He labors to glorify GOD in a due Regard to DIVINE And by a faithful Diligence in his Calling, Page 248 252 He ftudies to glorify GOD in the Relation he bears to M 1 12 others, 256 All his Endowments and Abilities of every kind are devoted to GOD and his Glory,stom?) 258,260 The true Chriftian is of a lovely Character, 263 A ferious Expoftulation with the careless Sinner and the formal Profeffor, and Advice to the real Chriftian, 267 270 The Guilt and Mifery of thoughtless Sinners, 276 The Difference fhewn between Formality and Chrifti amity, An Addrefs to the new Creature, To live to CHRIST, "To put on Charity, To hold forth the Word of Life, 27.6, &c. 281 ibid. 282 283 To have no Fellowship with, but to reprove the unfruit SERMON I The Sinfulness and Mifery of Man. PSALM XIV. 2, 3. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men; to fee if there were any that did understand, and feek God. They are all gone afide, they are altogether become filthy: There is none that doth Good, no not one. W ITH whatever degree of Coolnefs and Infenfibility the present high Privileges and the eternal glorious Promifes offered in the Gospel, may now be received; yet there have been Times, when Christianity held an honorable Dignity in the Eye, and carried a reviving Joy into the Heart. But in our Day, the God of this B World 1 World feems to have blinded Men Eyes, and hardened their Hearts: They have little Pleafure in his Beauty, who is fairer than the Children of Men; nor do they find the Gospel of his Lips to be full of Grace. The King is come bringing Salvation; he is come in the Name of the Lord to preach good Tidings unto the Meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prifon to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord (a): But where are the Knees and Hearts of his People? where the Children crying Hofanna! Bleffed is be that cometh in the Name of the Lord (b)? We name ourfelves after the Name of Chrift: but Intereft, Pleasure, and Vanity, have gained to themselves our Allegiance and Devotion. Here, we can bow down and worship with eager Importunity; bere, we can amuse away Life; bere, calmly fteal into gray Hairs and the Grave: But fhould we invite Men by the Mercies of the Lord; fhould we go about to engage them by a full Difplay of that excellent Love of God, which is manifefted in Jefus Chrift, to befeech them by the Dignity of Chrift's Perfon, and by the Sufficiency of his Power to every Purpose of their Salvation; fhould we ftrive with them that they would lay hold of this everlafting Life, dearly 'purchased and freely offered; who is there (a) Ifa. Ixi. 1, 2.. (6) Matt. xxi. 9,15. almoft almoft that would lend an Ear? Men are careless and asleep: Security, the Offspring of Pride, Ignorance, and Hardnefs of Heart, hath fhut them in as with a fenced Wall of Brafs GOD is left far above out of fight; and every awful Confideration of Duty, Gratitude, and true Interest, due to him, is negligently caft behind their Backs. WITH what Confidence then can I addrefs you upon the glorious Bleffings of the Gospel-Salvation; lay before you the Way of Life, and mark out the Evidence upon which you may set up a Claim to GOD's Favor through the Redeemer? I fhall only Speak into the Air, only gratify your Curiosity, only engage your Imagination, and amuse you with an Entertainment of an Hour, as one that bath a pleafant Voice, and can play well on an Inftrument (c); unless you be deeply impreffed with the Importance of the Matter, and enter into an Inquiry after the Things that make for your Peace, as if it were for your Life. If you will profit by the following Difcourfes, you must not be of the faithlefs Stamp of the Times; you must, at least, have this Preparation of Mind, a ferious Concern about Salvation. And I will not believe, that you are fo without UnderStanding, whatever you are, however heedless and wilful in your Sins, as to have determinately given over all Care for your (c) Ezek. xxxiii. 32. B 2 Soul.. Soul. I will hope, that fome how or other, I fhall by divine Grace reach your Heart, and move you to fome awakened Reflexions upon that which concerns you more than a thoufand Worlds. Nay, I will be confident, that I fhall be heard of many who defire to know the Certainty of the Words of Truth (d); and would examine themfelves whether they be in the Faith (e). It is not my business to pleafe Men: And therefore if you shall be detained with a Subject, which muft of Neceffity prove very offenfive to human Pride, altogether oppofite to worldly Views, and deftructive of carnal Indulgence, fee that ye be not offended. Chrift's Kingdom is not of this World (f). He hath no Offers to make, which invite by the Indulgence they give to Vanity, Grandeur and Eafe. Juft the contrary: his Invitations are fpiritual and eternal; nor can they be relifhed, till a Man deny himself, mcrtify his Affections which are upon Earth, and crucify the Flesh. Him, that is fuch a one, 'Chrift will vifit with his Confolations. Such a one fhall receive out of Chrift's Fulness, Peace, Acceptance with GoD, and Sanctification; with Help in every Time of Need against the Enemies of his Soul, in the prefent Life; and in that which is to come, a glorious rejoicing in the great Day of the (d) Prov. xxii. 21. John xviii. 36. `(e) 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Lord |