SERM. things he had seen and heard, and confiders them as unspeakble.

V.

9. By what has been said we may be led in some measure to the knowledge and understanding of those words of St. Paul; 1 Cor. xv. Then cometh the end, when he shall have de24...28. livered up the kingdom to God, even the Father: When he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.... And when all things shall be subdued under him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all

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in all.

Notwithstanding these expressions of the • Cor. xv. Apostle, certainly, Jesus Christ, the second Adam, will continue to be the head of his church and people, and the glorie of the human nature, and will in all things have the pre-eminence. There will for ever be given to him honour, respect and gratitude, for what he has done for us. His people will be with him. And his prefence with them will be a main source of their happinesse, Thef.iv. For, as St. Paul says: So shall we ever be with the Lord. And our Lord prayed, sayJohn xvii. ing: Father, I will, that they also, whom thou baft given me, be with me, where I am, that they

২ :

they may behold the glorie, which thou baft given SERM.

me.

The meaning of that passage I apprehend to be this: that the design of Christ's undertaking is then accomplished. And as the motives and arguments taken from his life. on earth, from his death, refurrection, and ascension, were especially suited to a state of weaknesse, and imperfection, temptation and affliction: those motives and confiderations will then in a great measure cease. And the people and followers of Jesus, brought to a state of perfection, will for the future be entirely governed by the reason of things, and the will of God. Yet still they will be forever thankful for the gospel-dispensation, and for all the condescension and humiliation of the Lord Jesus, and for his after exaltation: by which their hearts were won to God, and they were established, and upheld in the practise of virtue, under all the difficulties they met with here, until they were brought to glorie.

10. Though duties of moral obligation have the preference above others, yet pofitive appointments, of divine authority, are not to be omitted or neglected These also have their use,

and

1

V.

SERM. and are expedient in the present state of things: V. They were wisely appointed, and therefore ought to be fubmitted to and obeyed. It is our Lord's own determination upon the point: Luke xi. These ought ye to have done: meaning the weightier matters of the law: and not to leave the other undone.

42.

ς

11. Finally, let us not rest fatisfied with obServing positive appointments, or with any external performances, or the profession of the principles of religion, or a partial obedience : but let us fincerely do the whole will of God, fo far as we are acquainted with it.

It may afford matter of forrowful thought and confideration, that so many are far from that righteousnesse, which is recommended both by reason and revelation: that so few are eminent therein: and likewife that there are others, whose character is but doubtful, both to themselves and others.

However, our main businesse is not to lament, or aggravate the faults, or defects of others: but to amend our own. And fince there is reason to fear, that many will hereafter seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and shall not be able: Since we have

the profpect of a rest remaining for the peo

ple

1

ple of God, let us take heed, that we fail SERM. not thereof.

V.

If any are able to assure their hearts before God, as fincere and upright, and have a comfortable hope of the future heavenly inheritance reserved for his children: let them take the comfort of it. If ever we attain that felicity, we shall have clearer apprehensions of these truths, then now we have, and shall be ennobled by them. Now we know 1 Cor. but in part, and prophesy but in part, and are sanctified but in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part, all imperfection, of every kind, shall be done away.

HE book of the Proverbs is a large collection of excellent rules, maxims and obfervations, for directing the conduct of men of every age, and almost every circumstance and condition of life. A particular regard is herein had to persons of tender age, unexperienced, and entring into the world. Counfels are delivered with much affection and