Of Chri'I an Liberty. 91 much debafed and enervated to afpire to, S E R M: and contend for that noble privilege of their IV. nature; fo the yews, accuftomed to the ri- gorous injunrftions, and wordly elements, which were really the imperfectionandweak- nefs of their religion, yet were fo attached to them as the have no relifh for a more ra- tional and liberal form ; they were fuper- ftitioufly fond of thofe dark fhadows and external appendages, which obfcured the luftre of true moral piety, fubftituting them in its room, and rejefted the divine beauti- ful fimplicity of worfhip in fpirit and truth, which is a molt reafonable fervice, con - fifting in inward reverence and efteem for the amiable perfeftions of God, and an imitation of them fo far as the frailty of our nature will allow, This was the prevailing prejudice which fixed the generality of that nation in their unbelief; not only fo, the yews who be- lieved and became the difciples of Chrift frill imagined that the ceremonial law was obligatory, and upon that foundation were for excluding the Gentiles from the privi- leges of chriftianity ; it was not till after repeated miracles and extraordinary inftruc- tions by the Holy Ghoft, that the apoftles themfelves underftood the gofpel- liberty, and
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