XVIII.

LUKE, vi. 26.

WOE UNTO YOU WHEN ALL MEN SHALI. SPEAK WELL OF YOU!

THIS

HIS text is fometimes applied by divines to modern times. Whereas, I apprehend, it fhould chiefly be applied to the Christians of the first age.

Our Saviour, with a view to fortify the early preachers of the Gospel against the ill ufage of the world, tells them plainly what reception they fhould find after his departure. Mankind in general fhould be armed against them. -fhould hate them-fhould feparate from their company -fhould reproach them, and caft out their name as evil. He foon after adds the text, Woe unto you when all men fhall fpeak well of you! As they were See a fermon by Bp. Hurd on this fubject.

I I

about

about to establish a new institution, intended to overturn all the religious prejudices, and idolatrous practices of the world, it would certainly follow, that if they and their doârine were received with general refpect, they must have been remifs in the execution of their commiffion. In the parallel place of St. Matthew we find perfecution coupled with defamation: blessed are ye, when men fhall revile you and perfecute you. and perfecute you. We may as well, therefore, fuppofe a woe pronounced upon all who do not fuffer perfecution.

The whole hiftory of the apoftles fhews religion, in those early times, to be always under the fame cloud of defamation. Do I feek, fays St. Paul, to please men? If I pleafed men, I should not be the fervant of Chrift. And this is a language which all the apostles might have held, as well as St. Paul.

Upon the whole, I would observe, it seems to be of no fervice to religion, to draw paffages of Scripture from apoftolical to modern times. Error is often engrafted on such violent applications. The application of the woe, therefore, to modern times, may mislead weak Chriftians to form undue estimates of their own lives, and false judgments of the characters of others. For, in truth, the

text taken literally, feems to oppofe experience. Though all men may not speak well of the good Christian, who may have his various failings, and indifcretions; yet in a Chriftian country, the woe I think, chiefly belongs to him of whom all men Speak ill.

It may be added, that a man's character is a pledge to the community; and it is not agree able to the Gospel to destroy any bond of union among men.

XIX.

MATT. XV. 9.

TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMAND

MENTS OF MEN.

IN

N many parts of Scripture a distinction is made between the commandments of God and the commandments of men.

But why? fays the objector; which of the commandments of God is carried higher than the commandments of men? He then boasts, that Christianity hath done little in explaining morals; and will readily quote Socrates, Tully, Antoninus and other philofophers, to fhew how far human reason was able to carry the commandments of men. In what, he afks, lies the difference?

In the first place, the Christian law is in many instances more refined and pure. Gratitude and

love to God is a principle of action never before held out. Universal charity, the love of our enemies, humility, and heavenly-mindedness, were never the commandments of men, though highly productive of human happiness.

But even on a fuppofition, the heathen and Christian morality were in themselves of equal value, let it, fecondly, be confidered, that the elevated fentiments of the philofopher (which we wish not to depreciate) were never calculated for general ufe. They were intended merely for his own. school, and were indeed written in a fublime language, beyond the intellect of the vulgar; whereas, the precepts of Christianity were intended for all mankind-for the lowest orders, as well as the higheft.

Befides, the philofopher had no power to enforce his precepts; whereas the precepts of Christianity are the general code of all Christian people, and fanctioned not only by human laws, but by fuch penalties as no human laws can provide.

Lastly, let it be observed, that while the commandments of men chiefly forbid crimes, the commandments of God prevent them. The commandments of men reach only the action; the commandments of God reach the heart and the

motive.