Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

9ó Of Chrßian Liberty. S E R M. great difference between the motives which IV. excite them; the expectations of them who were under the law terminated on the earthly Canaan, and the privileges of the commonwealth of Ifrael as their reward, and the fear of temporal punifhment was the great prefervative from difobedience; whereas the chriftian fpirit is animated by the hope of an intirely rational and fpiritual happinefs, of attaining to the perfection of righteoufnefs, of feeing God, and being like him, which raifeth a fublime and noble fpi- rit, and is accompanied with a fenfe of dig- nity, no otherwife to be known. But, when chriftianity was publifhed to the world, directed as it was by divine pro- vidence, firft, to appear in 7udea, where it was introduced with the greater advantage becaufe the original fcheme of .udaifm, rightly underftood, led the way to it, and it had been foretold by the Old Teftament prophets : When, I fay, it was publithed among the Yews, there was violent oppofi- tion given to it, chiefly becaufe it declared liberty, (hewed the infufficiency of the an- cient burdenfome ceremonies, and placed religion on a more Pimple and reafonable, foot. As men inured to civil fervitude lofe the very fenfe of liberty, their minds are too much

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