256 .7-he Wifdom of Religion. Men may fay, and fay it with tears too, concerning every Grace and Virtue wherein they excel moil, a/ Lord, I afpire, I endeavour after it, be thoupleated to affift my weaknefs, and to help me by thy Grace, continually to do better. The Summ of all is this, If we be careful to do our bell, and make it the con- fiant and fincere endeavour of our Lives to pleafe God, and to keep his Com- mandments, we fhall be accepted of him : For God values this more than whole Burnt -Offerings and Sacrifices, more than thoefands of Rams, and ten thoufandr of Rivers ofOyl ; becaufe this is an effential part of Religion, To love God with all our hearts, and minds, and firength, and to love our Neighbours as our felves. The Duties comprehended in thefetwogreat Commandments, fincerely prattifed by us (though with a great deal of imperfection) will certainly be acceptable in the fight of God, in and through the Merits and Mediation of yefrs Chriff the Righ- teous. Bled are they (faith St. john very plainly, in the concluGon of that ob- fcure Book ofhis Revelation) Bleffed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, Rev. 22. 14. I fpeak now to a great many who are at the upper end of the World, and command all the Pleafures and Enjoyments of it ; but the time is coming, and (whether we thinkof it or not) is very nearat hand, when we (hallfee an end ofalperfefíion, and of all that is defirable upon Earth, and upon which Men are apt to value themfelves fo much in this World ; and then nothing but Religion, and the Confcience ofhaving done our Duty to God and Man, will ftand us in Dread, and yield true Comfort to.us. When we are going to leave the World, how (hall we then with that we had made Religion the great bufinefs of our Lives; and in the Day of God's Grace and Mercy, had exercifed Repentance, and made our Peacewith God, and prepared our felves for another World ; that after our departure hence, we might be admitted into the prefence ofGod, where is fulnefs of joy, and at whofe right hand are pleaforesfor evermore ? Let no Man therefore, of what Rank orCondition foever he be in this World think himfelftoo great to be good, and too wife to be Religious, and to take care of his Immortal Soul, and his Everlafling Happinefs in another World g finee nothing but this will apprové it felfto berme Wifdom at the lafk. All other things will have an end with this Life; but Religion and the Fear ofGod is of a vafk'extent, and hath an Influence uponour whole duration, and, after the courfe of this Life is ended, will put us into the fecure Poffeffion of a-Happinefs which (hall never have an end. I will conclude this whole Difcourfe with thofe words of . our Bleffed Savi- our, If ye know thefe things, happy are ye if ye do them. Which than, who art the Eternal Springof Truth and Goodnefs, grant that we may all know and do in this our day, for thy Mercies fane in yefus Chrifl ; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, be all Honour and Glory, Dominion and Power, now and far ever. Amen. SER
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