Nothing therefore can be Concluded more Juft, Reasonable, and Neceffary, than this; That we now Present our Bodies a living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable unto God; which is our reafonable Service, our Duty, and our Happiness.

SERMON

SERMON V.

ECCLESIASTES xii. 14.

For God fhall bring every Work into Judgment, with every fecret Thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

A

T the Close of this excellent Book, King Solomon recommends to us the Practice of Religion; as a Thing of the greatest Concern to Mankind, upon two accounts:

First, Because after all other Tryals
and Experiments, it is that where
in a Man's true Interest and Hap-
pines will be found.

Secondly, Because there will come a
Time, when Almighty God, hatt

enter

enter into a strict and impartial Examination of all Men, and pass an Eternal Sentence on them, according to their Deeds.

I have already confidered this great and Neceffary Duty of Religion, or the Fear of God, as it ftands recommended to us, with this forcible Argument; That a Man's true Inte reft and prefent Happiness will be found in it as I proved from these Words in the preceeding Verfe; This is the whole Duty of Man; which are Expreffive not only of his Duty, but alfo of his Intereft and Happiness.

I fhall at this Time therefore, confider another ftrong Reason, and Motive, for our Religious Obedience; and that is, The Certainty of a future Judgment, wherein, God will enter into a ftrict and impartial Examination of all Men; and pass an Eternal Sentence on them, according to their Deeds; as is plainly intimated in the Words before us: For God fball bring every Work into Judgment, with every fecret Thing, whether it be Good, or whether it be Evil:

In treating of which, I fhall confider these four Particulars following.

First, The Truth of a future Fudgment herein afferted.

Secondly, The Quality of the Judge, who shall fit in Judgment.

Thirdly, The Matters which shall therein be examined;

And

Fourthly, The End and Refult of this judicial Proceeding.

Of each in their Order.

And, First, I fhall confider the Certainty and Truth of a future Judgment, here afferted by King Solomon, in Terms indefinite indeed; without any particular Time and Place prefix'd, for the Commencement of it; tho' undoubtedly by him referr'd to another World. That this great and wife Prince, who liv'd long before the Revelation of the Chriftian