Sermons Preached to a Country Congregation; To Which Are Added a Few Hints for Sermons Volume 1 (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: SERMON III. GALATIANS, V. 1. STAND FAST IN THE LIBERTY, WHEREIN CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE. L HE enemies of religion do not easily allow the truth of such a passage as this. What can be meant, they say, by the liberty wherein Christ hath made us free ? Religion is certainly in its nature a restraint upon liberty; and as christianity is the strictest religion, it must of course be the greatest restraint. To call it a holy and pure religion might be allowed; but to hear it called a state of liberty, one should least have expected. For does it not preach every kind of restraint ? Does it not talk of plucking out eyes, and cutting off hands ? which expressions, though figurative.figurative, mean at least some great constraint. And is this consistent with liberty ? Such is the language, at least the sentiments, of some, who either do not understand the christian religion, or do not feel its effects. In the following discourse, I shall endeavour to shew you they are mistaken. I shall Jirst explain to you, on what grounds, the Christian religion may be called a state of liberty: and secondly recommend to your practice the Apostle's advice, to stand fast in that liberty. In the first place, the Christian religion may be called a state of liberty, as it frees mankind from the useless burden of rites and ceremonies. This was the first notion of liberty it gave its professors. The religion of the heathen consisted merely in this kind of service. They believed all religion was made up of outward acts and ceremonies. But as these outward acts and ceremonies did not amend the heart, they were in fact no religion at all. And as there was something of pomp and shew, and amusement in them, they grew upon people. Trifling and insignificant they always were. Sometimes they were carri...