any

every individual fhall at the laft give an ac- SERM. count of himself, and receive according to V. his works in a word, he inculcates upon Christians the love of God, and charity, as the end of the commandment; and sheweth, that no privileges, or endowments, will be of avail to the purposes of falvation without it. Thus, as a teacher, he acted a part perfectly worthy of his relation to Jefus Chrift, of the warmest zeal for true virtue and religion, and of the most benevolent fpirit and the greatest goodwill to mankind; a part becoming a perfon, who profeffed, That his rejoicing was in the teftimony of his confcience, that in fimplicity and godly fincerity, not in fleshly wifdom, but by the grace of God, he had his converfation; and who tells us, that he + was not as many, who corrupted the word of God; but as of fincerity, but as of God; in the fight of God, spake in Chrift. The truth is, there is fuch a manifeft appearance of fimplicity and fincerity in all his writings, that one cannot attentively perufe them, without beiieving, that he spoke from his heart.

very

SERM, Let it be confidered, in the last place, V. that, though in his profeffion of being converted to Christianity, and in his affuming the character of an apostle, and fubmitting to the labours and fufferings, to which, in that station, he was called, he acted a part, which (upon the fuppofition of of Christianity's being an imposture, and his knowing it to be fo) was most abfurd and irrational; yet upon fuppofition, that he believed that religion to be of divine authority, and himself called by our Bleffed Saviour to be an apoftle, it was a part most worthy and wife. If he believed, that Jefus Chrift was the promised Meffiah, that he was rifen from the dead, and invefted with all power and authority in heaven and earth; that, therefore, the cause of Christianity was the cause of God, and ferved and carried on under the fpecial care and protection of heaven; he had no reafon to be daunted at any opposition, which he faw could be made to it, or to thofe, who were employed in propagating it in the world. If God was for him, it was no matter who was against him. And though he not only knew, that all the powers on earth would set themselves against

V.

against the religion of Chrift, and that he SERM. could make no converts to it, but what must foresee, that their embracing of it, and profeffing it, would lay them open to very grievous fuffering; but foon found, that great and vexatious difficulties lay in his way, arifing from the weaknesses of fome, and the perverfe tempers of others, who took upon them the Chriftian profeffion, and became members of the Chriftian church, (of which he frequently complaineth, and probably they gave him. more uneafinefs, than all that he suffered from declared enemies ;) yet, fenfible of divine countenance and support, he must needs think all thofe inconveniencies of little moment. And when in the course of his ministry he found, that God was with him, and that miraculous power attended him, with what conftancy and re-. folution must he go on, impregnable by the most violent oppofition, which could be made to his attempts! Under almighty protection, he was ferving the very best of caufes, and the most important to mankind; a caufe, which he knew would moft affuredly prevail; and as for his own particular interest, he knew, that it was fafe;

he

SERM. he might indeed fuffer deeply in this V. world; but then he faw a glorious state in

referve for him, in the world above. * For which caufe I fuffer these things, yet I am not afhamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am perfuaded, that he is able to keep what I have committed to him unto that day. -I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give unto me; and not to me only, but to all them likewife, who love his appearance.

Thus I have endeavoured to fhew, that as there is not the least reafon to imagine, that Paul was an impoftor, fo there is the strongest reason to believe, that he spoke what he knew to be truth; and which had fo poffeffed his own heart, that the whole of his life and conduct was regulated by it; and shall now conclude, with recommending to your thoughts his farewel difcourfe to the elders of Ephefus; in which we may fee his very heart disclosed and

;

which, I think, beareth fuch characters of being genuine, that the evidence is not to

* 2 Tim. i. 12. + Ib. iv. 7.

be

V.

be refifted; we have it in Acts xx, from SERM. ver. 17. And from Miletus be fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he faid unto them; Ye know, from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, ferving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me, by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing, which was profitable to you; but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from houfe to houfe, testifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift. And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things, which shall befall me there; fave that the Holy Ghoft witnesseth in every city, that bonds and afflictions abide me: but none of these things move me, neither count I myself dear unto myself, so that I might finish my courfe with joy, and the miniftry, which I have received of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the gospel of the grace. of God. And now behold I know, that all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, fhall fee my face no more.

ye

Wherefore