mined this Way by their own Rectitude of Mind, and moft intimate Confcioufnefs of the Importance of Salvation. They feel their Happiness; on which as they reflect with Joy, fo they must at the fame time look up with Thankfulness to the Author of it. And as the Senfe of their Enjoyments muft inspire Gratitude, fo this, in its Turn, will serve to heighten their Enjoyments. -- The Cafe is different with regard to Men on this Side the Grave. Having the End only in View, and that perhaps at a confiderable Distance, and a thoufand idle Amufements interrupting them, and drawing off their Attention from it, they need to be reminded of what is in itself clear, and urged to discharge what is in itself excellent and engaging. I have observed just before, that the Bleffed in Heaven, feeling their own Happinefs, are from thence determined to grateful Sentiments, as the immediate Confequence of fuch Happiness. At prefent, we are in Pursuit of what they enjoy. And therefore, in order to raise like Sentiments in us, what is thus diftant must be brought home; -muft by Faith be embraced, and by Meditation rendered familiar to us. I have, I have, in the former Part of this Dif course represented the miferable State, in which Men were before the coming of Christ, and in which they must have continued still, had Chrift never come to fave us. I have explained, in fuch manner as a Difcourfe of this Sort will admit, the Christian Scheme of Salvation, and what our Bleffed Lord hath done under each of his several Offices, in order to promote it; carrying your Thoughts on to the Confummation of Things, and the Opening of the laft grand Scene. Farther we are unable to go at present, and farther, I hope, we need not; for if these Matters are but duly attended to, the Effect of fuch Attention must be certain; fince, if we are thoroughly perfuaded of the infinite Love of Chrift towards us, and the infinite Importance of what he hath done for us, we can no more cease to love and thank him, whilft we think on thefe Things, than we could cease to do fo, if put in Poffeffion of the Happiness we now hope for. Senfible of this, the Church hath appointed the annual Solemnity of this Day, on which especially to recollect our Thoughts, and fix our Attention on this Subject. An Inftitution fo fit, fo reafonable, fo pious, one might D 3 might think could have met with no Oppofition from any, who called themselves Chriftians, especially fuch as affected to be thought the only good Chriftians. Be it, that we are unable to determine precisely the Day on which our Bleffed Lord was born: can that be thought a Reason why no Day should be obferved in Memory of his Birth? Be it, that fome Perfons have abused this Festival to purposes of Intemperance: muft it therefore be turned into a Faft? Or, fuppofing that the Church of Rome hath practifed many Superftitions, in their undue Celebration of this Day: fhall others therefore go into a Superftition on the oppofite Side, and religiously abstain from any Celebration of it at all? A wife and ferious Perfon would think, that if others, through Indiscretion, or vicious Temper, have abused this Solemnity, he, for his part, is the more concerned to restore it to its proper Use; and, by an exemplary Conduct on this Occafion, both to express his own Gratitude, and to edify the Church of Chrift. There is still another thing behind, which must not be overlooked, because the Words of my Text directly lead me to confider it; I mean, that the propofing the Salvation of Mankind, Mankind, and bringing it to Accomplishment, by the Administration of Chrift, is Ground of Praise and Joy even in the Angels themselves. With regard to Man, this Point is clear enough, because his fupreme Interefts are concerned in it: But, in reference to the Angels, it may be faid, however the Greatness of the End, and Wisdom of the Contrivance, may excite their Admiration, yet there does not feem to be fufficient Ground for that Praife, which is accompanied likewife with Joy. It may be said, that these are Beings already fixed in a State of Happiness; and being raised so many Degrees above us, must therefore be independent on us; on which account, as our Concerns have no Relation to theirs, so nothing which happens to Us, can properly affect Them. But, can we fuppofe, that these excellent Beings are fo entirely wrapt up in themselves, as to have no regard to any thing which others enjoy, or fuffer? Can we suppose they have no Principle of Goodness, in the least Degree? which Principle, in whatever Creature it fubfifts, must be attended with all its kindred Paffions; and imply a Defire of Good to others, a Joy when that D 4 -- not even Good faction, whilft that Good continues to be enjoyed. So that on this foot, the projecting and executing fuch a Scheme for the Salvation of Mankind, must become matter of Joy to them, unless we fuppofe they are void of that Principle, by which they continue in the State they are in; I mean that of happy Angels. And, agreeably to this, the Scripture represents them as miniftering to Mankind in the Affairs of Salvation [Heb. i. 14.] and rejoicing over every Sinner which repenteth. [Luke xv. 10.] However, the main Point I shall infist on here, is this, that our Salvation is the Ground of Praise even to the Angels, because the whole Scheme, taken together, is a noble Manifestation of the Divine Attributes. If Goodness be supposed the original Principle, by which the fupreme Being was induced to create Man, this is manifested in an higher Degree, by the Care taken of his Salvation; by pointing out the End; by conducting him in the Way to it; and by urging him on to the Attainment of it, by every Method of Tenderness. If Man, feduced by the Temptations of the Devil, had disobeyed the Commands of |