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SERM.
XI.

of the world: on whom we depend for all our happineffe, both here and hereafter.

Men are here taught to repent, and then to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, or to walk becoming the character of Chrift's disciples. Upon these conditions they are affured of forgiveness of past fins, and the favour of God.

Men are inftructed to love God with all the heart, and their neighbours as themselves: and to do to others, as they would that others fhould do to them. They are required to be holy in all manner of converfation : to abftain not from fome fins only, but from all: to perform all the duties of their station and condition. And they are instructed to be careful about the frame of their minds, and to govern their thoughts and affections.

Are not thefe, and other things contained in the gospel of Chrift, excellent rules? Is not this, true religion? Does it not appear very likely and reasonable, at firft fight, and after mature confideration, that this fhould be the right way of mens approving themfelves to God? and that fuch fhould be prepared for a future happineffe? They who have this perfection of fincerity, though not

the

the perfection of innocence, cannot be finally SERM, rejected of God: but will certainly be accept

ed and rewarded by him.

2. We know, that this is the way of falvation from many exprefs affurances of Chrift and his Apostles.

John iii. 16. God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begoten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. Ver. 24. He that beareth my words, and believeth on him that fent me, bath everlasting life, and fhall not come into condemnation. viii. 12. Then spake Jefus unto them again: I am the light of the world. He that followeth me, fhall not walk in darkneffe: but shall have the light of life.

XI.

And fays John the Apostle and Evangelist, near the conclufion of his Gofpel: These things John xx. are writen, that ye might believe, that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.

21.

Philip.
Eph.i.13-

ii. 16.

Therefore the will of God, taught by Chrift and his Apoftles, is called the word of life: And the word of truth, the gospel of our falva tion. Soon after the afcenfion of Jefus, the Apostles were imprifoned by the Jewish rulers but were delivered by an angel, who Aasv.

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20.

XI.

SERM. faid: Go, ftand and Speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life. And they who rejected this doctrine are faid to judge themselves unworthie of everlasting life.

xiii. 46.

John iii.

2.

Luke xxiv. 19.

A&s x.

38.

John iii. 34.

Mark

xvi. 20.

3. We are farther affured of the truth of what our Lord and his Apostles taught from the confirmation given to their doctrine, by the miracles wrought by them: works of divine power, and manifest tokens of the divine prefence with them, and concurrence with them. in their defign.

No men could do fuch things, if God was not with them. Our Lord was a Prophet, mighty in word and deed, before God and all the people. Or as St. Peter fays, at the house of Cornelius, a Gentil. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power: who went about, healing all that were oppreffed of the devil. For God was with him. He had the Spirit without measure. And from him alfo the Apoftles received grace, to accomplish the miniftrie affigned to them. They were enlightened themselves, and they taught the truth to others with perfpicuity. The Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word with figns following.

XI.

Befide their miraculous works of divine SERM. power, we might obferve their divine temper: the spotlefs innocence of Jefus, and the fhining virtue of his Apoftles: their meekneffe, patience, indefatigable and difinterested zeal. Whence we may be affured, they thought as they said: and were firmly. perfuaded, that the word they taught was from heaven, and that whofoever received it and obeyed it would be faved.

4. They who receive this doctrine are in the way of falvation: For it contains motives and confiderations of great moment, to induce men to follow and obey it's precepts.

Here life and immortality are fet in a clear and engaging light. We are mightily animated and encouraged by the perfect example, the willing death, and the triumphant resurrection and afcenfion of Jesus Christ. And in the glorie fet before us, by him, and his gospel, there is what may overbalance all the influence of present and fenfible things, and affift us in overcoming this world, and all it's temptations.

5. To which I may add one confideration more, as an evidence of this truth: This

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XI.

SERM. doctrine contains fome inftructions, which must be of fingular ufe to us in our prefent circumftances.

Rom. i. 16.

Here are not only the neceffarie, reafonable precepts of true holineffe: but alfo fome excellent directions, very expedient for us in our state of frailty: whilst we are imperfect, and are furrounded with foarcs. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, and be not overcome of evil. Let your loins be girded, and your lights burning and ye yourselves like unto men, that wait for their lord. Continue to work out your falvation with fear and trembling. Be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace.

Thefe confiderations amount to a full proof of this truth: and fhew, that they who attend to this doctrine cannot fail of falvation. The rule is right and infallible, if observed. And it is of fuch a nature, that they who know it, and think of it, must be forcibly engaged to act according to it. As St. Paul fays: The gofpel of Chrift is

the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth,

SER

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