and in all the vigour, of which this imperfect ftate of things is capable, may be neceffary to bring about these farther defigns of Providence. Thus as the Jewish religion was formerly the means of preparing the world for the reception of the gofpel; fo the gofpel, as it is now profeffed, may be a mean of preparation for those grand fchemes, which are bringing forward in God Almighty's plan.

Nothing in the whole revolution of this world's affairs-the rife, and fall of empiresor the convulfions, and catastrophes, which the fhocks of nature are continually introducing, bears the least degree of comparison, in point of grandeur, with the progrefs, and completion of the great scheme of christianity, as it is opened in the beginning of Genefis, and concluded at the end of the Revelations. Publifhed and introduced by prophecy, and the whole typical scenery, if I may fo call it, of a people, wonderfully feparated from the rest of the world, to make preparation for it—it appears at length attended with all this heavenly apparatus. Utterly rejecting, and as it were difdaining the parade of this world, it is great in its fimplicity-merely upheld by the hand of heaven in all its miraculous difpenfations..

It is offered to man, in its progress towards its ultimate end, to restore his nature, and fpiritualize his affections. But man, in general, wedded to the world, defpifes its call. Still, however, it maintains its courfe; and in fome inftances preferves its purity. At length the gofpel, fpreading from eaft to weft, and from north to fouth, all the world, as we have reafon to believe, fhall have the offer of it. Still however we fuppofe it mixed with its usual impurities; till at length this vast mass, by the over-ruling power of Providence, and thofe fecret means, of which we can form no idea, will purge itfelf pure. Then the grand effects of the gofpel will difplay themselves. An illustrious fcene will open, in which the world, and all its views, and pageantry will be depreffed; and heavenly truth fhine out in all its splendour. The glory of God, and the happiness of man, will then be united.

We chriftians, who live in the infancy as it may be, of the gospel, can have no idea of thefe fplendid fcenes. It hath pleased God however, in a small degree, to raise the curtain of futurity, and give us afar off a glimpse of these happy times to animate us ftill more in the glorious purfuit, both of fecuring our own

happiness; and of being, as far as our influence extends, the favoured inftruments of bringing forward this amazing scheme of glory.

III.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.-John xiii. 17.

CONSIDER, first, the neceffity of knowing these things; and fecondly, the neceffity of doing them.

In every art, trade, or profeffion, we must first know what we are to do, before we can do it. It is fo in religion: but, God, be thanked, the knowledge of religion lies in a very narrow compass. Though it take up time to learn an art, or profeffion, yet the lowest amongst us may easily obtain fufficient knowledge of religion, for all the purposes of life.

The great difficulty lies in the fecond point we are to confider-not in knowing these things, but in doing them. In every thing, as well as in religion, practice is the end of knowledge: without it, knowledge is useless. But what is fingular in religious practice, it is the best way of gaining religious knowledge. If you apply every little knowledge you gain, to practice, you

will foon become a greater proficient in religious knowledge, than if you had applied yourself with the greatest attention to the knowledge of it, and left the practice of it out of the question. If any man will do God's will, he hall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.-Befides, we are not fo liable to error in practice, as we are in knowledge. Right and wrong are much clearer ideas, than truth and falsehood. A well-intentioned mind may be led into enthusiasm, or fuperftition; but cannot fo easily be led into wickedness.