Page images
PDF
EPUB

of God's Spirit: Thefe were the Gifts which were poured down upon true Believers by the Hands of the Bleffed Apoftles; these are likewife the Gifts which the Succeffors of the Apostles are made the Inftruments of conveying to those Perfons who are duly qualified for their Reception, neither they nor the Blessed Apostles themselves could be faid to give; they laid on their Hands, and God alone it is that gives his Holy Spirit. But were Men as duly prepared now to receive Grace as they were in the Apostles Days, the fame Portions of Ordinary Grace would certainly be supply'd by the same We have in Means now as were then. Holy Scripture the most exprefs Affurances that Grace will be conftantly fupplied to us in full Proportion to the Improvements we make of former Grace, inafmuch as in this our State of Probation we must be continually growing up into Glory, and as God's Grace encreases upon us, fo likewife the Fruits of it, fuch as Peace, Love, Joy, and all other Christian Virtues; and thefe Fruits can alone be brought to Perfection by our

own

own regular and zealous Endeavours to refine and raise our Souls into a ftill more pure and elevated State of GospelRighteousness.

Now to God the Father, who will receive us into his Glory, to God the Son, who hath redeemed by his Blood, to God the Holy Ghoft, who fanctifies by his Grace, be all Honour and Glory for ever. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON VIII.

EPHES. IV. 29.

Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth; but that which is good for the Ufe of Edifying, that it may minifter Grace unto the Hearers.

Τ

HE Apoftle having declared the Dignity and Ad

vantages of that strict Uni

on which is betwixt Chrift

and the Members of his

Church, infers the Obligation his Ephefian Converts lay under of walking worthy

of

of that Vocation, wherewith they were called; of walking, not as the other Gentiles walk, or as they themselves, while Gentiles, did walk: He exhorts them, that they would now put off concerning former Converfation the old Man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lufts; that they would be renew'd in the Spirit of their Mind; and that they would put on the new Man, which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness. The Apostle then proceeds to warn them against fome particular Sins, which have no Connection with one another, and therefore may be each treated of without any immediate Regard to the Context; fuch as Lying, Stealing, immoderate Anger, Malice, and fome others. The Words of the Text ftand among the reft of these Precepts, and are intended to regulate the common Conversation of Men with one another.

Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth. The Word corrupt is frequently thought in this Place to fignify filthy or obfcene; but it may perhaps be

« PreviousContinue »