SERMON III.

DELIVERED BY THOMAS WETHERALD AT FRIENDS' MEETING, OLD TOWN, BALTIMORE, ON THE FIRST OF FIRST MONTH, 1826.

It must be obvious, to every reflecting mind, I apprehend, that for a number of years past, there has been a great increase of what is termed religion in the land. We hear of revivals in many places; and of additions to various churches, so called, in many places; but it is equally observable, that with the increase of this religion, wickedness has also increased.

Now, if I have formed a correct idea of religion, the design of it was to make men better; and to correct those evils, which are, perhaps, intimately connected with our nature. Then, if wickedness increases in the same ratio with religion, at the time that there is a great increase of religion, there must necessarily, be a radical defect some where. And I apprehend it is the duty of every individual, (for we all are, or ought to be, fellow heirs of salvation) to endeavour to examine into and investigate these causes, in order, if possible, to apply the proper remedy: For I apprehend there is not, and never has

been, an effect, without a producing or corresponding cause. And I have been led to look a little, into the causes which have produced such effects in our land, as the increase of religion and wickedness in the same ratio.

Now we know, that the religion, which has been inculcated and believed; and whose precepts, doctrines, and principles have been obeyed, is professedly the religion of the bible. And I apprehend, that professors generally have agreed in the belief, that the Scriptures were written by inspiration from God; and therefore, they have been considered, in some degree, as of divine origin. But we have also evidence, that these Scriptures are not able, of themselves, to cause our salvation, without a faith in Christ.. If this be wanting this faith in Christ, which emanates from Him, who is the Father of the whole family of mankind, our reading the Bible, and our faith in doctrines and precepts are vain; because in all the precepts of the Bible, there is not power contained by which we can gain a victory over one solitary sin. For we have had precept upon precept, and line upon line, here a little and there a little, from our infancy to the present day, but we have found that these precepts, valuable as they have been, have not, in themselves, power to give us the victory over those things which rise in opposition to the justice, wisdom, mercy, and every

attribute of God which ought to govern us. There is nothing in words, which can convert the human mind, and bring it into obedience to God. We find from accounts recorded in the Scriptures, that in the outward manifestation of Jesus Christ, in that prepared body of flesh, in which he came to do his heavenly Father's will, he gave to the obdurate Jews many preeminently valuable precepts, and these precepts were confirmed by miracles and sealed with his own blood. But, notwithstanding, many of the truths which he taught, and the precepts which he left, were self evident in themselves-notwithstanding their high confirmation, and their irrevocable seal; yet the Jews remained in the same state of obduracy, in the same state of alienation from God, and the wisdom of God: Crucifying unto themselves the son of God in the outward manifestation; and crucifying him in his spiritual appearance, and in his body-and they even gloried in that act of pre eminent wickedness, by which his blood has been upon them and their children. They even gloried, that they had made void the law of God, with their traditions. They put their own construction upon the legal dispensation, which came by Moses. And what was the consequence? It gave rise to a variety of sects and opinions, which were the Pharisees and Saddusees, and a variety of

other names. Now from whence arose these divisions and distractions? They arose not from the Mosaic law, but from the different descriptions of those who were appointed Scribes, Doctors, Elders and Teachers. They must have imposed their own views of the law upon the minds of the people. And it is very obvious, that the Pharisees stood pre-eminent in their adherence to what they viewed to be the precepts of the external law. They believed in the coming of the Messiah; and in this respect their belief was firm; and yet when he came, they were the first to persecute him and deny him. And many of the first were the rulers who would not believe on him, and also those who laid violent hands on him at their instigation, and crucified him. Of this sort of religion there is a striking exemplification in the account of the Pharisee and Publican, who went up to pray; and the Pharisee gave thanks to God that he was not as other men, and enumerated a number of evils of which he was not guilty. "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess. And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up, so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinI tell you this man went down to his

ner.

house justified, rather than the other." And like causes produce like effects; and they were split and divided, by putting their own views, and estimates, and opinions, or what may be called, a traditional construction upon the laws of Moses. They were split and divided, and hence arose a spirit of opposition; they soon became enemies, and of course despised and hated each other. And the Pharisees came under such self-righteousness, that they should say to others, "stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou." Now arose the religion of the Bible, among men—and the religion of the Bible has led to all these sects; and I have no doubt they can all prove, as many did from strained views of the Mosaical law, that their opinions are founded thereon. And that is not all, these societies of professing christians, who profess that they can prove their doctrines by the Scriptures, are as opposite as of the different doctrines of the Jews were. We profess, as a society, to know no sectarian difference. But there are others, who say, that none can be saved except those who come within the pale of a certain church; and others say, and they are perhaps about as liberal, that they believe in God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, dead and buried. And even those who have doubt

any