Charity will not suffer us to suspect that those who cast aside all temporal consideration for themselves, can have any other view than the interests of truth: And Christian Simplicity, the offspring of Charity, leads us to conclude, that when such men suffer all kind of evil for the support of their Opinions, nothing less than the power of truth can support them in such a conflict.

In a word, the love of Virtue itself inclines us much in favour of men who, as Heretics frequently do, lead a life of temperance, chastity, justice, and beneficence.

When, therefore, both our worst and our best qualities equally conspire to betray us into heretical opinions, it must be a more than ordinary fortitude in Faith, and sobriety in Virtue, which can preserve us safe from these delusions, and bring us off, as the Apostle says, approved.

And as, in the course of this trial, the faith of the approved must needs be rectified and established, and their virtue purified and perfected, the good produced by it makes sufficient amends to God's Church for the ill permitted in these tares of heresy thus sown by the Evil one.

But still, this is not the whole good produced in thus manifesting the approved through heresies. Another, and indeed the principal, is the useful ExAMPLE of the approved, to the Church or Congregation of the faithful; the gross body of which have neither understandings nor hearts of sufficient strength to detect, or defend themselves from, the arts of cunning and industrious seducers, such as the Leaders

in Heresy generally are. Or if, haply, they have been taught to keep out of their snares, they are too apt to run into the opposite extreme, violating all the rules of justice in their treatment of these Disturbers of the Church's peace.

Now the EXAMPLE of the approved is of great use to the body of the Faithful in both these respects; to fortify their reason against delusion; and, when that is done, to restrain their passions against the deluders.

The strongest argument with the People for the truth of their religious Opinions, is the seeing them maintained and supported by men, whose learning, parts, and piety, they hold in reverence. This is a

species of moral evidence most flattering to the capacity of the Vulgar; such of the Vulgar, I mean, whose natural modesty, or conscience of their own weakness, is not quite effaced by the heat and fumes of Enthusiasm.-An argument founded in the eternal nature of things, and formed on the rules of severe logic, is, in their gross conceptions, a slippery support to their Faith; and, in comparison of an argument which rises on a great name and a specious authority, very cloudy and evanid.

The influence, therefore, which the example of great and good men has on the minds of the People, is exceeding powerful.

Nor is the CONDUCT of the approved towards Heretics and Schismatics less serviceable to the Church of Christ. Moderation is not the lot of the People. They approve and execrate; they love and hate with violence: and when once they have condemned I 4

the

the innovation, which they are readily induced to do, on observing it to be condemned by those they most esteem and venerate, they are easily led to oppose the Innovators with a violence which both natural equity and the genius of Christianity forbid. Now here again the Example of the Approved is of sovereign efficacy to teach them charity and moderation. And this Example is so powerful, that there is no instance to be found of a persecuting spirit which hath long continued, or arrived to any height, but where the men in most credit for their stations, abilities, and dazzling virtues, have encouraged and led it on. And whenever such have, by their conduct, been seen to disapprove of violent measures, the folly and rage of the People have presently subsided.

Thus amply rewarded are the Approved of my text, for all they undergo in this trial, by the benefit they procure to the Public in their EXAMPLE. And thus is the evil of heresies, by the gracious disposition of things, turned to good, and heresy, by a contrary exertion, made to produce those two capital Gospel-virtues, FAITH AND CHARITY. So admirable a vindication of God's general Providence does the sense of my text contain-there must be heresies amongst you, that they which are approved may be made manifest amongst you.

SERMON XXVI.

Preached at Bristol, November 29th, 1759, being the day appointed for a Public Thanksgiving for Victories obtained by the British Arms.

EZEKIEL XXxvi. 22.

FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, BUT FOR MY HOLY NAME'S SAKE.

GOD, by his Prophet, having here foretold the

unmerited blessings which he had in store for the House of Israel; lest this wretched People should become vain in their imaginations, and fancy that these mercies were reserved for them, as the peculiar Favourites of Heaven, thought fit to mortify their folly in the words of my text-I do not this for your sakes, O House of Israel, but for my holy name's sake. As much as to say, "Be careful not to mistake the purpose of these promised blessings, as if they were the reward of your Virtues; for, by your repeated Crimes you have long since forfeited all claim to my

special

special protection: nor yet mistake them for the effects of any partial fondness which your vanity may make you presume I have for you. I employ you only as the Instruments (and this is an honour you little deserve) for carrying on the grand system of my moral government; which requiring that someone Nation should be set apart for the Repository of the knowledge of the true God, I have, in honour of my faithful Servant, your Father Abraham, chosen you for the Ministers of this sacred Trust."

To this purpose does the Divine Majesty of Heaven speak to his chosen People in the words of my text. And as all Scripture is written for our instruction, to whom the ends of the world are come, let us conceive that, to the same purpose, he now speaks to us on this joyful occasion; which the piety of Government has thought fit to sanctify, by the appointment of a public thanksgiving for the late great mercies bestowed upon this Nation, in a seasonable Plenty and civil harmony at home; and in the unparalleled successes of the British Arms abroad.

The nature of these domestic blessings, after having been for some time alarmed with a suspension of them, in penurious Harvests and divided Councils, is best understood by the happy difference in our feelings. As to the high importance of our successes abroad against the Common Disturber of the peace of Europe this is a matter to be left to the Poli. tician. On this occasion, I presume, I shall discharge my duty better, in attempting to explain to you those dispositions and sentiments of piety with which you should possess yourselves, to make this grateful