Sixthly, A further evidence of the internal worth and merit of the Christian Religion is that it strictly prohibits all moral evil, and whatever would interrupt our peace and comfort as individuals, and the harmony and benefit of society. No religion is of any value or worth any further than it is good, or tends to good. The beauty of holiness is its tendency to happiness; and where it obtains in a full measure, there misery is expelled with all its train of evils. And the beauty of religion is its tendency to promote the real welfare of man, as an individual, and as connected in civil society. By cultivating in men the principles of honour, faith, integrity, and conscience; and calling them off from vain and hurtful courses, they are made the best members of society. The best interests of civil government and of society are, consequently, most promoted by Religion. It gives to civil government faithful rulers and quiet subjects. Nothing is good or praise-worthy, in a moral view, any otherwise, or any further than in fact it actually does or aims at good. It would not be worth while to embrace a system which pretended to be religion, if it had no power or tendency in its principles and duties, promises and exercises, institutions and precepts to do us good, to do good to others—to the world at large—to the various orders and ranks of society. Most certainly that Being, who has infinite wisdom and infinite goodness, would never reveal or institute, or require us to believe and practice a religion, which had no tendency to promote our own or the welfare of others. For it would be to no purpose. It would be useless and vain.—All false religions, it will be acknowledged, actually do hurt. Error and imposture, are so far from being harmless, that they are always, in a greater or less degree pernicious. They mislead and bewilder the mind. They create dissensions: they nourish evil passions—they pollute of course the morals.—Now the Christian Religion appears excellent and glorious, worthy of all acceptation and praise, as it consults, and tends most directly, and powerfully, to secure the welfare of man, here and hereafter, in time and in Eternity. Its grand design is to render us happy in this state of being, and blessed when another shall open upon us. And the way, it takes to render us happy, is by subduing all our evil appetites and propensities; and forbidding whatever is hurtful to our own peace, or to society around us. If it secure the morals of individuals, it in effect secures the public morals; for of individuals is the public composed. A government or people are then prosperous, when rulers and the ruled conduct aright, in their several places; when the morals are most pure; and when disorders, licentiousness, extravagance, and other evils, vice and iniquity, are most suppressed. The more pious and virtuous the members of a Community the happier is that Community. It ever has been, and ever will be found, that righteousness exalteth a nation, and that sin is the reproach of any people, in greater or less societies. Blessed is that people whose God is the Lord.—The Gospel indeed was never originally designed by its divine author to be an instrument of civil government, or merely an aid of civil society. It hath something infinitely higher in view.—But, at the same time, it as directly tends, in its great doctrines and moral precepts, and as much promotes the highest and most valuable interests of society, as if it had no other object in view, or were instituted for this sole purpose.—Here it ought to be particularly remembered, that those who regard religion, in no other light, than as an excellent expedient to civilize and humanize man, and to strengthen the bands of government and society, debase its design and nature, and err widely from the truth.—Religion, however, brings people to order, to regular conduct, to humanity, to love moral duties, and to the practice of all the social and relative duties, and then they are prepared to be good subjects of civil government, and good members of civil society. It, then, most essentially co-operates for the happiness of the Community, when it checks growing vice, when it liberates and humanizes the rough pieces of human nature. And by forbidding all moral evil, and laying before the mind the terrors of the Lord, to dissuade from all iniquity, by revealing from heaven the wrath of God against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men, it contributes powerfully to the best good of civil society.——
Whatever can be to the glory, ornament, and dignity of the social intercourse is commanded in the Gospel; and whatever tends, even, though in the remotest view, to debase or injure man, in his rights as a member of the community, is most expressly prohibited. Industry, order, frugality, economy, diligence, faithfulness, honesty, truth, humanity, and all the civil virtues and duties, as well as the moral and Christian, are abundantly inculcated. We are taught not only the laws of virtuous friendship, but in that general philanthropy which as Christians is incumbent on us, we are taught a real love to our Country; and we are bound to submit to all the regulations of government, and its wholesome ordinances, not only for wrath, but for conscience-sake—not only as a duty which we owe to the Community, but as a duty which we owe to God. For to break the laws of man, is to offend against the laws of Christ.
Besides, in our prayers and wishes, as well as in our words and actions, are we to seek the good of others. Christians are bound to pray for others—to wish well to them in all lawful pursuits—to seek the peace of government, its honour and stability—and to do nothing which is contrary to the peace of society. Banish religious principle, and you loosen all the bonds which connect mankind together; you shake the fundamental pillar of mutual confidence and trust; you render the security arising from laws, in a great measure, void and ineffectual.—For human laws and human sanctions cannot extend to numberless cases, in which the safety of mankind is deeply concerned. They would prove very feeble instruments of order and peace, if there were not checks upon the conduct of men, from the sense of divine legislation—if no belief of future rewards and punishments were to overawe conscience, and to supply the defects of human government.
Again—Christians are by their example to recommend regularity of deportment, sobriety, temperance, righteousness and truth. They are to put away all guile, hypocrisy, wrath, evil speaking, malice, and deceit. Not only all that would hurt society is prohibited, but all moral evil, indeed of every kind and degree. Not a wish or passion, which is inconsistent with, or contrary to purity, to justice, to benevolence, is to be indulged. No line of conduct or business which is unlawful, or incompatible with moral obligations is permitted by the laws of Christ. So far therefore as religion really obtains, so far society and civil government are essentially benefited. Perjury, falsehood, theft, robbery, oppression, extortion—and all the train of crimes which embroil and render society miserable, are driven away by the influence of religious and moral duties. And were the Christian Religion to obtain in all hearts, and over all nations, society on earth would resemble, in sweetness, the music of the spheres—the harmony of nature; and the abodes of eternal felicity. For it is religion in its perfection which constitutes the chief ingredient of heavenly glory and blessedness.—If we had no reference, therefore, to another world, it would be wise to maintain the Gospel for the purposes of carrying the happiness of civil society to the zenith of glory.—This is no small proof of the internal worth and merit of the Christian religion; and displays in a most amiable and illustrious manner, the wisdom and goodness of the Supreme Being: for he has consulted and aimed at both the temporal and spiritual good of man, and both at once in the very frame of that religion, which he requires us to receive and practise; and has joined together our interest and duty. An habitual omission of duty and moral Virtue is of course a rejection of our happiness, a forsaking our own mercy. What an exalted idea this ought to give us of the excellence of the Christian Religion!—Let us therefore, to conclude the present discourse, admire its doctrines, and conform ourselves to its precepts, that we may experience its consolations—and finally, when time is no more, enjoy its rewards. For such as obey it, shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.——
DISCOURSE XXIV.
The general excellency of the Christian Religion.
1 CORINTHIANS xii. 31.
But covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.
What was proposed, in attending to these words, through divine help, was to consider the general excellence of the Christian Religion. Could a deep impression of this be made upon the mind, a very material point would be gained. For when people are once convinced in their judgments, of this, they will be, in some good measure, prepared to listen to the proposals of mercy made to them, and their attention will be excited. Of course they may be said to be not far from the kingdom of heaven.