a Means of attaining to Wifdom. 297 and finners, though he was holy, harmlefs, S E R M, undefiled, and feparate from fanners. This XII. was indeed imputed unto him as a fault by ``Y the Pharifee.s, who placed religion wholly in external forms, and valued themfelves upon an appearance of fan lity, whereby they were diftinguifhed from others, whom they fupercilioufly defpifed ; but our Lord vindicateth his condu± upon the very belt principles, the moll perfe& zeal for virtue, and charity to men. After him, the apo- Iles, imitating his example, and infpired with his fpirit, laboured inceffantly for the con- verfion of an ignorant and a corrupt world ; and inftead of being infeled with the folly of thofe they converfed with, they were the fuccefsful inftruments of making many wife and turning them to righteoufnefs. Befides that noble design which religion, far from difallowing, urgeth us earneftly to, as the very bell we can purfue, I mean, to endeavour by wholfome counfels, as well as a good example, the converfion of finners from the error of their way ; befides this, I fay, the prefent fiate of human affairs requireth that we affociate with men of all characters. Civil communities, fo ne- cef ary for the prefervation of order and peace in the world, are made up of good and
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