fo this does more efpecially point at their Duty. This was the Defign for which they were fet up by God; and this is the Bufinefs they ought to aim at, by their Doctrine and Example, to fhew the World what Sort of Perfons they ought to be. In the Words there are these three Things implied.

1. That the World before our Saviour's Appearance lived in great Ignorance and Wickednefs.

2. That the Gofpel is the Means appointed by God to bring the World out of this State.

3. That it is the Duty of Chriftians, who are to hold out this Light to the World, to take Care not to fupprefs or obfcure it; but to fet it off to the greatest Advantage.

I. That the World before our Saviour's Appearance was in Darkness; that is, lived in Ignorance and Wickedness. This being only prefuppofed and implied in the Text, I fhall not dwell long upon it: As to the Heathen World, the Thing is very plain, for they were Strangers to the true God; had little or no Notion of a future State of Rewards and Punishments; most of them looked upon that Part of the Doctrine of their Poets and other Writers, as altogether fabulous. (Fabulæq; manes. Hor.) They had very imperfect Notions of their Duty, and none at all of the Neceffity of the Grace of God to enable them to perform it, and of the way of obtaining that Grace, by Prayer to God through the Mediation of Jefus Chrift. And as to the Jews, tho' they were much better inftructed in the Gg 3 Know

[SERM. Knowledge of God, and had a great Infight into their Duty, yet being a very carnal People, their Notions of Immortality were exceeding dim; their Promises for the moft Part related to Temporal Profperity; their Sentiments of the Meffiah were wildly wrong; and, through the Mifinterpretations of their Doctors, their Underftanding as to the Law and their Duty was exceedingly corrupted: So that in Effect, the great Things of the Law were totally neglected, and the little Ceremonials and Trifles of it were only minded. This was the State of the World when our Lord came into it. Let us next fee what Method he took to enlighten the dark World. And this leads me to the Second Thing I obferved from the Words, namely,

2. That the Gospel is the Means appointed by God to bring the World out of this State of Ignorance and Wickedness. This is the Candle fet up to fhew us our Way through this dark World. And indeed it can't be denied, that it is the greatest Light that ever was communicated to Men. I can't pretend to enumerate all the Particulars wherein the World is enlighten'd by it: But for your better apprehending this Notion, the chief of them I fhall briefly mention. (1.) First then, As to the Knowledge of God, especially that most comfortable and useful Part of it, relating to his Love to Man, and the wonderful Method he has contrived to pass an Act of Pardon and Indemnity for his dear Son Jefus Chrift's Sake, upon the eafy Terms of Faith and Repentance; this is a Thing we owe wholly to the Gospel, and certainly it is the most valuable Piece of Knowledge that ever was imparted to the World. (2.) Ouṛ

Duty

Duty is much better cleared up from the imperfect Notions of the Law, and the wrong Explications of the Jewish Doctors; and especially the inward Part of Duty, in regulating the Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart, (which is the Life and Soul of Duty) is fully explained and throughly infifted on; instead of that formal, outward, Pharifaical Righteousness, to which the Interpreters of the Law among the Jews had reftrained it. (3.) Christianity has given us great Light, by the clear Promises it makes of Life and Immortality, to them that repent and obey the Gofpel; and the plain Threatnings of eternal Mifery in a future State, to the Unbelievers and Impenitent. For tho' as to the Particulars of the future Happiness and Mifery, they are in a great Measure as yet unknown to us, because in this imperfect State perhaps we are not capable of diftinct Notions of the Felicity or Infelicity of eternal Happiness or Torments; yet it can't be denied, that any Revelation which was ever made to the World of these Things before, was but mere Darkness, compared with that of the Gospel. Befides that, the future State of Happiness, the Immortality of the Soul, and Refurrection of the Body, is by the Gospel not only revealed, but proved and afferted beyond all Contradiction, by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the Dead. And what Light and Direction this gives in the regulating of our Lives, they who can fee the Confequences of Things may easily difcern. (4.) The perfect Pattern of all Virtue, which the Gospel affords in the fpotlefs Example of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, gives a very great Light into our Duty. Examples are far before Precepts; and all the Examples the World' Gg 4

ever

[SERM. ever had before, were very imperfect ones. What a mighty Advantage then muft it be, that the Son of God himself fhould come down from Heaven, and give us a perfect Pattern of his own Precepts; efpecially of all the most difficult Parts of them, thofe relating to Self-denial and Patience, as well as Purity, Humility, and Meekness? (5.) The wonderful Grace of the Holy Ghoft purchased by Christ, and offered and exhibited to us in the Gospel, by the Ufe of Prayer, Reading, Meditation, frequent Communion, and the diligent Improvement of our Talents; whereby our Minds are illuminated, and our Hearts fanctified, and our Lives reformed, is another Inftance of the great Light fet up by Chrift in the Gospel, Now all these put together, and duly improved, will make the Gofpel a lighted Candle, well fitted of itself, if it be advantageously placed, to give Light to all that are in the House: And this leads me to the Third and last Thing I observed in the Words: namely,

III. That it is the Duty of Chriftians, who are to hold out this Light to the World, to take Care not to fupprefs or obfcure it; but to fet it off to the greatest Advantage. Not to speak now of Paftors and Teachers, whofe proper Business it is to bring Men from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, because I think they are not here principally meant; there are chiefly these three Ways whereby Christians in general obfcure or fupprefs their Light; (1.) By neglecting to enlighten their own Minds with the Light of divine Truth. (2.) By neglecting to live up to the Knowledge they have of divine Things. (3) By neglecting, in their several

Sta

Stations, to communicate their Knowledge to others.

But I find the explaining of this, how we hide our Candle under a Bufhel; and how we may hold it out to the best Advantage, would engage me in a larger Subject of Difcourfe than is now fit to be entred upon in the End of a Sermon, and therefore I fhall refer the Confideration of it to another Opportunity. I must request you to improve in your own Meditations what ye have heard; and to form good Refolutions upon it; which God give us all Grace duly to put in Execution, for Jefus Chrift's Sake; to whom, &c,

SERMON