Serm. XLIX. to undermine Natural. 347 That our Saviour doth not here (peak of the7udaical or Ceremonial Law of the yews, but of the Duties of the Moral Law, will, I think, be very plain, from thefe following Conlderations. FirJl, That the judaicalor Ceremonial Laws of the Yews were to pats away, and did fo, not long after ; but this Law, which our Saviour fpeaks of, was to be perpetual and immutable ; for he tells us, that Heaven and Earth fhould pall away, but onejot or one tittle of this Law (Gould not pafs. Secondly, The obfervation of the Law our Saviour (peaks of, conuifled in fuch things as the Scribes and Pharifees negleered ; for he tells his Difciples, upon this occafion, that except their righteoufnefs did exceed the righteoufnefs ofthe Scribes and Pharifees, they fhould in no cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But now the Scribes and Pharifees were the mo(t accurate and pun&tual People in the World, in obferving thePrecepts of the yudicial and Ceremonial Law ; they were fo far from taking away any thing from thefe obfervances, that they had added to them, and enlarged them, by innumerable Traditions of their own : fo exalt were they, that they would pay tithe of mint, and anife, and cammin; as our Sa- viour obferves; but then they were extreamly defe&ive in Moral Duties they were unnatural to their Parents, and would pretend that their Eftates were con- fecrated to God, that under this pretenceof pof/tive Religion, they might excufe themfelves from a Natural Duty, and let their. Parents ftarve for God'sfake ; they were Covetous, and Unjuft, and devonredWidowshoufes ; in a word, our Savi- our tells us, they neglected the weightier Matters of the Law, Mercy, judgment, and the love ofGod, and keeping faith withMen; fo that it is in thefe things, that our Saviour means, that our righteoufnefs mufì exceed the righteoufneJs of the Scribes and Pharifees, viz, in theprattice,of Moral Duties, which were negle&ed by them; and confequently 'tis the MuralLaw whichourSaviour came to confirm andefablilh. Thirdly, If we confider the inftances which our Saviour gives in his following difcourfe, by which we may beft judge what he means. He inftances in Murder, and Adultery, and Perjury, which are undoubtedly forbidden by the naturalLaw ; and then he in(lances in leveral Permifïions which were indulged to them for the Hardnefs of their Hearts, but yet did intrench upon the Dilates of right. Reafon, and the firlt and original Conflitution of things s as the permiffi- on of Divorce upon every flight occafion, and of Revenge, and Retaliation of Injuries. Fourthly, If we confider that by the Law and the Prophets, our Saviour means that which was principally defigned and ultimately intended by them; which was the Obfervation of moral Duties; which as they were written in the two Tables by the immediate Finger of God himfelf, fo are chiefly inculcated by the Prophets. And fo the find this Phrafe of the Law, and the Prophets, elfewhere ufed by our Saviour, whenhe mentions that great Rule of Equity, that we fhould do to others as we would have them do to us. Matth. 7. 12. Therefore all things what- foever ye would that Menfhould do toyou, do ye evenfo to them : For this is the Law and the Prophets. But how was this the Law and the Prophets, when this Rule was neáer fo much as mentioned in either? Our Saviour means, that this is the Foundation of all thofe Duties of Juflice and Mercy, which are fomuch inculcated in the Law and the Prophets. So that our Saviour makes the Obfervation ofmoral Duties to be the principal Defign of the yewifh Law, and as it were the Foundation of it, and therefore he calls moral Duties, are BuQtieee . zñ vólefs, the weightier matters of the Law, Matth. 23. 23. Butye (lays he to the Scribes and Pharifees) have neglei ed the weigh- tier things of the Law, judgment, and mercy, and fidelity. The Scribes and Pha- rifees buffed themfelves chiefly about ritual Obfervances; but our Saviour tells them, that thofe other were the moft confiderable and important Dutiesof the Law, and lay at the bottom of the yewifb Religion. And much the fame enu- meration the Prophet makes, where he compares.Sacrifices and thefe moral Du- ties together, Mic. 6. 6, 7, 8. Wherewith fhalllcome before the Lord, and bow my felfbefore the high God ? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, withCalves of ayear old ? Will the Lord be pleafed with thoufands of Rams, or with ten thoufands Y y 2 of
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