eth us, in reference to others, the Sum of the Second T.4þ1+ which requireth only Zuſtice and Charity. Chriſt dorh nor ſay "Thi. all the Law and the Prophets, bur this is the Law and the p;;4,..> There is no Man but would have others deal juſtly with A. giving him what 1s his own, whether Honour or Tribute, ox . ſtate, gc. neicher taking, nor withholding his own from "Ing Nor is there any, but if he ſtood in need of it, would deſire the Charitable Help of another, or a Charitable Remiſſon from him © what he might in exat Juſtice require. Do ye (faith our $4, our) the ſame unto them? And indeed this is bur a Confirmation of the Light and Law of Nature; no more bur what Men woul do, it they wou!d hearken to the Light within them : And with. out this, 1n vain do Men pretend to Religion, as our Savicur reacheth, Mar. 7. 9, 10, 11, 12,13. Which makes ſomethink thy our Saviour by this retle&s upon rhe Phariſees, who laid all thei Religion upon Ceremonies, and ſome Ritual Performances, in objer. vance of their Traditions, and omitted the weightier things of the Law, Fudgment, Mercy, and Faith, Matth, 23. 23.
13 *Enter ye in at the ſtrait gate, for wide 7s the ;
gate; and broad zs the way that leadeth to defiruti. .
on, and many there be which go in thereat :
I 4 || Becauſe ftrait zs the gate, and narrow 5 ths.
om which leadeth unto life, and few there be thy nd It.
OurSaviour having in this Sermon delivered many hard $. ings'to Fleſh and Blood, here obviates a rwofold Tempraticn they might have to the negleG of them. 1. From their Liffeuly, 2. From the Paucity of them who live according to theſe Rules, te here compareth Heaven to an Houſe, a ſtately Houle, into which a ſtrait Gate leaderh; to a City, the way to which is a nay way. There 1s nothing more ordinary in Holy Writ, than call a common Courſe of Men's Aions a Way : It is alfo con. pared to a Gate. The Sum of what our Saviour here faith, i; this: There are but two ultimate Ends of all Men, Eten! De ftruFion, and Fternal Life, The Courſe that leadeth to Deſtr8i. on 1 like a broad way that is obvious to all, and many walk in thi, That Courſe of Life and Adtions, which will bring a Man to Hex ven, is ſtrait, unpleafing to Fleſh and Blocd, nor ar all gratifyin Men's Senfitive Appetites, and narrow ; the Greek, is affid:;, 1 way wherein Men wil] meet with many Crofſes and Temptatin, and there are but a few will find if, You muſt not therefre wonder if my Precepts be hard to your Carnal Apprehenſions; no; be ſcandalized, tho' you ſee but few going in the right Road to the Kingdom of Heaven.
15 * Bewareof falſe prophets, * which comets, you in ſheeps cloathing, but inwardly they are 1-1 vening wolves. (y
The term Prophets in Holy Writ, is of larger Extent than w ſignifie only ſuch as foretold things to come; others alſo who raughy the People, pretending Authority from God ſo to do, were called Prophets. Thus Ber- Feſus, Afts 13. 6. is called a falſe Projtes '! A falſe Prophet 1s of the ſame Significancy with a falſe Teas, © Againſt thoſe our Saviour cautionerh his Hearers, as being the i moft fatal and dangerous Enemies to Faith and Holineſs, Sem of them indeed come in Sheeps cloathing, under very fair pretences and a fair ſhew of Religion and Strineſs ; bur they are R:ten ing Wolves ;, as dangerous to yourJSouls, as Ravenous Wolves are ro a Flock of Sheep.
16 * Ye ſhall know them by their fruits. Do men , gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiſtles :
17 Even 10 *every good trec bringeth forth good ,, fruir, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, n- ther car a corrupt tree bring torth good fruit.
19 * Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and caſt into the fire. h
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye ſhall know them.”
A proper Effet diſcovereth the Cauſe: Leſt his Diſcipls ſhould ask, How ſhall we diſtinguiſh true, trom falſe Teachers ? Our Saviour tells them, By their fruits ye ſhall know them. Out Saviour ſends not his Diſciples to enquire into the Truth of chei Miſſion , whether thac more Internal from God, of which they could not judge; or more External from Men, who may ett and tend out thote whom God never ſent ; bur you ſhall know them (faith our Saviour) by their faichful or unfairhful Diſcharge © rheir Duty : If they be true Teachers by their diſcharging the Miniſtry in 2 faithtul Revelation of the Mind and Will of Gd, or by their Holy Lite, living as Enſamples to the Flock, by the Fruirs of true Do#rine, and a Holy Life, by the Diſcharge ot rheir Miniſtry in good Conſcience; tor ic is with Men, as it is vitl the Trees; good Trees bring forth good Fruit, corrupt Trees bring forth evil Fruit. If Men have the Roor of the Matte,
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