171 Sincere Obedience the bell Preparation SERM. of no importance. Whatever has a contrary X. tendency ought to be rejeé ed. Judging by this rule, a great many doctrines which have been taught in fome chriftian churches are no otherwife to be accounted of than as wood and hay and fiiibble, good for nothing but to be burnt, and they even rifque the falvation of the authors and teachers of them. What a notion can a man have of the will of Gods who imagines it is fulfilled by forms and ce- remonies, by faftings and voluntary humility? What connexion have thefe things with moral goodnefs ? But they are pernicious, everfive of the very foundation, when fubftituted in the room of it ; and fo are things of a better character and original, even all the inftru,. mental parts of religion, when duties of po- fitive inftitution are put in the place of folid pietyand virtue, penitential griefs for effectual repentance and amendment of life, and a , prefumptuous confidence in the merits of Chrift, for faith producing by love works of righteoufnefs, temperance, and charity. All thefe being doctrines which have been main- tained, a fincere mind univerfally and up- rightly difpofed to do the will of God, will be able to make a true judgment of them, and others of a like nature and tendency. To
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