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Rh Country, and the Primitive Splendour of their Religion. A Religion, which, by uniting both their Interets and Affections, rendred them o formidable Abroad, and o afe at Home, that, if we may have Leave to judge froth probable Circurmtances, the Romans could not at lat have effected their Overthrow, had not God, as a fatal Introduction to it, permitted a Zeal o bitter, and Factions o furious, to kindle and conume them within, that the Rage of thee did the Work of their Enemies without, while by a prodigiouly blind and barbarous Infatuation, they firt divided from, and then engaged againt, and detroyed one another.

II. Having thus hew'd Irael's Advantages, and how jutly their Greatnes is attributed to them; let me now pas to the Duties enforced from thence. Upon the firt Branch whereof I hall not need to argue. For till, not only Scripture, but even, common Sene be abandoned, we mut remain peruaded, 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 honetly paid, unlels expres'd by their Lives as well as their Lips: That it is indeed much more effectually expres'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 neceary to prove, that the End of Religion in general is Obedience, and that the Piety and Virtue of its Profeors ought to hine forth, in proportion to the Purity of their Principles and the Perfection of their Knowledge. Thee are Remarks o obvious and evident, that every one here preent, I take for granted, acquieces in Iraels Obligation to that part of the Command at the Ninth Vere, Only take heed to thy elf, and keep thy Soul diligently, let thou forget the things which thine Eyes have een and let they depart from thy Heart all the days of thy Life.

But it is poible, ome, who are atisfied in the Reaonablenes of uch Returns for preent and peronal Mercies, may not be, equally clear in that other Command, of tranmitting down the Remembrance of pat Bleings