PHILIP. iv. 6, 7. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and fupplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, Shall keep ACTS, vi. 1. And in thofe days, when the number of the difciples was multiplied, there arofe a murmuring of the Grecians against On doing Evil to produce Good. ROMANS, iii. 8. Some affirm that we say, SER- SERMON I. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST the FOUNDATION of MORALITY. I COR. iii. 11. Other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jefus Chrift. WE E are accustomed to hear Morality mentioned as a fubject diftinct from Religion. This feparation in common language is not furprifing; as we daily fee many actions, literally confiftent with moral precepts, performed from motives, in which religion has no part. The habit, however, of regarding morality as disjoined from religion is not only erroneous, but highly pernicious. Religion, conftituting the fum of human duty, confifts of two branches, piety and morality. Piety comprises the difpofitions and actions of which God is the immediate object; morality, B morality, thofe of which other beings are immediately the objects. Thus adoration is an act of piety: compaffion to a man or to a brute, and felf-government, are acts of morality. As there are various difpofitions which may be exercifed either towards God or towards man; there are proceedings which at one time are to be ranked under piety, at another under morality. Thus love to God is an act of piety; love to men for his fake, of morality. Sometimes a moral duty, the breach of which involves peculiar guilt, popularly takes the appellation of piety. Thus love to parents has been denominated filial piety. But the nature of an action is not altered by an accidental change of term. In every refpect, and from first to last, our Lord Jefus Chrift is the corner-ftone of our falvation. From him arifes the beginning of religion, repentance. Him bath God exalted to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance (a), no less than forgivenefs of fins. From him proceeds faith: he is the author and finisher of it (b). From him is derived our reconciliation with God: Through him we have access to the Father. (b) Heb. xii. 2. (a) A&s, v. 31. Being |