Country, and the Primitive Splendour of their Religion. A Religion, which, by uniting both their Intereſts and Affections, rendred them ſo formidable Abroad, and ſo ſafe at Home, that, if we may have Leave to judge froth probable Circurmſtances, the Romans could not at laſt have effected their Overthrow, had not God, as a fatal Introduction to it, permitted a Zeal ſo bitter, and Factions ſo furious, to kindle and conſume them within, that the Rage of theſe did the Work of their Enemies without, while by a prodigiouſly blind and barbarous Infatuation, they firſt divided from, and then engaged againſt, and deſtroyed one another.
II. Having thus ſhew'd Iſrael's Advantages, and how juſtly their Greatneſs is attributed to them; let me now paſs to the Duties enforced from thence. Upon the firſt Branch whereof I ſhall not need to argue. For till, not only Scripture, but even, common Senſe be abandoned, we muſt remain perſuaded, That all Appearances of an extraordinary Providence in Men's Favour require a Tribute of Glory and Thanks to God; That this Tribute is not duly and honeſtly paid, unlels expreſs'd by their Lives as well as their Lips: That it is indeed much more effectually expreſs'd by their Lives than, by their Lips, and that the Latter is required only in order to the Former.
As little can I judge it neceſſary to prove, that the End of Religion in general is Obedience, and that the Piety and Virtue of its Profeſſors ought to ſhine forth, in proportion to the Purity of their Principles and the Perfection of their Knowledge. Theſe are Remarks ſo obvious and evident, that every one here preſent, I take for granted, acquieſces in Iſraels Obligation to that part of the Command at the Ninth Verſe, Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy Soul diligently, leſt thou forget the things which thine Eyes have ſeen and leſt they depart from thy Heart all the days of thy Life.
But it is poſſible, ſome, who are ſatisfied in the Reaſonableneſs of ſuch Returns for preſent and perſonal Mercies, may not be, equally clear in that other Command, of tranſmitting down the Remembrance of paſt
