SERM. by our Saviour, that we are to give an Ac VII. count for every idle Word.

As to the Fourth Commandment, the Gofpel clears it from the falfe Constructions, which the Scribes and Pharifees had put upon it, by condemning A&s of Charity and Beneficence on the Seventh Day, as a Breach of the Sabbath; and yet fo great was their Hypocrify, that they themselves would not, if an Afs or an Ox were fallen into a Pit, refuse to help him out on the Sabbath-Day.

The Fifth Commandment, which is very strict in enjoining the Duty of Children to Parents, is also established by the Gospel, which condemns the evil Practices of the Jews, as to that Matter: For they said, Whofoever shall fay to his Father, or his Mother, It is a Gift, by whatsoever thou might'st be profited by me, and shall not honour his Father, or bis Mother, he fhall be free. Thus, fays our Saviour, have ye made the Commmandments of God of none Effect by your Tradition.

The Sixth Commandment forbidding Murder is fulfilled, and improved by the

Gospel:

Gospel: For their Tradition ran thus, It SERM. was faid by them of old time, Thou shalt VII. not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in Danger of the Judgment: But, fays our Saviour, I fay unto you, that whosoever is angry with his Brother without a Caufe, fhall be in Danger of the Judgment, &c.

The Seventh Commandment prohibiting Adultery is confirmed and established by the Gospel, with this Improvement, that it adds the Adultery of the Heart.

The Eighth Commandment prohibiting Theft is fully confirmed and established by thefe Words of our Saviour; All things whatsoever ye would that Men fhould do unto you, do ye even fo unto them.

As to the Ninth Commandment, the Gospel has improved it to fuch a Degree, that we are not only not to bear falfe Witness against our Neighbour, but we are commanded not to judge him, or entertain an evil Thought of him; Judge not, that ye be not judged.

The Tenth Commandment, which for bids us to covet another's Property, is fulfilled and perfected by the Gospel; which

com

SERM. commands us to drive away all covetous VII. Thoughts and Defires, in that Prohibition

of taking no Thought for the Morrow. Several other Paffages might be produced, would the Time admit of it, to fhew, that the Gofpel confirms and establishes the Law, either by making Additions to it, or by explaining and clearing it from the falfe Gloffes and Traditions of the Jews; fo that the Gospel is fo far from making void the Law, that it diftinguishes us from all the rest of the World, by a greater Degree of Purity and Holiness, and by a more fteady Adherence to that Moral Law it felf, which fome thought Christ came to deftroy.

How beautiful does the Gofpel appear in the lovely Ornaments of Righteousness and Good Works; when we fee her vifiting the Fatherless and Widow, comforting the Broken-hearted, and difpenfing univerfal Love and Benevolence to all the World! This is the King's Daughter that is all glorious within, who is fairer than the Children of Men, because God hath blessed ber for ever. 'Tis by the Gospel that we

know

know from what Slavery, what more SERM. than Egyptian Bondage, of Sin, we are VII. fet free; which we could not poffibly know any other Way: For as it is true, that we had not known Sin but by the Law, fo is it likewife true, that we had not known the Goodness and Love of God in delivering us from it, but by the Gospel.

-There are alfo greater Sanctions of Rewards and Punishments under the Gospel, than there were under the Law; and it more clearly fets forth to us the Duty and the Nature of Repentance. It teaches us alfo the Infufficiency of our beft Perform ances, and tells us, that when we have done all we can, we are unprofitable Servants. To do a good Action, and not to put it down to the Score of Merit, would have been thought a hard thing under the Law; for they knew no other Condition of obtaining Happiness: But the Gofpel teaches us better things; for there we are taught that as by one Man Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin, fo Death paffed upón all Men, for that all have hnned; and therefore our Good-Works, imperfect

as

SERM, as they always are, cannot avail to the ob VII. taining Happiness; but the Gospel shews us the only way to make them ufeful and advantageous to us, by fupplying them with the Merits of Jefus Chrift. Not that those, under the Law, were deftitute of the Promife; for they had the fame Promise, in Substance as we; but then they had it not, barely as under the Law, for it was made to Adam, and delivered to Abraham, tho' he was not yet circumcifed; fo that ftill it fignifies nothing to them, who were the Children of Abraham, according to the Flesh, and fo only Jews by Birth, but only as they were the Seed of Abraham, according to the Promife. Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be of Grace; to the End the Promife might be fure to all the Seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that alfo, which is of the Faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all. Having proved that the Gospel does not make void the Law, but that it con-firms and establishes it, I fhall draw a few Inferences from the whole, and fo conclude.

Since