect N 3 IX. |