SERM. I. alfo, who, tho' they are not themselves engag'd in that honourable and beneficial Employment, are by their Bounty affifting to others in Qualifying themfelves for it. MAY the Succefs of this, and all other Defigns of a like nature, be the abounding of Chriftian Knowledge; and may Chriftian Knowledge abound to the Extinguishing all our unhappy Divisions, and producing among us that mutual Amity and Agreement, which in the Verses immediately preceding my Text the Prophet foretells it fhould produce among its Profeffors, and which we are fure it actually did produce among the firft Chriftians; that fo not only Truth may flourish in our Land, but Peace may be extended to her as a River, and Glory as a flowing Stream, and her Righteouf nefs may be as the Waves of the Sea. Which God of his infinite Mercy in his due Time grant unto us, for the Sake of our only Lord and Redeemer Jefus Chrift, To whom, &c. SERM SERMON II. The Gospel a Means of 23 1 COR. I. 21. latter Part. It pleafed God by the Foolishness of Preach ing to fave them that believe, ni edin! The whole Verfe runs thus, For after that, in the Wisdom of God, the World by Wisdom knew not God, it pleafed God by the Foolishness of 'Preaching to fave them that believe, T HE Apoftle's Meaning in thefe Words may be thus more at large exprefs'd. When by the All-wife and over-ruling Providence of Almighty God it came to pafs, that the reputed wife Men of the World by all their boafted Learn G 4 SERM. 11. SERM. II. Learning and Philofophy did not attain to a true Knowledge of God, he was graciously pleas'd to refcue all who were willing to entertain the Truth, from a State of Ignorance and Error, of Sin and everlasting Mifery, by the Publication of the Doctrine of the Gofpel; which the. Pretenders to Wisdom efteem'd abfurd and incredible, and derided as Foolishnefs. THE Text thus paraphras'd affords this Propofition for the Subject of my following Difcourfe, viz. That the Gofpel is a proper and efficacious Means of Salvation to all who are fincerely dif pos'd to embrace it. IN order to the Gofpel's being a proper and efficacious Means of Salvation, nothing more can be neceffary than thefe four Things: Firft, THAT the Matter or Doctrine of it be fuch as hath a direct Tendency to recover Men out of a State of Ignorance and Error, of Sin and Mifery, and to advance them to a State of Happiness and Perfection. Second Secondly, THAT there be unexceptionable Evidence of the Truth and Divinity of it. Thirdly, THAT there be fufficient Provifion for the Publication of it. And, Fourthly, THAT it be duly heard and received by thofe to whom it is published. Firft then, THE Matter or Doctrine of the Gospel is manifeftly fuch as hath a direct Tendency to recover Men from Ignorance and Error, from Sin and Mifery; and to advance them to a State of Perfection and Happiness. Fok, to make us fenfible of our Danger, it informs us of our Degeneracy from that original Uprightness and Perfection in which Man was at firft created, and that we are dead in Trefpaffes and Sins; whereby we have render'd ourfelves liable to all the Evils which are naturally confequent thereupon, and obnoxious to the Wrath of an Almighty God, and to thofe Penalties which he may juftly inflict upon those who have violated his Laws. Το SERM. II. To reclaim us from thofe evil Courfes SERM. by which we were reduc'd to this wretched Condition, it reprefents to us the indifpenfable Neceffity of Repentance and Amendment for the future, in order to the Pardon of our paft Mifcarriages, and to our Reconciliation with God, and the regaining his Favour. It does likewife in the fulleft and most authentic manner affure us of the Succefs and availableness of Repentance to thefe Purpo fes; of which (fince Remiffion of Guilt is an Act of meer Grace, to which the Deity is not in ftrict Juftice oblig'd) the Light of Reafon cannot give us certain and fatisfactory Affurance. FOR the Right Information of our Understandings and Regulation of our Conduct, it hath clearly discover'd to us the Nature and Attributes of God, in what Way he defires to be worfhipp'd, what Offices and Services are acceptableto him, and what kind of Behaviour not only to himself, but to our Neighbour.. and with regard to our own Perfons, he requires. It hath impos'd upon us Laws every |