SERMON XV. On the Motives to Constancy in Virtue. GAL. vi. 9. And let us not be weary in Page 400 SER- SERMON I. On the Union of PIETY and MORALITY. ACTS, x. 4. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. THE High and Lofty One who in- SERMON habiteth eternity dwelleth also with him that is of humble and contrite heart. In the midst of his glory, the Almighty is not inattentive to the meanest of 'his subjects. Neither obscurity of station, nor imperfection of knowledge, sinks those below his regard who worship and obey him. Every prayer which they send up from their secret retirements is listened to VOL. I. B by I. PL SERMON by him; and every work of charity which 1. they perform, how unknown soever to the world attracts his notice. The text presents a signal instance of this comfortable truth. In the city of Cæsarea, there dwelt a Roman centurion, a military officer of inferiour rank, a Gentile, neither by birth nor religion entitled to the privileges of the Jewish nation. But he was a devout and a benevolent man; who, according to his measure of religious knowledge, studied to perform his duty, prayed to God always, and gave much alms to the people. Such a character passed not unobserved by God. So highly was it honoured, that to this good centurion an Angel was sent from heaven, in order to direct him to the means of full instruction in the truth. The angel accosts him with this salutation. Cornelius, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. It is to the conjunction of prayers and alms that I purpose now to direct your thoughts, as describing the respectable and ainiable character of a man, as forming the honour and the blessedness of a true SERMON Christian; piety, joined with charity, faith with good works, devotion with morality. These are things which God hath connected, and which it is impious in man to separate. It is only when they remain united, that they can come up as a grateful memorial before God. I shall first endeavour to shew you, That alms, without prayers, or prayers without alms, morality without devotion, or devotion without morality, are extremely defective; and then shall point out the happy effects of their mutual union. LET us begin with considering the case of alms without prayers; that is, of good works without piety, or a proper sense of God and religion. Examples of this are not uncommon in the world. With many, virtue is, or at least is pretended to be, a respectable and an honoured name, while piety sounds meanly in their ears. They are men of the world, and they claim to be men of honour. They rest upon their humanity, their public spirit, their probity, and their truth. |