CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
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Cornell University Library 
 BR 45.B21 1794 
 
 Expediency, prediction, and ^P,f;9!](!R|j§t!'Ji'|f, 
 
 3 1924 026 429 468 
 
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 WM Library 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026429468 
 
THE EXPEDIENCY, PREDICTION, AND ACCOMPLISH- 
 
 MENT OF THE CHRISTIAN REDEMPTION 
 
 ILLUSTRATED, 
 
 EIGHT SERMONS, 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 
 
 IN THE YEARMDCCXCIV, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 , FOUNDED BY THE LATE 
 
 REV. JOHN BAMPTON, M. A. 
 
 CANON OF SALISBURY., 
 
 BY THOMAS WINTLE, B. D. 
 
 OF PEMBROKE COLLEGE, 
 RECTOR OF BRIGHTWELL IN BERKSHIRE. 
 
 OXFORD; 
 
 M DCC XCIV. 
 
 SOLD BY J. COOKE; ALSO BY T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES, 
 
 IN THE STRAND) F. AND C. RIVINGTON, ST. 
 
 PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD; AND T. PAYNE, 
 
 AT THE MEW'S-GATE, LONDON, 
 
IMPRIMATUR, 
 
 JOHAN. WILLS, 
 
 Vice-Can. Oxou. 
 
 V7adh. Coll. Stf" zg. 1794. 
 
TO 
 
 THE RIGHT REVEREND 
 
 AND HONOURABLE 
 
 SHUTE BARRINGTON, L.L.D. 
 
 LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING WORK, 
 
 THE GENERAL PLAN OF WHICH 
 
 WAS HONOURED WITH HIS 
 
 APPROBATION, 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED; 
 
 IN GRATEFUL TESTIMONY OF THE MANY 
 
 INSTANCES OF ESTEEM AND REGARD, 
 
 WHICH HE HAS SHEWN TO 
 
 HIS LORDSHIP'S 
 
 OBLIGED AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
iMii 111' ^* ^^M^ g^a^^■^rf-Yyy^ -l -■ y ^f tn 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TF we furvey'the Religion of Jefus in its 
 nature, its principles, its motives, or its 
 end, we fhall find it in every view calculated 
 to promote all the focial and benevolent vir- 
 tues, to diffufe peace on earth, and good-will 
 amongft men. And yet that it has often not 
 been attended with thefe beneficial effedls, 
 but has occafioned ftrife, feditions, fchifmSj 
 herefies, a fpirit of pride, envy, and ill-will,- 
 is too notorious from thofe unhappy contro- 
 verfies, which even from the firft ages of 
 Chriflianity have fadly divided and diftrefTed 
 the Chriftian World. 
 
 The Author of this holy Religion, who 
 knew what was in man, his paffions, foibles, 
 prejudices, and infirmities, plainly forefaw this 
 accidental perVerfion j and being fully ' con- 
 
 a 3 vinced 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 vinced how repugnant the tempers and dlf- 
 pofitions of men would often be to the righ- 
 teoufnefs and the peace of God, he fuggefted 
 to his Difciples, that his Religion, however 
 defigned to encourage and recommend the 
 amiable Charities of Life, would in fadt pro- 
 duce unnatural difcords and the keeneft ani- 
 mofities. Suppofe y^, that I am come to give 
 peace on earth ? I tell you t nay, but rather di- 
 vijion I infomuch that a mati's Joes fiall Be 
 thofe of his own houjhold*. 
 
 ' But thefe evils will arife, not from the 
 genuine influence, but the depraved perverfion 
 of the defign of the Gofpel. Men will fufFer 
 their natural principles and paffions to Inter- 
 fere with the duties and dodtrines of Chrift ; 
 will not diveft themfelves of pride and preju- 
 dice, in order to qualify themfelves for a right 
 acquaintance with true Religion j but will 
 fuffer their lufls too much to warp their un-i 
 
 » Compare Matt. x. 34. — 36. with Luke xii. 51. 
 
 derftandings. 
 
PREFACE. vii 
 
 defftandings, and" to confine them under the 
 captivity of thofe corrupt inclinations, which 
 betray the reafon, pervert the .reh'gion, and 
 wound the foul, of a Chriftian. 
 
 To prevent thefe mifchiefs, the remedy, 
 that is commonly applied, often partakes too 
 much of the yefy evils which it is defigned to 
 obviate. Would men be perfuaded with gen- 
 tlenefs and candour to confult the real welfare 
 and .happinefs of their fellow creatures and 
 fellow Chriftians, much of that intemperate 
 warmth, with which controverfy too frequently 
 abounds, would bfe avoided. The principle 
 of love would warm their hearts, and give 
 energy to their counfels ; and thofe that they 
 would wifh to reforni, would probably liften 
 to their inftrudtions with more readinefs, and 
 receive their charitable endeavours with more 
 eagernefs. 
 
 Though it mufl: be fometimes necefTary to 
 a 4 fearch 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 fearch deeply, and to probe the fore to the 
 bottom, yet perhaps it might be often ad- 
 vifeable to have recourfe to more lenient me- 
 thods, merely to point out the flaw without 
 aggravating it, and to propofe the remedy, 
 without marking the neceffity of the correc- 
 tion. Certainly there is fo much real and 
 vital energy in the true principles of Chrifti- 
 anity, that the very offering them in their 
 native and genuine luftre, mufl ftrongly re- 
 commend them to impartial men, or rather 
 they enforce their own recommendation, and 
 the fober and candid mind muft admit their 
 truth, and fuffer itfelf to be guided by their 
 influence ; and even thofe who labour undeir 
 any wrong propenfity might mofl: probably 
 be won upon and recovered, from a right 
 view of things, hoftile only to error in gene- 
 ral, and favourable to univerfal truth. 
 
 It was chiefly from a flrong fenfe of the im- 
 portance of tliefe confiderations, that the Au- 
 thor 
 
PREFACE. ix 
 
 thor of the following Work endeavoured to 
 offer fuch a true ftate of the main points of our 
 hdy Religion, as ii) his judgement the Scrip- 
 ture or Word of God hath clearly propofed for 
 our belief and practice, hath manifeftly diredl- 
 €d for the due formation and improvement of 
 our hearts in the prefent life, in order to qualify 
 them for the perfedl felicity of the future one. 
 The grand dodrine of the Chriftian fcheme is 
 the recovery of the human nature from Sin and 
 Death, and the reinftatement of it in grace and 
 favour with God by the all-powerful merits and 
 atonement of a Redeemer. It muft be enter- 
 taining as well as improving to refled, that this 
 comfortable defign has been carried ' on under 
 the guidance of Divine Providence through 
 all ages of the world : infomuch that the efta- 
 blifhment and fall of empires, the whole 
 condudt of the world, and the general fcheme 
 of things, the revelations of God's will, and 
 the manifeftations of his power, have all been 
 direded with a view to this great end>. have 
 
 all 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 all concurred in fulfilling the purpofe of God» 
 as the true Chriftian acknowledges it, in the 
 redemption of mankind through Chrift Jefus. 
 
 It were to be heartily wiflied, that men of 
 all defcriptions would duly weigh and contem- 
 plate thefe important Truths, would ftudy to 
 diveft themfelves of pride and partiality and 
 every finifter attachment for this purpofe, and 
 would pray to God with the Pfalmift, that he 
 would open their minds, that they might fee 
 the wonders of his love, and of his law. To 
 minds thus prepared, I flatter myfelf the fol- 
 lowing Work, how manifold foever may be its 
 imperfedions, would ftill be produ(Stive of im- 
 portant benefits. Throughout the whole I 
 have endeavoured always from the fuUeft con- 
 vidtion to adhere to the Truth of the Scrip- 
 tures, to fuch truth as is generally maintained 
 and taught in that excellent Inftitution, of 
 which I think myfelf happy in being a Mem- 
 ber, the. reformed Church of England. If I 
 
 have 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 liave fometimes given my own peculiar fenti- 
 ments, it ha-s been only where it was con- 
 ceived the opinions of other men have not 
 been a fufEcient guide, chiefly in the fenfe of 
 feme obfcure paflTages in the Old Teftament. 
 
 In my tranflation of the Prophecy of Ba- 
 laam in the fecond Difcourfe, the Reader may 
 poffibly find feme variations from the com- 
 mon tranflation, which he may be at a lofs to 
 account for. I can only obferve that I have 
 in general followed the fenfe of the hefl: Ver- 
 fions, and what I have thought to be moft 
 agreeable to the rules of fair and true criticifm. 
 There is little doubt to whom the Star of 
 Balaam ought to be referred : That it has 
 been of old underfl:ood of the Mefliah muft 
 be manifefl from an obfervation of the learned 
 Bp. Patrick on the paflage, who fays, that 
 fo long ago as the time of the Emperor Adrian, 
 this was underilood by the generality of the 
 
 Jews, to be a Prppjhecy of the Mefljiah. For 
 
 they 
 
xu PREFACE. 
 
 they followed one, whofe name was Choceb, 
 i. e. the Star, to whom the famous Doftor, 
 R. Akiba, applied thefe words of Balaam, and 
 calling him Barchoceb, or the Son of the Star, 
 anointed him their King, and carried a^ Sword 
 before him, crying, Behold the very King 
 Meffiah ; which is reported by the Jews in 
 feveral of their books. This proves at leaft 
 the fenfe they entertained of the paffage, 
 though they erred fo grofsly in the applica- 
 tion. 
 
 Some parts of the cxth Plalm have gene- 
 rally been confidered as extremely difficult, if 
 not inexplicable. For the fenfe that I have 
 affixed to the third verfe, the Reader will find 
 the chief of my reafons in the notes. But I 
 would beg leave to obferve here, that fince 
 that part of the work was printed off, I have 
 difcovered an interpretation in the expofition 
 of Father Houbigant, which tends to confirm 
 what I have advanced. I need not give the 
 
 whole 
 
P R E F A C E. xiii 
 
 whole of his argument, but would refer for 
 this to his own Note. In feveral points 
 however he feems to agree with me in the 
 letter, and fometimes in the interpretation of 
 the Original Text ''. I will juft add his tranf- 
 lation of the vcrfe, from whence his emenda- 
 tions may be more apparent. •* Tecum mag- 
 *' nifice egi in die virtutis tuae, in naonte fandto 
 *• meo ; ex utero ante Luciferum genui te." 
 
 Whoever would rightly interpret this Pfalm 
 fliould duly and carefully attend to the nature 
 of" the Compofition, to the change of Perfons 
 or Speakers introduced in it, and the dired: 
 application of it to the Lord of Glory, or to 
 Chrift. I conceive^ that Jehovah,; who is in- 
 
 * In particijlar he confiders the word n313 as a verb of the 
 firft perfon, and adds a Jod at the end. Alio he reads with Sy- 
 machas mrQ in my mountain, or in the mountains of holinei«, 
 meaning Sina and Horeb, inftead of mm in the Jplendqrs or 
 ieauties. The difficulty in the laft line of ^0 "f} he feems to 
 cut off, rather, than reconcile, by fuppoiing, and attempting to 
 account for it as an interpolation. . 
 
 troduced 
 
xiv PREFACE. 
 
 troduced as folemnly declaring the prieftly 
 office of the Meffiah in the fourth verfe, hath 
 alfo intimated his Covenant with him, and his 
 extraordinary qualifications for the Mediato- 
 rial authority in the third. As this expofi- 
 tion appears to be important, it is hoped it 
 will be fairly and candidly examined. I am 
 not aware of aay obje<Stions to it, but what 
 may be eafily reconciled with that inattention 
 to grammatical accuracy, which is obfervable 
 in the Oriental writings j and there are other 
 paflages in the Old Teftament, which are ap- 
 plicable to the Meffiah only, as well as this. 
 Origen recounts feveral of this fort, fuch as 
 Gen. xlix. lo. Pfalm xlv. Ifa. lii. and liii. 
 Micah V. 2. to which may be added Daniel's 
 Prophecy of the LXX weeks in the three lall 
 verfes of ch. ix. and feveral pafTages in the 
 xxiid. andlxixth Pfalms. Having had occafion 
 to enlarge the third Difcourfe, where this fub- 
 
 jeft 
 
PREFACE. XT 
 
 je£t is treated on, very much with Notes, for 
 this as well as other obvious reafons, I have 
 taken the liberty to divide it into two parts. 
 
 I might have iiluftrated feveral other pro- 
 phecies more fully, and perhaps completed the 
 whole Work in a better manner, if I had had 
 more time allowed me. But my Work was 
 brought forward by an unexpeded emer- 
 gency a twelvemonth fooner than was origi- 
 nally defigned. On this account I trufl the 
 Reader will not be too rigidly exadt in criticiC- 
 ing it, nor expedt more copious illuftrafions 
 or more minute remarks, than the flraitnefs 
 of the time, together with my other engage- 
 ments, would admit. I hope the real interefls 
 of Chriftianity may in fome fmall degree be 
 promoted by thefe Difcourfes ; and if we re- 
 fledt on the tempers and difpofitions of multi- 
 tudes around us, on the lukewarmnefs and 
 indifference of .feme, the intemperate zeal and 
 
 forward 
 
xvi PREFACE. 
 
 forward vanity of others, the innovating arid 
 licentious fpirit of a third clafs, perhaps the 
 Minifters of the Gofpel w^ere never more 
 loudly called upon than at prefent, to be ex- 
 plicit and zealous in the true caufe of Chrift, 
 to endeavour to promote it upon Chriftian 
 principles and motives, and to maintain that 
 his Gofpel is the po'mr of God unto Salvation 
 to every one that believeth*. 
 
 ' Rom. i, 1 6. 
 
EXTRACT 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 LAST WILL And TESTAMENT 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 REV. JOHN BAMPTON, 
 
 CANON OF SALISBURY. 
 
 *• I give and bequeath my Lands and 
 
 ** Efl;ates to the Chancellor, Matters, and 
 " Scholars of the Univerfity of Oxford for 
 ** ever, to have and to hold all and fingular 
 *' the faid Lands or Eftates upon truft, and to 
 ** the intents and purpofes hereinafter men- 
 ** tioned ; that is to fay, I will and appoint 
 " that the Vice-Chancellor of the Univerfity 
 *♦ of Oxford for the time being {hall'tajce and 
 
 b " receive 
 
( xviii ) 
 
 •' receive' all the rents, iflues, and profits 
 " tliereof, and (after all taxes, reparations and 
 " neceffary dedudions made) that he pay all 
 " the remainder to the endowment of eight 
 " Divinity Ledture Sermons, to be eftablifh- 
 *' ed for ever in the faid Univerfity, and to 
 " be performed in the manner follovi^ing : 
 
 " I direil and appoint, that, upon the firft 
 " Tuefday in Eafter Term, a Led:urer be 
 " yearly chofen by the Heads of Colleges 
 *' only, and by no others, in the room ad- 
 " joining to the Printing-Houfe, between 
 " the hours of ten in the morning and two 
 *' in the afternoon, to preach eight Divinity 
 " Ledure Sermons, the year following, at St. 
 " Mary's in Oxford, between the commence- 
 *' ment of the laft month in Lent Term, and 
 " the end of the third week in Ait Term. 
 
 " Alfo I diredl and appoint, that the eight 
 " Divinity Lefture Sermons fhallbe preached 
 " upon either of the following fubjefts^-tQ " 
 " confirm and eftablifli the Chriftian Faith, 
 « and to confute all heretics and fchifmatics 
 
 " — upon 
 
( xlx ) 
 
 ** r — Upon the divine authority of the Holy 
 "Scriptures — upon the authority of the 
 " writings of the primitive Fathers, as to 
 " the faith and practice of the primitive 
 *• Church — upon the Divinity of our Lord 
 " and Saviour Jefus Chrift — upon the Divi- 
 " nity of the Holy Ghoft — upon the Arti- 
 " cles of the Chriftian Faith, as compre- 
 *' hended in the Apoftles' and Nicene Creeds. 
 
 ** Alfo I direft, that thirty copies of the 
 
 " eight Divinity Lecture Sermons fhall be 
 
 " alw^a)rs printed, v^^ithin two months after 
 
 *' they are preached, and one copy fhall be 
 
 *' given to the Chancellor of the Univerfity, 
 
 *' and one copy to the Head of every Col- 
 
 ** lege, and one copy to the Mayor of the 
 
 *' city of Oxford, and one copy to be put 
 
 " into the Bodleian Library; and the ex- 
 
 " pence of printing them fhall be paid out 
 
 *' of the revenue of the Land or Eflates given 
 
 " for eflablifhing the Divinity Ledure Ser- 
 
 '* mons ; and the Preacher fhall not be paid, 
 
 " nor be entitled to the revenue, before they 
 
 " are printed. 
 
 b 2 " Alfo 
 
" Alfo I direft and appdint, that no pef^ 
 ** fon fliall be qualified to preach the Divi- 
 ** nity Led:ure Sermons, unlefs he hath taken 
 " the Degree of Mafter of Arts at leaft, in 
 *' one of the two Univerfities of Oxford or 
 " Cambridge ; and that the fame perfon 
 " fhall never preach the Divinity Ledure 
 •* Sermons tvt'ice." 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 The Inability of the human Nature to dif- 
 cover a Deliverance from the fatal Confe- 
 quences of Sin. 
 
 Romans vii. 24, 25. 
 
 O wretched man that I am, who Jhall deliver 
 me from the body of this death f I thank 
 God through fefus Chriji our Lord, — p. 
 
 I. 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 Intimations of a Deliverer in the early Ages 
 of the World. 
 
 Romans xi. 26. 
 
 — 'There Jhall come out qfSion the "Deliverer y 
 and jhall turn away ungodlinefs from Jacob. 
 
 p. 29. 
 
xxii CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 Predidtions of the Meffiah during the regal 
 Government of the Jews. 
 
 Acts Hi. 24. 
 
 Tea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and 
 thoje that follow after, as many as havefpa-' 
 ken, have likewife foretold of thefe days. 
 
 p. 97. 
 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 The Time of the Meffiah' s coming, as noted 
 by the later Prophets. 
 
 Malachi iii. I. 
 
 Behold, I willfnd my Meffenger, and he Jhall 
 prepare the way before me ; and the Lord, 
 •whom ye feek, Jhall fuddenly come to his 'Tem- 
 ple ; even the Meffenger of the covenant, 
 whom ye delight in ; behold he Jhall come, 
 faith the Lord of hofs.. p. 109. 
 
 SER- 
 
CON TENTS. xxiii 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 Thcf InfafEciency of former Revelations, and 
 the Delay of the Chriftian confidered. 
 
 Romans viii. 3. 
 
 For what the Law could not 'do, in that it 
 
 was weak through the Jiejh, God fending his 
 
 own Son in the likenejs offmfuljiejh, and for 
 
 fin, condemned fin in the flejh. p. i'43. 
 
 SERMON VI. 
 The Death of Chrifl an expiatory Sacrifice. 
 
 Hebrews ix. 26. 
 
 — He appeared, to put away fin by the facrifice 
 of himfelf p. 175. 
 
 SERMON Vir. 
 
 The Influence of the Gofpel on the Chriftian 
 Life. 
 
 John xv. 3. 
 
 Now ye are clean through the word which I 
 havefpoken unto you. p. 211. 
 
xxiv CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON VIII. 
 The EfFefts of Chrift's Interceffion. 
 
 Hebrews vii. 25. 
 
 Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the 
 uttermojit that come unto God by him, fee- 
 ing he ever liveth to make intercejjton for 
 them. p. 245. 
 
SERMON I. 
 
 Romans vii. 24, 25. 
 
 O 'wretched man that I am, "who Jhall deliver 
 me from the bQdy of this death ? I thank 
 God through Jefus Chriji our Lord, 
 
 SAINT Paul in this part of his Epiftle, 
 addreffing himfelf to the Jews at Rome, 
 , vindicates, the Law of Mofes from any unjijfl 
 imputafion, on account of the ceremonial 
 ufages which it recommended, and which are 
 abolished by the purity of the Gofpel. Is the 
 Law Sin, which directed thefe obfervarices ? 
 God forbid^! Nay, fome moral duties are en- 
 fdrced by the legal rites and the fuperadded 
 precepts in fo convincing a manjier, that in 
 a comparative fenfe at leafl, the Sin, or tranf- 
 ^reflion of them, without the Law, would 
 
 " Ver. 7.. 
 
 B'^ have 
 
2 SERMON I. 
 
 have been confidered as dead. Hence thofe 
 who were ignorant of the Law, or the Jews 
 in their priftine ftate, fo far as they were un- 
 acquainted with it, may be prefumed to have 
 lived without it. And to thefe the Apoftle 
 feems to allude, when he fpeaks thus in his 
 own perfon ; / was alive ivitbout the Law 
 once, that is, before it was given by Mofes ; 
 but ivhen the commandment came. Sin revived, 
 and I died^. 
 
 Yet the Law, which introduced thisfenfe 
 of things, was in itfelf perfedlly right and 
 holy; and it was Sin only that rhade it produc-' 
 tive of mifchief. It was Sin which perverted 
 the inflitutions of Heaven, the perfedt will of 
 God, and thereby wrought death in men. 
 And that Sin ihould thus gain the afcendancy 
 over us, and render us obnoxious to death, 
 cannot appear ftrange in this fallen flate of 
 our nature, if we refledt on the oppofition^ 
 which is between the natural man and the 
 Law. s For we know, that the Law is fpi- r 
 ritual, are fully convinced that it is pure, 
 
 •> Ver. 9. 
 
 and 
 
SERMON r. 3 
 
 and quite averfe to all iniquity j but I am 
 carnal, fold under Jin ' .• fuch is the nature of 
 the merely natural or carnal man, that he- is 
 an habitual flave to his corrupt afFeftions and 
 finful inclinations, even againft the dictates of 
 the Law, and the better fuggeftions of his 
 own mind. 
 
 Sin is evidently the malignant poifon, whofe 
 pernicious influence is traced in this whole 
 chapter ; a contagion with which the h^man 
 race, even from our primeval ftate, has ever 
 been fadly infefted. It will be unneceflary to 
 follow the Apoftle's argumentation farther, ,cr 
 to purfue the conflict, which he fo minutely 
 marks, between the power of fin, and the 
 checks of confcience, or the remonftranc^S 
 of the better principle in the mind. It may 
 be more to our purpofe to obferve, that \\\% 
 rfeafoning has by fome interpreters been un- 
 derftood literally, and as meant chiefly of hgn- 
 felf ; by others, though fpoken of himfelf, 
 yet applicable to another defcription of mejn. 
 Some refer it altogether to the carnal ftate ; 
 
 ' Ver. J4i ' ' - '' ' 
 
 B 2 others 
 
4 SERMON I. 
 
 others extend it in part at kaft to the regene- 
 rate : fb that the allufion may be prefumed 
 to intend the general condition of human na- 
 ture, afFedled either in a greater or lefs degree 
 by the perplexing influence of Sin. 
 
 I rather favour this latter opinion; not 
 only from the general fcope of his reafon- 
 ing, and the expreffions which he ufes, fuch 
 as, It is no more I that do it, but Sin that 
 dwelleth in me'', and I delight in the Law of 
 God after the inward man'", and with the mind 
 Iferve the Law of God^ -, but even from the 
 refult of it in the queftion of the text. 
 Since certain it is from the context, that the 
 mifery here lamented is that wretched thral- 
 dom to which the human nature is fubjed: 
 from the power and confequences of Sin: 
 which, however it may be mortified or kept 
 under in our renewed natures, cannot be fo 
 intirely fubdued, but that fome remains will 
 adhere to the very beft of us, whilft we con- 
 tinue in the body : enough to induce us feri- 
 oufly to diftruft ourfelves under the juft go- 
 
 'Ver. 17. VVer. 22. fVer. 25. 
 
 vernment: 
 
SERMON I. 5 
 
 vernmeat of an infinitely wife and holy God, 
 and with an earneft and thankful p^fcverance 
 to feek after the full benefit of that deliver- 
 ance, which He hath wrought for us through 
 JtCus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 To underftand the nature of this deliver- 
 ance, it will be neceflary to advert briefly to 
 the poignancy and baneful effedts of the evil, 
 from which we would defire to be delivered j 
 to /^<? My of this deaths or, according to the 
 marginal reading, this body of deatk» involving 
 in it a combination of the occafion, as well as 
 of the efFed. and prefTure of this aggravated 
 calamity. 
 
 And here the firft refledion that will offer is, 
 that Sin is tbe'caufe of death j for the diflblu- 
 tion of our bodies, however we call it a pay- 
 rnent of the debt of nature, is more properly 
 our receiving the wages of Sin ^ ; inafmuch as 
 we are affured by the holy Scripture, that man 
 created for immortality was placed in the Para- 
 dife of God ; till iby his tranfgreffion he fell 
 
 s Rom. vi. 23. 
 
 B -2 from 
 
6 SERMON I. 
 
 from that happy ftate, was caft out to labour 
 and forrow, and doomed to return to the duft 
 from whence he was taken ''. 
 
 To this might be added, that aS by the Sin 
 of one man Death firft entered into the world, 
 and the inexorable decree paffed upon us all» 
 fo we too often haften the execution of it by 
 our feveral offences. Would we efchew evil, 
 and do good'', length of days might yet be the 
 portion of many among us. But by indo- 
 lence and intemperance, by anger, envy, and 
 lewdnefs we contradt our fpan ; and, though 
 our life be indeed fhort enough for the buii- 
 nefs we have to do, render it much fhorter; 
 cither by doing nothing, or by doing what 
 ought not to be done. And hence alfo we 
 frequently 'craze a healthy cOnftitution, lay 
 in food for reftlefs thoughts and diftempered 
 humours, and treafure up forrows to aggra- 
 vate the infirmity of our latter days. Thus 
 is Sin the caufe of death, and of its ufual- 
 
 "Gen.iii. 19. »i Pet. iii. u. 
 
 harbingers. 
 
SERMON I. 7 
 
 harbingers, decay and difeafe, and all the 
 afflidting preparatives of our diflblution ". 
 
 But this is not all j for under the body of 
 this death we muft confider Sin efpecially, as 
 that pernicious bane which arms death with 
 its terror, upon account of which its ap- 
 proaches are generally fo dreadful to mankind; 
 as that which gives it a power to pierce even 
 to the inmoft receffes of their minds, to 
 overwhelm them in the extreme agony of 
 nature with the infupportable burden of a 
 •wounded fpirit^, and threatens them with a 
 feparation infinitely more grievous than a bare 
 difuniting their fouls from their bodies, an in- 
 tire feparation of their fouls from God. So 
 that they are through the fear of death all 
 their life- time fubjeSi to bondage "" j and, when 
 the laft ftruggie for life is over, depart with 
 an anxious diftruft that the hitternefs of death 
 
 ^ I need not add, fays Bp. Patrick on Gen. ii. 17. that 
 difeafes, ficknefTes, and pains, the forerunners of death, are 
 i.ncluded in this threatening, " Thou ihalt furely die." 
 
 ' Prov. xviii. 14. 
 
 "' Heb. ii. 15. 
 
 B 4 ' is 
 
8 ,S E R M O N I. 
 
 is "" not yet paji ; but that there may ftill be a 
 final defl:ru<aidn both of foul and body, called 
 in the language of Scripture tbejecond death °i 
 or death eternal. 
 
 Had we no deliverance given us by God, 
 this triumph of death over human nature 
 would be but an uncomfortable fubjed:. But 
 lince we are now enabled by Him to becdtoe 
 indeed more thah conquerors ', we may with- 
 out horror furvey the various fcene of our 
 coriflidt and defeat; from the tirtie when 
 men were iirft^expofed naked to the affaults 
 of the grand adverfary of mankind j what 
 arts have been applied to elude or alkviare 
 their thraldom, what efforts to recover their 
 liberty J and how Sin has ever baffled theii" 
 attempts, and driven them from all the con- 
 fidence in which they trufted, till through 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord they were reftored to 
 the glorious freedom of the fons of God, and 
 invited to a better P^radife, to an eternal in- 
 heritance referved in heaven for us. 
 
 » I Sam.xv. 3z. " Rev. xx. 14. p Rom. viii. 37. 
 
 Nor 
 
SERMON I.' 9 
 
 Nor will this view of our natural -conditioii 
 be an unprofitable amufement ; from the fight 
 of our -danger we fhall difcern the gifeathefs 
 of our deliverance, from the fenfe of human 
 weaknefs we (hall be led to admire the power 
 of divine grace ; and the more deeply we arfe 
 convinced that our own arm could not help 
 us, the more efFe<ftually we fhall be excited to 
 return our praifes to Him, whofe right han4 
 hath wrought for us fo great falvation '. 
 
 Let us then confider death, as vi^hat it muft 
 appear to all men, the period of the prefent 
 ftate of our eiiftencej and remark what con" 
 fequences they have drawn, and with wljat 
 confolations they have" endeavoured to fuppbrt 
 themfelves, under the expedation of fuch an 
 important event. 
 
 Let us eat and drinks and enjoy the day, 
 for to-morrow we die '. This is the conclufioii 
 
 9 Heb. ii. 3. 
 
 ' I Cor. XV. 32. The fame expreffion is ufed by Ifaiah, 
 ch. xxii. 13. The prophet intimates, that, inftead of looking 
 lip to the Maker of their city in the time of its (lege, the Jews 
 would indulge every kind of riot and excefs : when he called 
 to weeping and mourning, behold joy and gladnefs,Jlaying oxen, 
 
 killing 
 
lo SERMON I. 
 
 of men of fuperficial thoughts, ungoverned 
 appetites, and degenerate minds; whofe only 
 method of loofing themfelves from the ties of 
 religion is, tamely to fubmit to the chain of 
 receffityj and when they have firft difcarded 
 their reafon, that they may live like brutes, 
 fuborn their reafon to give evidence, that 
 like brutes they (hall perifh. " Our life is 
 " fhort and tedious, fay they, and in the 
 *' death of man there is no remedy, neither 
 ** was there any man known to return from 
 " the grave. For we are born at all adven- 
 " turej and we ftiall be hereafter as though 
 " we had never been: for the breath in our 
 
 killing Jheep ; or their conduft would be altogether like thofe 
 Pag9.ns who looked for death, as the final termination of all 
 their hopes and enjoyments, as well as of their prefent exiftence-^ 
 Sucli principles are generally afcribed to the Epicureans : and 
 Cicero, in defcribing the Epicurean tenets, thus obferves; Nul- 
 1am enim noviftis, nifi profeftam a corpore, et redeuntem ad 
 corpus, animi voluptatem. De Nat. Deor. 1. 1.40. But, ac- 
 cording to Herodotus, we find the like notions entertained in 
 the more cultivated parts of Egypt long before the time of 
 Epicurus. He tells us, b. ii. 78. that, at their convivial enter- 
 tainments, the Egyptialns introduced the figure of a dead man, 
 which was carried round on a bier to each of the guefts ; who 
 was reminded to look on it, and drink and enjoy himfelf, as 
 he was to become, after his death, like -that wooden image. 
 See alfothe fpeech of Vibius Gallus. Liv. 1. 26. 13. 
 
 " noflrils 
 
S E R MO N I. ^ It 
 
 «« noftrils is as fmoke, and a little fpark in the 
 "moving of our heart: which being extin- 
 ** guiflied, our body (hall be turned into aflies, 
 " and our fpirit fhall vanifh as the foft air. 
 '* Our time is a very fhadow that pafleth 
 " away -, and after our end there is no return- 
 ** ing: for it is faft fealed, fo that no man 
 *' Cometh again. Come on therefore, let us 
 ** enjoy the good things that are prefentj let 
 " us fill ourfelves with coftly wine and oint- 
 " ments j let us crown ourfelves with rofe-buds 
 " before they be withered, and let none of us 
 *' go withput his ^art of voluptuoufnefsj for 
 " this is our portion, and our lot is this." 
 
 Thus are they reprefented by the author of 
 the book of Wifdom ', reafoning with them- 
 felves, as he exprefles it, but in a manner 
 which the very nature of th* rational faculty 
 immediately evinces not to be aright. And 
 (hould it at laft appear that, fhort ^s our life is, 
 we have no lefs than an eternal intCTeft at flake, 
 of all men mofl miferable are thefe pretenders 
 
 s Wifdom ii. i — 9. 
 
 to 
 
12 SERMON I. 
 
 to gaiety and pleafure. It is deplorable to be in 
 fiich acafe as to be forced to wifli the contraryj 
 aad then it is intolerable to find that the con- 
 trary is impoffible to be provedi Nay, it may 
 be queftiondd whethfer the higheft attainments, 
 the foul of man is capable of receiving in the 
 pnefent life, be a .ftronger argument, tliat the 
 prefent life is not all its portion, but that there 
 mufl be a future reckoning, than the cor- 
 ruption and bafenefs of fuch groveling .minds'. 
 For why fo much pains to degrade and vilify 
 human nature? Is it not, that they may give a 
 full fwing to the brutal paffions, that they may 
 filence the reproaches of confcience, that they 
 may fm without fhame, reludlance, or regret ? 
 Whence it muft needs follow, as furely as fin 
 implies guilt, and guilt an obligation to pu- 
 
 ' This opinion, fays Bp./W'ilkins, is fo very grofs and ig- 
 noble, as that it cannot be.fufficiently defpifed. It dcth debafe 
 the Underftandiiig. of- ajah, and 'ill the pririciijles in him that 
 are fablirae and generous, extiaguilhing the very feeds of ho- 
 nour, and piety^nd virtue, affording no room for aftioins or 
 endeavours that are truly great arid noble ; being altogether 
 nnworthy of the nature, of man, and doth reduce us to the con- 
 dition of beafts. Nat. Rel. p. 351. 
 
 nifhment. 
 
SERMON L 13 
 
 nifhment, that the more freely they have grai 
 tified their vicious inclinations, the more fuc- 
 cefsful they have been in ftifling the inward 
 forebodings of an hereafter, thofe natural at- 
 tendants and firft av-engers of fin in this life, 
 the greater probability, nay^ if there be a jufl 
 God in heaven, the greater neceffity there 
 fliould feem to be, of their undergoing the 
 whole burden of the punifliment due unto it 
 in a future ftate. 
 
 And though they may for a while by thefe 
 mean artifices defer pr beguile the fear of dy- 
 ing; yet the rnore they have fixed their affec- 
 tions on the things here below, the lefs they 
 will be able to endure the thought that they 
 muft fliortly leave them. When they have 
 had their {hare even to fatiety; when they are 
 convinced, as moift before their departure hence 
 are by fad experience convinced, that this is 
 not the place of their reft; they will with im^ 
 potent longings ftill hover over their beloved, 
 their only, treafure* Whai, though th.ey ckn- 
 not find reft here, ftiould they be taken hence, 
 they can promife themfelves reft no where, 
 
 having 
 
14 SERMON I. 
 
 having no defire, no relifh, fcarce any notion 
 of fuperior fpiritual enjoyments. 
 
 But to difmifs thefe, who, after all their 
 fwelling words of hberty, are the moft ab- 
 jedt and confeiTed flaves both of fin and death, 
 and the fecurity of whofe hope is no better 
 than the extremity of defpair; — 
 
 Others have fought for fuccour againft the 
 fear of death from the pow^r of fame, the 
 views of a pofthumous reputation, and com- 
 forted themfelves with the apprehenfion of fur- 
 viving the fhort period of their nature in the 
 more durable annals of time, in the admiration 
 and applaufe of diftant generations. This, it 
 muft be acknowledged, is the effect of a noble 
 inftindi, has been the caufe of many glorious 
 atchievements, is no inconfiderable proof, or 
 rather is an aufpicious prefage, of a more real 
 immortality. 
 
 Yet how miferably has this excellent prin- 
 ciple been perverted by fin to the worft pur- 
 pofes of a criminal ambition, nay of a fordid 
 
 avarice! 
 
SERMON I. 15 
 
 avarice ! The darling profpedt of being eter- 
 nized by a folemn deification with all the pomp 
 ofitatuesand.vidtims, waS an irrefiftibl? temp- 
 tation to the great giants of violence, thofe 
 men ^ renown " in ancient days. The more 
 humble imagination of having their titles de- 
 livered dow^n to future ages with the flattering 
 addition of mighty conquerors, has been for 
 heroes of later date a fufficient motive to juf- 
 tify their divefling themfelves of all humanity, 
 and 'facrificing multitudes to the idol of their 
 honour. And if we turn our eyes upon cha- 
 faders in lower life ; why this penurious gri- 
 ping, this oppreflion and defrauding, even in 
 thofe who are paft the feafon of enjpyment? 
 but to raife a family, or a fumptuous fabric, 
 to fay their houfes Jhall continue for ever, to 
 call their lands after their own names *, or to 
 
 " Gen. vl. 4. ixihich loere of old, Jtun ofreno'wn. Theexpref- 
 fion 0^13/0, tTanHatedcf old, properly denotes the obfcurity of 
 any diftant period of time, and may refer to what is future, as 
 well as what is paft. The me/i of rencivn need, nO|t therefore be 
 confined to the generations before the flood. 
 
 * Pf. xlix. II. " This their way is their folly> and tljofe that 
 " fee it are fiich fools to take after them." So Bp. Lloyd on this 
 place. See his funeral Sermon at the end of Willcins's Nat. 
 Rel. p. g ; where are many judicious remarks on the fubjeft we 
 are here treating. r j 
 
i6 SERMON I. 
 
 find a refuge from the obfcurity <^ the grave 
 in the ftatelinefs of a fepulchre. So that per- 
 haps it were better men could be contented 
 to be forgotten, than thus labour to refcue 
 themfelves from oblivion by fuch infamous or 
 ridiculous memorials. 
 
 But let us fuppofe this principle to take ita 
 right diredion, to fpur men on to diftinguifli 
 themfelves by the invention or improvement 
 of ufeful arts, by the atchievements of virtuous 
 bravery, and w^orks of a true magnificence. 
 A good name indeed thus acquared is as precious 
 ointment '' f will embalm their memory, and 
 tranfmit it with a gratefiil odour to fucceeding 
 times. 
 
 Yet ftill a few dea^ flies ' will taint th^s 
 precious ointment ; a man's vices will probably 
 be remembered at leaft as long as his virtues j 
 and what though his public condudt has gained 
 him the moft favourable verdidt at the tribu- 
 nal of fame, if his fecret fins condemn him 
 at the bar of his own mind ! A good charac- 
 
 J^Ecdef. vii. i. » Ecclef. x. i. 
 
 ' ter 
 
SERMON L 17 
 
 ter witjiout a good confpience will be but a 
 %rowful comforter at the hour of death ; and 
 after all, how much foever men may triumph 
 in the thoughts of having purchafed a bright 
 reverfiqn in futurity, and.boaft that their better 
 part is j)laced beyond the pow.er of the grave, if 
 this better part be nothing but a Name, here 
 is only the empty fhadow of a deliverance. 
 
 Still, there are thofe whofe refearches and 
 penetration have opened the way to a more 
 fubftantial conqueft: the body, it is true, they 
 yield up to corruption ; that material, building 
 they perceive too weak to withftand the per-' 
 petual fhocks of time; they know it muftfoon 
 be reduced to a ruinous heap, and fubmit to 
 the common viciffitudes of the material world. 
 But that which thinks and wills, which re- 
 flefts and reafons within them, this they can 
 demonftrate muft be in its nature an indivifible 
 being, and exempt from all poffibility of fuf- 
 feringby any diflblution. This they experience 
 in its operations unconfined to the narrow li- 
 mits of place and time, capable of extending 
 
 C its 
 
iS- SERMON I. 
 
 its ideas beyond the bounds of matter, of ab- 
 ftrafting itfelf from the-objedts of fenfe, of 
 cqnverfing in an intelle<Sual world, and gradu- 
 ally advancing, and therefore why not eternally 
 advancing ? in the increafe of wifdora and vir- 
 tue. This they feel ever reftkfs and diflatif- 
 fied with all things here below, its defires dif- 
 proportioned to temporal enjoyments, its hopes 
 full of immortality. This then they conclude 
 muft remain unhurt by the ilroke of death ; 
 and when that enemy has feized their earthly 
 tabernacle, this, their fouls, all that is pro- 
 perly themfelyes, fhall retire, only lefs grofs- 
 and encumbered, to wander at large in the 
 great world of fpirits, or to be more intimately 
 united to their pure Original. 
 
 Thefe are certainly refledions of great 
 Weight, confidered in themfelves, to banifh 
 the fear of dying j yet is the force of them 
 very much weakened, or rather I might fay, 
 the argumetit is turned with its whole force 
 againft us, by our fins. Were we defiled by 
 no finful corruption, were we to account for 
 
 no 
 
g E "R M O N 3 r. rj^ 
 
 116 perfonal ffaiSfgPgflkjn, had we always em- 
 ' ployed our fSfetiities according to the will of 
 '■GUT Creator, ciur improvement in every en- 
 -nobling quality Weuld thifi have kept pace 
 with bur duration j aiid the confcloufnefs that 
 our better part hid drawfi vigour and bright- 
 nefs from that tiflae, which Wears out the 
 ftreiigth and beauty of thd body, and Was 
 ftill bringing forth more fruit in our age, 
 might rationally preclude every mifgiving ap- 
 prehenfion, that a foul thus ardent with con- 
 firmed love, adoHi<^d witk iftcfeafing graces, 
 "and afpiring' to the perfe<Sion of virtue, could 
 fuffer any difadvaMageeus change from the na- 
 tural diffolution of our material frame. Gould 
 we thus maintain the, integrity of our ways 
 before God, we might well fay with holy 
 Job, 'though he flay me, yet will I trufl in 
 Him*. 
 
 But now if the very beft amongft us muft 
 
 take up thofe other words of his, J have fln- 
 
 ned, what foall I do unto th(e, O thotf Pre' 
 
 ^ferver of men^ ! where is the mighty pbint 
 
 » Job xiii. 15. ,j •■ Ch. vii. 20. 
 
 C 2 ' gained 
 
20 SERMON I. 
 
 gained by conjej9:uring, or even by demon- 
 ilrating, that the period of our prefent flatc 
 vvill only be the commencement of another 
 kind of exiftence, if we muft ftill doubt, 
 whether it will be a happier, if we may juftly 
 dread, it will be a more miferable kind of 
 exiftence. Men may difcourfe as they pleafe 
 upon the excellence of the human foul ; the 
 more excellent a being the foul of man is, 
 the greater is the bafenefs and ingratitude of 
 Sin : and let the foul be as excellent as they 
 pleafe, yet happy it cannot be without the 
 favour of God ; and God is of purer eyes than 
 to %hold iniquity ". And if even here^ when 
 He turns his face from us, we are troubled^ ; 
 though here the common blellings of his Pro- 
 vidence, and the bufinefs and amufements of 
 life, prevent our being thoroughly fenfible of 
 the mifery of that dereliftionj when we go 
 hence, fhould Sin then feparate between us 
 ;and our God, we may endure, but we muft 
 be undone, for ever. 
 
 - Thus if with the eye only of natural rea- 
 
 «Hab.i. 13, * Pfal, XXX. 7. 
 
 font 
 
SERMON I. 21 
 
 fori we look toward the valley of the jhadovfof 
 death % where clouds and darknefs do not en- 
 tirely intercept a farther profpeft, righteoufnefs 
 and judgment will nieetour view; a righteouf- 
 nefs by which no man living can be jujiified^i 
 a judgment, in which the moft perfedt of the 
 foris of men muft' ftand condemiied. Having 
 alljinned and fallen Jhort of the glory of God ^, 
 if the ftrength of our excellency be not 
 wholly departed from us, it remains only like 
 the Jioff of a bruifed reed, on which if a man 
 leant it nsoill go into his hand and pierce it ^ :- 
 even fo is the immortality of- the foul with 
 the defilement and guilt of Sin. 
 
 Since then our bwn reafbn is thus deficient, 
 our own natural powers thus incapable of af- 
 fording us any fufficient fupport, to whom/hall 
 ive go ' for aid, or whither fliall we fly for 
 relief? If we have recourfe to the ages that 
 are paft for inftrudion, we fhall find that the 
 general bent of human nature has always 
 
 . . = Pfal. xxiii. 4. . ^ Pfal.cxliii. z. 
 
 ? RoHi. iii. 23. '' Ifa. xxxvi, 6, 
 
 ' John vi. 68. 
 
 . C ^ been 
 
22 SERMON I. 
 
 been to call in the aids of rejigioa to affift owf 
 reafcn; or to apply to the Author pf our 
 nature for help, U^here we are fo plainly un- 
 able to help ouff(?lve?. Religipfl in its very 
 name implies a profeffed relatjen to the divine 
 Being, and if it be founded upon true prin- 
 ciples, muft reprefent Him under the notion!, 
 of an Almighty B-ewar4tr to them ifikQ ^-n 
 hgently feek him ^. But if this reward be a 
 deliverance from death, from what lias been 
 before laid down, it will follow, that the re-^ 
 Mgion which propofes it, ihould propcfe aHa 
 fome method of deliverance from Sin. 
 
 Now if we take a brief furvey of the chief 
 religions that have appeared in the world, we 
 iliay foon difcover what meafiires have be«a 
 purfued in this- important re-fped:. 
 
 As for the pagan fuperftitlon, which claims 
 for its followers fo large a ftiare of the human 
 race, it is notorious that their religious cere- 
 monies, however diverfified, were in gener^ 
 difgraced with fad corruptions and the wildeft 
 extravagancies. The worfhip they paid their 
 
 " Heb. Xi. 6. gQ^g 
 
3 E R M ON I. 33 
 
 gods ■vt'as replete with, abfurdity, was dif- 
 iionourable to the divine nature as well as 
 their own. • The light that was in them was 
 dafknefs, and the dodtrines they taught were 
 polluted with the groffeft errors and moft 
 abominable idolatries. Profeffing tbemfeh^s 
 wife they became fools, and changed the glory 
 <f the incorruptible God into an image made like 
 to corruptible man, and to Mrds, and the four- 
 footed Jfeafts, and reptiles ' of the earth. 
 
 Wherefore God gave them up unto vile affec- 
 jions, to work all uncleannefs with gr^eedinffs ".• 
 fo that their pradiice was altogether of a caft 
 fuitable to their darkened minds and erroneous 
 • principles. They were even dead in trefpaff^s 
 and fins " j and the moft enormous crimes 
 were fometimes recommended by the example* 
 and confecr^ted by the authority of their lead- 
 ing men. We muft not look therefore to the 
 worfhippers of Baal for a remedy againft Sin, 
 nor where men degrade themfelves below the 
 beafts of the earth can we exped: to learn the 
 
 .' Rom. 1. 2 2, 23, " Roih. i. 26. Ephef, iv. 19. 
 
 ■ Ephef. ii. i . 
 
 : C 4 methods 
 
24 SERMON I. 
 
 methods, by which we may be reconciled to an 
 oiFended Deity. 
 
 If we confult the Law of Mofes, we fhall 
 difcover greater light indeed, but fhall ftill be 
 at a lofs for a real deliverance from Sin. As I 
 mean to advert to this inquify in a future dif- 
 courfe °, I need only to obferve here, that the 
 tenour of this Law required a perfeft and uh- 
 finning obedience, intimating t&at the man why 
 doetb thefe things, that is,"obferves the precepts 
 "of 'moral and original righteoufnefs, JJjould'live 
 hy theni ^^ 'unAih.ztcurfedis every one that coti^ 
 "tinueth not in all things that are written in the 
 Book of the Law to do them ^. Hence it could 
 never make the. comers thereunto perfedl as 
 pertaining to the confcience '; but the command- 
 ment, which was ordained to life, through the 
 corruption and depravity of Cur nature, was 
 found to be unto -death ', 
 
 . ; From this fhort view then it appears^ that 
 Sin was generally encouraged by the Heathen 
 
 ° See Left. V. p Lev. xvJii. 5. Rom. x. 5. 
 
 9 Gal. iii. 10. r Heb. x. i. ix.,9. ^ Rom. vii. 16. 
 
 worship ; 
 
S E R M ONI. 25 
 
 worfliipj was condemned indeed, but rather 
 aggravated than aboliihed, by the Jewifti Lawi 
 and, as we fhall fee hereafter, was fully expi- 
 ated and perfectly atoned for only in the Chrif- 
 tian inftitution '. 
 
 I would by no means be thought to intimate, 
 that all men under the former difpenfatiohs, 
 though they lived in the fear of God, yet died 
 without hopes of his favour. No, the imma- 
 culate Lamb was Jlain in the divine decree even 
 from the foundation of the world''. Abraham 
 believed God, and relied on his promifes, which 
 •wzs imputed' to him for righteoufnefs"". Many 
 
 ' I have taken no notice here of the religion of Mahomet, 
 becaufe our concern is chiefly with thofe fchemes of religion, 
 which were prior to the Chriftian difpenfation. Our inquiry 
 being only after a remedy for fin, when that remedy is dif- 
 covered, .th.e purfuit is of courfe at an end. It may be proper 
 howeverjuft to obferve with refpedl to, the Mahometan delulion, 
 that among other ftrong arguments againft it, derived from the 
 inconJiftencies, falfehoods, and ridiculous fables that are to be 
 found in the Koran, we may add the mean and carnal gratifica- 
 tions, which it propofes as its rewards. The low indulgence 
 of the fenfes is a purfuit, which, tends to debafe the mind, and fink 
 it into the mere animal nature, and confequently mull be 
 favourable to the caufe of fin, inftead of affifting to relieve us 
 from it. 
 
 " Rev. xiii. 8. ^ Rom, iv. 22. 
 
 of 
 
26 S E R M O N I. 
 
 of the Jewifti nation carried their views beyond 
 the land of Canaan to better things in another 
 country ; nor can it be doubted hut feime even 
 . of thofe who were ilrangers to all cowenanted 
 promifes, if they did not live without God in 
 the world, might take fandtuary in that mercy 
 and compaflion, which appear in all his works. 
 But then the rnethod in which that compaflion 
 jfliould be applied, the price by which thofe 
 b;etter things fhould be purchafed, the ground 
 of thofe mighty hopes on which the patriarchs 
 /•elied, was. a myftery of godlinefs hidderi iii a, 
 great meafure from the pieeeding ages and ge- 
 «jieration5", till, the work of our Redemption 
 being actually accompliflied, it became a prin- 
 cipal part among the diftinguifhing articlesof 
 the Chriftian Faith. 
 
 There were indeed before fome bright con- 
 jedlures, fome dawnings of a glofious expee* 
 tation. And it will be the next part of our 
 defign to point out fome of thefe gradual difi 
 eoveries; not only to demohjftrate the attention, 
 which was paid to the earlier ages of the world, 
 but to convince thofe who live in thefe latter 
 
 days. 
 
5 E H M O N I» 27 
 
 days, -that all tfce fchemes of Providence from 
 theJbeginning of tilings were working together 
 for their conviction and benefit. 
 
 - But whatever favours were granted to thofe 
 of old time, they were only as <S light Jhining 
 in a dark place "^i and life and immortality were 
 never brought into open light, till tie Sun of 
 ^ghteoufnefs2i^ipQ2iVcAwith healing in his -wings'^. 
 And He alone was worthy to bring thefe tiding? 
 to a finful world, who alone was able to make 
 them good tidings of great joy/, becaufe he 
 alone was able to take away the fins of the 
 World,: niiho died for our offences, a?id rofe 
 again for our jufif cation ' ', and to whom all 
 judgment being committed, there can be no 
 condemnation for thofe who truly are in him \ 
 Nor hath he only delivered us from the terrors 
 and confequences of death, but opened to us 
 the blifsful treafures of eternity j even of that 
 eternal, life, which God, -who cannot lie, pro- 
 
 "^ 2 Pet. i. 19. ,, -y Mal.iv, 2. 
 
 * Luke ii. 10. * Rom. iv. 2j. 
 
 ■> (Rom. viii. i . 
 
 mii 
 
 nfed 
 
28 SERMON I. 
 
 mifed before the world began '3 but in due time 
 manifefted through the preaching of the Gof- 
 pel. . 
 
 It muil fuffice at prefent to offer only thefe 
 general hints of our deliverance by Chrift, as 
 the more full illuftration of them in the ex- . 
 pediency, predidtion, and accbmplifhnient of 
 our Redemption, is the chief defign of the 
 work in which we are engaged. 
 
 "^ Tit.'i. 2. Seealfo i Pet, i. 20. and 2 Tim', i. 9. 
 
 SER- 
 
SERMON TI. 
 
 Romans xi. 26. 
 
 —T'here Jhall come out of^ Slon the Deliverer, 
 and Jhall turn away ungodlinefs from yacob» 
 
 IF we attend to bur beft refledlions and 
 pureft fentiments, we ihall readily per- 
 ceive that the mind of man is much delighted 
 with order and beauty, and greatly diflatisfied 
 with irregularity and confufion. The truth 
 of which obfervation is no lefs manifeft in 
 the difpofition of things according to their 
 moral character, than in the conftitution of 
 them in the natural fyflem. Every rational 
 and thinking perfon muft look with pleafure 
 and admiration on the beauty of Holinefs, and 
 with equal difguft and averfion on the de- 
 formity of Sin. 
 
 Now 
 
30 SERMON II. 
 
 Now as thefe oppofite qualities appear 
 either amiable or odious to our own nature, 
 to our own unprejudiced and di^aiBonate 
 minds, we may reafonably conclude they will 
 appear in like manner to the moft perfedi: 
 underftanding of the Author of our nature, 
 to that all-wife Being, who hath formed 
 the conftitution of us and of all things. God 
 muft delight in the contemplation of virtue, 
 or in feeing his rational creatures perform the 
 ends and purpofes for which he deiigned, 
 them ; and He muft be of purer eyes than to 
 behold evil, or with any degree of complai- 
 cence to look upon iniquity \ 
 
 And yet we find the difpofition of man far 
 departed from moral redtitude, and quite un- 
 like what it muft have originally been, when . 
 it proceeded from the hand of its wife Mafter- 
 builder and gracious Architect: ; our under- 
 ftandings oftentiines betrayed by prejudice,, 
 and our wills mifled by caprice and humour ; 
 reafon too frequently fubjedted to paffion, and 
 the rule of right compelled to. yield to the 
 
 * Hab, i. 13, 
 
 impulfe 
 
S E R M O N^ II. 31 
 
 impulfe 'of appetite or inclination. Nor can 
 we- be otherwife therefore, whilft in this ftate 
 of <iefbrmity, than objeds of difpleafure to 
 Him, who hath declared hi& wrath by various 
 notices egainjt all ungodlinefs and unrighteoiif- 
 nefs ofmen°. 
 
 That in thi^ deplorable condition of our 
 being our own arm could not fave us, or 
 that the beft powers of the human mind by 
 their unaffifted exertions could avail but little 
 in difcovering a deliverance from Sin, hath 
 been evinced in my laft Difcourfe. From 
 whence alfo was manifefted the neceffity of 
 fome fuperior Aid, fome fupernatural De- 
 liverer, to refcue us from that guilt and pol- 
 lution, which have proved fo general and 
 dreadful to mankind. 
 
 Indeed all ages have perceived and bewailed 
 this degeneracy j and as all have ne'eded, fo 
 all have in confequence beeir felicitous for ^ 
 fpmedy. From God alone our relief muft 
 proceed: and from his bounty we may con- 
 
 *• Rom. i. 1 8. 
 
 eludC} 
 
32 SERMON IL 
 
 clu4e, and have feen fome general intimations, 
 that none of the generations of men were left 
 without a fuitable recourfe to that relief, which, 
 his wifdom would defign, and his goodnefs 
 provide, for the diftrelTes of his creatures. 
 
 To the earlier ages this remedy was dif- 
 covered imperfedlly and gradually. But yet 
 no fooner had our firft parents revolted and; 
 apoftatized from God, than fome dawnings. 
 appeared of a reconciliation. When the curfe 
 was pronounced on the original feducer, the, 
 caufe and the fource of all our woe, it was at 
 the fame time intimated, that the Seed of the 
 woman fhould bruife the Serpent's head*. 
 Implacable enmity was to fublift between^ 
 them, between Satan and the human race; 
 but one born of the woman at length fhould^ 
 conquer ; or however afTailed in the attempt, 
 fhould completely triumph, and bring falva-/ 
 tion to the whole of Adam's pofterity. The 
 promife was now general, when no diftinflions. 
 could have occurred, when none of his de- 
 fcendants were born, and the tradition would 
 
 ' Gen, iii. 15. 
 
 doubtlefs 
 
SERMON II. 33 
 
 doubtlefs be handed down to all fucceeding 
 generations. So that as foon' as in Adam all 
 died, intimation was given of a covenant, that 
 in the Seed of the Woman all Jhould be made 
 alive ^. 
 
 Nor let it be <;onceived, however favour- 
 able to the deceit of a vain philofophy, that 
 the cuffe then exprefled in fuch full and 
 Iblemn language was meant to be confined to 
 the' mere animal only, to the averfion which 
 is commonly obferved between man and the 
 ferpent race. Even in that concife hiftory 
 fuch circumftances are related, as cannot be 
 linderftood in a literal fenfe, and a comparifon 
 of the paffage with other portions of Scrip- 
 ture muft compel us in many parts of it to 
 adopt the figurative or myftical. For we read 
 that the Serpent beguiled Eve through his 
 Jubtilty ' ; and that the Woman being deceived 
 
 *' I Cor. XV. 2Z. 
 
 ' Gen. iii. 13. 2 Cor. xi. 3. It is probably for this reafon, 
 tMat our Saviour fays of the Devil, he nuas a murderer from' 
 the beginning, and a liar, and the father sf it. John viii. 44, 
 St. John obferves likewife, that the Devil Jinneth from the he. 
 ginning ; and immediately fabjoins, as if he had an eye to the 
 firft fedultion, and the promife in confequence of it : For this 
 
 D fitrpofe 
 
34 SERMON Ih 
 
 was in the tranfgreffiqn^ . Jn the boqk pf the 
 Revelations it is the old Serpent that <was 
 called the Devil and Sat an t thf deceheth the 
 whole world ; who was cqft out into the earthy 
 and his Angeh were caji out with him *. . • 
 
 In what fenfe alfo we are tQ interpret the 
 ^eed of the woman, may be learnt f^om the 
 ufe of the expreffion in fubfequept parts of 
 the book pf Genefis'', as well as from its 
 general turn and fcope in other parts of the 
 
 purpofe the Son of God nuas manifejied, that he might dejiroy thi 
 •works of the Demi. I John iii. 8. And as our Lord had power 
 over the wicked fpirits in hiinfelf, fo he appears to have cop-' 
 ferred^it on his faithful fervapts, on thofe diat fpoke in his name, 
 and afted under his immediate commifiion. Which coafidera- 
 tions will help us to explain that patflTage of St. L.ijke x. 1 8, 19. 
 / beheld &atan, fays Chrift, as lightning fall from heaven, de- 
 throned of all his dominion and fovereignty. in the world by the 
 manifeftatlon of the San of Go.d ; fo that, as we read in th* 
 bpolf of the Revelations, xii. 8. no mofe place ixias found if , 
 hea'ven for the Dragon and his angels. He then adds. Behold, 
 I gi've unto you poiuer to tread onfeicpents. and fcorpions,, a^nd onitr 
 all the force of the enemy. Evil fpirits were to be difpofTelTed 
 by them ; and all the malice of the Devil, apd of the fcypents 
 and fcorpions, his infernal coadjutors^ was to be; ful^dued, and* 
 m^de fubjeft unto ^Ij^jji, Froroi all (hefe confideratipns tljeic 
 can be little doubt of the true fenfe of xhs al}ufigii;i before us. 
 
 <■ 1 Tiip.. ii. 14. 8 Ch. xii. g. 
 
 * See ch. iv. 25, xv. 3. xxxviii. 8, 9. See alfo Gal. iii, i^ 
 
 ^ible. 
 
SERMON 11. 3| 
 
 Bibl^ And indeed unlefs we underftand the 
 paflage alluded to in the fenfe of a prediction, 
 or, that in the combat Chrift fhould defpoil 
 the Devil of his fovereigiity, it is fcarce poffi- 
 ble to give it any meaning, fuitable .to the lan- 
 guage in whieh it is delivered, much lefs to 
 the awful interpofition of that Almighty Be- 
 ing, whofe offended raajelly occafioned its 
 deliverance. 
 
 During the continuance of the old world 
 tve have perhaps no other direct Revelation 
 recorded, of the deflgn of God by an atone- 
 ment to reftore man to his favour. But y6t 
 we read that facfifices * were offered to the 
 Almighty, which were doubtlefs intended to 
 «fepireeate his wrath, and as preludes of his 
 future mercy j and that, out of tender love to 
 m*n, provifion was made for his clothing ^, 
 probably from the fkins of thofe beafls which, 
 
 ' Sacrifices feem to have been infikuted, as fytnbols of the 
 covenant made with man : afld from flayiiig the tifitim, the 
 making a covenant is expreffed by the word m?, to cut it, 
 or cut it afff So o^xis ititrnt, aind ferire foedus. 
 
 ^ Gen. iii. 21. 
 
 D 2 were 
 
36 SERMON ai. 
 
 were flain in facrifices '. Men Were alfo en- 
 gaged to call on the nam of the Lord"" j and 
 one of the patriarchs, the feventh from Adam^t 
 was exempted from the common lot of mor- 
 tality", immediately accepted of God, and» 
 tranflated into the regions of the blefled. 
 
 After the flood we find early inftances of 
 God's renewing his gracious promife of re- 
 conciliation, as well as more particular dif- 
 coveries of the mode in which it would be 
 conveyed. The chief of thefe difcoveries were 
 tnade to a feled:ed race of men, but fome were 
 of a more general communication, as intended 
 for all men. It may be proper in the firll 
 place to attend to the more diflinguifhed of 
 the former ; and then, fecondly, to take a view 
 of the latter. And I fhall confine myfelf 
 chiefly to thofe that were prior to the full 
 
 ' The expreffion to Cain, Qen. iv. 7. probably looked at 
 an expiation : If thcu doeft luell, Jhalt thou not be accepted ? or 
 as it is rendered in Jonathan's Targum, flialfnot thy fin 'be 
 forgiven thee ? And if thou dvft not luell, fin lieth at the door, 
 thy fin is referred for puniftiment at the day of Judgraenti will 
 remain unexpiated,. and be chargeable to thee*at the final, 
 account. 
 
 "" Gen. iv. 26. " Jude 14. " Gen. v. 24. Heb. xi. 5. 
 
 eflablifhment 
 
SERMON IL 3; 
 
 cft^blMiriient of* the JeWifh commonwealttP 
 in the prefent Difcourfe '. --■-[■ 
 
 I. The promife, that was originally made 
 to the Seed of the woman, was a:fterwards 
 limited to the Seed of Abraham. ' With this 
 holy man the Almighty appears to have often 
 converfed by the Word of his majefty, or the 
 Son of his love, imparting unto him his coun- 
 fcls and the defigns of his providence i to have 
 
 ., '.It is Jioped no perfons will conceive difguft at any of the 
 topics here alledged, becaufe they m^y have been often han- 
 dled by 'other writers. For if the prefent caft of their form, 
 and ^cail.of the argument, will not fufficiencly plead in their 
 ^your, I would beg leave to fubjoin a paffage taken from 3 
 Difcourfe of onfe of my predeceflbrs in this Lefture, the learn-' 
 ed Profeffoi; White. *' It is- not nece{rary,".fays this ingenious 
 writer^ "in tlje prefent ■fituation of things, to- attempt any new 
 "arrangement of proofs, or fyftem of evidence. It will be time 
 " enough to invent feme frefli ihodes of denionffration, when" it 
 f is found'; that the old are incapableof affording conviftion^to 
 " the honeft and impartial enquirer after truth. The nature of 
 V evidence however depends in a gVeat meafiire on the manner 
 " in which it is cqnfidered; aijd the fame arguments 'and iU 
 " luftrations will appear in very different lights of ftrength and 
 " conviftion, according to our various modes of ftudy and 
 " habits of refleftion." P. 40. — - As old and pften refuted ob- 
 jeflions are continually vamped up, with feme fmall alterations 
 in their dreffes, it is fur^ly enough, if the anfwers be fo far 
 varied, as to reach the objedlions in every (hape. 
 
 f D 7 entered 
 
38 S P R M O N II. 
 
 entered into a fgcred cdvemnf. ©r engagement 
 with him, promifing, him, as a reward for hii 
 piety, various diftinguifhed and appofite blef- 
 fings, that he would take hi? pofterity aiHb 
 under his peculiar care, in order to oblige 
 the whoJe family from the profped of their 
 comforts to a lincere and perfevering obedience*; 
 
 But the > mofV valuable confolation of all 
 was, that in bis feed JhouH all 'Me naiims of 
 the earth be blejfed'^ ; becaufe he had obeyed 
 the voice of the Almighty, in not withhold- 
 ing his only fon from, himi ; becaufe he was 
 itroDg in feith, and even agamji hope belienied 
 in hope", being confident that God wqu14 
 fulfil his promife which he had madcy tha-t aa> 
 Ifa.ac jhall thy feed be c ailed \ The fenfe of 
 which paffage the Apoftle St. Paul will lead 
 us thus to interpret : Now unto Abraham and 
 bis feed laere the promifes made ; He faith not, 
 unto feeds, as of many, hut as of one, and to 
 thy feed, which is Chrift \ So great indeed 
 was the confidence of this pious patriarch, as 
 
 1 Geji.xxii. i8. '^om. iv. 18. 
 
 = Gen. xxj. 1 z. • Gal. iii. 16, 
 
 to 
 
S.E R M O N ir. 39 
 
 t<J eifebte him to l6ok forward t5 the expected 
 hhMtigt md to ^it iti itj fof he rejoiced to 
 fee the day of the Deliverer, and he faw it, 
 And was glad". 
 
 The hiftory of Abraham contains many.fig- 
 nal notices of the promifed redemption. The 
 biflih, the intended facrifice, and the efcape of 
 Ifaac, with the concomitant circumftances, 
 are fuch manifefl: types of the Meffiah> that 
 they caii fcarce be miftaken by any, who have 
 lived in thefe latter days, and have impartially 
 doflfiderdd the events which they were meant 
 to forefhew. And however it may be con- 
 ceived that thefe types were but of little be- 
 jiefit to the times in which they were tranf- 
 a£ted* yet if we confider the convidtion that 
 was Wrought in Abrahiam, and his paternal re- 
 gard to the inftrudtion of his dependants ; if 
 we refledt alfo on the general ufe bf fymboli- 
 cal reprefentations*, and the conftant mode of 
 
 '' John vlii. 56. 
 
 " Haviiig juft touched on fymbols, and being fenfible that the 
 frequent ufe of them in the earlier, and their abufe in the later, 
 tjmes of the Old Teftament, may make it expedient to take fome 
 little notice of them, I ihall here fubjoin the following remarks. 
 
 D4 The 
 
40 S E R M O N JI. 
 
 inftrudion by fignificant emblems in thofe 
 early ages, we fhall probably be inclined to 
 
 The defcriptions of things ap pear to have been at.firft very 
 fimple, and there were probably but few words to denote them; 
 not more fimple words, or poffibly not fo many, as individual or 
 fingle images. But human nature being fond of novelty.or tited 
 with the repetition of the .fame found, began to varythe ex- 
 preifion by the fubftitution of complex charailers; RefeiJiblances 
 alfo furnilhing a chief fource of variation, hence proceeded the 
 analogy of metaphor, or allegory. Allegories were often inti- 
 mated by fymbols ; and the variety at length was probably To 
 great, that through the inattention of men^ or fuch like caufe, 
 the primitive, ideas were fometimes fo far affedled,- astp.be.mif- 
 taken, changed, or loft. 
 
 From this abufe of things, evidently defigned for the relief 
 and comfort of mankind, many fad evils may 'be" fuppofed to 
 have taken their origin ; and among -the reft, that .pernicious 
 aiid fatal one of transferring' the honour and reverence, dueonfp 
 to the Creator, to thofe figns or reprefentations of him, whieh; 
 the fancy or imitative faculty of man had fubftituted in his ftead. 
 The undiftin'guiftiing vulgar paid the honour to the fubftitute, 
 Which by the prieft or the philofopher was meant for the Deity ; . 
 till the original objeft was loft in the emblem, the divine na- 
 ture forgotten or funk in the idol, and the Creator excluded' 
 by the worlhip of the creature ; which Was at firft meant only 
 as his reprefentatjve. 
 
 But notwithftanding this accidental perverfion and abufe, in 
 compliance with the general bent of the early ages, we find in 
 Scripture many very important events denoted by fymbols, and 
 conveyed in types and prefignifications, calculated not only for 
 the benefit of thofe perfons to whom they were immediately 
 communicated, but chiefly with a reference to future and diftant 
 •times, and fo as to become of perpetual ufe and advantage. 
 
 thizik 
 
SERMON II. 41 
 
 think them of oonfiderable advantage to ani- 
 mate the hope of thofe. generations, whofe 
 faith was refted on, the expectation of a deli- 
 verer to come, jii y,.. 
 
 . To Jacob, one of the grandfbns of Abra- 
 ham, the family, appears to have been again 
 fpecified, v^ith fome peculiar additions and ad- 
 vantages, ^hy feed) fdoll be as the dujl of the 
 earthy and t^hou Jhalt fpread abroad to the: •weft, 
 arf4 to the eaji, a^d to the north, and to the 
 fouth i and in thee and, in thy feed Jhall all t he- 
 families of ■ the, earth be bkffed ^ . This was 
 part of^the revelation communicated to this 
 renowned patriarch by God's own declaration. 
 And near the clofe of his life he bequeathed 
 the like fpiritual ble fling in mpre ample terms, 
 and with minuter appropriations to one of his 
 fons. He faith, to Judah, 'Thou art he, 'whom 
 thy brethren Jhall praife -, ,thy hand Jhall be on 
 the neck of thine enemies ; thy father s children 
 
 y Gen. xxviii. 14. The bleffing was alfo promifed to Ifaac, 
 and this reafon affigned for it. Gen. xxvi.j. ' becaufe that Abra- 
 ' ham obeyed my voice, and kept my ^charge, my command- 
 ' ments, my ftatutes, and my laws.'' 
 
 Jhall 
 
42 S E R M O N €L 
 
 Jhall bdns domn bifare ' thee, 'thi fieper Jhall 
 mt depart from Jttdakr nor a kw-gm^r fr@^ 
 hetwoeen his feet, until ShiJob cume ; and untd-- 
 him Jhall the gathering of the pe&pk be "* 
 
 Judah fhall fubfift as a tffbt, fiariiig' d!if- 
 tinguifhed hoflOUrSy and a corlftittttioft 6f go- 
 vernment or dominion belongiftg to it, at i^afl: 
 of a juridical nature u^fttit the Meffiah cOfflfe : 
 for fo is the Word Sbiloh utiderflood by almoft 
 ailt Jnter'fH'ete^s, by the earlier Targums, the 
 Talmad, and general aeceptatioft^ of fhfe Jews, 
 £ind according to the beft fenfes which caa be 
 afeed toit in the ancient verfions. It is de- 
 rived indeed irotri variolas fources*,' but alT 
 ieem to agree in affignitig to it fome property 
 or attribute, correfpondiftg with the high; dig* 
 xiitj or merciful chara^er of the SaVidar of 
 the world. To whocrt ftiall be' the gathering 
 or obedience of the people, or the peoples 
 and nations fhall be gathered to his obe- 
 dience. 
 
 ^ Gen. xlix. 8. lo. 
 
 " See Rp. Nevvtoil on the Prophecies, Diff. iv. 
 
 It 
 
Sm R M O N 11. 43 
 
 It cannot fall within the compafs of my de- 
 figi^ to point out a minute illuilration of the 
 ysiifiiEius particulars in thefe feveral prophecies, 
 or to infift on them farther than may ferve to 
 evince the truth and meaning of the predic- 
 titjns, the ground of that expe^ation which 
 was afforded to the old world, and their gene- 
 ral rcfcirence to the times of the Gofpcl. 
 
 Ill what manner this particular prophecy 
 hath been fulfilled has been often fliewn by 
 able and judicious writers. ' Some even of the 
 ino^ern, Jews allow, that it relates to thfe 
 Meffiab; though they will not acknowledge it 
 to have been fulfilled in Jefus. The extraor- 
 dinary care, that was taken to keep Judah a 
 diftinfl tribe, appears from various .pafiages in 
 the Old Teftament, from that attention which 
 was paid to their regifters and genealogies, and 
 the mufter or enrolment of their, foldiers ''. 
 And yet thefe geneaio^al books are now loft; 
 and there is fo far from any dominion or ju- 
 ridical authority left among the Jews, that 
 
 ' See I Sam. xi. 8. 2 Sam. xxiv. g, z Chron. xii. 15. and 
 Bp. Kidder's Dem. P, iii, p. 1^, See. 
 
 they 
 
44 S E R M ON II. 
 
 they 'are every whefe a vague anil' difperfed 
 people, and even the diftindlion of their tribes' 
 can be afcertained no longer. That they have! 
 long continued, and muft ftill remain, in this 
 flats of diftrefs and exile, is well knovs^n to 
 Chriftians, who are able to affign for it a moft 
 juft caufe,' They muft be fadly perplexed in 
 accounting for the appearances of things in 
 the Jewifh hiftory, as well as for the fenfe and 
 words of this prophecy, who will not confefs, 
 that it has a moft manifcft: reference to tKe ap- 
 pearance of the Mefli'ah, to that promifed 
 feed, wbicli was to be derived from Jicobin 
 the line of his fon Judah, Who in confequence 
 hereof gave name in aftertimes to the defcehd- 
 ants of Ifrael, and from whofe loins according 
 to the flefh Chrift came, who broughty^/i;/?- 
 tion to the ends of the earth '. 
 
 Should we defcend ftill lower to the times of 
 Mofes, we fhall difcover frefh ^nd farther mk- 
 nlfeftations of God's gracious intentions to re- 
 deem his people, and to reftore mankind. From 
 
 ■^ A£ts xiii. 47. 
 
 the 
 
SERMON 11. 45 
 
 the perfon of the Deliverer, if we advert to his 
 offices, his prophetic charadter is thus foretold 
 by this man of God. " The Lord thy God 
 " will raife up unto thee a prophet of thy 
 *• brethren, like unto me ; Unto him fhall ye 
 " hearken : and I will put my words in his 
 " mouth, and he fhall fpeak unto them all 
 " that I command himj and whofoever will 
 " not hearken unto my words which he fhall 
 " fpeak in my name, I will require it of 
 " him'' •" or, as the Seventy read, take ven- 
 geance of him. 
 
 It has been attempted " to fhew, by an 
 unwarrantable perverfion of a very fimple con- 
 flruftion, that the word here rendered pro- 
 phet muft havie a plural fenfe; and mean 
 a fucceflion of prophets, which after Mofes 
 did arife in the church of God, and con- 
 tinued to reveal the knowledge of his will to 
 the Jews. But let it be remembered, that the 
 primary and mofl natural interpretation is 
 ufually the beflj and that we ought not furely 
 to apply a plural fenfe, unlefs in a fecondary 
 
 ^ Deut. xviii. 15. 18, 19. 
 
 * See Scheme of Literal Prophecy conlidered, p, 241. 
 
 manner. 
 
46 S £ R M O N H. 
 
 manner, to a paflage which is wholly iingular, 
 and capable of a very juft explanation as fuch. 
 If any doubt can remain, of whom the di- 
 vine oracle fpeaks in this place, the language 
 of St. Peter in the third chapter of the Adls 
 of the Apoftles muft intirely remove it j for 
 he quotes this prophecy of Mofes, almoft in 
 the very words, and direftly refers it to Chrift'. 
 
 Moreover this prophet was to be like unto 
 Mofes i which none in the whole fucceffion 
 of prophets perhaps was, in any fuch degree, 
 as to call for a particular notice of the limili- 
 tude ; certainly none in which it was fo ob- 
 fervable and exaft, as it was in Chrift. Ac- 
 cordingly we find not only at the preaching of 
 John the Baptift a general expeftation of a 
 prophet, peculiarly pref^red to teach and re- 
 form mankind ; but upon our Saviour's feed- 
 ing the multitudes, and difplaying the power 
 of his mighty works, this was fo hke the^mi-* 
 racu'lous fupply of manna in the wildernefii 
 and the flreams iffuing from the ftony rock, 
 that the people immediately exclaim, Th's is' 
 
 f See ajib Adls vii. 3.7. John i. 45. 
 
.3 E R M N II. 47 
 
 t^ a tMth that prophet .pk(it JhmU come inta 
 the world ^. 
 
 Other o^Qejs of the Mefliah were prefigured 
 %t' feaft in or before the tirpeg of Mofes. But 
 he is particuUrly iafifted on as a prophet by 
 this great lawgiver, and in that character 
 mod expHcitly promifed by him to the Jews : 
 a character of the higheft importance, which 
 was not only to diiclofe the myfterious events 
 of futurity, but to reveaj to finful men the 
 whole will of God» and inflrud them in the 
 way that would kad to endlefs bappinefs. 
 
 We have hitherto feen fufficient traces 
 marked out of that particular line, in which 
 the promifed feed fliould defcend, and one of 
 the principal characters of the Mefliah delir 
 neated. And though it was undoubtedly evi- 
 dent, that the Deliverer Jhmld come out 
 of Sim> or the intended Sahatiou be of the 
 "^et&A \ yet it was a& clearly intimated, that 
 
 ^ John vi. 14. See alfoLuke vii. 16, 
 ' Johniv. 3Z, 
 
 in 
 
48 S E R M O N II. 
 
 in its efFedts it was meant to be extended td 
 the uttermoft parts of the earth. 
 
 Nor was the revelation fo far confined to the 
 pofterity of Judah, but that other nations 
 might alfo enjoy the benefits of its difcoveryj- 
 which truth I fhall now in the fecond place 
 proceed to eftablifh. 
 
 II. Not to repeat that the mercy was clearly 
 foretold to Abraham, and of courfe would be 
 tranfmitted to all his defcendants ; even fome ' 
 manifeftations of that covenant, which had 
 been promifed to our earlieft anceftors, appear 
 to have been again renewed in the firft ages 
 after the flood. A Revelation was probably 
 made to Shem, and communicated in the^ 
 bleffing of Noah, the Jirjl preacher ofrighte- 
 oufnefs ', to the new world. *' BlefTed be Je- ' 
 " HovAH, the God of Shem, and Canaan 
 " fhall be their fervant. God will enlai^ge 
 " Japheth, but will dwell in the tents of Shem, . 
 " and Canaan fhall be their fervant "." Je- 
 
 ' 2 Pet. ii. 5. ^ Gen, ix. 26, 27. 
 
 HOVAH 
 
S E R M o N a n. 4^ 
 
 liovAH was to be the God of Shem in a pe- 
 culiar fenfe; and he undoubtedly was fo, fince 
 he dwelt or tabernacltd amongft his pofterity. 
 To his defcendants as the Meffiah was to be- 
 long, fo all the fons of Noah might from 
 hence be made acquainted with it. And how- 
 ever concife was the tradition, yet it was fo 
 pregnant with important confolation, that for 
 this reafon it was probably conveyed down to 
 diftant ages, and propagated with the fons of 
 men to the remote corners of the earth. 
 
 In later times we have upon record fome 
 ftrong intimations of this expedted favour, dif- 
 tinguifliable for their extraordinary light and 
 clearnefs, and predicted by infpired men, who 
 were not of the race of Jacob. The land of 
 Uz was probably a part of the ftony Arabia, 
 and peopled by the fons of Efau, if not by fome 
 of the defcendants of Ham. And yet Job, a 
 perfeSl and an upright ' inhabitant of this coun- 
 try, comforts himfelf in the midft of his fore 
 diftrefs, with the firm faith that his Redeemer 
 
 1 Job. i. 8. 
 
 E livethj 
 
50 SERMON II. 
 
 liveth, in this triumphant languages; Oh! tbfit 
 my words were now wriUen, oh I that they 
 were printed in a book j that they it^erg gra'ven 
 with an iron pen and lead in th^ rock for ever! 
 For I know- that my Redeemer y or Deliverer, 
 liveth, and hejkalljiand at the Utter day upon 
 the earth : and though after myfkin this bqdybe 
 defrayed, yet from my flejh Jhall I fee Q&d"^. 
 The paflage is ia folemnly introduced,, and of 
 fuch ftrong import, fo fully exprefiive of the 
 life of the- Deliverer, and the exercife of his 
 glorious prerogative, to fummon mankind after 
 their refurredlion from the dead before his tri- 
 bunal, that though the moft refined wit of man 
 may have been exercifed in the acuteft man- 
 ner to pervert its fenfe, or evade its force, it 
 has been quite in vain. There feems to be 
 no other juft and confiftent fenfe-, which 
 the words will bear, confidered in their de- 
 tached, and more efpecially in their conne(^ed 
 ftate ". 
 
 "■ Ch. xix. ±1 — 26. 
 
 " See Bp. Peaifon on the Creei^ Art. XI. See this point 
 alfo moft fully proved by Mr. Peters, in his DilTert. on the boolc 
 of Job, part ii. feft. v. 
 
 I ihall beg leave to fubjoin Mr. Peters's Paraphrafe of the 
 
 25th 
 
SERMON II. §t 
 
 The time when Job lived is generally reck- 
 oned to have been fomewhat prior to Mofes j 
 an opinion whieh is not objedled to even by 
 fome of thofe who difallow the early date of 
 his book. Now if Job himfelf was the au- 
 thor of it, as the beft authorities agree, it is 
 evident that his knowledge of the Redeemer 
 could not have proceeded from the writings 
 of Mofes ! which prefumption is farther 
 ftrengthened by his intire filence with refpedt 
 to the Mofaic Law, and its modes of facri- 
 ficing. And yet as his work carries evident 
 marks within it of foch communications and 
 modes of inftruftion % as were vouchfafed to 
 the other writers of the Old Teftament, the 
 conclufion is naturail, if not neceflary, that 
 the author was divinely infpired, and there- 
 
 25th and 36th verfes. " For I know, the Vindicator of my 
 " innocence and reputation, which you have thus inhumanly 
 " attacked, now livethj and ihall live for ever ; and that in foroe 
 *• grand future period, he fliall arife to judge the dead. — And 
 " though after my ftin, which you fee fo raiferably afFefted, 
 " this whole frame fhall be diffolved and turned to daft ; yet 
 " I believe, that I ftiaU live again hereafter, as truly and cer- 
 " tainly as I do now, a'nd fliall appear perfonally before my 
 " Judge." 
 " See efpecially ch, xxxviii. i. xlii. j. 
 
 E 2 fore- 
 
5-2 S E R M ON n. 
 
 fore that the knowledge of the Meffiah Was 
 revealed to perfons, who did not belong to 
 the families of Ifrael, in the earlier ages of 
 the world. 
 
 But there is a well known prophecy, or 
 rather a feries of prophecies, in the book of 
 Numbers, which will place this matter in an 
 inconteftible light. The paflages I allude to 
 contain the predidtions of Balaam, who was 
 not only fprung from a pagan nation, and 
 therefore a Jir anger to the covenant of . pro- 
 mife^i but who was alfo a man of a very 
 wicked heart -, who preferred the wages ofun- 
 righteoufnefs ^ to the dictates of his confciencei 
 and the eXpedtation of temporal honours to the 
 fuggeftions of his underftanding, though aid- 
 ed and ftrengthened by various impulfes and 
 illuminations from God. This prophet came 
 from Aram or Mefopotamia, near the borders 
 of the Euphrates, out of the mountainous 
 countries of the Eaft, at the in {ligation of the; 
 king of Moab and the elders of Midian ', with 
 
 p Ephef.,ii. 12. « 2 Pet. ii. 15. 
 
 ^ See Numb. xxii. 5 ■ aad xxiii. 7. 
 
 very 
 
•S E R M O N II. 53 
 
 vfety wicked intentions againft the people of 
 the Lord. He was yet a wdrfhipper of the 
 true God, and acknowledged himfelf fo far 
 under his authority, as to be unable to go 
 beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do any 
 thing' as of his own mind'. He was indeed a 
 fuperftitious "worfhipper, and a wretch of the 
 moft inconfiftent condudl: though unable to 
 difobey the divine command, defirous to do 
 itj devout himfelf, yet ftudious to make 
 God's people rebellious ; mercenary, fo as to 
 labour to proftitute to the purpofes of gain the 
 gi^eateft favours of Heaven; and, under the 
 full pfofped: and defire of a future ftate of 
 hap'pinefs, a hypocrite. Yet the Almighty 
 "Was'pleafed to make ufe of fuch an inftrument 
 as this foothfayer, to cdnvey even to the hea- 
 then nations, the difcoveries of his love, and 
 the manifeftations of his favour through a 
 powerful Redeerner. 
 
 The part of his predi(5tioits, which I would 
 notice, • as more immediately relating to our 
 prefent purpofe, commences at the 1 5th verfe 
 
 ^ Ch. xxiv. 13. 
 
 E 3 of 
 
54 SERMON II. 
 
 of the xxivth chapter ; where Balaam, after 
 he had been ordered to flee from Balak, is 
 defirous to advertifc the king of Moab what 
 the defendants of Ifrael jhmU do to his people 
 in the latter d^ys ', in fome diftant ages of the 
 world, or as the expreflion is obferved moA 
 commonly to denote, in the times of the 
 Meffi^h. And he took up his pamble, his au- 
 thoritative or commanding fpeech, and Jaiiit 
 " Balaam the f on of Beor Jpeaketh, yea .the 
 " man, wha clearly djfcerneth, fpeaketh, he 
 " Jpeaketh having heard the 'words of God, 
 " and been i?ijlru£ied in th£ kno'wledge of the 
 " moji High, who faiv the .vijion of the -A-i- 
 " mighty," and though finking under it, yet 
 with his eyes open, or a clear convi£tipn of 
 the truth : ** Iwill manifeji him, but not now, 
 " Iwill make- him a blej^ng, but not nigh; 
 " afar goeth forth fnom f^cob, and afcepter 
 " fjall rife out of Ifrael, which Jloallf mite the 
 *' princes of Moab, and have dominion over 
 " all the children of Seth. And Edom Jhall 
 " be a pojj'ejfion, ^eir afp Jhall be a pojeffion 
 
 ' Ver. 14. 
 
SERMON II. 55 
 
 *' of hfs enemies, md ykael Jhall do valiantly. 
 « Tet jhaiigh'' ^e Jhall defeend from Jacob, 
 " he Jh^l dejir^ thefurvivors of the city." 
 
 Several parts of this.diftinguifhed prophecy 
 have % reference probably to David in the 
 firft place. But the whole is referred by the 
 Cfaaldee paraphraft, by all the Targums, and 
 many of the Jews unto Chrift, the fon of 
 ' l5avid, the king of Ifrael, in whom alone as 
 the whole is capable of a fair illuftration, fo 
 the moft confiderable particulars were ftri£tly 
 verified. He it was, that fhould be mani- 
 fefted in God's due time, and become a blef- 
 &n^ to mankind j who is called by St. Peter 
 the d^y-ftar % and who exprefsly ftyles himfelf 
 in the book of the Revelations, the roat and 
 the offspring of David, the bright and the 
 morning-far^ i whofe celeftial origin alfo, as 
 
 " The vau at the beginning of each of the daufes in this 
 verfe, may be rendered in this manner. The verlions diifer in 
 their fenfe of the v'ef-b 1~1'1 j but the moft ancient ^ derive it 
 from 1")* to defeend. So LXX. Targ. Onk. Samar. and Syr- 
 But VuL Arab, and the more inoderh ones tranflate as from 
 rm to ha'ue dominion o'uer. 
 
 « 2 Pet. i. 19. 1 Rev. xxii. 16. 
 
 E 4 vsreli 
 
56 S E .R M O N II. 
 
 well as his coming in the flefli was made 
 known by the appearance of a ftar "^ : He it 
 was who fliould rife triumphantly over all his 
 enemies, and fhould have dominion over all 
 the fons of men, or the children of Seth * : 
 For the diftindtion between Jew and Gentile 
 fhould ceafe under his government, which 
 fhould comprehend the kingdom of the faints 
 of the mofl, High, of which the . prophet 
 Daniel fpeaksj when the. true Ifraelites fhould 
 finally tn]oy the empire under the 'whole hea- 
 ven, and all the potentates jhould be fubjeSl and 
 obedient unto it ^ : And laflly it was He, who 
 as the defcendant of Jacob fhould by. his Ro- 
 man agent at length deflroy thofe inhabitants 
 of Jerufalem, who had furvived the former 
 evacuations of that city% and were over- 
 
 * See Matt. ij. 2, g. 
 
 * Seth was the anceftor of Noah,' and confequently the pa- 
 rent of all the inhabitants of the new world ; and' this I take to 
 be the proper fenfe of the expreffion. 
 
 ^ Ch. vii. 27. 
 
 * Bp. Patrick thus obferves on ver. 19 ; " It is likely, he, 
 •' that is Balaam, particulariy alms at fome great city, and 
 " beft fortified, the metropolis, and the ftrongeft hold in the 
 " kingdom." This city I take to be Jerufalem, and fee no 
 reafon that militates againft this application. On the contrary, 
 thedifperfionofthe Jews feems plainly pointed at in another 
 
 part 
 
^ E R M O N II. ^y 
 
 whelmed with a complete deftruftion in its 
 final cataftrophe. 
 
 Of a very Angular nature is the whole of 
 this prophecy delivered by Balaam. It is 
 perhaps in its compafs more wide and com- 
 prehenfive, if not more extenfive in its pro- 
 ipedt, than any that had been hitherto deli- 
 vered to the world ; it is therefore defervedly 
 recorded by Mofes, and finds a valuable place 
 amongft his writings. That it fhould be de- 
 part of tiie prophecy, ch. xxiii. 9. " Lo, the people fliall 
 " dwell alone, and ftiall not be reekoned among' the nations." 
 And in neither inftance was Balaam lingular ; for both the de- 
 ftraaion of the city, and the dilperfion of the people, on their 
 mpenitence and uribelief, were likewife foretold about the fame 
 period by Mofes. See Deut. xxviii. 
 
 In what manner the Edomites, or defcendants of Efau, inti- 
 mated in this prediflion by Edom and mount Seir, triumphed 
 in the deftruftion of this city, may be learnt from Pfal. cxxxvii. 
 7. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jeru- 
 falem, txihafaid, rafe it, rafe it, even to the foundation thereof. 
 See alfo the like hiftory more largely explained in the prophecy 
 ofObadJah, ver. 10 — 17. The prophecy before us appears to 
 look through the leveral prior devaftations of the holy city to 
 that final one, when it Ihould be entirely deftroyed by the fub- 
 ordinate agent of the Mefliah. The prophecy of Obadiah is 
 extended, farther, to that period, when thofe that efcape, or 
 the difperfed of the Jews, Ihall return to mount Zion, to judge 
 |he mount^of Efau, and the kingdom ihall be the Lord's. 
 
 livered 
 
58 SERMON II. 
 
 livered by this ftrange diviner at fo early a 
 period, and fo many centuries before tlje 
 Mcfliah appeared, is an argument of the good- 
 nefs of God, which is infinite* and his mer- 
 cies extended to all his works : who, though 
 he limited the promife to the feed of Jacob 
 and the family of Judah, yet would not that 
 the reft of mankind fhould be unacquainted 
 with the gracious pufpofes of his general 
 defign to redeem and iave them, and to re- 
 cover all that were toft. 
 
 Nor is it kfs obfervable that He had this 
 gracious defign in view, When he fufFered his 
 chofen people the pofterity of Jacob to be car- 
 ried into Egypt, and to fojourn there fome hun- 
 dreds of years. Egypt was at that time the flou- 
 rishing mart of a widely-extended commerce^ 
 
 ' "^ See Gen. xxxvii. 25, 28. and ch. xli, 42, 56, 57, The 
 ftores of Affyria and even of India were probably conveyed to 
 Egypt by the Arabians, or merchants of Midian, or poflibly 
 by fome of the Indians ihemfelves. Qreece was peopled in 
 a great meafuj-e by migrations from Egypt ; as Mr. Bryant 
 has illuftrated in his Obferv. on the Plagues. The fame author 
 alfo thus remarks, at p. 1 3.0 : " The ruin of their barley was 
 " fatal, in refpedt of their trade ; for Egypt feems very early 
 " to have been the granary of the world." 
 
 Hither 
 
SERMON II. 59 
 
 Hither probably the ftores and riches of 
 India were conveyed, if not through the Red 
 Sea, at leaft by the channel of Niniveh, and 
 the territories of Allyria, or of the ancient 
 Elamites. In this country what lefs could be 
 expe£bed than that thofe who inherited the 
 promifes fhould make known the will of God's 
 favour to men, fhould publifti his Jwuing 
 health among all the nations ' ? 
 
 Many very remarkable events took place, 
 whilft the Ifraelites were detained in this feat 
 of bondage. In this time Jofeph lived, and 
 difcovered in fundry traits, of his own charac- 
 ter a lively type and figure of the future de- 
 liverer. In this time Mofes was born, and 
 miraculoully prefer ved from death by a hea- 
 then princefs, and trained up under her foftering 
 care, £0 as to be properly qualified to becorne 
 the deliverer of his people. In this country 
 alfb many mighty works were perfbrmed, 
 which difplayed the fovereign hand of God, 
 diftinguifhed in fparing and relieving his fer- 
 vants, and punifliing his enemies. Here that 
 
 * Pfal. Ixvii. z. 
 
 fignal 
 
6o SERMON II. 
 
 llgnal miracle was exhibited, which gave'oc- 
 cafion for the inftitution of, the jiaflbver i and 
 in Egypt was flain the firft pafchal lamb, on 
 the evening that preceded the departure of 
 the Ifraehtes from the land of their flavery^ 
 This facrifice, it is true^ was exprefsly ap- 
 pointed with a reference to their efcape j yet 
 the Jews themfelves confidered it with'ia pro- 
 fped: to a future enlargement^ a more glorious 
 deliverance by the Meffiah ; and the redemp- 
 tion itfelf, w^ith moft of its appendant circum- 
 itances, ireceived a full ahd genuine illuftration 
 in the facrifice of our paflbvfer Chrift. 
 
 What new fcenes of prbtedtion and wonder 
 were continually difplayed'foon after the de- 
 parture of the Ifraelites from Egypt ?' when 
 God divided the fea, that his people might 
 pafs through, and brought back the accumu- 
 lated waters on the heads of their enemies*; 
 when he condudled them in the wildernefs, 
 and carried them to mount Sinai, to be wit- 
 neffes at the grand folemnity of the manifefta- 
 tion of his law, at the diftance of^juft fifty 
 
 f See Exod. xii. s Pfal. Ixxviii. 13, 53. 
 
 days 
 
S:E R M O N II. 6i 
 
 days from the inftitution of the paflbver j 
 when the whole mountain was in a fmoke, 
 and felt a violent concuffion in the midft of 
 thunders and lightnings and voices '' ; when 
 the divine Majefty condefcended in this awful 
 manner to accommodate himfelf to the fenfes 
 of his people, and to be prefent at a con- 
 ference with them, in order to bring them 
 to the knowledge of his truth and the obe- 
 dience of his will. 
 
 In this great defert which the Jews had now 
 entered they were fulFered to wander forty 
 »years * ; where they had encounters of various 
 forts with the neighbouring nations, where 
 they had alfo frequent manifeflations of the 
 divine prefence and power, and atfome times 
 of fo tfemendous a nature, that Mofes was 
 obliged to interpofe as a mediator between God 
 and them. And before their efcape from this 
 terrible wildernefs, one fevere calamity befell 
 the people, from which they were relieved by 
 
 ' Exod. xix. 
 
 * See Numb. xiv. 33. Pfal. xcv. 10. Deut. viii. 4. 
 
 a remedy. 
 
62 SERMON II. 
 
 a remedy, which could not but remind them 
 of their £o often promifed remedy againfl fin. 
 T/je Lordfent fiery ferfents among the peofU^ 
 which wounded them with a mortal bite. 
 And when the people confeffed their fin, and 
 prayed that the ferpent might be removed; 
 the Lord directed Mofes to ereSi a fiery ferpent 
 upon a lofty pole '', that all the people of the 
 camp might fee it, and that every one that 
 looked to it fhould live. 
 
 The ferpent was an emblem of the firft 
 deceiver of mankind : and the lifting up of 
 this ferpent \ according to our Saviour's in- 
 fallible interpretation, was a type of the man- 
 ner in which the Redeemer of the world would' 
 be lifted up, to dejlroy the works of the devil^t 
 and to draw all men unto him ". And as the- 
 author of the book of Wifdom obferves, " He 
 " that turned himfelf towards it, was not 
 " healed by the thing which he faw, but by 
 " thee, that art the Saviour of all °." This 
 
 ^ Numb. xxi. 6, 8. ' John. iii. 14. 
 
 "> I John. iii. 8. " John xii. 32. 
 
 " Ch. xvi. 7. 
 
 fad 
 
S E R M Q N 11. 63 
 
 fad: feems to have been fo well known and un- 
 derftood by the neighbouring nations, that the 
 wopfliip of the ferpent biscame prevalent and 
 general i and in India, as an ingenious tra- 
 veller relates, they fet up an idol, in the form 
 of a wreathed ferpent, upon a pole fix or ftven 
 feet in height, which was folemnly worfhipped, 
 and carried with the people in their travels, as 
 an objedt of their conftant and daily ado- 
 ration''. 
 
 Upon the whole, from a review of that 
 providential fcheme which has been hitherto 
 touched upon, it appears, that in, the earlier 
 ages of the world a remedy was difcovered 
 for Sin, and this difcovery made known. in a 
 competent meaTure to mankind. After the 
 difperfions of the fons of men it is probable, 
 that, from the ignorance, inattention, or favage 
 barbarity of fbme of the diftant emigrants, 
 the chief of thefe traditions might have been 
 obfcured, forgotten, or loft. And this muft 
 
 f See Tavernier's Travels in India, and Patrick on Num- 
 'bers xxi. 9. 
 
 make 
 
6j. SERMON 11. 
 
 make it feem expedient, that the memory of 
 them ihould be revived by fubfequent re- 
 peated revelations, ferving to atteft and con- 
 firm the former, and communicated to fomc 
 perfons, either as a reward for their virtue, 
 or rather as being beft adapted, from their' 
 connections, habits, fituation, or other cir- 
 cumftances, to convey and perpetuate the 
 merciful intentions of Providence to the reft 
 of the world. 
 
 To us on whom the light hath fhone in its 
 full luftre, and compared with whom the for- 
 mer ages lay in darknefs, if our gratitude 
 fhould in any proportion be commenfurate 
 with our benefits, our light would/ojhme before 
 men, that they might from hence be induced 
 to glorify our Father who is in heaven '. But 
 to thofe who lived in the comparatively dark- 
 ened times, if they duly improved the know-' 
 ledge and talents, which they, were, or might 
 have been, poflefled of, fufiicient intimations 
 of a happy deliverance were probably given to 
 
 9 Matt. V. 1 6. 
 
 all, 
 
SERMON II. 6s 
 
 all, either by the traditions of God's word, 
 the manifeftation of his wonders, or at leaft 
 by that fhelter, which every good man might 
 take, in the due contemplation of thofe mer- 
 cies difplayed in the common bleffings of 
 his Providence, in the ordinary works of his 
 hand. 
 
S E R M Q N III. 
 PART I. 
 
 Acts iii, 24. 
 
 Tea, emd all the prophets- from Samuel, and 
 thofe that follow after, as many as have 
 fpoken, have likeisxife foretold of thefe days. 
 
 1 
 
 ■^ H E ftate of the people of God before 
 the coming of Chrift will naturally 
 fall under a threefold divifion ; the forrripr of 
 which may terminate with the giving of the 
 kw of Mofes and the eftablifhment of the 
 J^wifli commonwealth ; the feeond with the 
 Babylonian captivity and the extinction of the 
 kings J and the third maybe carried on till 
 the fettlem^ent of the Meffiah's kingdom," 
 when the Jewifh polity ceafed, at the utter' 
 qveriion pf the city and temple of Jerufalem. 
 
 Fa We 
 
68 SERMON III. 
 
 We have already feen, that the prophets 
 before Samuel, or of the firft period, have 
 fpoken of the days of the Meffiah ; and have 
 contemplated thofe earlier intimations of the 
 deliverance from fin, which fhould be effeft- 
 ed by that illuftrious prophet, who was -to 
 defcend from the feed of Abraham in the line 
 of Judah. 
 
 About the time that the law of Mofes was 
 communicated to the Ifraelites, or between 
 that time and their fixed fettlementin Canaan, 
 the interpofitions of the Almighty were fo 
 frequent, his wonders fo mightily difplayed, 
 and the continuance of his extraordinary 
 favours fo permanent, that during the prefi- 
 dency of Jofliua and of the Judges, God him- 
 felf might be confidered as in a more^ efpecial 
 manner the governour of the people ; and no 
 new arguments of diilant redemption or com- 
 fort could feem wanting to thofe, who lived 
 under fuch an immediate theocracy. How- 
 ever therefore the Mefiiah might be fh'adow- 
 ed forth in the images of perfons, whofe lives 
 and charadters correfponded in many inftances 
 
 with 
 
SERMiON III; 69 
 
 with his; and however the. general fchdme 
 of ;God's difpenfations might have :been car- 
 ried on, as it all along appears to have been 
 through the times of the Old Teflaojent, 
 with a view to the, great defign of his ^ppgar- 
 ance, yet we ar,e, not to Wonder, if during this 
 term the exprefs predidtions conc'erning him 
 are lefs frequent, than in thbfe that preceded 
 or followed it. 
 
 (b 
 , But in the days of Samuel, when the word 
 of the Lord had .begun to be precious and 
 rare *, this rebellious progeny of Abraham, 
 difcontented with their prefent government; 
 -and eager pethapi? for a premature enjoyment 
 of their promifed bleffing, defired a kingw 
 So God gave them a king in his anger, .and 
 took him away in his wrath^. Yet in his ftead 
 ^e raifed up another, his chofen ilbrvant Da- 
 yid, who fhould fulfil all his will ; whom he 
 took from the humble occupation of a fhep- 
 herd, that he.mighty^^^ yacob his. people, and 
 Ifrael Ms inheritance '. 
 
 » I Sam. iii. 1. , '' Hof. xiii. ii. See Aftsxiii. ?2, 
 ' Pfel, ^jHCviii. 71. 
 
 F 3 And 
 
76 E R M O N III. 
 
 And now the defigiiS of i^^tMertefe 6oti* 
 cgffling the fature redemptioa of amftkind 
 appear to have been farther UinraVeHed* That 
 the Meffiah {hoUld hold a fceptef, and rdgn 
 as a mighty fovereign, had been readilj? eoft- 
 cdved and admitted by thofej wboMdfim 
 their Vi<ftoriou^ leaidi&rs furmoUfniiftg all to^D" 
 fition, and entering triiimphaiAtify ittto a la*id 
 overflowing with the richeft pi^my. 1q« 
 they had received as yet only imperfedl hints, 
 ^at He fliodld live in a humble and abjedt 
 ftate, be obliged to' undergo many hardfhips, 
 and faiifei" many indignltJesJiJMbdfore .&b could 
 afiwe. at his glory. In ortier Co reconcilfe 
 tJbem to thefe things, here is a powerful tmo- 
 narch exh'ibitfed before thfenb, paffing ihFOiugli' 
 theloweft abyfs of trouble and mifery, before 
 he Gould reach the fummit sof iiis dignity j 
 and even vJhen viSloridus, and. feajfeed on his. 
 biigdoiti, ftill expofed to infults, reviled, atod 
 cuffed by thoie,; who enjoyed ilTts iproteiflaoii, 
 and wei-e fevOured with hrs love. 
 
 What can be a more cohvincing argument 
 than example ? What more likely to ^prepare 
 
 - '•• the 
 
.SERMON III. 7j 
 
 tfae tnind for the reception of unwelcome 
 teuths, than to (fee the force of them adtually 
 ■di^ayied in the life of a perfon, trained to 
 j>yJe by fubjeftion, .and raifeql to the higheft 
 honours by fubmitting to the mc^ painful 
 and degrading diftreffes ? The minds of the 
 f>epple SKere to be conciliated to thi^ contraft, 
 ^A ^iftiet^foiiie^ ito coni/ince 'liia'^Je(^, how 
 ^eat a iiaarQurite tof Heaven this prince was, 
 T'&e J,twd.hai.h faiorn to him m truth ^ Of the 
 fruit of ti^ iody 'will I fit ttpon thy throne'^. 
 
 ^^^ocordingjy we &d the name of jDavid 
 ^erfeed foy feveraLprp^ets in 'the Old Tefta- 
 irteat to -Him, who in \the New is called the 
 ^on ofJDiaMd\ And ithe parent or ance:ftor 
 was fo jlflivsely ii d^ipe and -emblejin of this Son, 
 .ihst ^ feeced .oraeleis, when ,fhey J^ak of 
 jthc 'former, are frequently to be underftood, 
 ais j^dwfting truths applicable to -the latter. 
 Mapy.fpaflages in *he bodk.of l^l^lms are thus 
 appKed -by the writers of the -Mew'T-efta- 
 
 "" Pfah cx^xii. ii» -See ^Ifo Ifa. xi. i^ Jer. Xxiii. 5. Pfal, 
 Ixxxix. 3, 4. 
 
 * Matt. jx. 27. XV. Z2. Mar. xw. 35. 
 
 F 4 laent: 
 
72 SERMON III. 
 
 ment : And our Saviour himfelf, when cxv 
 piring on the crofs, adopted thofe emphatical 
 words of David at the beginning of the xxiid 
 Pfahti, My God, my God, nsihy haji thou for- 
 foken me I* 
 
 , Indeed, the whole of this and of fome other 
 Pfalms, where David is fpeaking of his fuf- 
 ferings, and where alfo he is fpeaking: of the 
 glories that would attend himfelf or his Son, 
 muft be prefumed to look beyond the . firft 
 application, beyond the then king of Ifrael, or 
 his fon Solomon, to Him whofe kingdom 
 fliould not be confined to Ifrael, but extend- 
 ed yr(?wy^<2 tofea, and from the. river unto the 
 ends of the earth \ So that although thofe 
 that faw him in his affli(5ted ftate fhould /j«^/& 
 him tofcorn^, fhould give him gull fr meat, 
 a^d vinegar to drink '', and infult him Iwith 
 cruel mopkings; yet in the reverfe.of the 
 fcene all kings Jloould fall down before him, all 
 nations Jloouldferve Mm : His name Jhould en- 
 
 f Pfal. Ixxii. 8. i Pfal. xxii. 7. 
 
 •> Pfal.lxix. 21. 
 
 dure 
 
SERMON III. 73 
 
 dure for ever ; and all nations JhouU be blejfed 
 in h'm, andjhmld call him blejfed '. 
 
 The ancient Jews ftill conceived and ever 
 entertained great prejudices againft a fufFer- 
 ing Meffiah, which rendered them unable to 
 difcern the true meaning of thpfe paflages 
 which related to his affliftions. But they 
 could readily difcover the myftical fenfe of 
 the oppofite fort that fppke of his glories. 
 They could moreover apply them conftantly 
 to his exaltation, and eagerly feek after fym- 
 bolical expbfitions " for this purpofe \ as the 
 
 * Pfal. Ixxii. II. 17. 
 
 * Dr; Barrow has fome very judicious obfervations in' his 
 2d vol. Ser. XIX. on the Nature of* Types and Prefignifica- 
 tions of the Meffiah ; from which I have extra£led the follow- 
 ing J>a(rage, as more immediately relating to our prefent 
 purpofe : . 
 
 " Neither are thefe things only faid according to fuppofi.- 
 *' tions aiTumed in the New Teftament> but they agree (as 
 " to their general importance)' to the .fenfe of the antient 
 " Jews, who did conceive fuch myfterious references often to 
 " lie couched under the letter of the Scriptures. Theyfuppofed 
 " a Midralh, or myftical fenfe of Scripture, which they vfery 
 " ftudioufly (even to excefs commonly) did fearch after. It 
 "was, as Lud. Capellus affirms, a confident, and conflant 
 " opinion of their DoAors, that all things-in the law of Mofes 
 " were typical, and capable of myftical expoJition. And 
 '• Philo's writings, compofed in, or immediately after our 
 
 " Saviour's 
 
74- S E R M O N IIL 
 
 writings of the earlier times abundantly'' 6e^ 
 monftrate ; and as tlie appiic-ations in the 
 New Teftament muft alfo make probable j 
 fince the ApoftleSaiid Evahgelifts would fearce 
 ■have ufed the fbveral citations in tte fcnife 
 they did, unlefs they had known fudh Jnter-* 
 pretations to be approved by thofe to Whom 
 they addreffed themfelves. '■' 
 
 But' though feme of the writings of David 
 W-e applicable to the Meffia^i, dhtefly -in a ^e- 
 ■ccwdary fen-fe, or looking through 'the type or 
 *i0ipy, are confirmed and fiifly fufeftatitiated 
 only in the grand original ; yet there are others 
 that look forward direiSly to that glorious 
 King, who was ih a moft peculiar fenfe the 
 anointed of God.; and which, difdaining jas it 
 Were the help of a refemblance, trace out the 
 unveiled ftate and mo'ft appropriated charac- 
 ters of the Redeemer. Of ,iliis £ozt I diake to 
 iDe the whole of the cxth f* fSlm j which, as it 
 ,defcrihes two of the moft ^iftinguiflied offi<:es 
 
 *' Saviour's time, are a jplain. confirmation of what 'he faith : 
 " -we haveialfo feveral inftances and intimations thereof 'in the 
 '" .'New -Teftament." See Matt. -xzL g. 4-z. and-xxii. 32. 42. 
 
 of 
 
S t R iM O N IIIw y^ 
 
 ©IF tbe'MeiOiali, ae h ipeaks of h5^ in fuch 
 varied terms, of the moft hon®uf*dl)M digftitj^ 
 and profound humiliation, and as it may give 
 US an appottutiity of thitswing fome^Ti^t-on 
 his high original, I fhall beg learb to' offer in 
 the foll6*^i3g ex^oiition and commtnt. 
 
 The former part of "this Pfalrh'is afcribed, 
 by "Chfi'ft himfelf to David in the xiith chapter 
 of St. Mark ', and therefore we cannot hefi- 
 tafe to pronounce liirii tlie aut'hor of it j and 
 tllougli fdme few Chaldaifms are difcoverable 
 in it, -as we fhaH prefentTy fliew, we muft 
 p't^funie't'hey crept in at later times. As little 
 douta alfo can tfe made in the application of 
 it, fitrcfe our Lord "" hath declared that it was 
 %)ken of Chtift, and fes A'poftles St. "Peter " 
 and St. f*aul ° app^y -it in the "very famis 
 mafliier. - ' "' ' - ,' • 
 
 The Pfalmift begins with proclaiming the 
 royal majefty and tranfcendent dignity of the 
 Meffiah J Tor tliougli 'he was to be the Son of 
 
 ' Ver. 36. " Matt. xxii. 43, &c. 
 
 ■'AAs^-ii. 34, 35. "i Cor. XV. 25.''Heb.'i.'i3. andvr6. 
 
 David, 
 
76 SERMON III. 
 
 David, yet David himfelf ftyles him his 
 Lord, faying, 
 
 I. Jehovah /aid to my 'Lo'&.T>iJit on my right 
 handi 
 Hill I make thine enemies thy footfiooL 
 
 To fit on the king's right hand denotes the 
 highefl: place of worldly honour ; and what 
 honour can be comparable with, his, who is 
 feated at the right hand of the King of all kings » 
 and Governour of all things^ «* In fuch incon- 
 ceivable ftate the Meffiah was to be placed, 
 to receive his invefliture into his mediatorial 
 kingdom; and in this fupereminent dignity 
 he was to continue, till all things fhould be 
 fubdued unto him, and all enemies fhould be 
 put under his feet ; till he fhould refume that 
 fovereignty, of which the Pfalmifl fpeaks thus 
 in the xlvth Pfalm, T!hy throne ^ O Godt is for 
 ever and ever '. 
 
 The actual commencement of this kingdom 
 upon earth fhould be among the Jews i 
 
 P Prayer ia time of war and tumults. « So Heb. i. 8, 
 
 For 
 
SERMON III. 77 
 
 For 2. J^nov AH fendet^ the rod of thy power 
 outofZion, 
 Which ruleth in the midji of thine enemies : 
 
 Here the ftaff or enfign was to be fet up, 
 from whence fhould iflue all that virtue ot' 
 fovereign grace, which ihould drufli the whole 
 kingdom of the powers of darknefs 3 from 
 whence he {houldfmite the earth with the rod, 
 or blaft, of his mouth, and with the breath of 
 his lipsjloould hejlay the wicked one \ 
 
 But though his dominion upon earth fhould 
 begin at Zion, the influence of his covenant 
 and grace would commence in the eternal de- 
 cree before the world began : for thus I ap- 
 prehend we fhould tranflate the next verfe. 
 
 ^3. With thee do I make a nioluntary offering in 
 the day of thy power on the ' mountains 
 of holinefst 
 
 ' Ifa. xi. 4. 
 
 ' On the mountains. niDD. So upwards of forty MSS. 
 and among them the ancient Bodleian : the prefent text has 
 »"nn3 in the beauties. 
 
 Befo 
 
 ore 
 
78 3 E R M O N HI. 
 
 Before ;i^k& -Htiomk^ before the k^efikin^rt^ 
 the morning ", / begat the,- ■ 
 
 I muft beg leave to obferve on this difficult 
 paffage'i iHat there are two words in thia 
 verfe afualfy rendered as nouns, whieh I take 
 to be verbs of the firfl perfon in the preterif 
 tenfe j the latter " is, fa rendered by the Sep- 
 tuagint;^and the former, I make a free^'mili 
 6§ering ", I conceive to be of the famq fcwm. 
 
 ' See a like expreffion, Jer. i. 5. 
 
 " See Ifa. xljii. 13. There the expreffipn is t31*n, 'before 
 ' the day wa^ ;' here intl'D, ' before the morning.' 
 
 * "irn^> efivnia-ix. at. ' I begat thee.' Very many MSS, and 
 fome ancient agree with LXX in this word, and read ^*^l'^^* ■ 
 
 f ^3^3. In both thefe words the MSS. l^our very jnuch; 
 ind in both a'Vau is introduced before the laft letter by a mul-' 
 titude of MSS. efpecialty in the prefent word. The late learn- 
 ed J. D. Michaelis once thought that this word ought to be 
 pointed as a verb in the fecond perfon fingular, Pi'3r\'i and 
 rendered cormiccas : but on feeing that 179 copies in Kenhicott's 
 collation had Vau ^before the laft letter, he changed his 
 opinion : See his Suppl. part v. Now I fufpeft the Vau is 
 only the Jod mifplaced and lengthened, and that inftea,d of 
 nmi we Ihould read *nm3, if any alteration is neceflary ; 
 but if we can allow the Chaldee form, the verb may be con- 
 fidered in the firfl perfon as it now ftands. 
 
 That the Reader may fee a few other inftances in which the 
 formative Jpd is dropped, 1 will beg leave to offer the follow- 
 ing; Pfal. Ixxxviii. 8. T/^j 'wrath lieth hard upon me f and 'with 
 
 all 
 
SERMON III. 75 
 
 though the fppmafive letter "Jod in both in- 
 ftanc^s is loft. But this is a common idiom 
 in the Chaldee language, aind may, be obferved 
 in fcv€fal parts of the Chaldee of Daniel '^. 
 And when the form of the letters was 
 chafiged, and the Chaldee charafter fubfli- 
 tuted for the ancient Hebrew, I fuJTpedl thia 
 change was at the fame time introduced. 
 
 There is, I conceive, a very fmall error in 
 the prefent Hebrew text, which I have ven-. 
 tured to corredl frcMii the Greek verfkjn in the 
 beft manner I am able, and which, together 
 with the reafohs of it, may be feen below'. 
 
 all thy 'Ojanies, or breakers, / am affUBed, n'3J?, which is ren- 
 dered ufually as the fecond perfon, and pointed as fuch by the 
 Mafbra, ' Thou haft affiided »2e.' S6 again, Prov. viii. 13. / 
 fear Jehovah, / hate e'vil, pride and arrogance — ^ do 1 hate^ 
 The laft verb has the Jod at the end ; in the two former it is 
 dropped, and therefore they are miftaken for nouns by our tranf- 
 lators, and pointed alfo as fuch. 
 
 ^ See ch. ii. 25, 26. iii. 14, 15. iv. 5, &c. 
 
 * Inftead of ^D "J^, I would read in one word i>tD2^, ' for an 
 ' interruption,' by a change of the letter Caph for Beth, which, 
 before final letters were introduced, would be conlidered from 
 their fimilarity as a very fmall alteration ; and there are rtiulti- 
 tudes of inftances in which thefe letters are miftaken for each 
 Other. One MS. has ^DJ, which muft make the changcappcar . 
 more eafy. 
 
 The verb ^t3i3 is ufed very feldom in Hebrew, but often in 
 
 Chaldee : 
 
8o SERMON III* 
 
 With this little alteration the expreffion may 
 be thus rendered, ' before the darknefs was 
 * broken through,' interrupted, or ceafed, that 
 is, agreeably to the reading of the Seventy, 
 
 Chaldee : and in Ezra iv. 24. it occurs twice in a fenfe not unlike 
 what I have Jiere given it. Then woas interrupted the luork of 
 the houje of God at Jerufalem ■e and the interruption continued- to 
 the fecond year of the reign of Darius king of Perjia. The proper 
 fenfe of the verb is to ceafe or reji ; ibmetimes continually, but 
 rather occafionally ; and hence it fignifies to intermit, or he in- 
 terrupted. See C^aft. Lex. And the word ^IDiV, if the prefix 
 h be retained, may be either a gerund, or a noun. But I fufpeft 
 the troe reading is ^Da "inii'a. "inii' in its flridl and proper 
 fenfe denotes blacknefs, darknefs, or du&inefs, and hence is 
 applied to the dawning or opening of the day. And the whole 
 expreffion I would refer, with LXX. to the interruption of the 
 darknefs on the rude chaotic matter, when the firft dawn of 
 light ftruck through it. 
 
 That the prefent text is faulty I have no doubt, as it is quite 
 irreconcileable with the ancient verfions, and affords no good, 
 fenfe in the modern ones ; and perhaps the myfterious nature of 
 the fubjeft contributed not a little to the embarraffment whicK 
 might occafion the corruption. The emendation here fuggeft- 
 ed is the beft that occurs to my mind ; and whether the letter 
 of the text is rightly reftored or not, I am of opinion, from its 
 agreement with the LXX. that the general fenfe is right. 
 
 I would juft remark farther the difteretice of the expreffion, 
 when an ordinary dawning is alluded to, and this original in- 
 troduftion of it. We read ~\nmr\ XrhV ^J'» till the afcending of 
 the morning, Gen. xxxii. 24. and "in'iTI m!?i!D, yrcza the af- 
 ce:;d:ng of the morning, Neh. iv. 2i. and '^TW 'DJ/Dy3 on the. 
 eyelids of the morning. Job iii. 9. But here the allufion is to 
 the interruption of the oi;iginal darknefs, at the firft eruption 
 of the dav/n. 
 
 TTpa 
 
S E R M O N Iir. 8'i 
 
 trpo 'Eu<r<po^ou, hefore the bringing^ or ireakingt 
 in of the morning. 
 
 With this eoriftradtion there is I conceive 
 a coni^fte^t and welircgnnedted fenfe j and I 
 confefs I know npt how to make any fuch 
 fenfe from the words, as they now ftand, or 
 as they are rendered in any of the veirfions. 
 The former part of the verfe alludes to the 
 ifbliintary offering, or facrifice of the Mefliah, 
 on the mountains of Jerufalem ; on which 
 qxjc^fiofi' Jthe day of Jbis powejr would fhine 
 forth in its greateft luftre, when through 
 .d€al;h hefi^ouU deJi,rM. him -who had the 0i;wer 
 of death, and deli'oer thofe,%i}^o through fear of 
 death were all their life-time fubjeSi to bond- 
 age^. Andihe latter claufe is expreffive of his 
 eternal generation, i whereby he was thcj Son 
 of -God before all worlds; that all poie^rful 
 wifdom, ^rested from £verhjiing, fwhotii thie 
 Lordfoffeffe-din the beginning of bis way, be- 
 fore Ms marks of old" ', who alfo in the divine 
 (decree was adopted as a Mediator^ long befpre 
 
 >Heb. ii. 15. ' Prov;viu, 2I, 23. 
 
 G , he 
 
Sz SERMON III, 
 
 he was conceived in the womb ; who fhould 
 be made perfedt through fufferiiig in God's 
 due time, and, after having made his foul an 
 ,oiFering for fin, regain his original dignity^ 
 
 In confequence of this the Pfalmift pro- 
 ceeds in the next verfe to the prieftly office of 
 the Redeemer, to point out in the moft fo-, 
 lemn manner, that he was to be a prieft in a 
 peculiar fenfe ; for he would put away Jin by 
 thefacrtfice of, himfelf^. 
 
 4. JehovAh hath fw'orn and will not re^ 
 
 ji^ent, 
 ''Thou art a prieft for ever, after the ofde^ 
 of Melchifedec\ 
 
 He could not be a prieft in the. Le- 
 vitical line,' or after, the oirder of Aaron, 
 fince He as well as his anceftor Dgvid were 
 to defcend from the loins of Judah. But he 
 was to have an unchangeable priefthood, of an 
 earlier order than that transferred to Aaron; 
 
 '' Heb. ix. 26. 
 
 ' In Kennicott's Coll. this line is divided thus : 
 
 Thou art a prieft for ever, 
 
 After the order of Melchifedec. 
 
 not 
 
SERMON III. S^ 
 
 not'fubjefl: indeed to the ordinary viciffitudes 
 of time, h^xt •without beginning of days, or 
 end of life \ without predeceflbr or jfucceiTor, 
 and annexed to the royal dignity j fuch as was 
 fuited to him, who; was to bring a bleffing to 
 all nations, to be the King of righteoufnefs 
 and peace, in a fenfe far fuperior to Melchife- 
 dec or Solomon i, fince he fhoxild not only of- 
 fer a fatisfadtory atonement, but live for ever 
 to make intercejjion for ^ mankind. 
 
 The Pfalmift wojuld now intimate -the 
 triumphs of this vidprious Priefl: and King, 
 in an addrefs diredled apparently to Jehovah; 
 and one ancient MS. fupplies this word at the 
 beginning of the 5th verfe : 
 
 5. Jehovah, theJUordis on thy right hand. 
 Who woundeth kings in the day of his (or 
 ih'f) wraths 
 
 No temporal power fhall be able to fland 
 before him, but the greateft potentates on 
 earth, who rcfift lijan, and provoke his anger, 
 
 f Heb. vii. 3. 8 Heb.'vii. 25. 
 
 G 2 fliall 
 
84; SERMON HI. 
 
 fhall be fubidued unto hkn, fhatt be feruiffed as 
 with a rod of iron,, and broken in pieoefi like 
 the fragile veffel of the 'potter*. 
 
 Moreover his power fhall not be confined 
 to the prefent tranfitory fcene of thmgs, but 
 fhall be awfully difplajed in tbe final difiiribu- 
 .tion of their proper lots to the righteous and 
 the, wicked, when he fha:ll fiave completed 
 the exercife of his fovereign authority upon 
 the earth: 
 
 6. He Jhal/ judge the full number -cf fhf; 
 dead ' among the nations. 
 
 b See Pf. ii. 9. 
 
 / Verf€6. nVU «Vo.- LXX_?r^«fuo-Ei wVftara. The .word 
 ^<^0 is confidered as a vefbby fhe Veffions, which appears ra- 
 ther from the general conftrufUon of ,tfee Pftlm tp.be a noun. 
 As fuch, according to Buxtorf, it is rendered plenijmio, multh 
 tudo, or, with a view to both fenfes, may mean the full multi' 
 fade. The other word, rendered by LXX. TrlufiMra, is miAaken 
 -by'their tranflators and the-'Valg.'fer-r^iKas-; but;in the Sjsiiac 
 jan^ Arabic- is tra^flated by eadafuertt : fo.that the fenfe ofljhefc 
 yerfions as well .as the LXX. may. nearly agree with what I 
 "have offered. He^cdl judge emang the -natkns, he Jhail-fll up 
 the dead car cafes, by infufing tlieir fouls or fpirits into them at 
 the refurreflion. 
 
 Whi 
 
SERMON III. 85 
 
 WJ!is> hath Jmitten the chiefs^ over nisny a 
 country. 
 
 After he hath ftnally fubda^d" all his ene- 
 , mies upon earth, and the pfince- as well as the 
 potentates of this darkfome world, thejpirit 
 that worketh in the children of Mfobedienci * , 
 then fliall the end be j whdin the dead carcafes 
 <& dl men flaall be raifed to life, and ftand to- 
 gether for judgment before the Son of God. 
 
 To qualify himfelf for thefe folemn pur- 
 pdfe«y the clofe connesflion is finally pointed 
 at between the prieftly and the rbyai charac- 
 ters, or the humiliation df the Mefliah is 
 eonfidered as a prelude to his exaltation, and 
 
 ^ Smitten the chiefs. 'li^N") {TTO. ' He hath fmitten the chief.' 
 The term is fingalar, and, is ufed in the like form and import 
 by the prophet Habakkuk, ch. iii. 13, I underftand it either 
 of thr Prince of the powers of darknefs, called In the New 
 Teffaajjent « wompss the wicked one, and Satan, or, of the 
 apoftate {pirits in gjeneral ; whofe influence prevail^ over many 
 cbiisalef, and kept fhem' behind in the chains of idolatry, tilt 
 the kingdom of Chrift came, and was eftablifh^d on the ruins 
 <Jf the' ufufpatiort of the Devil. 
 ■ ' Ephef. iL 2. 
 
 G 3 that 
 
86 SERMON III. 
 
 that the latter would be the merited reward, as 
 well as fuitable confequence of the former. 
 
 7. Of the brook in the way he Jhall drink, 
 'therefore Jhall he exalt his head. 
 
 Like his predeceffor and emblem Elijah, he 
 fhould drink of the moft ordinary rivulet, 
 Ihould be reduced to the loweft depreffion of 
 temporal diftrefs, that he might follow hin^ 
 alfo in his triumphant afcenfion to glory "". 
 
 In this view of the pfalm, the outlines of 
 two principal chara(5ters of the Meffiah are 
 ftrongly drawn j and we muft be convinced 
 that his facerdotal office and regal dignity werq 
 predicted by David, as his prophetical charac- 
 ter was forefliewn by Mofes. 
 
 ■i 
 
 I do not mean to intimate, that either of 
 thefe charadlers was in no degree difcovered to 
 the world, till the times, in which we have 
 
 °^ The reader may perhaps like to fee the tranflation of the, 
 Pfalm without the comment, which I fhall fubjoin at the end of 
 this^fjrft part of the Difcourfe. 
 
 marked 
 
S E R M ON ^ III. 87 
 
 marked their preiignification... My defign was 
 to fhew, that they were clearly foretold in the 
 early ages. And to evince that theiy were to 
 belong to the Meffiah, I have feledted thefp 
 paffages, as affording a ftrong and undeniable 
 evidence. The predidion of Mofes is very 
 clear and decifive with regard to the prophe- 
 tical charafter, and the two others may be 
 fufficiently coUedled from the pfalm which w^ 
 have jufl explained, whatever may be the 
 fenfe of the more difficult paffages'. I rather 
 infift on thefe office?, as they are doubtlefs 
 the diflinguifhing charadteriflics of the Mef- 
 fiah. And as they are of fuch great impor- 
 tance, it will be our bufinefs to point out 
 their farther manifeflation, together with 
 other tokens of the promifed Meffiah, in the 
 latter part of this difcourfe. 
 
 ' Anthony Purver obferves on the third verfe, " there 
 " doubtlefs may be a more exaft, nay ought to be a better and 
 " truer tranflation." He fuppofes LXX underftood ^D "f? to 
 be bb'Ti the morning ftar. 
 
 For an ingenious explanation of the latter line of this verfe, 
 as it now ftands^^fee Bp. Lowth de Sacr. Poef. Hsb. Prsl. x, 
 p. 88. ' 
 
 PSALM 
 
88 SERMON ill. 
 
 Psalm ex. 
 
 (1, Jehqvah faid to my Lord, Sit oh my right hand, 
 Till I make thine enemies thy footftool. 
 
 2. Jehovah fendfefh the rod of thy power out of Zidh, 
 
 Which ruleth in the midft of thine enemies-. 
 
 3. With thee do I make a voluntgty offering in the day 
 
 of thy power, on the mountains of holinefs j 
 Before the womb, before the breaking of the mbnix 
 ing, I begat thee. 
 
 4. Jehovah hath fworn, and wilj not repent, 
 
 Thou art a prieft for ever, after the order of Mel- 
 chifedec. 
 
 5. O Jehovah, the Lord is on thy right hand. 
 
 Who woundeth kings in the day of his wrath. 
 o. He Ihall judge the full nuniber of the dead amoi^ 
 the nations'. 
 
 Who hath fmitten the chiefs over many a country*. 
 f. Of the brook in the way he fliall drink, 
 
 iThereforc fliall he ex^t his- head. ' 
 
 SER. 
 
S E K M O N III. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 FROM the early predictions of the Old 
 Teftament, we have already been able 
 to afcertain three diftinguifhed cbarafters of 
 the Meffiah, that He was to be a Prophet, a 
 Prieft, and a King. The two latter offices 
 have been illuftrated from a view of the cxth 
 Pfalm in the former part of this difcourfe j and 
 if the interpretation which we have given of 
 fome of the more difficult paffages of that 
 pfailm. be juft, thefe offices will receive fuch 
 additional light, as muft recommend them 
 with very ftriking notice and very convinc-" 
 ing evidence. In what light thefe peculiar 
 difcoveries were underilood by the gene- 
 rality of the people, to whom they were im- 
 mediately 
 
90 SERMON III. 
 
 meeliately fnade,- or how-fa«^- they- were any of 
 them fufFered to penetrate into the depths of 
 thefe fublime myfleries, there can be no occa- 
 lion for us to enquire. Probably the triie fenfe 
 and full interpretation of this, and the like 
 paflages, was referred for thofe later^ges, who 
 fhould have feen and enjoyed the accomplifhr 
 ment of the bleffings. Yet even thofe earlier 
 generations, to whom they were originally 
 revealed, were doubtlefs fufficiently enlight- 
 ened, to eftablilh their faith, and encourage 
 their hope, in a merciful Deliverer j to whom. 
 a great cloud of witnejes", as we fhall prefently . 
 fee, bore fuch ample teftimony, that nothing 
 but extreme wickednefs, grofs dulnefs,. or the 
 moft determined obduracy of heart, could en- 
 tirely refift. 
 
 Soon after the reign of David, Solomon his 
 fon built a hdufe or temple unto the Lordj in 
 which were introduced, under a kind, of veil, . 
 many emblematical exercifes and fymbolical 
 offerings, deligned to Ihadow forth the office of 
 a- Mediator; as in the law of Mofes many 
 
 , t * Heb. xii. i. 
 
 expiatory 
 
SERMON III. 91 
 
 expiatory rites arid propitiatory facrifices had 
 been inftituted for fin, which were types of 
 the truly efficacious facrifice, to be offered up 
 in the fulnefs of time by the Redeemer. 
 Both thefe charadteriftics of God's tender love, 
 together with their adjundts, dependencies, 
 and corifequences, were farther manifefted by 
 the predidlions of feveral holy men, whom. 
 God raifed up as prophets in the fubfequent 
 ages, to keep up among his people the con- 
 ftant memory of his loving kindnefs, and 
 through them to communicate to~the. nations 
 his gracious difpenfation of mercy to mankind. 
 By thefe prophets hefpake at fundry times and 
 in divers manners ", yet fo as in the end to 
 leave no traces unmarked, that might be ex- 
 pedient to difcover the true Deliverer, who 
 fhould appear among men, to thofe that with 
 unprejudiced minds and integrity of heart 
 fhould feek after the knowledge of Him. 
 
 It is, our prefent defign to attend farther to 
 fome. brighter illuflrations of thofe general 
 and more diftinguifhed offices, which have 
 
 "cHeb. i. I. 
 
 been 
 
92 SERMON III. 
 
 been already notified, as well as to the 
 leiler manifeftations of his pcrfonv chiefly 
 under the reign of the kings > or to view tlie 
 prophets exulting in their vivid difplay of the 
 future tokens of the Redeemer of Ifrael. 
 
 It was neceffary that the promifed Seedl of 
 the woman fhould be free from human defile- 
 ment; for He mifft be holyt UTsdefikdf and 
 Jefai?atefrom Jinner^ % who fhould be qualified 
 to make an atonement for the fins of the 
 world. Accordingly it was foretold by the 
 prophets Ifaiah and Jeremiah, that the Meffiah 
 ihould be born in a fupernatural manner. T!be 
 Lord, faith the latter, createth a new thing, 
 in the earth, a woman Jhall compafs a man ^ : 
 
 ' Heb. Vii. *6. 
 
 * Ch. xxxi. 22. I am aware that fome commentators have 
 underftood this paiTage in a very different fenfe : but as the ge- 
 nerality of Chriftian interpreters have referred it, with the vul- 
 gate Latin, to the miraculous conception of the bleffed Virgin, I 
 have therefore mentioned it. And I confefs, there is fuch ftrength 
 and force in forae of the terms, that I cannot but think feme- 
 thing more is meant than a mere proverbial fpeech, that de 
 tweaker Jhail difccmfit ihe^ftnnger. A new creation in the earth 
 feems language of firong import, as if fome very extraordinary 
 event would follow ; at leaft more uncommon than what might 
 be intimated by an ordinaJy proverb. The word "13 J, aftrong 
 
 man. 
 
SERMON ni. 93 
 
 And this new creation jmay be thus illuftrated 
 in cleareft language fey the former j Behold, a 
 Firgin fiall conceive and 'Bear a Son, and JhaU 
 call bis name Immanuel^, So very -fexpreffivfe 
 is the name of this child, and {o peculiar the 
 language of the prophecy, that ittnuft evi- 
 dently rdate to fome great Deliverer, expeft- 
 cd to fpring from the famil'y of David j which 
 could not be Hezekiali; as he vi^as born feve- 
 ral years before the prophecy was delivered ^ ; 
 
 man, may mean alfb a perfon of ^flinguiftied excellence, and 
 thus is ^plied to Chrift, Zftch. xiii. 7. Pfal. xiv. 4. - And 
 the term TOp3, a iiiomajt, is obferved to be no where afed in 
 a plural fenfe in "fef ipture, but ialways<to denote an individual ; 
 and, as a miracle is here ei^dentlyiiitended, may fairly be ap- 
 plied lo.tbe Virgin Mary. Npr has the verl> 33p an improper 
 -reference to the compreheniion here meant, if the expreffion 
 re,iatj: tp the conception of Chrift. Sec Pool's Syn. However, 
 if fome perfgns of deferved reputation may bp dHpofed to give 
 up this pafiage, as thinking it neither, in a primary or fe- 
 coodary. fenfe, to.intend the immaculate conception ; die other 
 from .Jfaiah .njnft clearly d^njonftrate if. J have placed them 
 both together, as in my opinion they may ferve to illuftrate or 
 &«ngthen each other. 
 
 • Jfa. vii. 14. See Bp. Lowth on the pl^ce, and Mic. v. 3. 
 
 ' The jprophecy was delivered in the reign of Ahaz, ^yho 
 reigned fixteen years, (2 Kings xvi. 2.) and was fucceeded by 
 " his fon Hezekiah, who was twenty^five years old when he- 
 began to -reign, (2 Kings iviii. 2.) and therefore was bora 
 many years before thefe words were fpoken. . 
 
 and 
 
94 SERMON III. 
 
 and could relate only to him, who is cort- 
 fidered afterwards as the Lord and Prince of 
 ^the land of Judah, or, according to the appli- 
 cation of St. Matthew, to Christ : Con- 
 cerning whom the fanip, prophet fpeaks foQp 
 after in terms of the moft ample magnificence^ 
 Unto us a child is born, unto us a Jon. is given,, 
 and the government Jhall be upon bis jhoulder : 
 And his name Jhall be called Wonderful, Coun- 
 Jellor, the mighty God, the Father oj the ever - 
 lajiing age, the Prince of peace ^. 
 
 But the falvatlon wrought by this wonderful 
 Prince was to be, or arife, among the. Jews j 
 and it was, foretold by the prophet Miea:h, 
 that this Child fliould be born in Bethlehem; 
 a circumilance fo well underftood by the Jews, 
 that when Herod had gathered all the chief 
 priejls and Jcribes of the people together, and 
 demanded of them where Chriji Jhould be born ', 
 they all agreed that it would be in Bethlehem 
 in the land of Judah, and quoted the pro- 
 phecy of Micah ' in confirmation of it. Nor 
 
 s Ch. ix. 6.,, >• Matt. ii. 4. 
 
 i Ch.,v. 2. Matt. ii. 6. 
 
 can 
 
S E ijL jyi O N "III. 95 
 
 can liforbeaT' to >hint In ' ho^!«;r remarkable*' a 
 manner, and by what^unexp^^etd a,nd im,pro- 
 bable means, 'this circumftance was accom- 
 jf^iihedj -which muft be notorious to every- 
 one, who has reflefted on the.hjft.Qry record- 
 ed in the former part of the fecond chapter 
 of St. Luke. 
 
 ♦ ■ ■ ' -■ I 
 
 I 
 
 ': : Yet ftlll the nations were to behold i&e 
 brightnefs of his rijing^ -, and thus it was.pre- 
 difted by the prophet Hofea, and verified in 
 "as ftriking a manner, Oa? of Egypt have I 
 called my, Son^. , 
 
 Moreover, the manner of life of the Mef- 
 fiah, as well as the circumftances oLhis birth, 
 were minutely defcribed by the prophets. He 
 jhould grow up like a tender fucker ^ and like a 
 root from a thirjiyfoil: He hath no form, nor 
 any beauty that we Jhould regard him ; nor is 
 his countenance fuch that we Jhould dejire ^him \ 
 idefpifed and rejeSied. of men, a man of for " 
 rows, and acquainted with grief; fo that, we 
 thought him judicially Jiricken, fmitten of 
 
 'Ifa. Ix. 3. •» Ch.xi. I. 
 
 God, 
 
96 SERMON IH. 
 
 God, and dffiiSled''. He would be trcateicl as 
 a wormy and not as man, be the reproach of 
 men, and dejpifed of the peopIe° i infomuch 
 that he fhould become a flra^ger to Ms bre- 
 thren, and an alien to his mother's children '. 
 And yet, fo commanding was his influence, 
 that his force fliall not be abated, nor broken, 
 iintil he hath firmly feated judgment in the 
 earth, and the diftant nations fhall earneftly 
 wait for his law '. 
 
 Ifaiah like wife fpeaks in the moft beautiftll- 
 imagery of the fruitfulnefs' -and profperity, 
 which fhould arife from this rod out of the 
 flem of JelTe, this branch of David j when 
 the fpirit of Jehovah fhall reft upon him, 
 and-^he earth fhall ie full of the ^nowfedge of 
 the Lord, as the waters cover the depths tf 
 the fea\ 
 
 In another place he thus defcribes his pro- 
 phetical charader; " Jehovah hath anointed 
 
 ■* Ifa. im. 2, 3.. " Pial. xMi. 6. 
 
 P Pfal. Ixix. 8.. *! See Bp. Lowth on Ifa. xlii. 4/ 
 
 ' Ch. xi. in Lowth's Tranflation. 
 
 te 
 
 me. 
 
SERMON III. 97 
 
 *• me, to publi(h gUd tidings to the meek hath 
 *• he fent me J to bind up the brokenohearted; 
 " to proclaim to the captives freedom, and 
 ** to the hounden perfqcS liberty, to proclaim 
 *• the year of acceptance with Jehovah '. At 
 ** whigh time fhall be wjelofedl the^ eyes of 
 ** the blind, and the ears of the deaf (hall be 
 "opened* when the lame {hall bound like the 
 ** hart, and the tongue of the dumb (hall fing'." 
 In like .manner the prophet Jeremiah defcribes 
 him, as introducing new overtures of grace to 
 /mankind : Behold, the days come, faith Je- 
 hovah, that I will make 'with the houje of 
 Ifrael a new covenant ; and I will put my law 
 into their inward parts, and upon their hearts 
 will I write it j and I will pardon their ini- 
 quity, and remember theirfn no more ". The 
 prophet Ezekiel feems to have added the rite 
 of initiation into this new covenant ; T^hen 
 will I fprinkle clean water upon you, and ye 
 foall be cleanfed from all your defilements'- -^ I 
 
 'Ch.lxi. i,a. ' Ch.xxxv. jj, 6. 
 
 " Jer. xxxi. 31. Dr. Blayney's Tranfl. 
 
 " So Ifa. lii. 15. He Jhall fprinkle many nathns. The legal 
 purifications are probably alluded, to in the firll place ; as when * 
 ths Levites yvcre feparated and cleaftfed by- the water of puri- 
 
 H iieation. 
 
98 SERMON III. 
 
 will alfo give you a new heart, and a neivfpirk 
 will I put within you, and caufe you to walk 
 
 lication. Num. viii. 6, 7. or, when the water of reparation 
 was fprinkled upon the unclean perfon to cleanfe him. Num. 
 xix, 18, 19. But by comparing the palTage with thofe iri the New 
 Teftament, where mention is made of baptifm, in order to 
 wafh away our fins, and as a facramental inftitution previoufly 
 requifite to the remiffion of them, there can be little doubt, 
 but this facred rite was alfo here intimated. And probably 
 the Apoftle alludes to this paffage, Heb. x. 22, 23. where he 
 exhorts believers to ha've their hearts fprinkled from an eml 
 cqnfcience, and their bodies luafhed 'with pure 'water : or, as the 
 words may more ftriftly be rendered, ' fprinkled as to their 
 • hearts from an evil confcience, and waflied as to the body 
 ' with pure water.' The expreflions in both claufes I conceive 
 to be nearly equiva,lent : for there is certainly as much reafon 
 that the heart fliould be thoroughly cleanfed, as, there is for 
 the cleanfing of the body. The prophet's expreffion feems to 
 comprehend both, ' Ye fliall be cleanfed from all your delile- 
 ' ments.' And I imagine the Apoftle means to allude to th^ 
 twofold method of baptizing in the church of God, either by 
 putting the body into water, or by fprinkling or pouring wa- 
 ter upon it. 
 
 The moft general fenfe of the word Ban-Ti^u is to luajh. See 
 Mar. vii. 4. Luke xi. 38. Heb. ix. 10. and it may be ap- 
 plied either to the waftiing the whole body, or' a part of it j 
 either to a total immerfion, or a more iparing ufe of water. 
 Nor am I aware, that it can be proved from any direftly de-- 
 cifive words of fcripture, that either mode of Baptifm Ihould 
 be adopted in preference to the other. Though I am ready,to 
 allow, that as the baptifm of adults or new converts to Chrifti- 
 anity, was doubtlefs the more frequent in the Apoftles' times, 
 the method by immerfion was probably moft ufual. Yet it 
 fhould feera that we need not to be very felicitous, apd efpecially 
 
 in 
 
SERMON III. 99 
 
 in myjiatutesy and to keep my judgment s^ and 
 do them ^, 
 
 - The language in which the prophets de- 
 fcribe a fufFering Meffiah is fo very full and 
 particular, that as the defign of it is nothing 
 lefs than to manifeft God's averfion to ftn, 
 and his wonderful difpenfation of mercy 
 to finners, fo neither can the exaftnefs and 
 ftrength of the features fuffer the portraiture 
 to be miftakcn. We all of us like Jheep have' 
 firayedi ive have turned ajide every one to his 
 own 110 ay 'j and Jehovah hath made to light 
 upon him the iniquity of us all. It was ex- 
 aSledt aud he was made anfwerable : as a 
 lamb that is led to the Jlaughter, and as a 
 
 in thefe cold northern countries, about the quantity of water, 
 when we confider that the baptifm nvhich fanieth us, is not the 
 putting aiuay the filth oftheflejh, hut the anjkxier, or ilipulation, 
 of a good conjcience tonaards God. i Pet. iii. zi. 
 
 Thofe who would wiih to fee this controverfy treated at large 
 may confult Mr. Wall's Hiftory of Infant Baptifm ; and fuch 
 as defire to perufe a fliorter, but fatisfaftory, view of the fub- 
 je£t, may find fuch a one in Archbiftiop Seeker's XXXVth 
 Left, on the Church Catechifm. What I have here offered 
 will, I truft, be fufficient to juftify the application of the pro- 
 phecy to the baptifmal rite. 
 
 y Ez. xxxvi, 25. See Bp. Newcome's Tranllation. 
 
 Hz " Peep 
 
100 SERMON III. 
 
 Jheep before her Jhearefs is dumb, fo he opem 
 ed not his mouth. By an opprejive judgement' 
 he was taken off: and yet if his foul Jhall make 
 a propitiatory facrifce. He Jldoll fee a feed 
 which JJmU prolong their days'-. 
 
 And as the hiftory of his life, fo likewiie 
 the circumilances of his death are minutely 
 foretold : 'They pierced, my hands and my feet % 
 faith the Pfalmift -, which the prophet Zecha>* 
 riah in later times thus confirms : They Jhall 
 look upon me whom they transfixed ot pierced^ i 
 for whofe price, as he elfewhere obferves* 
 they weighed thirty pieces of Jilver'. And 
 Ifaiah faith, He was numbered with the tranf" 
 greffors, and made intercefJioH fof the tranf^ 
 greffors. And yet after all, though his grave 
 was appointed with the wicked, yet with the 
 rich man was his tomb ''. His continuance 
 in the grave was Ihadowed forth, or rather 
 exemplified, in that remarkable hiAory of the 
 prophet Jonah; who was three days and nights 
 
 ^Ifa. liii. 6, 7, lo. Bp. Lowtb. = Pfal. xxii. i6. 
 
 •> Zech. xii. lo. •^ Ch. xi. 12. 
 
 '' Ch. liii. 12.9. 
 
 In 
 
S JE R M O N III. loi 
 
 in the whale's , heUly, to reprefent the time 
 that the Son of Man fhould continue in the 
 heart of the earth'. A circumftance that 
 was intimated like wife by the prophet Hofea 
 in the following language : ^ter two days will 
 ke revive us, and in the third day he will raife 
 us up ' : which words, though fpoken of the 
 deliverance of the I&afclites, muft probably 
 have been meant as a type of him, who was 
 to rife the third day from the dead. The re- 
 eeption of him after his xefurredlion into the 
 rverlafting manfions of peace and glory is alfo 
 forefhewn in that animated apoftrophe of the 
 Pfalmift at the ckfe of the xxivth Pfalm, 
 lAfi up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them 
 up, ye ever listing doors, and the King of Glory 
 fitall come in. Who is this King of Glory f The 
 Lord ofhojis, he is the King (f Glory. 
 
 The confequences that will enfue after thefe 
 kft illuftrious events are defcribed by the 
 prophets in the moft triumphant language. 
 Then it (hall follow, that the root of Jejfe 
 
 ' Matt. xij. 40. " ' Hof. vi. 2. 
 
 H 3 ivill 
 
102 SERMON III. 
 
 moill Jland for an enfign to the people^', to 
 whofe banner they fhall repair, and his reft- 
 ing-place fhall be glorious. "That the moun- 
 tain of the Lord's houfe Jhall be ejiablijhed in 
 the top of the mountains, and all nations Jhall 
 flow unto it ^ i that the Meffiah fhould fit on 
 his throne, to reign continually over th€ houfe 
 of Jacob ; that of the increafe of his govern- 
 ment and peace there Jhall be no end, upon the 
 throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order 
 it, and to ejiablijh it with judgment and with 
 jujlice from henceforth even for ever '. Wheii 
 from the rifing of the fun to the going doiion of 
 the fame, my name Jhall be great among' the 
 Gentiles, and in every place incenfe JhaU be 
 offered unto my name and a pure offering', fir 
 my name, Jhall be great among the heathen,faith 
 the Lord of hofls ^. 
 
 Thefe feveral predid:ions, and many more 
 that might be adduced, have an evident relation 
 to the Meffiah, to the defign of his appear- 
 ance, and of his kingdom. The completion of 
 
 sifa. xi. lo. ""Ifa. li. 2. 
 
 'Ifa. ix. 7. ''Mai. i. II. 
 
 fome 
 
SERMON Iir. 103 
 
 ibme of them has been pointed at, as they have 
 been offered j. of others, in the notices we have 
 already taken, and will be ft ill farther in thofe 
 we may hereafter take, of the charadter and 
 offices of Christ. And if the limits of our 
 work would permit us to attend to the hif- 
 tory of the completion of the whole, and to 
 obviate the cavils of the infidel, they would 
 furnifh a moft irrefragable argument of the 
 certainty of our holy religion, from the dif- 
 covery of diftant contingent events, in a moft 
 wonderful variety of modes and circumftances, 
 yet all, however diverfified, ^concurring to de- 
 monftrate the divine interpofition, in the 
 eftablifhment of the truth as it is in Jefus. 
 
 What has been already fuggefted will fatisfy 
 the candid, the believing mind, and may help 
 to confirm it in the faith'. And if the un- 
 
 ;j ' I think it proper to intimate here, that the argument from 
 prophecy, as well as other religious arguments, ftiould be con- 
 sidered with a twofold intention, either to confirm the believer, 
 or to refute the infidel. There are many paffages, often un- 
 derftood as prophecies, which, are of doubtful ; interpretation :■ 
 though thefe would be pf little ufe, confidered in themfelves, 
 and without a reference to more clear and exprefs prediftions, 
 yet they may receive fuch light frpmthefe, and in return add 
 H 4 fuch 
 
104 SERMON III. 
 
 believer would take a fair and full view of the 
 whole magnificent fcheme in itfelf> and in its 
 parts, efpecially in its long continued feries 
 of growing evidence, all uniting in one point, 
 and terminating in the fame grand objedt, it 
 niight overrule his minute objections, ftrike 
 
 fuch ftrength to them, as may give additional convidlion and 
 jncieafing fatisfaftion to believers, and confequently may Terve 
 t'o confirm their minds in the true faith. One would not there- 
 fore too readily give up a paffage, Vi'hfch.has been conwnonly 
 received as a prediftion, and which may have many good and 
 juft reftfons to fnpport it as fuch. Whatever indeed cannot be 
 fupported by fair argliment> or is it all inconfiftent with the 
 truth, muft undoubtedly be rejefted ; but fome things may be 
 true and certain, which we may not be able rightly to account 
 for, or under th? prefent appearances with eafe to ex-plain. 
 
 However, in our commerce with unbelievers a different me- 
 thod muft be putfued, and we muft always choofe thfe tno& te- 
 nable ground, and indeed fhould fix on no other, but what has 
 been proved, or is manifeftly fafe and fecure, that we may not in 
 ahy refpeA expofe Our holy religiOflfO the infujts of the fco'ffer, 
 the ridicule of the libertine, or the contempt of the infidel. 
 
 It can be fcarce ^leceffary to add, that difcourfes from the 
 pulpit muft furely have a toore elpecial rfegard to the former 
 clafs of men than to the latter, to the friends rather than the 
 enemies of Chriftiafiity. Where we have opportunity, we 
 fhould endeavour to do good to all men ; but our chief atten- 
 tion muft be to thofe who are qf the houfhold of faith. 
 
 For a copibus and able illuftration of the antient types and 
 prfediftions, in the perfon and offices of Jefus, fee Dr. Bawow's 
 Works, Vol. II, Serm. XVII. &c. 
 
 his 
 
SERMON III. 105 
 
 his philofophy filent, and convince him on 
 the principles of juft reafoning, or of his fo 
 much boafted philofophy itfelf. 
 
 From the compendious glance we have 
 hitherto taken of this great and important 
 fubjedt, we cannot but difcern and admire the 
 wonderful love as well as wifdom of God, in 
 thus gradually unfolding his gracious defigns 
 of mercy to his people; we cannot but have 
 reafon to exclaim with the prophet. How 
 beautiful are the feet of the joyful meffenger of 
 good tidings, of him that announcetb falvation, 
 of him that faith unto Sioni thy God reigneth'"* 
 
 To the chofen people in the firft place this 
 difperifa-tion of mercy was announced j to the 
 children of the flock of Abraham, in its earlier 
 notices, as well as in its fuller promulgation, 
 the word of this falvation was fent. But 
 though the primary language of prophecy 
 was, Jehovah hath comforied his people^ he 
 
 hath redeemed Ifrael" ; though it was judged 
 
 ,5 
 
 » Ifa. lii, 7. " Ifa, lii. 9, 
 
 expedient. 
 
io6 S E R M ON III. 
 
 expedient, that this people fhould be thus 
 fupported and cherifhed, in order to preferve 
 the knowledge and worfhip of Jehovah, or 
 a purity of religion and morals, amidft the 
 general contagion of impiety and idolatry j 
 yet ftill through the myfterious depths of the 
 divine counfels, the difcoveries made to the 
 Jews were extended widely over the face of 
 the earth, and the diftant nations were pro- 
 bably favoured with renewed atteftations of 
 the intended falvation of God. 
 
 For when the reign of the kings was efta- 
 blifhed, and the temple completed at Jerufa- 
 lem, ten of the tribes, by an unnatural fchifm, 
 foon revolted from the true worfhip of God, 
 and fettled themfelves under another ruler in 
 Samaria. Not many years after which Repara- 
 tion, Samaria was reduced and taken . by the 
 Affyrians, and the Ifraelites were made cap- 
 tives and difperfed among the nations. By 
 thefe means the knowledge of God's gracious 
 purpofes of favour to mankind was dxfFufed 
 alfo with the difperfions of his peopfe j and 
 the traditions which had been brought down 
 
 to 
 
SERMON in. 107 
 
 to the nations from earlier times, might have 
 4)een corrected and ftrengthened by frefh com- 
 munications, received from thefe later de- 
 fcendants of Jacob. 
 
 Moreover, as amongft the remnant of 
 Judah iniquities were predominant, and the 
 • idolatries of the Jews ftill called for vengeance 
 from Heaven j after Jerufalem, the holy city, 
 had fuifered various diftrefles from Egypt, 
 the king of Babylon at length came up againft 
 it, and fubdued it j the people were led away 
 into captivity at different times, and in fuch 
 vaft multitudes, that there were not enough 
 left for the ordinary purpofes of life, or to 
 cultivate the land. Even feveral of their pro- 
 phets were conveyed to Chaldea, during the 
 period of this general difperfionj and they 
 delivered their predidions there ; and fome of 
 them were publifhed in the language of that 
 country. From hence the knowledge of 
 God's merciful intentions was widely fpread 
 abroad amongft the various fubje(fts of the 
 Aflyrian empire, and communicated probably 
 wherever the fame of Babylon might extend, 
 
 which 
 
io8 SERMON III. 
 
 which was at that time as the raoft ftatelf, 
 (o one of the moil commercial cities in tht 
 world. 
 
 Thus whilft the chofen people were efpe- 
 cially remembered, the whole race of roan- 
 kind were not forgotten ; the Jewifh com- 
 monwealth, and even its overthrow, had con- 
 tributed to difleminate the knowledge of a 
 Saviour j and his merits were doubtlefs fo 
 far beneficial to the falvatiqn of thofe, who 
 had only obfcure notices of him, that through 
 him in every nation, he that feared God, and 
 wrought righteoufnefs, was accepted of Him". 
 
 * Afts X. 35. 
 
 SER- 
 
SERMON IV, 
 
 M A L A C H I iil. I . 
 
 Behold, I will fend my mejinger, and he Jhatt 
 prepare the way before me-, and the Lord 
 whom ye feek, Jhall fuddenly come to bis 
 'Temple; even the Meffenger of the Covenant^ 
 whom ye delight in-, behold, he Jhall come, 
 faith the Lord of hojis. 
 
 TT had been foretold by the prophet Ifaiah, 
 
 long before the commencement of the 
 
 Babylonian captivity, that a prince, called ex- 
 
 prefsly by the name of Cyrus *, how little fo- 
 
 * If it be Urged againft this nominal precifion, that the name 
 «f Cyrus is a fort of appellative, which was borrbwed, accord- 
 ing to Plutarch, from the Snn : Ki/jo* ya^ xoiKmi tb; lU^av; na 
 HAuw. In Artax. p. loiz. It may be replied, that moft of 
 the antient names of princes or fovereigns are honourable dif- 
 tindlons, derived from fbme eminent quality of light, heat, 
 
 power. 
 
no SERMON IV. 
 
 ever acquainted with the attributes and wor- 
 fhip of the true God, fhould yet perform all 
 his pleafure j of which a confiderable part 
 was manifefted, in faying to Jerufalem, 'thou 
 jhalt be built, and to the temple, thy founda- 
 tion Jhall be laid ". 
 
 This prince, who, 'about the expiration of 
 the feventy years of captivity, had obtained 
 the full Sovereignty over that flate into which 
 the Jews were exiled, by the divine inftigation 
 
 power, or the like ; but that this naitie was fo pectiliarly ap- 
 propriated to this prince, that he does not appear to have been 
 known by any other. 
 
 ^ Ifa. xliv. 28. It is obfervable that the prophecies of the' 
 Old Teftament are of two forts, either fuch as looked to the 
 Meffiah, to a great redemption at a very confiderable diftance, 
 which they forefhewed in a variety of views ; or elfe fuch as 
 had an earlier reference, and were fulfilled by events, more 
 near, or more remote, according to thepurpofes of Providence. 
 The defign of which latter appears to have been, either to 
 eftablifti the authority of God's mefifenger, and the difcove- 
 ries of his truth, or to encourage the hopes of thofe perfons to 
 whom they were delivered, and to raife their expeftations to 
 the future redemption, to which fome of thefe prediftions often- 
 looked forward. If we contemplate prophecy . in this twofold 
 afpeft, what a magnificent idea will it give us of the general 
 defign of the Almighty's tender regard for his rational crea- 
 tures in all ages of the world, and of his wonderful mercies 
 continually difcovered in the grand fcheme of man's redemp- 
 tion ! 
 
 pub- 
 
SERMON IV. Ill 
 
 publiflied a proclamation ' throughout his do- 
 minions, exhorting the people of Ifrael to 
 leave his kingdom, and go up to Jerufalem, 
 in order to build there a houfe or temple for 
 the Lord. For which purpofe he not only re- 
 commended to his fubjefts to fupply them 
 with immenfe treafures of various forts ; but 
 he himfelf alfo reftored to them a great abun- 
 dance of very coftly veiTels, which Nebuchad- 
 nezzar had facrilegioufly carried away >vith the 
 plunder of that afflidted city *. 
 
 But the Jews having been depreffed by a 
 long flavery, and after they were releafed from 
 their bondage, difheartened through much op- 
 pofition from neighbouring invaders, were 
 fadly remifs in the execution of this great de- 
 fign'j although furnifhed for it with fuc^ 
 munificent fupplies by the Emperor of the 
 earth, and diredted in it by the oracles of God. 
 Whereupon the prophets Haggai and Zecha- 
 riah ^ were fent to them with new commiffions 
 from Heaven, to urge them to the completion 
 of this pious work; and the Lord Jlirred up 
 
 = Ezra i. i, 3. ^ Ver. 7 — 11. 
 
 * Ch. iv. 4, J. Hag. i. 6, 5, ^ Ez. v. 1. 
 
 the 
 
112 SERMON IV. 
 
 tbefpirit of Zerubbabel the governour of fu' 
 dab, and tbefpirit of Jojhua the high-priejit 
 and tbefpirit of all the remnant of the people, 
 and they came and did work in the houfe of the 
 Lord ofhojis their God^. 
 
 Yet notwithftanding the coftly gifts and 
 large trcafures, with which the people were 
 fupplied for the rearing and furnilhing this 
 fumptuous edifice, thofe antient men, who 
 had feen the firft Temple, and remembered thp 
 former glory of this houfe, when they faw the 
 foundations of this new one, wept over them; 
 for in their eyes the latter in comparifpn of 
 the other appeared as nothing ''. Left they 
 ftiould be difcouraged from this difparaging 
 view of things, the prophet Haggai exhorts 
 them ftill to perfeverance ; and alledges an ar- 
 gument for it the moil convincing, the moft 
 forcible, and the moft exhilarating, that could 
 influence or captivate the heart of man. It 
 was nothing lefs than the actual prefence of 
 the Saviour of the world, of whom all their 
 prophets had fpoken; the coming of the 
 
 s Hag. i, 14, * Hag, ii. 3. Ez. iii. 12. 
 
 Mes-< 
 
S E R M O N IV. 113 
 
 Messiah, the Lord of Glory, to this latter 
 Hpufej that glorious Deliverer in whom they 
 trufted; in whofe day there Jhould be a foun- 
 tain opened, not only to the houfe of David, and 
 to the inhabitants of Jerufalem, but to all the 
 iambics of the c^nhyforjin and for unclean- 
 nefs^ ; behold He Jhall come to his I'emple, faith 
 the Lord of Hojis. 
 
 In our review of the prophecies relating to 
 the perfonal appearance of the Mefliah, there 
 is one very material circumftance, to which 
 we have not hitherto duly attended ; and 
 which, though hinted in more general terms, 
 even before the eftablifliment of the Jewifh 
 commonwealth ^, was referved for a more full 
 manifeftation to later ages j I mean, the time 
 of his coming. And this was to be, whilft 
 the renewed Temple flood, and a little before 
 its diflblution. It was pointed out likewife 
 with fuch minute exaftnefs in other refpedls, 
 that this one argument, furveyed in itfelf, and 
 with its concomitant appendages, mufl ferve 
 
 ' Zech. xiii. i. .> (Jen. xlix. 10, 
 
 I as 
 
114 SERMON IV. 
 
 as an ihcbnteftible clue to impartial minds, to 
 lead them to the difcovety of the true Re^ 
 demer, that fhoiild corne to Sibti, and fhbttld 
 turn away un'godlinejs from "Jacob '. 
 
 To prove this, I fhall endeavour to illlif- 
 trate a few predidlions of a more recent date, 
 or that were delivered after the termination of 
 the reign of the kings of Judah, in the earlier 
 part of that term, which may be callted the 
 third period bf prophecy. And the firft of 
 thefe fliall be the prophecy of Haggai juft 
 alluded to, in his fecond chapter, from the 
 lixth verfe to the ninth j which I fhall beg 
 leave to read in the following trahflation: 
 
 ** For thus faith JehovAh God of hofts — 
 " Yet once, it is a little while, ere I fbake the 
 " heavens, and the earth, and the fea, and the 
 *' dry land ; and I will {hake all the nations ; 
 *• and there fliall come the delire of ^11 the 
 ** nations; and I will complete upon this hbufe 
 «« Glory, faith Jehovah God of hoils- 
 " Mine is the filver, and mine is the gold, faith 
 
 ' Rom. xi. 26. 
 
 ** Jeho- 
 
SERMON IV. 115 
 
 '• Jehovah God pf hofts. Great Ol^^W be the 
 " Glory of this houfe, the latter beyond the 
 " (former, faith Jehovah God of hofts: Even 
 •♦ Jn this place will I give Peace, f^ith Jeho- 
 «• VAH God of hofts." 
 
 The great folemnity with w^hich this paiTage 
 is introduced, and the frequent repetition that 
 they are the wordsof Jehovah, piuft fyrely in- 
 timate, that fome farther meaning is intended, 
 than the mere conveyance of ftores, however 
 valuable or coftly, for building. Alfo the word 
 translated • (h^ke is of ftrong import; and there 
 feems to be meant fucha concuffionor fhaking, 
 &s we i^ead of in the nineteenth chapter of Exo- 
 du6, when at the deliveryof the Lawof Mofes 
 the ivhole mountain quaked grigatl^^ ; and the 
 repetition of the word adds not a little to its 
 energy. The like e^preffion occurs at the 
 twenty-firil verfe of this chapter of Haggai, 
 ^nd again in Ezekiel's prophecy concerning 
 
 " Ver. 1-8. -Thus Capellus ; Ad Evangelicae tub?e clan- 
 gorem totus terrarum orbis concuffus eft, Gentefque omnes com- 
 motas, faftaque eft in ipfis mira animorum converfio, quum ab- 
 jefto GcmiUfnio fideai Chriftianara func amplexs. 
 
 1 2 Gog 
 
ii6 SERMON IV. 
 
 Gog of the land of Magog, (chap, xxxvlii.) in 
 both which paflages the concuffions foretold, 
 whether in the form of earthquakes ", or in 
 the general convulfions of nature " , indicate 
 fome extraordinary changes and revolutions in 
 the political or moral world ; which fliall pro- 
 bably come to pafs at fome future period, when 
 the Lord fhall reftore his chofen people to his 
 favour, and perhaps reinftate them in their 
 own land. ■ 
 
 It is faid at ver. 7. " And I will fill, or 
 " fully introduce, glory upon this houfe -," a 
 confideration, which might afford fufBcient 
 fatisfa£tion to thofe old men, who were able 
 to remember this Houfe in its former glory, as 
 it was finiftied by Solomon, and who obferved 
 with tears the commencement of its renewed 
 flate. They could not expc6t to fee again thofe 
 myfterious decorations of the former temple, 
 fuch as the Urim and Thummim, the Ark of 
 the Covenant, the Glory of the Shechinah 
 between the Cherubims, or the Cloud which 
 
 " See Rev. vi. 12. " Heb. xii. 26. 
 
 over- 
 
S E R M O N IV. ii; 
 
 overfliadowed the mercy- feat, and was a fym-, 
 bol of the Divine Prefence; but yet Jehovah 
 promifes that he w^ill complete Glory upon 
 this Houfe, or fill it with the fulnefs of Glory, 
 than which nothing farther could be wanting, 
 to fatisfy the minds and expeftations of good 
 and reafdnable men. 
 
 At verfe 8. I would follow the interpreta- 
 tion of thofe who underfland the paflage, as 
 if the Almighty intimated, that he flood in 
 need of none of the things there mentioned j 
 or that his treafures were of a higher and more 
 valuable nature, than the moft magnificent 
 flirines, with their moft fumptuous furniture "". 
 Thus this folemn apparatus feems defigned to 
 u(her in the declaration, or perhaps prophetic 
 benedidtion, contained in v. 9. the caufe of 
 which was previoufly intimated at v. 7. 1'he 
 deffe, or delight % of all the nations Jhall come ; 
 
 P SeePf. 1. 10—12. 
 
 ■J Whether the word be Angular or plural, it may have one 
 of thefe fenfes ; deliciic humani generis. Here the bleffing is 
 promifed to the Houfe in general ; the limitation comes after- 
 ■ wards. 
 
 I •? and 
 
ii8 SERMON IV. 
 
 • and I will fully bring upon this Hmfe Ghry. 
 IJiand not in need of thejilver arid the gold ' : 
 Tet great jhall be the Ghry of this Houfe, ih^ 
 latter above the former '. 
 
 The comparifon has ufually been j-eferred 
 to the Temple of Solomon with the new one 
 of Zerubbabel that was now building. And 
 it muft be confcfTed that the fimikrity of the 
 expreffion at v. 3. of this chapter, " Who is left 
 •* among you that &w this Houfe ' in its firil or 
 " former glory?" feems to favour this interpre- 
 tation. But furely enough was faid at v. 7. to 
 fatisfy the finking fpirits of thofe old men, 
 that were able to make the comparifon. And 
 as no unneceflary redundancy is ufually difco- 
 verable in the language, which the prophets 
 afcribe to Jehovah, I rather think the ex- 
 preffion before us has reference to th.e new 
 Temple at different periods of its exiftence. 
 
 By the latter, I would underftand the period 
 
 ' See Bp. Lowth's'Ifaiah, c. xl. i6. 
 
 ' So LXX. MiyaM 'iron i ^o|a T» oi'ks tstk, i lo^ain ior'eg-rm 
 
 ' Tiis Houfe ; for it was the Temple of God, in whatever 
 ftate of the ftrufture. ' 
 
 after 
 
,S p R M O N IV. Jig 
 
 after riie Rebuilding the Temple by Herod the 
 Gte^t. T^e former glory flialLbe conliderable, 
 or jrhe glory of Zerubbabel's T,emple before 
 fhe time of Herod, when it fhall be enriched 
 .\yjth abundance of ,lilver and .gold, and a va- 
 riety of valuable ,treafures j bpt the latter glory 
 jQifill exceed it', Jar m,th's Pla,ce, not in this 
 House, will I ^ive Peace. The qliange of 
 ,the term Ho^fe fpr Plape feerns intended in 
 fi\Q diyine Pref^i^nce to point at ^he alterations 
 or renovation by Herod "j and whether the 
 Temple was rebuilt entirely from thefounda- 
 
 " I canhot forbear tranfcribing part of a very judicious note 
 pf the learned Bp. of Waterford on t|iis paffage. •• It feems 
 " to jne that, /uppcfing the Meffiah to be.prophefied of v. 7, 9., 
 " greater precifion in the language would not have been ufed': 
 " for this would have led the Jews to expeft a demolition of the 
 "Temple then building, and the erection of another in its 
 " ftead. And, as Herod's rebuilding of the Temple was a gra- 
 " dual work of forty-fix years, (John. ii. 20.) no nominal 
 " diftinftion between Zerubbabel's and Herod's Temple fe.ems 
 *' to have been ever made by thg Jews ; but in popular lan- 
 " gu^gfi, thefe ilruftijres, though really different, were fpoken 
 " of as the fame. On one occafion, Jofephus himfelf mentions 
 " only two buildings of the temple ; a former in the time of 
 " Solomon, and a latter in that of Cyrus. B, J. vi. iv. 8." 
 
 He has alfo collefted many other valuable remarks from Abp. 
 Seeker a»d, other writers on this interf^ing paffage, for which 
 ,1 mnft refer tjiie Reader to his Ex;planaiion of the Minor 
 Prophets. 
 
 1 4 tions. 
 
120 SERMON IV. 
 
 tions, or whether only enlarged to its former 
 fize in the time of Solomon, or in whatever 
 fhape it was renewed; ftill it was in the fame 
 p/ace,sind was the Hbufe which the prophecy 
 had probably in view; and which was to be 
 adorned, not with the fyrhbolical refidence of 
 'the divine Majefty, biit with the full, the 
 excellent, Glory of the Lord, the real and per- 
 fonal prefence of that Prince of Peace, w&o 
 was the brightnefs of his Father s glory" y and 
 in' whom dwelt all the fulnefs of the Godhead 
 bodily '" . . ' ' ^ 
 
 I know pf no fenfe in which the itvtn peace 
 is fo juftly applicable to the reftofed Houfe or 
 Temple of God, as that which underftands it 
 of the Mefliah's appearance. If it be Confi- 
 dered as denoting contentment, or peace of 
 mind, for a poffeffion, to every one that affifted 
 in building this Houfe, according to the LXX." 
 this in general would be the ordinary refuit 
 
 " Heb. i. 3. V Col. ii. 9. 
 
 ran mov TSTof. Thefe words are found in the Tranfladon of 
 LXX. 
 
 pf 
 
SERMON IV. 121 
 
 of a due bbfervance pf all the divine com- 
 mands: and if apy thing farther fhould be 
 prefumed to be here intended, we read of no 
 particular iadvantages of this fort, at leaft none 
 that might be confidered as at all corre- 
 fponding with the folemn circumftances and 
 language of this prophecy. Some promifesor 
 predidtions of profperity and plenty ' may feem 
 to: favour this interpretation j but as they do 
 not appear to have been adlually completed 
 by any peculiar mercies then conferred on the 
 Jews, they had more probably an eye to thofc 
 abundant bleffings that were to be introduced 
 into the vvorld by Chrift. And indeed this 
 explanation of the LXX. hasbeenjuftly con- 
 fidered as an interpplatipn, that accidentally 
 crept into their veriion '. Moreover, the early 
 and dangerous oppofition in building their 
 wall, the frequent interruptions to their 
 Temple-worfhip, and the continual wars in 
 which the Jews were involved during the 
 
 y See Hag. ii. i8, &c, Zech. viii. 12. 
 
 ^ See an able Difcourfe on the fubjeft of this Prophecy, 
 preached at Oxford in 1788, by the Rev. Dr, Blayney, Canon 
 of Chrift Church. 
 
 greater 
 
12? jS E R M O N IV. 
 
 greater- part of the period in which this fecond 
 Temple ftood, untiji its final demolition atid 
 extirpation by Titus, muft exclude the inter- 
 |>retation of national peace. 
 
 - -Bat if it be underftood of the bleflings 
 which the Meifli/aii fhould bring into tb? worid, 
 it accords with other predi&ons and teflir 
 rRomes concerning him ; a-s with that of the 
 Prophet Micah, who declares that hcj that 
 is, the Rtiler " that was to co&^t forth 
 *' from fiethlehem-Euphrata, at th^ time 
 *• that fhe that travaileth hath brought forth, 
 *• fhall ftand and feed his'floek in the -ft-rengith 
 *' of Jehovah, in the majefty of the name of 
 ** Jehovah his God ; for now fhall bc'be grfeat 
 ** unto the ends of -the earth, arnd He (ha)l 
 *'-be Peace"" By -Ifaiah he is alfo ftyled 
 the Prince of Peace, 'and he that publiilieth 
 peace: in whofe days, 'as the Pfalmift foretold, 
 the right-eeus-Jhall jkurifo^ and there Jhall be 
 abundance of peace Jo long as the moon en- 
 dureth^. This was the fubftance of the joy- 
 
 » IVTic. V. 4, ;. See Bp. Newcome's Tranflation. 
 " I'f.lxxii. 7. 
 
 ful 
 
SERMON IV. i2| 
 
 ful fong, when the heavenly Hoft uihered the 
 Meffiah into the world : *' Glory to God in 
 the higheji^ asd m tarih peace t g9od will to- 
 wards men ". Our Lord himfelf alfo tells his 
 difciples, juft before he is leaving the world, 
 'Peace I leanje with yoUj my )peace I give unts 
 you ■". And it is this peace, which by St- Paul, 
 in has ufual energy of* expreffion, is called rj&r 
 Beaee ^ofGod which fajfeth all luttder^andiag *<. 
 
 Me?r6over who cbuld fo properly be entkM 
 to the <?hara(9:«: of a m^ehger -©f peace, ds 
 he wfeo was t^3 TecGncile man to God, to de^ 
 ftroy the enmity betwixt them t^hat was oc- 
 cafioned hy ^in, to blot out the hand-iwriting 
 that was againft us, to break down the wall 
 of feparatioh, and extend his bleffings ^o all 
 'natidns, to overthirow every- adverfary, open 
 to mankind the door, and affift them in the 
 way to^eternariife and happinefs^? 
 
 * Lake ii. 14. "■ John xiv, 27. " Phil. iv. 7. 
 
 ^ Pax quam Deus hie pollicetur non eft pax qua fruiti funt 
 Judaei fub Perfarum imperjo, vel fub Affamonsorum regno ; 
 
 non 
 
124 SERMON IV. 
 
 Aad this expolition feems confirmed by the 
 Prophet Malachi in: the paflage of the Text. 
 ^he Lord, whomyefeek, .Jhallfuddenly come to 
 his 'Temple, even the Mejjenget of the Cove- 
 nant, in 'whom ye delight: behold, he Jhall come, 
 faith Jehovah God of hojls, • He who (hall 
 eflablifh a new covenant between me and all 
 mankind, whom the houfe of Ifrael ihali 
 earneftly expeft, and whom all the nations of 
 the earth fhall in fome fenfe defire, or at leafl 
 be convidtedof their want of him, he ihall 
 come on a fudden, or without any faftidious 
 parade or fuperb preparation, into his Temple, 
 the joy and delight of all mankind ', ^behold,, he 
 Jhall come, faith JehovahGod of bofs. 
 
 Accordingly, when theSaviour of.the world 
 was prefented in the temple _ foon after his 
 bjrth, good old Simeon embracing him faid. 
 Lord, now lettejl thou thy fervant depart in 
 
 non enim tanti fbit pax ilia : fed eft vera fpiritualis et interna 
 pax, quam Chriftus Ecclelia; fua acquifivit, per reconciliatio> 
 neni noftri cum Deo in fanguine fuo, quseque earn fequitur 
 tranqnillitas et feCuritas confcientise, quae omnem fuperat in- 
 itelleftum. Capellus in loc. 
 
 Peace ; 
 
SERMON iV. 125 
 
 pEACEj^or mine eyes have feen thy faha" 
 tion *. And at the age of twelve years, our 
 Lord went up with his parents to Jerufalem 
 at the feaft of the paflbver, and was prefent 
 in the Temple **, fitting among the leaders 
 of the great Sanhedrim, and difcharging the 
 bufinefs of his Father, and part of the errand 
 which he was fent into the world to perform. 
 
 There is another circumllance that ihould 
 attend his coming, which is alfo mentioned 
 by the prophet in the text, and which is of 
 too great importance to be difregarded in the 
 prefent argument ; namely, that his herald^ 
 or meflenger, fliould precede him, who Ihould 
 prepare the way before him. This, accord- 
 ing to Ifaiah, , was part of thofe comfortable 
 words, which were fpoken to Jerufalem, 
 when the intimation was given, that her war- 
 fare was fulfilled, and the expiation of her 
 iniquity accepted ; this was that voice which 
 cried in the wildernefs, "Prepare ye the way 
 of Jekov AH, make Jiraight in the defer t a 
 
 s Luke ii. 29, 30. * Ver. 46. 
 
 high- 
 
126 SERMON IV. 
 
 high'way for our God; for the glory g/' Jeho- 
 vah ^^// be reiimled, and all Jlejh Jh a II fee 
 together the falvation of God'. The Saviour 
 of all men was to be introduced into the world 
 in the manner of an eaftern monarch j and 
 however mean his own appearance niight be, 
 his harbinger fhould be fent before him, in 
 the fpirit and power of Elijah ", to open a 
 way, and prepare all things for his paflagcj 
 who fhould fbften the hardne^fs of men's hearts, 
 and dired: to the due cultivation of their minds^ 
 by exhorting them to iubdue every proud im- 
 Jjediment, by encouraging, them to repentance, 
 and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance^. 
 
 Thus was the Meffiah to enter upon his 
 important errand with the real dignity of a 
 
 ' Ilai. xl. -!, ^. 
 
 ^ See Mai iv. jj 6. " After me, fays the learned Grotius 
 " on thispaffage, you fliall have no prophet -for a long time. 
 " ,The next fhall be the harbinger of the Meffias, in whom 
 " prophecy fliall revive. He Ihall be another Elias for zeal, 
 " and counige, aufterity of life, and labour for reformation." 
 John the Baptiil therefore, in whom this gi-ft did revive, muft 
 be the Elias here meant. For all the people held John as a 
 prophet. Matt. x.xi. 26, 
 
 ' Matt, iii. z, 8. 
 
 fovereign. 
 
S E R ]Vf O N IV. 127 
 
 fdvereign, though at the fame time Without 
 Atsy 6rdifiary pottiii br fpletidour in his own 
 peffon. He was to be a King, though h's 
 kingdom was ndt of this world"" ; he was td 
 be the King of righteoufnefs and of peace; and 
 that his kittgly powdr might be rtianifcfted, 
 fo minute a circumftance as his royal entry 
 intb Jerufalem is likewife fbretold by anothet 
 prophet in thefe remarkable words : " Rejoice 
 " greatly, O daughter of Zion, flsdut, O 
 " daughter of Jerufakm j Behold, thy king 
 *' Cometh unto thee ; he is righteous and a 
 *' Saviour, lowly, and ridift^ upon an afs, and 
 " tipan a colt the fole of an afs "." 
 
 At this folemn entry the laft king of tlie 
 Jews made his appearance ; for now was Shiloh 
 come, the triumphant melTenger of peace, the 
 Lord 6f life andglory. And when the Jews had 
 put him to deathj and, according to \m own 
 predidlion, whilft he was exercifing his royal 
 authority in his Father's houfe, had deftroyed 
 the Temple of his body ° ; foon after, the ruin 
 
 ■'' John xviii. 36. " Zech. ix. 9. See Ifa. Ixii. 1 1. and 
 
 Matt. xxi. 5. ° John ii. 19, zi. 
 
 of 
 
128 SERMON IV. 
 
 of their Temple and whole ftate fo completely 
 followed, that there was not left one flone 
 upon another in Jerufalem, becaufe {he knew 
 not the time of her vijitation ^. 
 
 The concurrence of thofe various notices, 
 which have been already prefented to your 
 view, muft undoubtedly carry with them fuch 
 ftrength of evidence, as could fcarce be re- 
 fifted by candid and impartial minds; But as 
 the neceflary obfcurity in which the feveral 
 predidtions of future events muft be frequent- 
 ly involved, and fome other circumftances in 
 our prefent imperfedt view of things, may 
 leave ftill room for cavil j the exaft time in 
 which the Meffiah fhould appear, and fhould 
 be cut off, is pointed out by the prophet 
 Daniel with fuch precifion, as fills the mind 
 of every one, who has duly furveyed it, with 
 wonder and aftonifhment. 
 
 The defign of his prediction at the clofe 
 of the ninth chapter, amongft other things, 
 
 P Luke xix. 44. 
 
 was 
 
SERMON IV. li^ 
 
 was to point out the. fate of Jerufalem, the eom- 
 menqement and the downfall of that renewed 
 ilate. And from a certain definite period, at 
 wl^ich the proper building pf the city fhpuld 
 commence, feventy weeks of years, or four 
 huijdred and ninety years, were to intervene, 
 till the feveral events fpretold in the angelic 
 meffage were fully accomplifhed. The mef- 
 fe,ge feems to have beep communicated to this 
 highly-favoured propljet, juft feventy weeks 
 ofjdays, .before the termination of the Baby- 
 lo{iian captivity, and the deliverance, of th^ 
 Jews by the order, ojf Cyrus: and this pe- 
 riod was probably meant „to • be confidered as 
 typical of that greater dejiyerjinc^ and redemp- 
 tion, that fhould, be wrought by Christ,. 
 Thus was the 4ifcovery.;made to Daniel in 
 this vifioui analogous to thofe that were given 
 to the other prophets, who often furvey the 
 reftpration from the captivity, as typical of 
 the redemption of the purchafed, ppfTefljon, 
 and look through it to- the eftablifhment of 
 the Meffiah's kingdom. 
 
 After the firft mercy had been unfolded, 
 K and 
 
130 SERMON IV. 
 
 and in which the greater and more fubftantial 
 <3ile Was aduhibrated, the fabfequent part of 
 tlie meflage is introduced with k fofeftin pre- 
 caiition m thefe authoritative Words: " Yet 
 " know and underjland." It is pi^bably the 
 fame expreflloh, which our Saviour adverts 
 to, when he cites this prophecy, in the 
 New TeftamentS Wbofo reddetb, let MfH 
 iinderftam. 
 
 This f(ilerijn notice i-s followed by the dif- 
 tfibution of the" feventy Weeks iiitb fiich dif- 
 ferent portions, as the events reqiiifed, whoft 
 accomplifhmefit is pfedidtfed. For durirt'g this 
 ierm, the city was to be rebuilt, adcordiWg 
 to the edidt of a monatch, whoiflbed an 
 order to a wife gbVerhour of the JeWs ltd fiiJieN 
 Irifehd it '. At a farther period ' the Meffia'K 
 was to appear on earth, to finifh his Work, 
 "and to'^^ cut off in a moft ignomiriioiis man- 
 ner. And fihally, when the whole plan Was 
 coinpleted, and the bufinefs that he'Xvas fent 
 to perform fully executed,' then VttJuld folio W 
 
 < Matt, xxiv, 15. Mar. xiii. 14. 
 ' See Nehem. ii. 5 — 8. 
 
 the 
 
SERMON IV. 131 
 
 the ruin of the devoted city ; for it ihould 
 become defolate, and remain fo, as to its 
 antient pofleflbrs, till the fulne|fs of God'? 
 vengeance had been poured upon the guilty 
 jftate, or the defolated race that fliould defcend 
 from its difperfed inhabitants. 
 
 Gur prefent concern is with that period, 
 which defcribes the appearance of the Meffiah 
 and his death; and this has been in fuch a 
 variety of ways ' illuftrated, and proved to 
 agree with the advent and death of Jefus 
 
 ' If any attempt fhould be made or fuggeHed, from the uncer- 
 tainty or variety of the computation, to invalidate the exaft pre- 
 ~ciiion of this prophecy ; as Bp. Chandler has well obferved, " it 
 " is rather to be wondered, how at this diftance of time learned 
 *' men have been ahle to come to any exaftnefs in thefe mat- 
 '• ters." As the completion may be evinced by almoft any of 
 the modes of reckoning, at leaft in fome eminent degree, the 
 defign of the^rediftion is fufficiently anfwered ; and when the ' 
 fame truth arifes from fuch varied computations, it is donbtlefs 
 a prefumptive argument in its favour, rather than againft it. 
 The nature of antient prediftions appears to be fuch, as was 
 meant to exercife the underftandings, and engage the labours 
 of men ; and it would be a fort of blameable fupinenefs to re- 
 jeEt or difregard a generally received prophecy, becaufe its 
 full and exaft fenfe was not yet afcertained to the conviftion of 
 all men. For a farther illuftration of my fenfe of this predic- 
 tion, I niull beg leave to refer to my Notes on Daniel. 
 
 K 2 Chrift, 
 
132 S E R'M O N IV. 
 
 Chrift, thit however men may have differed 
 in fixing thfe commencement of the date^ or 
 the mode of calculation of thefe years, yet 
 thie general concurrence of their termination 
 in fome or other of the diflinguifhed events 
 relating to his life and paflion, is a ftriking 
 proof, that the fpirit and chief end of this 
 prophecy was the immediate teftimony of 
 Jefus \ 
 
 There are dther predidions of this hjghly- 
 favbured prophet, that plainly point at the 
 Mefliah's kingdom j his appearance in the 
 world, and his future dignity. But having 
 already confidered thefe in another work", 
 I may be the more readily excufed for not ad.- 
 verting to them now. Let me only obferve, 
 that his paflion, and -the glory .that fliould 
 follow, appear to have been fo particularly 
 noticed in the feventh chapter, that if there 
 could remain any doubt in the application of 
 the aftonifhing predidion' which we have juft 
 attended to, the language of the prophet in 
 
 ' See Rev. xix. lo. " See my Nctes on Daniel. 
 
 this 
 
SERMON IV. 133 
 
 this part of his work muft tend ftrongly to 
 confirm its reference to Chrift. " I con- 
 •', tinued feeing," fays he, at the 13th verfe, 
 " in the vifions of the night, when behold, 
 ** in the clouds of heaven was coming One 
 " like the Son of man, who advanced even 
 " to the Antient of days. And whqn they 
 " had brought him near before him," or ac- 
 cording to the fenfe of the verfions, " when he 
 *' had offered himfelf unto God, He gave him 
 *' dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that 
 ** all peoples, nations, and languages, fhould 
 " ferve him : his dominion is an everlafting 
 ** dominion, which fhall not pafs away, and 
 his kingdom fuch as (hall not perifh." 
 
 tt 
 
 The One like the Son of man was the 
 ftone that ftruck the image in the fecond 
 chapter, or the Meflias ; and the defcription 
 of this Son of man coming in the clouds 
 of heaven, is exadily what our Saviour ap- 
 plies to himfelf, when folemnly adjured by 
 the High-prieft to declare, whether he was 
 the Chrift, the Son of God\ The other. 
 
 *. Matt. xxvi. 64. 
 
 K 3 charadleriftics 
 
134 SERMON IV. 
 
 charadleriftics alfo are fully explained in the 
 New Teflament, by that dominion which is 
 Attributed to our Saviour, who is fet above 
 all principality and power, that at the name 
 ofjefus every knee Jhould ioWf of things in 
 heaven, and things in earth, and things under 
 the earth '' ; and who muji reign till he hath 
 put all enemies under his feet''. 
 
 Now it is but natural to conclude, that the 
 prophet, whofe capatious mind, enriched and 
 favoured with heavenly illuminations, could 
 point out the exaltation of the Meffiah, after 
 he had been made perfed throtigh fufFering, 
 in fuch fublime language, and fo ftrongly ex- 
 preflive of his elevated dignity, muft be con- 
 ftantly filled with earneft afpirations after a 
 full acquaintance with this great myftery of 
 godlinefs, muft. have it fo continually in his 
 views, and in his prayers, that even his foul 
 might be fitly qualified for the reward of that 
 completeft revelation, and the favour of the 
 minuteft difcoveries of that glorious expefta- 
 
 '* Phil. ii. 10. * 1 Cor. xv. 25. 
 
 tion. 
 
S E R M Q N IV. T35 
 
 tion, which the providence of God fhould 
 think fit to fqrefliew, for the confolation pf 
 his faithful and afHided fervants. 
 
 Having thus taken a compendious view of 
 the antient predi^ions relating to the Meffiah, 
 fo far at leaft as they tend to illuftrate the gra- 
 cious delign of his cprning to deliver and re- 
 deem mapkind, J cannot entirely clofe the 
 fubje<St without of^ring a fe,^ fliort inferences 
 or dedudtions by Wjay of application to my 
 general argument. And, 
 
 I. I,t ^s eyideat, that in no age pf the 
 world did the AJlmighty Govemou^ ever leay,e 
 himfelf without witnefs. The depravity of 
 the htiman nature could not but be feen and 
 jfelt by men of thought and reflied;ioii frpm 
 the earlieft times. And fuch men muft, on due 
 inquiry, have known the gracious intention of 
 Providence, though not in its full extent, yet 
 in a meafure fufficient for a foundation of 
 their faith^ and to awaken their hope. In 
 fadt, we find -that -fome imperfedt traces of a 
 deliverance were often found in the pagan 
 
 K 4 world ; 
 
136 SERMON IV.. 
 
 world*; and that the wifer heathens Jived, 
 not without Hope, that they fhould be reco- 
 vered from the darkncfs of ignorance, the per- 
 plexity of doubt, and the thraldom of fin j and 
 that God would at fome time or other reftore 
 and redeem his people. The light indeed 
 that they' had was dim, imparted to them in 
 gradual advances, and probably derived in its 
 beft luftre by-fecondary communications from 
 the original fource. Nor from the natural 
 imperfedtions of the human underftanding, 
 as well as the correfpondent defigns and coun- 
 fels of God, could it ever be received in its 
 fuir fplendour, till the appearance of Him 
 who brought life and immortality to light. 
 
 * The Sibylline verfes were held in high efteem long before 
 Chrift, and probably communicated the expedlation of him 
 among the Greeks and Romans. Voff. de Sibyl. Orac. c. 4. 
 Prodiit Sibyllinum illud oraculum, Regem populo Roittam 
 naturam parturire. Hence thofe expreffions, Dominum terra- 
 rum orbi natum, folis jubar exortum. See alfo Virg. Ed. iv. 
 and j^R. vi. 
 
 Pererebuerat Oriente toto vetus et conflans opinio effe in 
 
 fatis, ut eo tempore Judaa profefti rerum potirentur. Suet, in 
 
 Vefp. Pluribus perfuafio inerat, antiquis facerdotum Uteris 
 
 coatineri, eo ipfo tempore fore, ut valefceret Oriens, profec- 
 
 ^tique Jud^, rerum potirentur. Tacitus Hift, V. 
 
 > '. II. And 
 
SERMON IV. 137 
 
 11. And hence it is, as I would obferve in 
 tile fecond place, that to us only who live in 
 thefe latter days, the former revelations can 
 fhine in their true luftre, as the word of pro- 
 phecy is rendered more fure from being con- 
 firmed by the event. 
 
 Sundry deliverances were promifed to God's 
 chofen people, as from the bondage of Egypt, 
 the captivity of Babylon, and the tyranny of 
 Satan. But thepromife was ordinarily made 
 in fuch a latitude, that the event alone could 
 clearly ^determine the precife reference. And 
 though enough was difcoverable to enable the 
 lincere v^orfhipper to confide in God, to avail 
 himfelf of the propofed remedy, and to par- 
 take of the promifed favour j yet it was not 
 till the grand fcheme was accomplifhed, that 
 the feveral parts and portions of it could be 
 fairjy afligned to their due allotments, or the 
 unfathomable mercy be properly explored. 
 
 . It may probablj^ affiil us in forming fome 
 judgement of the light, which men enjoyed 
 before the coming of Ghrift, to refled on the 
 
 obfcurity 
 
138 SERMON IV. 
 
 obfcurity that envelopes the prophecies which 
 are yet unfulfilled. There is very little doubt 
 but that at fbme future period of the worlcj 
 the fulnefs of the Gentiles will come in^, the 
 Jews be relnftated in the favour of God, and 
 all be received within the pale of his Church, 
 and the kingdom of the Saints be eftablifhed. 
 But of the exadl nature of this kingdom, or 
 the time of its appearance, or when or in 
 what manner God's gracious purpofes of uni- 
 verfal redemption fhall be accompliflied, we 
 can difcover but very imperfeift traces, or 
 rather are quite in obfcurity ; though we have 
 feen fo much larger a draught of the general 
 icheme, have been enlightened by him who 
 fpake as never man fpake, and enjoy a conti- 
 nual illuftratioa of new myfleries, and the 
 affiftaiice of the divine Word and Spirit. We 
 may profitably indeed contemplate the grand 
 defign, and avail ourfelves of any frefli mani- 
 feftatlorts ; but we muft not expedt to unravel 
 it fully, till the plan of providence fhall be 
 completed, and the events Ihall give us light, 
 
 " Rom. xi. 25. 
 
 or 
 
SERMON IV. 139 
 
 or till that gloriiaus period, arrives, when we 
 Jhall no more know in part, hut know even as 
 lae are kpown", 
 
 Laftly, It is to us apparent, even from the 
 antient types and predi<^ions, that the chief 
 end of the Meffiah's appearance was to make 
 an atonement for the fins of the world. The 
 great variety of ifigns and emblems, of offer- 
 ings and facriifices, the delineation of the 
 character and offices of the Deliverer, of the 
 condition of his life, and the circumftances of 
 his death, all looked forward to this great 
 end, the turning away ungodlinefs from Jacob, 
 from the whole number of the true Ifraelites, 
 whether belonging to that flock by nature, or 
 ingrafted into it by faith. In what mode this 
 would prbbabiy be effedied, or at leaft what 
 provifion would be made for the vindication 
 of fubftantial juftice, and the recovery of fin- 
 ful men, might be deduced in a great meafure 
 from the preceding obfervations, if we fhould 
 not thereby anticipate what is defigned to be 
 
 ' I Cor. xiii. iz.- 
 
 cvinced 
 
HO S E R M O N IV- 
 
 evinced more amply in our fubfequent dif^ 
 courfes. 
 
 The whole world was become guilty be- 
 fore God; and by the rule of reafon, and even 
 by the law of Mofes, as will be explained 
 more fully hereafter, no flefh could be juftified.. 
 And as without Ihedding of blood was no re- 
 miffipn, an expiation muft confequently be 
 requifite. The Saviour of the world was 
 therefore to be confecrated through fuffering, 
 that he might become our High-prieft. He 
 was to give his foul an offering for fin, that 
 he might atone for our demerits ; as well as 
 reveal unto us the whole will of God, that 
 he might become the guide of our life. He 
 was not only to be a Prophet to inftrudt, but 
 a Prieft to ranfom us, and a King to fubdue 
 all the enemies of our falvation. 
 
 It is true, the old world, either from the 
 obfcurity and perplexity of fome parts of the 
 manifeftation, or the blindnefs and prejudice 
 of men's hearts, did not rightly comprehend 
 
 thefe 
 
SERMON IV. J41 
 
 thefe merciful defigns : yet they catched a 
 view darkly as through a glafs^; and to as 
 many as duly improved the glances which they 
 obtained, greater communications of know- 
 ledge were probably made, fo as that the 
 mercy of God was always manifefted, in the 
 defire that none fhould of neceffity perifh, but 
 that all fhould come to a competent know- 
 ledge of the truth. 
 
 ■* I Cor. xiii. jz. 
 
 SER- 
 
SERMON V. 
 
 Ro MANS viii. 3. 
 
 I 
 
 For lobat the Law could not do, in that it 
 was weak through thejlep, God fending his 
 own Son in the Hkenefs of finful fejljf and 
 S'^^fi^* condemned Jin in the fe/h. 
 
 IT will perhaps^ ceafe to be matter of won- 
 der, that the human wifdom could dif- 
 cover no remedy for fin, when we refled: that 
 the divine wifdom has been exercifedin fo il- 
 luftrious a manner from the creation of the 
 world, to prepare men for that extraordinary 
 deliverance from it, which hath been wrought 
 for us by Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 But an inquiry will naturally occur to the 
 mind, from what caufes it is, that as God 
 
 had 
 
144 SERMON V. 
 
 had often revealed his will to men, long be- 
 fore the Chriftian covenant, none of thofe 
 prior revelations fhouldj have : been', fufficient 
 to deliver them from this deftrudtive evil ; 
 . but that the chief of them, j:he Mofaic Law, 
 fhould rather feem to be reprefented by the 
 beft authority, as heightening it. 
 
 The infufficiency of human abilities may 
 be allowed,' and that the powers of our own 
 reafon are darkened j fuch, is the general im- 
 beciUity of our, nature, that ''there will be a 
 law in our members warring- iagain ft the -'law 
 of our minds. The checks and remonftrances 
 of natural confcience cannot terminated this 
 conflift. They may .cdnvince us of our 
 wretchednefs, and incite us to inquire, after a 
 remedy ; and. when it is difcovered,: they may 
 difpofe us to accept and improve it. But 
 they are unable, of; themfelv.es to refcjie us 
 from the captivity of fmj to prevail upon us- 
 altogether, either to turn afide from the wrong 
 path, or to purfue the right ; to forfake the 
 evil, or adhere to the good. ■ 
 
 + 
 
 Yet 
 
SERMON V. 145 
 
 Yet ftill, if the law which God hath im- 
 planted within us, through the perverfioa 
 and depravity of our nature, is incompetent 
 for thefe purpofes, is infufficient to be the 
 guide of our life j wherefore is it, that a 
 fubfequent revelation from the Father of mer- 
 cies hath not pointed out to us the right and 
 perfdd: way, and fo as to enable us to walk 
 therein ? When the great Lawgiver himfelf, 
 the founder of the Jewifli code, challengeth all 
 the nations of the earth, to produce a fyftem 
 of commandments and ordinances, equal to 
 that which God had diredled him to fet before 
 the people', might we not expedt to find 
 herein fome methods, by which mankind 
 fhould be enabled to conquer their , natural 
 degeneracy, and furmount thofe reludlances, 
 which proceed from the dominion of fin ? 
 
 Now to obviate this apprehenfion, wKich 
 may appear at firfl: view to have no incoij- 
 fiderable weight, it will be proper to divide 
 the inquiry into two parts i aud to refle<3:, 
 
 ' Dsut. iv. 8. 
 
 L Firft, 
 
i4« SERMON V. 
 
 Firft, on the nature of the Mofalc Law, 
 or the defign and end of its inftitution : and 
 then,' 
 
 Secondly, to advert to the prefumed de- 
 lay of the only efficacious remedy for fin. 
 
 I. Amidft the lamentable profligacy in 
 principles and manners, in which the whole 
 human race was too rapidly finking, the di- 
 vine Providence thought fit to feparate a pe- 
 culiar people, in order to preferve the know- 
 ledge and worfhip of the one true God in the 
 world. For this purpofe he refcued fome of 
 the poflerity of his fervant Abraham, as a 
 reward for his fidelity, from the general con- 
 tagion ; and, by figns and wonders continually 
 manifefted among them, preferved and kept 
 alive the knowledge of his nature, and the 
 communications of -his will. 
 
 ' The Law which he gave them by Mofes 
 was defigned to p#tfiote this end. It was to 
 teach them a fcheme of moral duties as well 
 as pofitive precepts, and the whole of thofe 
 
 obfervances 
 
SERMON V. 147 
 
 obferVance? which the Lord their God re- 
 quired qf theip. It propofed alfo motives for 
 their obedience, and denounced avenging ter- 
 tors for their difobedience ; but they were 
 chiefly of fuch a nature, as were calculated 
 for that ftifF-necJced race to whom they were 
 addrefled, and were fo limited and reftrained 
 by local and national peculiarities, that they 
 could not be deligned for the univerfal in- 
 fluence pf fnankind. Many ritug.! infliitutions 
 and external ordinances were alfo enjoined in 
 it, which coiild fcarce be difcerned to have 
 any real ufe confidered in themfelves, and 
 which were only of advantage as they recom- 
 mended inward righteoufnefs, or rather, as 
 they looked forward to fome better things to 
 come. 
 
 In fadt, the Law contained only a rude 
 fketch or unfiniihed draught of thofe future 
 good things, and is rpprefented as fuch, or as 
 having only a {hadow .of thofe blefllngs, by 
 the Apoiftle to the Hebrews \ The real 
 
 ^ Ch. X. 1. 
 L 2 image, 
 
148 SERMON V. 
 
 image, or faithful copy, of them, was referved 
 for a future difpenfation, for that laft and 
 beft covenant, which brought down to us the 
 words of everlafting life. The defign of the 
 Law was therefore to be only temporary, or 
 preparatory tb the Gofpel. It might ferve as 
 a fhadow, and was excellently adapted for its 
 proper ufes : but the reality, the fubftance, 
 the body was of Chrtji ^ This was the ultimate 
 end to which the former inflitutions looked, 
 the, grand defign that was to be anfweredj 
 and the Law ferved to train on the world for 
 this glorious final difpenfation, and, as the 
 Apofi:le has juftly ftated, was their Jchool- 
 majier to bring them unto Chrijl^. 
 
 But when the church of God was grown 
 to a proper maturity, the ftate of tuition 
 ceafed. When the end was anfwered, and 
 the defigned inftitution obtained, or when the 
 juftifying faith of Chrift came, it could be no 
 longer under afchool-majler'. The Law in con- 
 fequence, as it merely adumbrated the good 
 
 'Col. ii. 17. •'Qal. Hi. 24. = Ver. 25. 
 
 things 
 
SERMON V. 149 
 
 things of the Gofpel, or the Law of com- 
 mandments contained in ordinances \ muft be 
 difannulled or fuperfeded, when this kingdom 
 of God is come. But as it relates to moral 
 eondudt, and the influence of its precepts 
 may affedt the hearts and lives of all men, it 
 is flill in force, and is fulfilled, or fully com- 
 pleted in the Gofpel. In this refpedt the 
 Law is ever holy, juji, and good^ ; and not a 
 tittle of this part of it will fail. For as it is 
 a tranfcript of that primitive law, which was 
 implanted originally in the human heart, fo it 
 hath received its confirmation and perfection 
 in that excellent fyftem, which was ordained 
 by him, who came to fulfil all righteoufnefs^. 
 
 But yet the Law, as the Apoftle elfewhere 
 obferves, made nothing perfeSl ' j could not 
 purchafe for us the pardon of our fins, could 
 not procure for us thofe effedtual bleffings, 
 which were referved for the times of the 
 Gofpel. It did indeed point the attention of 
 men to that blefTed hope, which was to be 
 
 *' Ephef. ii. 15. ^ Rom. vii. \z. 
 
 ■> Matt. iii. 15. ' Heb. vii. 19. 
 
 L 3 fuperinduced 
 
leo ■ SERMON V. 
 
 fuperinduced on the former proniifes and ex- 
 pedratiohs ; but it could not realize thofe glo- 
 rious promifes, nor fatisfy the defires, the 
 ivknts, the capacities of men'. Nay, the 
 defign of the Law was to convince them 
 chiefly of their need of thefe bleffings, of the 
 grand obftacle, the infurihoun table bar, that 
 interpofed - between God and them, and oc- 
 cafioned their want of them. For the Law 
 was added becaufe of tranfgrejjions^ , was giveh^to 
 convince them of their fin and of their guilt; 
 to lay open the dppofition between theni and 
 a Being of the pureft holinefs in a more deeply 
 afFecfting manner, and thus to awaken them 
 to feek after a remedy. 
 
 And Jience we find that a variety of cha- 
 racters are affigned to the Law, which, with- 
 out attending to the confiderations above fpe- 
 cified, we might be unable properly or fully 
 to explain. Thus in the third chapter of the 
 Epiftle to the Romans it is afferted, that ^ 
 the haw is the knowledge -of Jin '. Tnere 
 
 '' Gal. iii. ig. ' Ver. 20. 
 
SERMON V. I CI 
 
 muft be fome mpral rule to diredl our con- 
 duft, before we can be confcious of any aber^ 
 ration from moral reftitude ; for where no 
 Law is, there is no^ tranfgrejjion'" : this is 
 very evident. Again, there is a like expref- 
 fion in the feventh chapter ; / had not known 
 Jin, hut by the Law, which is thus illuflrated, 
 for I had not known lufi, except the Law had 
 faid, 'Thou Jhalt not covet^. The defire is 
 natural, and the criminal part of it is evinced 
 from that Law, which prohibits all inordinate 
 defires and irregular gratifications : and the 
 clearer and ftronger is the prohibition, the 
 more notorious will be the guilt. Nor does 
 the Apoftle's language appear to be confined 
 in either paiTage to the fimple aft of finning, 
 or to that deviation wJiich the very dependant 
 ftate of our nature argues to be faulty ; -but 
 muft: probably be extended to the power, the 
 greatnefs, and the dominion of .fin ; all which 
 are made known to us in a fuller manner by 
 the Law, as it acquaints us more minutely 
 
 " Rom. iv. 15. " Ver. 7. 
 
 L '4 with 
 
152 SERMON V. 
 
 with the circumflances and aggravations of 
 our guilt and iniquity. 
 
 In another place we read, that by the works 
 of the Law Jhall no jlejh be jufiijied ° ; and 
 again, 1'hat the haw worketb wrath ^. That 
 is, no one can be juftified in the fight of God, 
 by obferving the Mofaic inftitutlons j not 
 only from the obvious inutility of fome of 
 them, and the neceifary imperfedlion alfo of 
 our beft fervices ; but becaufe there is no 
 remedy in the ftridl letter of the Law provided 
 for our fins. Without the mercies of God 
 in the new covenant all hopes of juftification 
 are groundlefs. The Law without thefe only 
 ferves to make our offences appear more 
 grievous, and therefore worketh wrath; re- 
 prefenting our faults in a ftronger and more 
 offenfive light, impreffing our minds with a 
 deeper fenfe of their guilt, and thereby con- 
 vincing us more fully of the punifhment that 
 is due unto them, as having forely provoked 
 
 " Gal. ii. i6. p Rom. iv, 15. 
 
 the 
 
SERMON v. 153 
 
 the wrath and indignation of God ; fo that^» 
 iy the commandment is become exceeding Jinful'^. 
 
 Hence the Apoftle to the Galatians de- 
 clares, that as many as are of the works of the 
 Law are under the curfe '. They muft be 
 obnoxious to the curfe whilft they rely on 
 thofe works, having no remedy in which they 
 can truft, and being guilty of notorious breaches 
 of that rule, which God had ordained for 
 their obfervation, and threatened a curfe, or 
 fen tence of condemnation, on the violation of 
 it : for fo it is written, Curfed is every one, 
 that continueth not in all things which are 
 written in the book of the law to do them. 
 How fadly deplorable therefore is the cafe of 
 the finner, whofe hopes are confined to this 
 flrid: inftitution j living under a law that 
 offers life indeed to the complete and conftant 
 pbfervers of it, but which threatens a fevere 
 condemnation for thofe that violate it, and 
 yet ponfcious that he breaks it almoft. every 
 day! 
 
 ' Rom. vii. 13. ' Ch. iii. 10. 
 
 Thus 
 
154 SERMON V. 
 
 Thus though the Law in itfelf was good, 
 furnifhed an excellent rule of life, which in- 
 its proper tendency would enlighten the un- 
 jderftanding, and convert the foul'; yet its 
 Very excellence might be urged as a reafoii 
 why it was defedtive, as it was too perfeuft for 
 man to obferve, and yet fupplied no relief for 
 bis deficiencies, no pardon for his faults ; it 
 ;gaVe therefore no real confolation in the pre- 
 •fent life, .becaufe offering no well-founded 
 •truft in a better. In itfelf confidered, it was 
 ■ confequently wmi and unprofitable, and could 
 .never make the comers thereunto perfeSl '. It 
 was weak through the flefh, the carnal defires 
 and natural inclinations t)f men, which too 
 /frequently w^ould precipitate them into fm, 
 regardlefs of the prohibitions of the legal com- 
 mandments. The lufts of the flefli they 
 would follow ', fo that^« would even reign in 
 their mortal bodies ", ufurp a dominion there, 
 . hji againji the Jpirit ^, and war againfl the 
 Joul^ . And however good men were pre- 
 
 » See Pfal. xix. 7, 8. 
 
 f Heb. X. I. 
 
 " Rom. vi, 12. 
 
 " Gal. V. 17 
 
 T I Pet, ii. 11. 
 
 
 vented 
 
SERMON V. 155 
 
 vented from ruindus excefies, and recalled to 
 the knowledge and purfuit of their dtityj yet 
 they were not indebted for their recovery to 
 the terms of the Law, but to that faith, 
 which always influenced the lives of the jufl", 
 and which fupplied the defeds of the Law^ 
 by carrying on their views to the bleffed hope 
 of the Gofpel. 
 
 It is this bleffed hope, which alone can 
 truly reftore the human nature, fo as to enable 
 us to perform the good, and acceptable, and 
 perfedl Will of God. JVhat the Law of Mdfe's 
 could not do, in that it was weak through the 
 Jlejh, the law of the fpirit of life in Chriji 
 ^efus * enables us to execute. ChriJI hafh 
 redeemed us from the legal inability, and the 
 curfe of the Law', being made a curfe for us ''. 
 For this end God fent his own Son in the 
 likenefs of fnful fejli, clothed with a mortal 
 body, which became fuch from the taint of 
 original imperfedion, yet free himfelf from 
 
 * Hab. ii. 4. Rom i. 17. Gal. iii. 11. 
 
 * Rom. viii. 2. '' Ga]. iii. 13. 
 
 all 
 
156 SERMON V. 
 
 all defilement ; fo ihdXforJin % or by his be- 
 ing made a facrifice for fin, he condemned Jin 
 in thi fiejh. The body of Chrift was fub- 
 jed:ed to that punifliment of death, which 
 was the juft wages of fin ; and which he un- 
 derwent, that he might fuffer the condemna- 
 tion due to finners, and thereby make an 
 atonement for the fins of the world, might 
 redeem Us from the guilt of fin, and de- 
 
 * Fcr fin. The word ayMfutt, Sin, is often ufed in the Old 
 Teftament for a facrifice for fin; as in Lev. iv. 3. v. 6, 7. 
 viii. z, 14. Pfal. xl. 7. It is not unlike the Hebrew DNiOrT, 
 which denotes Sin, and the puniftiment of it, as well as the 
 purification from it. Nothing is more ufual, as Dr. Ham- 
 mond obferves, than this fenfe of the word, both in the LXX. 
 and the Chaldee paraphrafe. The expreffion wEpi aftapriaj is 
 ufed in like manner in the New Teftament, for an offering or 
 facrifice for fin, as in Heb. x. 6. xiii. ii. And in the in- 
 ftance before us, Chrift being appointed fs?" o/^afTias means, 
 his being made an offering for fin,- or a propitiatory facrifice ; 
 whereby he took away the condemning power of Sin. " Sicut 
 " hoftias, quje pro peccato offerebantur in lege, peccati no- 
 " mine vocabant ; fie et Chrifti caro, quse pro peccatis noftris 
 " oblata eft, peccati nomen accepit." Hieron. 
 
 There is an expreflion of a Angular nature in Hof. iv. 8. 
 They eat the Jin, or fins, of my peofle. The word in the He • 
 brew is riNiarr, and in LXX. ajia^im. The allufion is to the 
 priefts eating the vidlims that were offered for fin ; and the 
 meaning of the paffage feems to be, that they encouraged and 
 partook of the iniquity, in order to gratify their avarice. 
 
 feat 
 
SERMON V. 157 
 
 feat its influence. Hence we are reconciled 
 unto God by the death of his Son ; and we 
 confequently joy in God through our Lord 
 ye/us Chriji, by whom we have now received the 
 atonement "* . For the Law, or the ftri<9: rule, 
 was given by Mofes, but grace and truth came 
 by Jejus Chriji % And if righteoufnefs be by 
 the Law, or we can flill be juftified by the 
 mere obfervances of any Law, then Chriji is 
 dead in vain ^ 
 
 The defign of the prior revelations was to 
 ufher in the Gofpel, and the end of the 
 Law for righteoufnefs is Chrift^. The antient 
 Scriptures have concluded all under Sin ^, under 
 the dominion as well as the guilt of it : and 
 it feems to have been a manifeft intention of 
 the old Law, to difcover to us its inability to 
 deliver us frorh the ruins of fin, that the pro- 
 mife by the faith of Jefus Chriil might be a 
 more valuable gift to them that believe. 
 
 <■ Roffl. V. lOj II. ' John i. 17. 
 
 f Gal.ii. 21. s Rom. x. 4., 
 
 ^ Gal. iii. 22. 
 
 The 
 
158 SERMON V. 
 
 The law or religion of nature, we have 
 before feen, was unable to refcue us from the 
 miferies introduced into the world by the 
 venom of this malignant evil; nor can the 
 Law of Mofes, however juft and good in its 
 inftitutes, fupply this deficiency. So that 
 from the view of things in their naked con- 
 flitution, or even aided and firengthened by 
 the earlier manifeftations of God's will, there 
 is no redrefs for fin, no deliverance from 
 death ; but rather an aggravation of our of- 
 fences, and of courfe a fearful looking for of 
 judgement, till we come down to the terms 
 of the new covenant, to the beneficial influ- 
 ences of the religion of Chrift. And thus 
 the expediency, at leaft, of our redemption 
 will be demonftrated, as there was no know- 
 ledge of pardon, of juftification, or of falva- 
 tion to be obtained without it. All which 
 bleflangs, and indeed all the beft comforts in 
 the prefent life, as well as hopes in a future 
 one, were made known to us by the Gofpel. 
 
 // is then a faithful faying, and "worthy of 
 all acceptation, that Chriji Jefus came into the 
 
 world 
 
SERMON V. 159 
 
 ^orU to fave Jinners ' .• Or, that God was in 
 Chrift reconciling the world unto himfelfi not 
 imputing unto them their t re/pa ffes ^. Having 
 fent his, own Son, in the likenefs of finful 
 fle{h, and condemned fin in that fame nature 
 in whi^ch it was committed, He entered into a 
 new covenant with man; and Chrift is become 
 the Mediator of this new Teftament, that by 
 the redemption of the tranfgrejjions that were- 
 wider the Jirji Tejiament, they which are 
 called might receive the promife of eternal in~ 
 heritance^. The call is general, not only to 
 the Jew, but alfo to the Gentile ; and all that 
 w^ill duly receive it may come and take of the 
 water of life freely ^ ; for as by the offence of 
 one, judgement came upon all men to condem- 
 nation ; evenfo by the right eoufnefs of one, the 
 free gift came upon all men unto jujlification of 
 life ". The rigorous terms of the law are 
 abated, and we have now the promife of par- 
 don of fins, of the grace of God's fpirit, and of 
 eternal life, upon conditions, to which our abi- 
 lities are made quite adequate. If we deeply re- 
 
 * I Tim. i. 15. ^2 Cor. v. 19. 
 
 ' Heb. ix- 15. ■" Rev. xxii. 17- " Rom. v. 18. 
 
 pent 
 
i6o SERMON V. 
 
 pent and ,truly amend, our fins will be blotted 
 out; if we are confcious of our own weak- 
 nefs, and apply with humility and fervency for 
 the divine aid, it will be granted us ; and if 
 we perform the will of God from the heart, 
 if we fincerely and earneftly endeavour to 
 pleafe him, to do his will, and to keep his 
 commandments, he will accept our fervices' 
 through faith in Chrift Jefus, through a reli- 
 ance on the merits and interceffion of his Son. 
 
 Thus hath he given unto us all things that, 
 pertain unto life and godlinefs ; and to encou- 
 rage us to improve thefe excellent gifts of his 
 divine power, to excite us to purity of heart 
 and holinefs of life, he hath fuperadded ex~ 
 ceeding great and precious promijes, that by 
 thefe you might be partakers of the divine na- 
 ture, who havi ejcaped the corruption that is 
 in the world through lujl °. And if Chrift be 
 effedtually formed in us', and we faithfully im- 
 prove thefe benefits of his Gofpel, it will be- 
 come the power of God unto falvation to 
 every one that believeth ^ We fhall by this 
 
 • 2 Pet. i, 3, 4. P Gal. iv. 19. s Rom. i. 16. 
 
 means 
 
SERMON V. i6r 
 
 means be enabled completely to retrieve the 
 ruins of the fall and the lofs of paradife. For 
 though the body be dead becaufe of Jin, our 
 bodies are ftill mortal and fubjedt to death, 
 their common lot from, original imperfedlion ; 
 yet ihefpiritis life becaufe of righteoufnefs ' j 
 we (hall through the fpirit be reftored to a new 
 life of righteoufnefs, and be finally raifed up 
 again to an eternal ftate of happinefs. 
 
 So that whatever may, be the power or do- 
 minion of fin, however the floods of iniquity 
 may rage and fwell, or how great Ibever may 
 be the temptations of the world and the ma- 
 lice of the devil, yet if God be for iis, it mat- 
 ters not what combination of forces may be 
 againft us. He that feared not his oivn Son, 
 but delivered him up for us all, hath hereby 
 given us the moft fatisfadlory afllirance, that 
 be 'will 'with him alfo freely give us all things^* 
 
 II,. But ftill another part of the enquiry, will 
 recur, namely, that admitting the Law of 
 Mofes to have not been defigned as an ultimate 
 
 ' Rom. viii. io. ' Ver. 31, J2. 
 
 M revela- 
 
i62 SERMON V. 
 
 revelation, and to have no farther views than 
 have been above hinted, yet why was the 
 world fufFered to continue fo long without its 
 necejBTary information ? or wherefore was- the 
 coming of this auguft perfonage, the Saviour 
 of the world, fo long delayed ? The Apoftle 
 to the Hiebrews obferves, that once in the end 
 of the world hath he appeared *^ : Why was his 
 coming therefore poftponed to fo late a feafon? 
 As this delay has been one of the ftrong holds 
 of infidelity, I muft not fiiiFer it to pafs alto- 
 gether unnoticed, although the objeftion has 
 been often Refuted by learned men ". 
 
 ' Heb. ix. '26. 
 
 " Dr. Lardner, fpeaking of an objeftion of Celfus the Epi- 
 curean to the Chriftian religion, taken from the late appearance 
 of Jefus in the world, has the following juft remarks, vol. viii. 
 p. 42. " God never neglefted mankind ; he was conftantly 
 " teaching them in the works of creation, and in the ordinary 
 " methods of 'his proviiience. Extraordinary methods are a fa- 
 '.' vour : feveral fuch had been fent of old to the Jews, and be- 
 " fore their time to the patriarchs : at laft he fent Jefus Chrift. 
 " We have certain proofs of his mifTion and great charafter. 
 " The feafonableneis of his coming, and the wifdom of fending 
 " him at the time he came, ought not to be difputed : but the 
 *' favour fhould be thankfully received, and carefuljy improved 
 " after due exahiination, and obferving the evidences of -his 
 «• miffion." 
 
 Hsc eft igitur anims liberanda: univerfalis via, id eft, uni- 
 
 verfis 
 
SERMON V. 163 
 
 In anfwer to it then let it be obferved, that 
 the expreffion in the end of the world, fhould 
 rarfier be rendered, the confummation or per- 
 fection of ages, meaning with reference to the 
 ienfe which the- antient Jews entertained of 
 the worfd's ftate, the laft ages, the latter days, 
 or the times of the Mefliah. The feveral pe- 
 riods that had gone before were fo many dif- 
 ferent ages, according to the different difpenfa- 
 tions of God's favour, which had been difco- 
 veredto the worid. The laft age, or the clof- 
 ing of the ages, was that in which the Son 
 of God was manifefted. And if we knew no 
 reafons to affign for this late manifeftation, we 
 might ftill with thankfulnefs acquiefce in the 
 meafare, and with due humility look up for 
 the propriety of it to the wifdom of God. For 
 it is not for us to know the times or the fea~ 
 Jons, which the Father hath ■put in his own 
 •power ^. His counfels in general are un- 
 
 Verfis gentibus divina miferatione conceflk. — Nee debuit, nee 
 debebit ei did : Quare modo, at quare tam fero ? quoniam 
 mittentis confilium non eft humano ingenio penetrabile. 
 
 Aug de Civ. Dei, 1. x. cap. 33. 
 " Afts i. 7. ' 
 
 M 2 fearchable. 
 
i64 SERMON V. 
 
 fearchable, and his ways pad finding out. 
 Who can underftand his way, or who can de- 
 clare the works of his righteoufnefs ? T^hy 
 mercy i O Lord, is in the heavens, and thy 
 faithfulnefs reacheth unto the clouds. *T,hy 
 righteoufnefs is like the ftrong mountains, and 
 thy judgements like the great dee f. Who hath 
 known the mind of the Lord F 
 
 Still however there are reafons, and very 
 ftrong ones, for this meafure of God's provi- 
 dence, which we may be able to affign, and 
 that whether we attend to the evil which oc- 
 cafioned it, or the remedy. 
 
 I. With refpedt to the evil. That fin had 
 reigned in the world, had difturbed the peace 
 of men's minds and confciences, and filled 
 them with dreadful forebodings of a ftate of 
 mifery ; and that the human wifdom had la- 
 boured, long laboured, in vain, to find out a 
 fatisfadtory relief from this univerfal evil, are 
 truths which we have already eftablifhed in 
 
 '^ Pf. xxxvi. 5, 6. 
 
 the 
 
SERMON V. 165 
 
 the former part of this work. And hence we 
 may readily difcern one confiderable advantage 
 that muft arife from the delay of Chrift's 
 coming; to convince mankind of their own in- 
 fufficiency, of the univerfal prevalency of this 
 evil, and that after fo long a trial they were 
 ftill unable to relieve themfelves. And as their 
 own befl efforts could not effedl a deliverance 
 from that fad degeneracy in which they were 
 involved, they could not but acknowledge the 
 neceffity there was of flying to fome better 
 power, of having recourfe to the divine aid,: 
 for ftrength to fubdue this their innate and in- 
 veterate foe. 
 
 That, for this purpofe, the Mefliah (hould 
 come into the world, to fave his people from 
 their fins, had been intimated to the whole, race 
 of mankind in a variety of ways, long before 
 his adtual appearance. Indeed the whole oeco- 
 nomy of the Jews, of the chofen people, muft 
 be.conlidered, as having a principaL reference 
 to this coming of Chrift. The ritual of their 
 worfliip, the great variety of oiFerings and fa- 
 crifices, the fervice of the Tabernacle and of 
 '-■■' M 2 the 
 
i66 SERMON V. 
 
 the Temple, the folemn day of expiation, the 
 feafl: of the Paflbver, moft of the ufages and 
 moft of the laws of the people of Ifi^el % 
 feem to have been defigned, as fo many pre- 
 vibus indications of the redemption, that 
 fhould be purchafed for us by the merits and 
 atonement of Chrift Jefus our Lord. 
 
 The old world therefore had experienced 
 cenfiderable benefit from the profpedl of his 
 coming, chiefly by a reliance on the various 
 intimations of God's gracious intentions, as 
 well as theadlual difcoveries and renewed con- 
 firmations of his promifed mercies. Nor had 
 they fuffered any hardftiip by the delay, as 
 his redeeming influence reached to all, who 
 lived by the faith of the anointed of God, 
 either before or after his appearance. They 
 could not indeed but f&el and lament the fad 
 calamity and fatal tendency of fin, and this in 
 a greater and more alarming degree, the more ' 
 notorious it was made to them by the awful' 
 
 y Quern Chriftum — omnia gentis illius promiffa, omnes pro- 
 phetise, facerdotiaj facrificia, templum, et cunfta omnino facra- 
 pieii'ta fonuerunt. Aug, ad Voluf. Ep. 3. 
 
 and 
 
SERMON V. 167 
 
 and Infallible revelations of God's will. And 
 hence they muil wifli, the wifer and more con- 
 fiderate at leaft, muft earneftly wifli, for the 
 manifefiation of that glorious Light, which 
 ihould remove all their difmal apprehenfions, 
 diffipate all the fhadows of prior difpenfations, 
 and fhine out to the world in perfedl day. But 
 ftill the longer the expedtation continued, the 
 ftronger the malignancy of the evil, and of courfe 
 the value of the remedy, appeared. And there^ 
 fore the generations of old might feel within 
 themfelves this farther advantage by the delay, 
 namely, that whilft the whole creation was 
 groaning and travailing in anxious expeftation, 
 the increafe of their faith, cheriflied by this 
 earneft and bleffedhope, would fill them with 
 the more comfortable afTurance, not only of a 
 rek^fe, but of a reward. 
 
 But if we proceed to i;e£le(fl on the remedy, 
 we fhall have abundant reafon to admire the 
 wifdom of God, in having taken every ima- 
 ginable precaution for the convidlion and the 
 welfare of his. reafonable creatures. Great 
 and aftonifhing were the purpofes, which 
 the Son of God in the likenefs of our flefh 
 M 4 was 
 
i68 SERMON V. 
 
 was defigned- to accomplifh. He was indeed 
 openly ^ to appear for thefe ends but once ; 
 but by his one offering he was to perfeSi for 
 ever them that arefanSiified^. And. therefore 
 when the world was grown to a proper matu- 
 rity, when every thing was prepared which 
 
 * Though Chrift appeared openly in the human nature but 
 once, yet he feems to have appeared often before in the world 
 as an Angel or Meffenger. Inftances of this are frequent in the 
 Old Teftament. Without recurring to any earlier notices, it was 
 he probably, that ftrove with Jacob at Peniel, when he faw God 
 face to face, and was blefTed by him. Gen. xxxii. 24. It was 
 this Angel of Jehovah, that appeared to Mofes in a flame of 
 fire in the bufli, Exod. iii. z. which on another occafion went 
 before the camp of the Ifraelites in the wildernefs, and together 
 with the pillar of the cloud removed and flood between them 
 and the Egyptians, ch. xiv. 19. that came down alfo in the 
 fight of all the people on mount Sinai, when Mofes fpake, and 
 God anfwered him by a voice, ch. xix. 11, ig. See alfo Adls^ 
 vii. 38. It was probably the fame Angel, that appeared to 
 Balaam, as he went with the princes of Moab, and who affured 
 him, "the word that I fhall fpeak unto thee, that ihalt thou 
 " fpeak." Num. xxii. 35. And the man that appeared to 
 Jofhua as captain or prince of the hoft of the Lord, whom 
 Jolhua worftiipped, ch. v. 13, 14, was probably the fame 
 with the Angel of the covenant, mentioned by the prophet 
 Malachi, or the Lord that Jhould come to his temple. In Ifaiah 
 Ixiii. 9. He is ftyled the Angel of God's prefence, who faved 
 and redeemed his people in their afBiftion ; and it was this di- 
 vine Aoyo;, whom, the Jenxii tempted in the nuildernefs, and thereby 
 in the Apoftl^s language tempted Chriji. 1 Cor. x. g. 
 
 » Heb. X. 14. 
 
 the 
 
S E R M O N V. 169 
 
 the wifdom of God fa w fit, either with a re- 
 ference to the ages that were paft, or a pro- 
 {pe£t to thofe that were future, when the ap- 
 pointed hour in which all things that were 
 written of the Mefliah Ihould receive , their 
 completion, or thefulnefs of the time^ was comet 
 God fent forth his fan, made of a woman ^t 
 born into the world after the ordinary manner, 
 and under the Law ; fo that he fhould be fub- 
 jed: to all the cuftoms and ordinances of that 
 Law, fhould be qualified to fulfil all the types 
 of him contained or intimated therein, become 
 the feed of the woman that Ihould bruife the 
 lerpent's head, as well as the feed of Abraham, 
 in whom all the families of the earth flaould 
 be bleffed. 
 
 The world was generally unitqd at Chrift's 
 appearance under one great empire, and con- 
 fequently the means of conveyance of impor- 
 
 * In 1 Tim. ii. 6. the expreffion is, ateftimony /» due time, 
 or in the proper feafin ; in z Cor. vi. z. it is, in an accepted 
 time, the day of falkiaiion, fuch as had been Jong before predifted 
 by Ifaiah in like words, ch. xiix. 8. 
 
 * Gal. iv. 4, 
 
 tant 
 
170 S E R M N' V. 
 
 taut InfoFmation were more eafy -and ready, 
 than when it had been in a more divided flate. 
 The intelligence therefore of the birth of a 
 Saviour could be much more expeditioufly 
 communicated, and more widely difFufed 
 amongft the bulk of mankind. And as this 
 empire now enjoyed a ftate of peace and free* 
 dom from long and diftreffing wars, it was on 
 this account a period better calcukited for the 
 appearance of the Prince of peace, and the 
 propagatiqn of thofe bleflings, which were to 
 be introduced with hini. 
 
 Learning alfo and a thirfl for knowledge had 
 overfpread the countries fubjedt to the Roman 
 name, and hence men were better prepared to 
 examine into the reafons and grounds of this 
 falvation brought by the Son of God, as well 
 as to fift and fcrutinize the evidence for the 
 truth of it. And it is remai-kable that in the 
 feat of empire, where every fort of learning 
 fhone in its fulleft l.uftre, even here the jeligipn 
 of Chrift had the fureft hold, and was em- 
 braced and diffeminated with the greateft zeal 
 and affiduity. St. Paul fpeaks of the Saints 
 
 that 
 
5 E R M O N v: 171 
 
 that were in Cafar^s bdujhold^, and intimates' 
 that his bonds in Chrift were mdnifeji in all 
 the palace, to all the judges in the emperor's 
 courts^ as well as to> dl other perfons". Nei- 
 ther learning) power, or intereft eould make 
 any fuccefsful oppofition to the reception and 
 progrefe of the Gofpel. 
 
 Ndr muft we forget to obferve that at this 
 very period a general expedtation of a Meffiah 
 prevailed * : fo that feveral falf e pretenders 
 ai-ofe, fuch as were iTheudas andjudas of Ga- 
 lilee f who boafted themfelves to be perfons of 
 iiarghty confequence, and drew after them a 
 cortfiderable number of followers ^. Under 
 
 * Phil. iv. Z2. = Phil. i. 13. ,. 
 
 ' TTlat it prevailed among the Jews, fee the following paf- 
 f^es. Mat. iii. 2-, 3. Luke ii. 25. iii. 15. xix. 11. John i. ig, 
 20. ^dls-xxvi. 7. And we may conclude that the like expefia- 
 tions prevailed among the Samaritans, a nation hoftile to the 
 Jews, or who had no dealings whh them, from John iv, 25, 
 29, 42. See £p. Chandler's Vind. b. ii. ch.. i. and the note at 
 Sermon IV. p. 136. 
 
 8 H^eiippus, as appears from his fragments in Eufebius, 
 reckons Simon Magus, as one of the falfe Chrifts of that age : 
 and Origeh in the fecond century mentions him and Dofitheiis, 
 as the two that afTumed the title of Meilias in the Samaritan 
 nation. Chand. Vind. p. 383. 
 
 this 
 
172 SERMON V. 
 
 this expedation alfo the eaftern magi came to 
 jicrufalem, when they faw the ftar ^ at ouf 
 Saviour's birth j and undertook a journey from 
 a very remote country, to difcover the King 
 of the Jews, and to worfhip him. 
 
 He was to be a King indeed, but advanced ; 
 with honours and dignities very unfuitable to 
 the monafcbs of this world j yet /ftill the 
 wifeft of men would bear teftimony to his 
 magnificence. He was to be a Pripft alio as 
 well as a King, the chief end of whofe facerdotal 
 office was to expiate our iniquities. His cha- 
 rafter had been foretold. by the prophets long 
 before he aftually appeared; the feveral offices ■ 
 alfo that he was to fuftain, and the feveral 
 engagements that he was to fulfil. A great 
 variety of paflages in the Old Teftament have 
 been applied by the Evangelifts to the hiftory 
 of our Saviour; and thofe feveral. predidions 
 which fpeak of the birth, the education, the 
 courfe of life, the nature of the dodrin^, the 
 
 •" Some of the Fathers, and efpecially Chryfoftom, intimate, 
 that it was v-^m arm » (pua-et, or that the luminous body had the 
 appearance of a ftar, but not the iru.h of its nature. 
 
 circumftances 
 
SERMON V. 173 
 
 circumftances of the paflion, death, and re- 
 furredlion of the Mefiiah, fome of which have 
 been cited in my former Difcourfes, have been 
 with the greateft pundtuality verified in Jefus 
 Chrift. Truths thefe, which I now mention, 
 chiefly to remark upon them, how ftrongly 
 they evince that time to be the beft, in which 
 fo many concurrent proofs of the reafons of 
 his miffion agree and are united. 
 
 From all thefe confiderations, and many 
 more that might be fuggefted, it muft abun- 
 dantly appear, that the time, in which the 
 Saviour of the world was manifefted, was the 
 beft that could be devifed according to human 
 apprehenfionj and therefore we have the 
 greateft reafon with firm convidion to ac- 
 quiefqe in the meafure, and with the fuUeft 
 gratitude to accept the mercy, when recom- 
 mended to us by the wifdom of God. 
 
 SER. 
 
■' iMUW P .SWI » ■ MWW I 
 
 SERMON VI. 
 
 Hebrews ix. 26. 
 
 -He appeared, to put awayjifi by tbefacrifiie 
 of'himfelf. 
 
 1 
 
 '*'' H E fundamental principle of true re- 
 ligion is humility. We muft be con- 
 fcious of our depraved and finful ftate, before 
 we can with any fort of reafon expert or look 
 for a deliverance from it. The fober mind 
 is naturally cautious, and the humble mind 
 diflruftful. This cautious diffidence vi'ill 
 quickly bring us. to ia conviction of our 
 impotence and iin. And he that is truly 
 fenffble of thefe failures, will not only in 
 earneft feek after a deliverance, but when it 
 is offered, w^ill ftudy to qualify himfelf for 
 the due reception of its benefits. Our minds 
 
 thus 
 
lyS SERMON VI. 
 
 thus affeded will be fitly prepared for a caif- 
 did examination of any new light, and a right 
 improvement of any additional information, 
 that with fufficient authority fhall be recom- 
 mended to our notice. Por it is a vain ima- 
 giniition to conceive, that the goodnefs of 
 God was ever meant to fuperfede our own 
 endeavours ; Vvhereas on the contrary it was 
 gracioully defigned to relieve, aflift, and 
 ftrengthen them. The riches of his for- 
 bearance and loving kindnefs fhould have fuch 
 a commanding influence on our gratitude, as 
 to lead us to repentance from dead works, and 
 tojerve the living God^. 
 
 Both the confidence then and the indolence 
 of pride will prevent men from becoming the 
 true difciples of the holy and the humble Jefus. 
 And on this account it was, that . at the firft 
 preaching of Chriftianity, not many wife men 
 after theJleJJp, not many mighty, not many noble, 
 were called'^. Self importance muft always offer 
 an infuperable impediment to the felf-denying 
 influence of the religion of Chrift. But to the 
 
 » Heb. ix. 14. ^ I Cor. i. 26. 
 
 poor 
 
SERMON VI. 177 
 
 poor In fpirit, to thofe, who from a deep infigHt 
 into the human nature are convinced of their 
 
 -wretchednefs and fin, and their need of a 
 Saviour, we may hope with fuccefs to preach 
 Chriji crucified i to the men of this world, 
 even yet in its defign and benefits, either 
 a fiumhling bhck or foolijhnefs \ but to the 
 
 •meek and teachable, the modeft and imparl 
 tial mmd,' Chrifi the power of God, and the 
 mifdom of God" . 
 
 In difcourfing on the expediency and pre- 
 diiftion of our redeinption, it was fcarce pofil- 
 ble to avoid frequent intimations of the ge- 
 . neral plan in which it was accomplifhed. But 
 in order to do juftice in fome fuitable degree 
 to this moft important part of my fubjedt, I 
 muft now proceed to a more diftindt view of 
 the methods of our deliverance, as efFefted by 
 our Prieft, our Prophet, and our Ring. And 
 in the -prefent Difeourfe I fhall propoie to 
 fhew how the guilt of fin hath been expiated, 
 and our pardon procured j how the finner 
 
 •^ I Gor. i. 23, 24. 
 
 N hath 
 
1/8 .SERMON VI. 
 
 hath been triumphantly freed from that con- 
 demnation, which in common jftftice was 
 due, and by the revealpd law of God threat- 
 ened, to the revoslters from his authority, and 
 ,the oppofers of his will, . 
 
 Now the Text tells us, t|iat Chrift a^/i^^r- 
 , ed to put away Jin by the facrifice of himjelf. 
 He was therefore to be put 'to death, and his 
 death was to be a facrifice. As^his death is an 
 event of fuch vaft importance, the grand 
 hinge on which the whole ^abjrick of our re- 
 demption turns, it will be proper to .ofiera 
 few fuitable refledtions on the . circumftancps 
 .of it, before we advert to tliis. great defjgn 
 ef it. 
 
 That the Meffiah flipuld fuffer and die for 
 our fins, was almoft as clearly foretold in the 
 'Old Tefi:anient, as the fufferings apd.death of 
 Ghrlft are recorded in the New. Everything 
 that was thus written of him was pundually 
 ■fulfilled in Jefiis. His whole life was a con- 
 tinued feries of afflidlions ; and though after 
 he had entered on his public miniftry, he went 
 
 about 
 
S E RM O N VL ijf) 
 
 about every where continually doing good, his 
 virtues were calumniated, and his beneficence 
 requited with the moft ungrateful returns. 
 ^ut his diiftrelTes were greatly multiplied, and 
 forely aggravated, toward the concluding fcene 
 of it. The maiice of his enemies was bitter 
 and diilireffing to a very great degree ; the 
 defertion of his friends (hould feem not lefs 
 i©, for all his difeifks for/ook him and fie d''. ,. 
 
 But all this was as nothing, compared with 
 ^he ]great grief which he endured, when his 
 Father's ijifpleafure lay heavy upon him. 
 What a load of trouble was the Saviour of 
 the world '■ to fuftain, when God laid on 
 iiim the iniquities of all men ! The appre- 
 henfion of this heavy burden occasioned that 
 violent conflict between his human nature 
 and his fenfe of duty, which St. John hath fo 
 finely draWn in his twelfth chapter : NoHio is 
 my foul troubled, and "what Jh all I fay ? Fa- 
 ther , fave tjie from this hour : but for this 
 taufe came I unto this hour. Fdtker, glorify 
 
 ^ ]\<rark xiv. 50. 
 
 N 1 thy 
 
i8o SERMON VI. 
 
 thy name". So great alfo is his agony repre- 
 fented by St. Luke, when near the mount of 
 Olives he prayed that the cup of his fufFer- 
 ings might pafs from him, yet in full refigna- 
 tion to the will of his Father, that his fweat 
 was fo large and copious, as to refemble great 
 drops of blood falling down to the ground ^ 
 
 Yet wherefore (hould the apprehenfion of 
 death be fo very afflidting to this great and 
 exalted charadler? There muft have been 
 fomething peculiarly grievous and embittering 
 in his laft fufferings, or we can fcarce con- 
 ceive he would ever have difcovered fuch fore 
 amazement at their approach. Look at the 
 conftancy and refolution of the martyrs for 
 his faith, how little they regarded their lives 
 in his caufej and we muft furely conclude, 
 that the captain of our falvation had fome- 
 thing much more heavy and diftrefling on his 
 mind, to have been at any • time fo ftruck 
 with difmay at the profpefl: of his fufferings, 
 as to need the fupport of angels to ftrengthen 
 
 * V,er. 27,28. <■ Luke xxii. 44, 
 
 him. 
 
SERMON VI. i8i 
 
 him. But the unparalleled poignancy of his 
 fufFerings will be readily explained, when we 
 come to contemplate the defign of his death. 
 
 At length arofe the whole multitude of the 
 Jews, of his own nation, and his brethren, 
 to whom efpecially was the word of his fal- 
 vation fent, and led him away to the Roman 
 governour. And when Pilate himfelf had 
 examined him, pronounced him innocent, and 
 wifhed to have nothing to do with this juft 
 man, the people were inftant with loud 
 voices, foliciting and importuning that he 
 might be crucified. Notwithftanding the re- 
 monftrances of the governour, and the inno- 
 cence of the Saviour, the voices of them and 
 of the chief priejis prevailed^. And after he 
 had been fcourged, he was, in confequence 
 of a moft unjuft fentence, led away, bearing 
 his crofs, to be Crucified. And they crucified 
 Jefus, and with him two others, malefaBors, 
 one on his right hand, and the other on the 
 kft^. That the fcripture might be fulfilled, 
 
 s Luke xxiid. 23. ^ Ver. 33. 
 
 ( N 3 which 
 
i82 SERMON VI, 
 
 which faith, and he was numbered nvith the 
 tranfgrejhrs '. 
 
 Indeed, fo many antient predidions were 
 fulfilled in him, whilft he hung upon the 
 crofs, that the feledlion of thefe, and the 
 illuftration of their accompliihment, might- 
 be fufficient to convince us» that Jefus was 
 that fufFering Meffiah, to whom gave all the 
 prophets witnefs ; though he was alfo, what 
 the fuperfcription that was written over him 
 denoted, the king of the Jews^. 
 
 It has been already obferved in the courfe^ 
 of this work, that the twenty-fecond Pfalm 
 had a peculiar reference to Chrift, and fome^ 
 parts of it are ftridly applicable to no one' 
 but him. To confirm ' this obfervation, it 
 may not be amifs, as we proceed, to take no- 
 tice of thofe inftances in which the application 
 is made by the Evangclifts, and to point alfo 
 at other references which they make to paf- 
 fages in the Old Teftament, as this may ferve 
 
 'If^-i.liii. 12. Lukexxii. 37. "^ Luke xxiii. 38. 
 
 in 
 
SERMON VI. 183. 
 
 ia fome refpedts as a key, by which we may 
 interpret the antient allufions. All they that- 
 fee me laugh me to fcornt fays king David, 
 they jhoot aut the Up, andjhake the head, fay- 
 ing. He relied o;? Jehovah, that he would 
 deliver him, let him deliver him if he delight in 
 him^. 'they that faffed by, faith St. Matthew, 
 refuiled him, wagging their heads, and repeat- 
 ing, among other reproaches and calumnies,, 
 thefe very words : He trujied in God, let him 
 delimr him now, if he will have him : for he 
 fdid, I am the Son of God'". In another 
 place we read, that they parted his garments, 
 cajiing. lots ° ; and St. John particularly points, 
 at the reafon why they caft lots for one of his 
 garments, becaufe the coat was without feam, 
 women from the Jop throughout °. And thus 
 they fulfilled what was prophetically fpoken 
 in the fame Pfalm, They parted my garments 
 among them, aJid upon my vejlure did they caji 
 lots '". They filled alfo a fpunge with vinegar, 
 and put it upon hyfi!bp, and offered it to his 
 
 I Ver. 7., "" Ch. xxvii. 39, 43. 
 
 " Matt, xxvii. 35. ° Ch, xix, 23. 
 
 'Ver. 18. 
 
 N 4 mouth : 
 
i84 S E R M O N ■ VI. 
 
 mouth '' : by which was verified another paf- 
 iage, in the fixty-ninth Pfalm, fpoken of 
 David in the firft place, but, agreeably to our 
 Lord's own intimation, moft properly applied 
 by the Evangelift: to Chrift. 
 
 Whilft: our bleffed Lord was hanging upon 
 the crofs, two inftances of his loving-kind- 
 nefs were difplayed, which cannot fail to 
 engage our peculiar notice : one was, the re- 
 commendation of his mother to the regard of 
 his beloved difciple, which fhewed his atten- 
 tion to the real concerns of this life ; the other, 
 his accepting the repentance of the penitent 
 thief, and declaring that he fliould be with 
 him that day in Paradife, which manifefted 
 his influence in the intcrefts of a better life. 
 
 And now when all things were nearly ac- 
 complilhed, which he himfelf knew were 
 defigned to be fulfilled in his death, about 
 the ninth hour he cried out with a loud voice 
 in thofe words at the beginning of the iame 
 
 ' John xix. 29. 
 
 twenty- 
 
SERMON VI. 185 
 
 twenty-fecond Pfalm, My God, my God, why 
 hajithou forfaken me I Then commending his 
 fpirit to his Father, and having declared, it 
 isfinijhed, he bowed his head, and gave up. the 
 
 What aftonifhing wonders followed this 
 awful event ! The veil of the temple yras 
 rent in the midft, the fun was darkened, and 
 the darknefs was continued ; the earth quaked, 
 the rocks rent^ the graves were opened, 
 £fnd many bodies of the faints arofe. So that 
 when the centurion, and the foldiers that 
 watched Jefus, faw the earthquake, and the 
 courfe of nature thus convulfed, , they were 
 ftruck with great confternation, and made 
 this voluntary confefEon, T!ruly this was the 
 Son of God'. 
 
 It is not improbable that thefe convuliions 
 might be fome of thofe fhakings and commo- 
 tions, to which the prophecy of Haggai in the 
 fecond chapter alludes. For though they 
 
 ' John xLx. 30, ' Mat. xxvii. 54. 
 
 did 
 
i86 SERMON VI. 
 
 did not precede the manifcilation of Chrift^. 
 or his appearance in the Templei they wee© 
 the folemn confequences of it, exhibited at 
 that completion of the bleffing of peace, 
 which the deiire of all nations was to effe<3: 
 through his death ; whereby he laid open the 
 irinermoft veil of the Temple, that by it he 
 might prelignify his triumphant entry into the 
 Holy of Holies above. 
 
 To have fuffered death in any fliape might 
 have been deemed fufficiently grievous for this 
 innocent perfon : but to be expofed to a death 
 fo painful and ignominious as crucifixion, a 
 jaunifliment inflidted only on the loweft and 
 vileft malefadiors, was a moft fevere indignity 
 on the Lord of hfe and glory. And- yet this 
 fort of death appears to have been marked out 
 for him in the divine prefcience and defign 
 long before. As the afflidied people looked 
 at his emblem, the ferpent in the wildernefs, 
 fo it was foretold, that they would look at 
 him whom they pierced *. And this circum- 
 
 ' Zech. xii. lo. 
 
 ftance 
 
SERMON VI. 187 
 
 ftance was noticed by the Evangelift, and re- 
 ferred to the infialt which the cruel foldier 
 offered,, when he pierced has body, jnft dead, 
 with a fpear ". They were, according to the 
 wcards of the fame twenty-fecond Pfalm, to 
 pierce his hands and his feet " j and St, John 
 obferves in the Apocalypfe, that when he 
 Cometh in the clouds, every eye ihall fee him, 
 and they alfo that pierced him ^. It was in- 
 timated in the inftltutions of Mofes, that not 
 a: bone of him fhould be broken^. And 
 when the Ibldiers found that he was dead 
 already, they declined breaking his legs, al- 
 though they brake the legs of both the male- 
 fedlors that were crucified with him. In a 
 great variety of other inftances his death cor- 
 refponded with that fignal type of it, the fa- 
 crifke of the pafchal Lamb; but more efpe- 
 cially in the time in which^ he was offered, 
 which was on the fourteenth day of the 
 month at even, or between the evenings, be- 
 twixt the declining and the fetting of the fun. 
 
 " John xix. 37. ^ Ver. 16. y Ch. j. 7. 
 
 » See John xix. 37. Exod.xU. 46. Numb. ix. 12. 
 
 Indeed 
 
i88 SERMON VI, 
 
 ladeed it is obfervable, that moft of the 
 inftances of correfpondence with the previous 
 intimations noted by the Evangelifts, relate 
 either to the pafchal Lamb, or the declara- 
 tions of king David; as if it was meant, that 
 by his fufferings fhould chiefly be indicated 
 l^is facerdotal and regal charadlers, or that 
 royal and unchangeable priefthood, in which, 
 through death, he was to continue for ever. 
 For I muft juft add, that it was not poffible 
 that He fhould be holden of death, and there- 
 fore on the third day he was reftored to life ; 
 hereby ratifying and confirming the defign of 
 his death, verifying the predictions alfo that 
 had been fpoken of his releafe from it, and. 
 thus exhibiting the moft convincing proof 
 and fenfible demonftration of his divine mif- 
 fion J for he was declared to be the Son of 
 God with power by his refurreSlion from t he- 
 dead S 
 
 But I muft dwell no longer on this cir- 
 cumftantial account of Chrift's death, how- 
 
 '■ Rom. i. 4. 
 
 ever 
 
SERMON rvi. 189 
 
 ever important in itfelf, or in the extended 
 chain of God's providence j but muft pro* 
 ceed to explain, the chief defign of it, which 
 was, that he fhould be a facrifice.for fin. 
 
 •J As ail men had-Jinned, they had come jhort 
 of the glory of God^ ; and whilft the guilt of 
 fin was uncancelled, and the dominion of fin 
 unfubdued, there could be nothing lefs than 
 an if reconcileable feparation between God and 
 finners, between a Being of unfpotted purity 
 and perfeifb holinefs, and fuch as had efliranged 
 themfelves from holinefs, and had been en- 
 tangled .'in the fnares and fafcinations of fin:. 
 Now it was the primary defign of the Saviour 
 of the world to cancel the guilt of fin, by 
 making an atonement for the finner, to re- 
 move his obligation to punifliment by fufFer- 
 ing in his ftead, to bear the weight of our 
 fins in his own perfon, or to put away fin by 
 the facrifice of himfelf This is the explana-i- 
 tion, which is fuggefted by the faith of every 
 true and orthodox Chriftian. 
 
 * Rom. iii, 23. 
 
 But 
 
ipo SERMON VI. 
 
 But the Sodnian herefy recoils at this mea- 
 fure, aad lafeours to interpret the Scriptures 
 in a quite different manner, rejecting the 
 myfterious nature of the dcd:rine, or rathei* 
 driving to conform it to the narrow comprc- 
 ■henfion of the imtnan mind. It is allowed, 
 indeed, that the Son of God fuffered and 
 died, to put away fm, -yet not in the proper 
 acceptation of a facrifice ; but only that w? 
 might enjoy the benefit of his fufferings, by 
 ^a due improvement of his example. 
 
 That Chrift died for oiir benefit is then 
 acknowledged on both iides; but that the 
 Socinian notion doth not exprefs the full 
 idefign of his death will he evident, if we only 
 ftate the plain fenfe of that defign according 
 to the Scriptures. So that we may advance in 
 the difcuffion c^ our general fubjedt, whilft 
 We combat an antient error, revived in fome- 
 tvhat different ihapes in modern times, but 
 which in every form tends to diminifli the 
 valu6 of the Chriftian atonement, and even 
 ultimately to reduce the Author of our falva- 
 
 tion 
 
SERMON VI. 191 
 
 tion to a rank far below the real dignity ®f, 
 .tig l^g^y exalted nature. 
 
 Now that the death of Chrifl: was a facri-.. 
 
 ifice or atonenaent for our fins, is, I Iky, by 
 
 ^lak- intimation, or diredl afTertion, confirmed 
 
 -in the Scriptures. It was thu5 foretold of 
 
 ••the, Mefiiah hy the Evangelical prcphai: 
 
 -*' Surely He hath borne our griefs, and car- 
 
 ** ried. owr forrows ; and by his ilripes we 
 
 " are healed :" and again, " If his foul fliall 
 
 ** make, or ihall be made, a propitiatory fa- 
 
 *' crifice, he fhall fee a feed, which, fliall 
 
 *' prolong their days, and the gracious pur- 
 
 ** pofe of Jehovah fhall profper in his 
 
 ** :hands°." And itJs recorded of Chrift ia 
 
 the New Teflament, i&at He was manifejied 
 
 to take aisxay ourjins^, and therefore gave his 
 
 life a ranfom for vtany^ for all' : tliatj^^ ^or£ 
 
 €ur fins in his own body on the tree ^ ; and that 
 
 He was madefn, or a facrifice for fin, for us, 
 
 who knew nofn ^ : and this in confequence of 
 
 = Ifa. liii. I'c. '' I Johniii. 5. 
 
 ' AjTiVTfov. Compare JMark X. 45^. with i Tim. ii. 6. 
 
 ' I Pet. ii. 34. E 2 Cor. v. zi. 
 
 a voluntary 
 
192 SERMON VL 
 
 a voluntary acceptance of his Father's propd^ 
 fal, intimated in thofe remarkable words, Ls, 
 I come to do thy willy O God '" / The Father 
 provided the facrifice, and the Son freely ac- 
 cepted the undertaking, and laid down his 
 life for his friends ' : For he had power, to lay 
 it down, and power to take, it again ^. And, 
 as he loved us, fo he gave himfelf for us, an 
 offering and a facrifice to God for a fweet fmell" 
 ing favour^ : who therefore. faved us, not for 
 works of righteoufnefs that we have done, 
 but of his own love and free mercies in Chrift 
 Jefus. J 
 
 St. Paul, in his Epiftle to the Romans^ 
 hath placed this mercy in a ftill more valuable 
 light. For God, faith he, commendeth his 
 love towards us, in that, 'while we were yet 
 fnners, Chrift died for us "* ; that is. He died 
 in the ftead of finners, in the fame fenfe, as 
 is intimated in the preceding verfe, that one 
 ma« dies for another. And St. Peter alfp 
 tells us, that Chxiikfuffered for fins, the jujl 
 
 ^ Heb. X. 9. i John xv. 13. k John x. 18. 
 
 ? Ephef. V. 2. "> Ch. v. 8. 
 
 for 
 
SERMON Vr. 193 
 
 for the unjuji, that he might bring us to God^, 
 So that, when we were enemies, we were 
 reconciled unto God by the death of his Son: 
 who, as St. John obferves, is the propitiation 
 for our fins i and not for ours only, but aifofor 
 thofe of the ivbole world °. As the fentence of 
 death had palTed upon all men, for that all 
 had finned, fo hath he reconciled us all in 
 the body if his jiejh through death ^ ; having 
 thereby. aboliflied death, and deftroyed him 
 that had the power of it, that. is,, the Devil. 
 
 '■•A' ■ . 1 i 
 
 ■ It may greatly help to illuftrate the na-' 
 tare of the Chriftian facrifice, to compare it 
 in various particulars with the facrifices of 
 the Old Teftament. |n every facrifice amongft 
 the Jews, the oiFering was always to be with- 
 out fpot or blemiih, the very heft and moft 
 perfect in its kind. Thus a lamb was to be 
 pf the firfl year, and without any, fort of de- 
 fed: ' ; a male without blemifh was to be the 
 offering of the herd and of the flocks ' ; the 
 meat-offering was alfo to be of fine flour un- 
 
 » I Pet. iii. 1 8. ° i John ii. 2. p Col. i. 22. 
 
 ■J Lev.' ix. 3. ' Lev, i. 3,10. 
 
 O leavened. 
 
194 SERMON VI. 
 
 leavened ', and a young bullock without ble4 
 mifh was to be chofen for a fin-offering '. In 
 conformity with thefe, Chrift our facrifice, as 
 to his human nature, was holy, harmlefs, un~ 
 defiled, and Jeparate from Jinners"' ; and in his 
 divine nature was the eternal Son of (jod, 
 which added fuch efficacy and dignity to the 
 facrifice, as to make it of the moft confummate 
 purity as well as infinite extent. The chief 
 of the gifts and facrifices were offered by the 
 High Prieft under the law for the errors of 
 the people : and our High Priefl is the Lamb 
 of God that taketh away the fin of the world ^ . 
 The High Prieft alone went into the fecpnd 
 • tabernacle once every year into the holieft of 
 all, not without blood T- Chrift our High 
 Prieft of good things to come, by his own 
 blood entered in once into the holy place, having 
 obtained eternal redemption for us '^ ; the price 
 of which redemption was his blood, which 
 he (bed for the life of the world : for as almoft 
 all things by the Law were purged with blood j 
 
 ■» Lev. ii. 1,4, ' Ch. iv. 3. 
 
 " Heb. vii. 26. » John i. 29. 
 
 " Ex. XXX. 10. Heb. ix. 7. ^ Heb. ix. 12. 
 
 fo 
 
S.E R M O N VI. igs 
 
 fo without fhedding the blood of Chrifl there 
 would have been no remiffion under the Gof- 
 pel. Thofe facrifices indeed were offered 
 year by year, and were only the patterns of 
 the true ; but Chrift was once offered really 
 to bear the fins of many, and i>y his one offer- 
 ing hath he perfected for ever them that are 
 fanBiJied'' - 
 
 In the Levitlcal Law the offender was to 
 put his hand upon the head of the burnt- 
 offering, and it fhould be accepted for him 
 -to make atonement for him'i and thus was 
 he to transfer the guilt from himfelf to the 
 facrifice : and on the great day of general ex- 
 piation, the Prieft folemnly transferred the 
 acknowledged fins of the people on the exiled 
 goat, whilft the other was retained to make 
 the due fatisfadlion with his blood*. In like 
 manner Chrift came to fuftain, as well as to 
 bear aWay, our iniquities, and to fuffer and 
 die for our fins : who, though at his iirft ap- 
 pearance he was loaded with fin, yet unt9 
 
 "I Heb. X. 14. » Lev. i. 4. * See Lev. xvi, 
 
 O 2 them 
 
196 SERMON VI. 
 
 them that look for him Jhall appear the fecorid 
 time without Jin unto falvation **. His appear- 
 ance the firft time was without iin in hiniTelf, 
 as well as it will be the fecond j but at the 
 firft time he was burdened with our fins, and 
 fuftained them in his own body, when he 
 laid down his life for all men, and died in 
 their ftead. 
 
 Juftly therefore might St. Paul contempJate 
 Chrift as our paflbver, becaufe he was facri- 
 ficed for us % His death was a real facrifice, 
 with more ex ten five eiFedt, and beneficial in- 
 fluence, but in as proper a fenfe, as the facri- 
 fices under the legal ceconomy. It was an 
 expiation, or propitiation through faith in his 
 blood, for all our fins ; and the free gift of 
 his meritorious atonement came upon all men 
 to jujlif cation of life'^. For he died for our 
 offences, and rofe again for our juftification'. 
 His life, was that voluntary ranfom, whereby 
 the world fhoutd become reconciled unto God, 
 and their trefpanes not impyted to them, that 
 
 ■> Heb. ix. 28. ^ I Cor. v. 7. 
 
 * Rom. v:^8. « Ch. iv. 25. 
 
 being 
 
SERMON ,VI. 197 
 
 heing jt^ified by his blood they might be faved 
 from wrath tbrot^b him\ And his refur- 
 recSion plainly evinced, that he had made full 
 fatisfadion for the -fins of thofe for whom 
 he died, 
 
 T'here is therefore now no condemnation for 
 them which are in Chriji Jefus, who walk not 
 after the flejh, but after the J^irit ^ j who, 
 relying on his meritorious facrifice, endeavour 
 to live as become th the Gofpel of Chrift, in 
 conftant obedience to his laws. For who 
 Jhali lay any thing to the charge of God's eleSif 
 It is God that jujiifieth ; Who is he that con- 
 demneth? It is Chriji that died ^, who as our 
 mighty Redeemer hath fuftained the weight 
 of his Father's refentment againft our fins, 
 hath expiated our iniquities, hath blotted out 
 the hand^ writing of ordinances that was againft 
 us, having nailed it to his crofs '. 
 
 To convince us of the reality of this atone- 
 ment, the Almighty appears to have conde- 
 
 ' Rom, V. 9. £ Ch. viii. i. 
 
 •■ Ch. viii. 33, 34. ' Col. ii. 14. 
 
 O 3 fcended 
 
198 SERMON VI. 
 
 fcended to accommodate his mode of adling 
 to the ordinary forms of commutative juflice 
 among men. Our redemption' was purchafed, 
 the terrris propofed and accepted, the price of 
 the redemption paid, the covenant feakd with 
 blood, the deed that was adverfe to us can- 
 celled, by being bored through with a nail, 
 according to antient cuflom, and faftened to 
 the crofs ; new conditions appointed, and new 
 powers were given : every thing was done by 
 our furety, which either ftridt juftice or legal 
 ufage could reafonably exadt, and therefore a 
 full and fufficient fatisfaftion was made''. 
 
 •^ I am aware it has been objefted to this fort of reafoning, 
 that it reprefents the inethpd pf God's dealings with men in 
 the light of a traffick or merchandize. And perhaps the fa- 
 miliarity of the terms may have had falEcient influence with 
 fpnje minds, to induce them to confider the meafures as un- 
 worthy of the divine Majefty, and that every fort of fatisfac- 
 tion muft be altogether unneCeffary for a Being of unlimited 
 power and goodnefs. This objeftion is very ably refuted by", 
 the prefent learned Bilhop of St. Afaph in his fifth Sermon at 
 the Warburton Leflures. Tb aik, " what need there any la- 
 " tisfaftion to the divine Nature, would be in efFeft to alk a 
 " reafon why the conftitution of things is what it is. There 
 " is nothing in fuch an arrangement jnconfiftent with the 
 *• perfeft reftitude of the divine Nature, and many good pur- 
 " pofes may be conceived to be anfwered by it, even within 
 " the fphere of our own Obfervation. That God does re- 
 
 " quire 
 
SERMON VI. 199 
 
 And hence the Gofpel of Chrift, which con- 
 tairieth thefe glad tidings of our redemption, 
 is called the New Teftament or Covenant j 
 the blood by which it was ratified, is the 
 blood of the everhjiing Covenant^; and the 
 Surety, who brought thefe wonders down to 
 us, is in the book of the Revelations ftyled, 
 the faithful and true Witnefs, or the Martyr". 
 
 Nor let the my fiery of a vicarious facrifice 
 ftagger the faith of the honeft inquirer, or 
 perplex the impartial mind. In all the ways 
 and works of God, whether of nature or of 
 grace, there are myfteries. The religioii of 
 nature, as well as the revelation of the Gof- 
 pel, is in many points myilerious : and our 
 knowledge mufl; be very confined, and our 
 faith very contradted, if we will admit no 
 
 '* quire fuch a fatisfaftion, has been the fenfe of mankind in 
 " all ages, however acquired. And this opi^ion is confirm. 
 " ed by the revealed word of God, from one end to the other 
 " of the Old Teftament." See Bagot's Serm'. p. 132. I 
 would only add, that we ihould be careful not to be deceived 
 by mere words, as the very beft things may be fometimes 
 difparaged by degrading terms and vulgar analogies. 
 ' Heb. xiii. 20. "" Ch. iii. 14. 
 
 O 4 truths 
 
20O S E R M O N VI. 
 
 truths but what we can fully comprehend. 
 In whatever method it fhould pleafe God to 
 fave us, we ftiould thankfully acquiefce at leaft 
 in the favour; in whatever way he will reveal 
 to us the words of eternal life, we fhould 
 accept them as his words, acknowledge the 
 benefit, and comply with the conditions. 
 
 We know, indeed, that the Lord delight- 
 eth in goodnefs; that his mercies are infinite, 
 and we continually experience the mofi: con*- 
 vincing as well as amazing proofs of his be- 
 neficence. But we might as well fuppofe 
 God not to be, as not to be iuft, as not to be 
 the Almighty Rewarder of thoje that diligently 
 feek him ", as well as an Avenger of thofe that 
 negledl or difobey him. The voice of nature 
 as well as his revealed word flrongly atteft, 
 that He interefts himfelf in the moral govern- 
 ment of his rational creatures, and that He 
 will by no means fpare the guilty. And what 
 then could a guilty creature exped: from in- 
 finite Juftice, but the forer marks of his dif- 
 
 " Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 pleafure ? 
 
SERMON VI. 201 
 
 pleafure ? Now were we fummoned to plead 
 our own caufe, or to vindicate our innocence, 
 we know that every mouth would be Jiopped, 
 and all the world be acknowledged guilty be^ 
 fore God°. Could any mode of recovery be 
 iuggefted by our own efforts, it muft be our 
 repentance. But being forry for our fins is 
 not being innocent j and though it is the 
 utmoft which our own refledion could fuggeft 
 towards pacifying the offended Majefty of 
 Heaven, yet it could give us no affurance of 
 his reconciled favour. Nay, in the very bell 
 of us it is fo very imperfedt, as to make us 
 juftly dread his difpleafure, and to be deeply 
 apprehenfive, that, inftcad of being a repent- 
 ance unto falvation, it would be unaffifted, 
 but of little avail in his fight, who fearcheth 
 the heart, and knoweth all things. 
 
 It is true, the men of Niniveh appear to 
 have had recQurfe to this remedy even from 
 natural principle, and with good fuccefs: but 
 then they were doubtful of its efficacy. Who 
 
 ° Rom. iii7 19. 
 
 can 
 
202 S E R M O N VI. 
 
 can tell if God will turn and repent ^ ? , That 
 He cduld not accept of our repentance, or that 
 hisjufticemuftindifpenfably require other terms 
 for our pardon, we dare not venture to affirm^. 
 But when he has propofed to us a fatisfadlion, 
 when he has contrived an atonement for fin, 
 
 f Jonah iii. 9. 
 
 9 It would be great prefumption in man to attempt to limit 
 the omnipotence of God, or to fix any bounds to his agency, 
 except abfolute impofflbilities, or things which cannot be done. 
 Yet as the human nature is under his moral government, we 
 may form fome judgement as to moral poffibilities, from our 
 obfervations and refleftions on thofe appearances, which recom- 
 mend themfelves to our beil notice. Can we then think that he 
 hath implanted the knowledge of his will in our hearts, "and 
 confirmed it by additional revelations ; that he has by the fame 
 methods encouraged us to the obfervance of his will, and 
 threatened to punilh our difobedience ; that we feel the influ- 
 ences of his refentment in ourfelves, and behold the efFefts of 
 it in thofe around us : and can we think, that all thefe precau- 
 tions were of fo little ufe, that we might reftore or recover 
 ourfelves from tranfgreffions, without even fuch compenfations, 
 as the ordinary ideas of juftice among men would require ? 
 Would not fuch fentiments tend to make the Law of God of 
 rone effeft, and even to evacuate it ? to incline us to believe 
 that the fanSions of the divine Laws would be of lefs force and 
 efficacy than of thofe amongft ourfelves ? 
 
 Men may frame for themfelves new notions of the divine 
 juftice, and either explain it away, or confound it in fanciful 
 refinements and unintelligible explanations of benevolence. 
 But it muft be better to acknowledge the weaknefs of their 
 own underftandings, than to involve themfelves in inex- 
 tricable perplexities by attempting either to unfold the fe- 
 
 veral 
 
SERMON VI. fio3 
 
 when he has intimated this his defign by varied 
 refenablances, and declared it in pofitive aflur- 
 ances, we are not to enquire what he could do, 
 but accept With thankfulnefs what he has done. 
 What if God was willing to exhibit his irre- 
 concileable averfion to fin and love of holinefs 
 in the ftrongeft manner, or to make known 
 the riches of his grace and abundant favour 
 to mankind ! What if on thefe accounts he 
 fent his deareft pledge, the fon of his love, into 
 the world, a voluntary offering, to put auoay 
 Jin by the facrifice of himfelf ! Surely we ought 
 with the utmoft gratitude to lay hold of the 
 tenders of fuch wonderful mercy, to embrace 
 the propofals which offer forgivenefs to the re- 
 penting finner, to confefs that the falvation is 
 
 veral myfterious perfeftions of the divine nature, or hoping 
 to explain them more fully by confolidating the whole into 
 one. Touching the Alihighty we cannot find him out, but 
 we know that he is excellent in power, and in plenty of 
 juHice (Job. xxxvii. 23). And rather than ftrive to unravel 
 his nature, we hid better humble our own, by fubjedling 
 our reafon to tha eye of faith, and fubmitting to thofe dif- 
 coveries, which have fo wonderfully difplayed a moft beautiful 
 harmony of the divine- attributes, where mercy and truth are 
 met together, righteoufnefs'and peace have kiiTed each other j 
 and the aftonifhirig work of our redemption is fo far accommo- 
 dated to the meafure of our underftandings, as to make it ap. 
 pear-fuitable to the wifdom of GoJ, though in a myflery. 
 
 an 
 
204 S E R-M ON VI. 
 
 an aifi of God's free grace, while it provides 
 for the vindication of his juftice and the ho- 
 nour of his government, and at the fame time 
 to acknovi'ledge that God is juji, vs^hilfl he is 
 the jujiifier of him, who believeth in Jefus '. r 
 
 Nothing is more evident than that no real 
 fatisfadtion was ever obtained by human wif- 
 dom in this important bufinefs. Nor did the 
 encouragements in the Law of Mofes derive 
 any efficacy from the Law itfelf ; but were only 
 of ufe as they looked forward to the redemp- 
 tion of the new covenant. And it is worthy' 
 to be received by all men as an incontrover- 
 tible truth, that we are wa^flied, we are fanc- 
 tified, we are juftified by the blood of Jefus % 
 Him hath God raifed from the dead, and given 
 him glory, that our faith and hope might be in 
 God^. By his fuffering of death he vs^as 
 crowned with glory and honour ; by having 
 thus drank of the brook in the way, his head 
 was exalted -, for in him his Father was well 
 pleafed, and ha^^-ing made him perfedl through 
 
 ' Rom. iii. z6. = I Cor. vi, 1 1 . ' i Pet. i. 
 
 fuf- 
 
S E R xM O N Vr. 20C 
 
 / -^ 
 
 fulFerings, he was to bring many fons unto 
 glory, ^nd to hemwe the author of eternal falva-, 
 tion to all them that obey him ". 
 
 . . We could have had no deliverance &ona 
 death, had it not bjeen given us by Godi nor 
 -Woulfi this have' been' tnatter of fuch trium- 
 phant fatisfadiion, if a deliverance from fin 
 likevsrife had not been obtained for us by the 
 merits, and made known to us by the revela- 
 tion, of his Son. Bot riovs^ having confidence 
 through the atonement of his blood, we may 
 with joy and comfort and full afiurance of hope 
 look forv^fard through this veil of flefh to the 
 facred receffes of eternity, even to that eter^ 
 nal life, which was brought to light by the Gof- 
 pel, and is the gift of God through fefus Chriji 
 our Lord^. If a man die, Jh all he live against 
 is no longer to thofe a difficult, a dreadful 
 problem^ who have the evidence of many in- 
 fallible proofs, that Chrift being raifed from 
 the dead, became the firfl fruits of them that 
 
 " Heb. V. g. "2 Tim, i. io. Rom. vi. 23. 
 
 " Job xiv.,14. 
 
2o6 SERMON VI. 
 
 Jlept^t and kmiv thai He who raifed up the 
 LordJefus,JhaUraife them up alfo by J ejus*. 
 
 Nor does this refurreftion import no more 
 than a bare rekindling of the vital principle : 
 the deliverance of the true Chriftian extends 
 much farther, and reinftates him in the fecure 
 pofleffion of every endowment and advantage 
 he can be defpoiled of by death, or fupplies 
 infinitely more valuable in their {lead. 
 
 Is, death a diflblution of his body ? Does it 
 deftroy that workman fliip of the hahd of the 
 Almighty, fo fearfully and wonderfully con- 
 trived, fo curioufly framed to convey through 
 the organs of fenfe a diftindt notice of the 
 numerous objedls and operations of the mate- 
 rial world, and even to furniih the mind with 
 ideas for thought and contemplation ? He has 
 the lefs occafion to enquire, whether an ethe-. 
 real vehicle may ftill attend the foul after the 
 diflblution of this earthly tabernacle, or what 
 latent powers it may exert in the naked ftate 
 
 y I Cor. XV. 20. ^ 2 Cor. iv. 14. 
 
 of 
 
SERMON VI. 207 
 
 of reparation, who trufts it ihall again be 
 clothed ; but no more with a vile, a corrup- 
 tible, a natural body ; but a body incorruptible 
 and fpiritual, fit for the converfalion of the 
 angels of God, and fashioned like unto the 
 glorious body of Chrift Jefus our Lord . 
 
 ,Is death a departure from this world? Does 
 it remove us from our poffeffions, our friends 
 and acquaintance, and all the dear relations of 
 life ? The fincere follower of Chrift knows 
 that this life is only his pilgrimage, and while' 
 he is thankful for the accommodations of his 
 journey, can joyfully quit them all, that he 
 may be admitted to his Father s houfe, to an 
 inheritance that fadeth not away, to a celeftial 
 fociety of fathers and brothers and mothers and 
 fifters, of all who have heard the word of God, 
 and kept it " : when he fhall arrive, whither 
 he is now carried by faith and hope; when he 
 ihall in open vifion and complete enjoyment ac- 
 tually arrive unto mount Sion, and unto the city 
 qfthe living God, the heavenly 'Jerufakm, and to 
 an innumerable company of angels y to the general. 
 
 » Ph'U. iii^ 21. '■ Mgrk iii. 35. 
 
 ajjembly 
 
2o8 S E R M O N VI. 
 
 ajfembly and church of the jirjl-born which are 
 written in heaven, and to God the judge of alii 
 and to thefpiritsofjujl men made p erf eSl, and 
 to fefus the Mediator of the new covenant °. 
 
 Laftly, is death generally attended with 
 afflidlive pains, and fometimes an agony of fuf- 
 fering ? He, who has learned to bear hard- 
 Ihips as a good foldier of Chrift, can fupport 
 himfelf with the confideration, that as the 
 Vapfain ofhisfalvation was made perfeSl through 
 fufferings ^ fo through him fhall thefe afflic- 
 tions be fandiified to perfe<ft the work of his 
 patience, humility, and refignation to the will 
 of God ; that his warfare will now fhortly be 
 accomplifhed ; that this laft conflidt will tranf- 
 mit him to receive, amidft the united accla- 
 jnations of faints and angels and fongs of 
 eternal triumph, the prize of his high pro^ 
 feffion, the crown of immortality; and the 
 extremity of his pain only haften his convey- 
 ance to thofe rivers of pleafures, which flow 
 at God's right hand for evermore. 
 
 ' Heb. xii. 2Z, 23,. 24.. •• Heb. ii. 10. 
 
 Nqw 
 
SERMON VI. 209 
 
 Now unto him that loved us, and wajhed us 
 from ourjins in his onion blood, and hath made 
 us kings and priejis unto God'; to him, together 
 with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, three 
 Perfons, and one God, be glory and dominion, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 ' Rev. i. e, 6. 
 
 SER. 
 
SERMON VII. 
 
 John xv. 3. 
 
 t 
 
 Now ye are clean through the word which I 
 havefpoken unto you. 
 
 I 
 
 "^ H E defign of religion is to improve 
 mankind in their duty to God. The 
 defign of the Chriftian religion is to reform 
 finful men, and to affift them in their duty 
 through the mediation and interceffion of 
 Chrift. Whilft it holds up the mirrdur to na- 
 ture, and fhews us our weaknefles and infir- 
 mities, our holy religion exhibits the ftrongeft 
 averfion to voluntary errors, and will have no 
 refidence with.fin. It hath through wonder- 
 ful mercy provided againfl: our miftakes and 
 frailties, difcovered a deliverance from the 
 confequences of them, and deftroyed the 
 P 2 whole 
 
212 SERMON VII. 
 
 whole body of death for us by the facrifice 
 and expiatory atonement of the crofs. By 
 this unfpeakable gift of God in Chrift, \hQ 
 hope of former ages has been accomphfhed, 
 the ranfom paid, the juftice of God fatisfied, 
 the adl of free grace paffed, the debt cancel- 
 led, and the repenting finner reftbred to a ca- 
 pacity of the higheft favour, 
 
 Great indeed is the confolation, with which 
 the minds of fallen men muft be filled, 
 from a convidion of fuch a pardon for fins 
 paft : but it would fi:ill be clouded with 
 doubt, if not fink back into defpair, were 
 there no farther hopes that the body of fin 
 might be deftroyed in us j fo that we fljould 
 no longer be fubjedt to its dominion, or at 
 leaft be Haves to the lulls thereof. Even 
 reafon muft convince thofe, who enjoyed no 
 better light than that of nature, that a jufl: 
 and righteous God could never delight in any 
 thing that continued unholy or impure ; that 
 fin muft alw^ays be repugnant to his nature ; 
 and that, unlefs the finner {hould become re- 
 newed or changed, he could not be accept- 
 able 
 
SERMON VII. 213 
 
 able to him, " whb is far feparated from fro- 
 " ward thoughts, and will not abide where 
 " unrighteoufnefs entereth \" 
 
 In the times before the Gofpel it was e^- 
 pedted, that there would be a fountain opened 
 for fin and for uncleannefs ^ ; which fountain 
 was not only to wafh away the 'guilt there- 
 of, but alfo to wipe out its ftain. But the 
 generations of old did* not enjoy that com- 
 fortable aflurance which is held forth to -us, 
 on whom the light of the Gofpel hath {hlned, 
 and who - are acquainted with the whole 
 tenour of this embafly of peace. The glad 
 tidings of which not only announce, that fin 
 is fubdued for us by the facfifice of Chrift's 
 death, but that it will alfo be fubdued iii us 
 by the riches of his grace. The blood of 
 Chrifl hath paid the penalty, and cleanfed us 
 as an expiation ; but as a confequence of this, 
 it muft be the word and fpirit of Ghrift, that 
 muft purge our confciences front dead "works, 
 a«d enable them toferve, fo as to be finally 
 
 * Wlfd. i. 3, 5. •• Zecli. xiii. i. 
 
 , P 3 accepted 
 
214 SERMON VII. 
 
 accepted by, the living God". And there- 
 fore it is, that the Apoftle St. John, who in 
 one part of his writings tells us, that the 
 blood of Jefus Chrijl cleanfeth us from all Jin ^, 
 m the text informs us in the language of our 
 divine Mafter, Te are clean through the word 
 which I have fpoken unto you. 
 
 The allufion is to the pruning and cleanling 
 the branches of the vine : the wild excref- 
 cences are reftrained, the dead parts are cut 
 off, the vigorous fhoots regularly trained, and 
 the bearing parts purged and encouraged. 
 And thus in the human life, the luxuriances 
 muft be curtailed, the devious and irregular 
 ihootings broken off or correfted, and the 
 parts that promife good fruit be trained and 
 carried on by wholefome difcipline and difcreet 
 management, that they may be enabled to 
 bring forth more fruit. 
 
 It is an allufion not unfrequent in the 
 writings of both the Qld and New Teftament. 
 
 <= Heb. ix. 14. '; ^ I John-i.7. 
 
 Th© 
 
SERMON VII. 215 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah was ftruck dumb, becaufe 
 he was a man of polluted Hps, and dwelt 
 among' a people of polluted lips : but the hea- 
 venly Meffenger affured him, when the eoal 
 from the altar had touched his lipSj thine ini- 
 quity is taken away, ofiid thy Jin purged % or 
 cleanfed ; where the expreffions are equivalent j 
 to purge fin is to take away iniq^aity. The 
 author to the Hebrews ©bferves, that when 
 Chriji had by himfelf purged our Jim, he Jate 
 do'Wn on the right hand of the MajeJly on 
 high ' •• He had purged them: by the ©faring 
 of his blood, and the influence of his word 
 and power. And by the due application of 
 thefe blefled means we are exhorted alfo in 
 like manner, to purge out the old Maven, or 
 the leaven of malice and wickednejs ^; to imjh 
 and make ourjehes- clean, and put aiitay the 
 evil of our doings^ ; to cleanj'e our hands, and 
 purify our hearts ' i that thus we may anfwer 
 the glorious end of Our Saviour's appearing ; 
 •who gave himfelffor us, that he might redeem 
 
 ' Ifa. vi. 7; *■ Heb. i. 3. e i Cor. v. 7, 8. 
 
 * Ifa. i. 16. ^ James iv. 8. 
 
 P 4 m 
 
2i6 SERMON VII. 
 
 us from all iniquity, and purify unto himfef a 
 peculiar people zealous of good works '^. 
 
 "The deiign of the Gofpel then was to re- 
 concile man to God, not only by removing 
 the weight of that woful fentence which 
 had pafTed on the whole human race by rea- 
 fon of fin, but alfo by inftruiting and inform- 
 ing the world, and thus reducing it to a hearty 
 obedience to the divine will, and a comfort- 
 , able hope in the divine mercy. For this end 
 it was beforehand announced to the people of 
 God, as the new Covenant of Peace, as the 
 good Tidings that would be a light to the 
 Gentiles, would open the eyes of the blind, 
 and extend falvation to the ends of the earth. 
 
 It hath effedted thefe gracious purpofes by 
 various methods : 
 
 I. By revealing fuch important dodlrines as 
 the world before underftood not aright, or 
 had only an imperfedt intimation of, and here- 
 
 •^Tit. ii. 14. 
 
 by 
 
SERMON VII. - 217 
 
 by relieving us from much uncertainty, and 
 fixing the rule of our condud" on the furefl 
 grounds. 
 
 The light, indeed, in which it reprefents the 
 Deity himfelf, is the moft admirable, and at 
 the fame time the moft amiable, that .can be 
 conceived. It, not only confiders him, as a 
 Being poflefled of all poffible perfedion, the 
 Maker and Preferver of all things; but as pecu- 
 liarly attentive to the welfare of his reafonable 
 creatures, governing them agreeably to, the 
 laws of infinite juftice, tempered with the 
 ijioft gracious intentions of mercy and loving- 
 kindnefs. That though He will by no means 
 fpare the obftinately guilty, but will inflidt on 
 them the feverity of his inexorable wrath; 
 yet he is bounteous and benign to all who 
 are fiudious to become fit obje<5ts of his 
 mercy, is placable for our offences, pities our 
 weaknefTes, and relieves all our wants and 
 necefllties. Though He is one, undivided, 
 omniprefent Being, He is difl:inguifhed into 
 three perfons, the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghoft : a diftindtion made known unto 
 
 us. 
 
2i8 SERMON VII. 
 
 us, probably to convince uS of the ftupendouS 
 greatnefs of our falvation ; that the evil of finf 
 was fo malignant, that our Creator, Redeemer, 
 and San<3:ifier, mull each be engaged in re- 
 covering us from it. 
 
 Now what can be a more powerful prin- 
 ciple of moral adtion than the convidlion that 
 we have an omnifcient Being thus continually 
 fuperintending us, who is a witnefs to all our 
 condud, and even a difeerner of the thoughts 
 and intents of the heart ' f And what can 
 more ftrongly influence the minds of men to a 
 redtitude of life and mannei-s, than the con- 
 fideration that this wife and gracious Being 
 interefts himfelf in our welfare, and difcovers 
 his very nature fo far to our underflandings, 
 as may convince us that he loves us with the 
 moft tender regard,? Or what can have a 
 more natural tendency to excite in us an 
 averfion to fin, than the reflfedlion that the 
 Parent of all endeavours to win us by the mofl 
 eondefcending and engaging motives, to com- 
 
 ' Heb. Iv. 12. 
 
 ply 
 
SERMON VII. 219 
 
 ply with that conftitution of things which 
 his wifdom hath ordained, to cleanfe ourfelves 
 from the evil of fin, in order to be delivered 
 from that puiiiihrnent, which in the prefent 
 fyftem of things muft otherwife be its un- 
 avoidable confequence ? 
 
 Moreover, whatever conceits may enter 
 into, the m.inds of fp^eculative men concerning 
 the origin of this evil, yet no better explana- 
 tion can be devifed, than what the word of 
 God points out unto us, the abufe of bur 
 priraitive liberty. AU things muft be pure 
 and perfedt, that proceed from the hands of 
 aperfed:^and good God. But his creatures 
 may be formed with powers, which, when 
 left to their own management, they might 
 be capable of abufing. How far the wife 
 iiefigns of his providence in the comprehen- 
 five plan of the government of the univede 
 may be anfwered by fuch meafures, our li- 
 mited faculties can never explore. Certainly 
 all his works are known unto Him from the 
 beginning of the world"". Yet, as our know- 
 
 ■» Afts XV. 18. 
 
 ledge 
 
220 SERMON Vir. 
 
 ledge is but fmall, and our reafonings fhallow' 
 and very imperfed, we muft be fatisfied with, 
 and indeed thankful for, thofe illuminations 
 of his will and purpofes, which He is pleafed 
 in any meafure to make manifeft unto us. 
 
 Now we learn from his word, that by the 
 abufe of our liberty our nature is infedted 
 with an original taint; that, in confequence 
 of this tranfmitted corruption, we are all be- 
 come liable to death. By one man Jin entered 
 into the world, and death by Jin; and fo death 
 fajfed upon all men ". That though the feeds 
 or principles of goodnefs are not extirpated 
 by this infedtion, yet we too commonly find 
 in ourfelves a pronenefs to fin°; that the good 
 
 " Rom. V. 12. 
 
 ° " As to the Fall of Man, however the thing may be 
 " difputed, the effefts of it are vifible in the ftrange prone- 
 " nefs of human nature to aft againft reafon and confcience>. 
 " that is, to aft in plain contradiftion to itfelf, .and its own 
 " principles." Jenkins's Chriftian Relig. vol. ii. p. 247. 
 
 ■ There is one refleftion, which can fcarce fail to fuggeft itfelf 
 to every confiderate mind ; if our firft progenitor, who was 
 made upright, was overtaken by temptation, the very beft of 
 us ought, furely, to be upon our guard, or_, in the language of 
 the Apoftle, " not to be high-minded, but fear," Rom. 
 xi. 20. 
 
 that 
 
SERMON VII; 221 
 
 that we 'Would, or approve, moe do not, whilft 
 the evil that we would not, that we do ^ : and 
 thus from the infirmity of our nature, in- 
 ffuenced by the machinations of the fame evil 
 fpirits that were the original caufe of our 
 woe, we too often fall into adtual and even 
 repeated tranfgreffions. In order to recover 
 us from this wretched ftate, when we had 
 been long enough detained in it to convince us 
 of our own inability, it jpleafed God to fend 
 his Son into the world, to redeem and fave 
 us, by methods the moft powerful and afto- 
 nifhing, and at the fame time the moft effi- 
 cacious and fatisfaftory. Our blefled Re- 
 deemer affumed the human nature, lived and 
 taught mankind therein, and at length fufFer- 
 ed and made an atonement for the fins of the 
 world, fealed the covenant of our pardoh with 
 his blood, and enfured it to us by his re- 
 furrediion. 
 
 In confequence of this, we who were loft 
 and alienated from God, and doomed to death, 
 
 p Rom. vii. ig. 
 
 have 
 
222 SERMON VII. 
 
 have again acoefs to our heavenly Faiiher 
 through the mediation of his Son, are ini- 
 tiated by baptifin into his new covenant, and 
 made the adopted children of God : and if 
 we live by the faith of Chrift, and adhere to 
 the truth as it is in Jefus, fhall finally become 
 children of God in the moft glorious fenfe, being 
 the children of the reJurreSiion '. If we believe 
 and repent, our Jins Jhall be blotted out ' ; and 
 fhould we afterwards fall into temptations, 
 and through the infirmity of our nature be 
 overtaken by fome offences', yet we have an 
 advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrijl the 
 righteous, who will be flill the propitiation for 
 eurfns '. 
 
 This is the diftinguifhing dodrine of our 
 moft holy Faith j which therefore is fometimes 
 ftyled from hence Faith in our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift. Jefus Chrijl is the chief corner-Jlone, 
 in whom all the building, fitly framed together, 
 grcweth unto an holy temple in the Lord^. 
 He will fhower down his bleffings upon this 
 
 ■' Luke XX. 36. ■■ Adls iii. 19. 
 
 * I John ii. 1,2. ' Ephef. ii. 20, 21. 
 
 building, 
 
SERMON VII. ^23 
 
 building, which is his Church, and continue 
 to fupport, proted, and encourage itj will 
 rule over it in righteoufnefs, provide all things 
 |)roper for his faithful fervants, extending his 
 prptedtion heyond the prefent ftate, and raif- 
 ing them up again to a new and better life. 
 And finally. He will feparate the good from 
 the bad by an unalterable fentence and an 
 eternal partition j admitting the former into 
 the moft glorious manfions of light and joy, 
 to the full view of the beatific vifion, the 
 contemplation and enjoyment of God j whom 
 'their fouls fhall entirely love, in whofe pre- 
 fence they fhall triumphantly rejoice, and de- 
 light in the everlafting celebration of his 
 glories. But on the other hand banifhing the 
 wicked, the impenitent finners, to everlafling 
 deJiruSiion from the prefence of the Lord and 
 from the glory of his power ', configning them 
 a portion with thofe apoftate fpirits, whofe 
 counfels and praftices they followed in the 
 prefect life, and whpfe alTociates in torments 
 they wiU remain for evermore, 
 
 "» 2 Theff. i. 9. 
 
 Thefe 
 
224 SERMON" VII. 
 
 Thefe are the chief of thofe dodrines, 
 which the word of Chrift, that brought life 
 and immortality to light "", hath revealed unto 
 us. They are fuch as may be prefumed to 
 carry with them their own convi£tion, forci- 
 bly to flrike on the underftandings of all con- 
 fiderate and impartial men, as the moft 
 powerful and affe<Sing fprings of adtion, and 
 the jufteft principles of moral conduct. Thofe 
 who refufe to receive them muil in general 
 fhut their eyes againfl the truth, and are 
 therefore culpable for want of faith j and thofe 
 who admit their' truth, and will not fufFer 
 it to have its due and natural influence, are 
 no lefs criminal^ as they rejeft the faith 
 through the corruption of their minds, the 
 wickednefs of their lives, or the impenitency 
 of their hearts ^. 
 
 ' 2 Tim. i. 10. 
 
 y If any, from a ftrong attachment to fyftem, a model of 
 inftruftion which' they may have framed for themfelves, or any, 
 other fort of prejudice, Ihould objed; to thefe Chriftian doc- 
 trines, that they are not delivered in fuch an order and ar- 
 rangement, as they might conceive fuitable to the wife plan 
 and perfeft defigns of God's providence ; let them recoUeft, . 
 that the Scriptures are intended for the ufe and edification of 
 ajl men ; to inform their underftandings, exercife their talents, 
 
 and 
 
SERMON VII. 225 
 
 Yet ftlll as the human nature is confla,ntly 
 aflailed by manifold temptations, and the 
 powers of our reafon are feeble; thefe doc- 
 trines of .Chriftianity are not left Jjarely to 
 the^r influence on the under ftanding, but re- 
 
 and improve tlieir hearts. That ttiefe moft important truths 
 are therefore judicioufly interfperfed amongll a variety of othet 
 tifefd or entertaining leffons, to call forth the induftry, quicken 
 the retfearches, animate the fidelity, and in one Ihape or other 
 fuit the inclinations, and gratify the diligence of all wife and 
 thinking men. To accommodate them, indeed, to thofe who 
 have lefs leifure and lefs ability for enquiryj the principal doc- 
 trines have been collefted from the iirft ages of Chriftianity, 
 and arranged into a fummary form and method. So that all 
 that defire to obtain a competent (hare of knowledge in our 
 noly religion, to avail themfelves of the merits of a Saviour, 
 and to be bleffed with a IrUe faving and juftifying faith iti 
 Chrift, may find the accefs eafy, the encouragement great, 
 and the way fecure. 
 
 But where men are obflinate and impenitent, and even def- 
 perately wicked, the fpirit of God will not always ftriye with 
 thefe. they ha've eyes and fee not, ears and hear not, neither 
 muill they'underjiand. "There is a degree of evidence and of 
 " influence," as Mr. Bryant hjis juftly remarked, " to which 
 " we are riot entitled. When a perfon adts againft conviftion, 
 " and turns from the light, God does not' always leave him in 
 " that ftate of twilight ; but adds to his bliridnefs", and brings 
 " on a tenfold darknefs. When people pervert ;th^ir bell 
 " gifts, they will be farther corrupted to their ruin: and 
 " thofe who are guilty of wilful and obftinate folly will be 
 " doomed to judicial infatu^ion. This was- the cafe of -Pha- 
 " raoh and thef^gyptians.'fObferv. On the Plagues, p. 380. 
 
 Q_ commend 
 
226 -fe E R M O K VII. 
 
 commend themfelves to our attention by fuch 
 arguments^ as niiy ii'oufe and engage the J)af- 
 fibiii in its favour. S(i that the religion of 
 Jefus is defigned to operate on every faculty 
 of the foiil : by hope aii;d by fear, by joy> 
 love, and intereft, by the apprehenfion of the 
 moft awful and weighty recompenCes, and 
 thie moft alarming and never-ceafing terrorsi 
 to deter men from the moft ttCmendous ruin, 
 and excite them to the ;purfiiit of the moft 
 tranfcemdaht blifs. 
 
 11. But that the knowledge of thefe im-. 
 portant truths may have its due effe£t, its 
 cleanfing influence within us, it muft fink 
 into our hearts, fo as to renew and reform our 
 lives. And that it may produce this efFedt, 
 the word of God hath, fecondly, poiiited out 
 unto us a rule of life, by which our condudt 
 'fhould be diredted, and hdth afforded us the 
 pureft precepts of duty, as well as the moft 
 animating eflcdcft^ements to every virtue. 
 
 The Gofpel Hath made known to all men 
 the'whole will of God, hath brought Hown to 
 
 IJS 
 
SERMON VII. Ji2|r 
 
 us the words of fiernalJife s ajid inftrudted u^ 
 in t^pfe duties wijich muft qualify us for the 
 enJQymenf ci everlafting happipefs. It ac- 
 quaints us with the full extent of our duty to 
 .Qod, whom we ^re to love with the moilfiijcere 
 and unbounded afFedlion, ferve with .the moil 
 profound reverence a^d' filial fubmiffion, and 
 obey in the fpirit of the trueft piety and warmeijt 
 devotipn. It exhorts us alfo to love and value 
 the image of God as imprelTed on our brethren 
 of mankind, to perform all the fecial and re- 
 lative duties towards them, which our recipro- 
 cal engagements may call for; to hejuftjjiier- 
 ciful, kind, tender-hearted, patient, and cha- 
 ritable to all men ''. Even our bittereft ene- 
 
 i» John vi. 68. 
 
 •• Amm. Marcel. I. zz. fays of Chriftianity, nil nifi jullum 
 fuadet et lene. 
 
 - -Orti isa^a, iTUfft r.a.htt% tijOTwi, Xfirtato-T Irt. Juft. Mar. Apol. I, 
 - Affirmabant autem Chriftiani, hanc fuiffe fummam vel ciilpae 
 fua:, velerroris, quod eiTent foliti ftatp die ante lucem convenir'e; 
 carmenque Chrifto, quafi Deo, .dicere fecum invicem ; feque 
 ,bsxsjasRto ijQn in fcelus aliquod obftrlngere, fed ne furta, ne 
 latrocinia, ne adulteria committerent, ne fidem fallerent, ne 
 depolitum appellati abnegarent : quibus peraflis tnorem fibi 
 difcedendi fuiffe ; rurfufque coeundi ad capiendum cibum, pro- 
 mifcuum tamen, e: innoxiura. Elin. S. l^ny L. x.gEp. xcvii. 
 
 0^2 mies 
 
228 SERMON VII. 
 
 mies are intitled by the peculiar authority of 
 Chrift to a {hare of our love, and the affec- 
 tion of our hearts ; fo that we are to blefs them 
 that curfe us, do good to them that hate us, and 
 pray for them that defpitefully ufe us and per - 
 fecute us '. In fhort, we are to make the re- 
 gard to ourfelves the rule of our conduct to 
 our neighbour; and as we would that men 
 fhould do to us, we muft do alfo to them like- 
 wife \ 
 
 Moreover the word of God feflrains us from 
 perverfe defires, as well as finful adtions ; 
 checks every wrong tendency of our nature, 
 curbs our eager inclinations, correfts our way- 
 ward paflions, diffuades us from irregular gra- 
 tifications, and animates us to the contempla- 
 tiort, the purfuit, and the pradlice of all virtue. 
 It expeds us likewife to ufe this world as^ not 
 abufng it ' ; to be diligent in our refjjeftive 
 callings, circumfpedt in all our conduit, watch- 
 ful againft every danger, and ready to every 
 good work \ 
 
 = Mat. V. 44. ■" Ch. vii. 12. 
 
 • I Cor. vii. 31. ' Tit. iii. i . 
 
 The 
 
SERMON VIL 229 
 
 The genuine influence of Chriftianity will 
 actuate our principles, as well as guide our prac- 
 tice ; nay, its chief concern is >(vith the hidden 
 man of the beart^; and therefore it recommends 
 a cultivation of the power of godlinefs rather 
 than the form of it, or that the latter fhould 
 be made fubfervient to the former? fo that 
 we may live by the faith of the Son of God^ 
 in a conftant, ftqady, and uniform obedience 
 to all his laws. It allows of no undue pre- 
 ference of fuch duties as may fuit our inclina- 
 tions to others j neither to be merciful at the 
 ^xpence of juftice, nor to fubftitute charity for 
 .men in the place of piety to God j nor to cul- 
 tivate mere morality on any other foundation, 
 but that which muft give it its trueft efficacy, 
 its conformity to the will of God' in Chrift 
 Jefus. 
 
 It particularly inftrud:s us to guard againfl 
 the pernicious effeds of felf-wiUandfelf4ovej 
 levels its moft powerful artillery againft pride 
 of heart, and inculcates poverty of fpirit, pe- 
 
 8 I Pet..iii. 4- *" Gal. ii. 20. 
 
 Q_ 3 nitence 
 
236 SERMON VII. 
 
 nitence and humility, as jprevlbu^ iiidifpenfabie 
 qualifications for the klrigdorri of heaven . It 
 direds iii our lapfed eftate what methods we 
 niuft purfue for pardon, afliftance and ftrength'j 
 what occafioiis there are for mortificatibri, 
 felf-clenial, and .prayer. ' It encouragies iis to 
 upright 'condudlb by the intimation that We 
 may gain a fuperiority over ^11 t^nijitatlons and 
 dangers, and fhall becdm'e more than conquer'-' 
 ors through him that loved us ' j and farther ani- 
 mates us to a fteady perfev'erance in all holihefs 
 by the comfortable aflurance, that how great 
 foever may Be our difficultfes, hoiv fever'e and 
 ami(fling ouj 5iftrefle's, yet in diie feafon we 
 JJoall fedp, if we faint iibt " . 
 
 ^Finally, the religion of Chrill exhorts us to 
 'raife our afFedlions above the things of this 
 worlds and to place them on the profpedls, the 
 purfuits, and the glories of another 'Ovorld ; it 
 requires us "t6 be fpii'ituaily minded, to be 
 transformed in the renewal of our minds, arid 
 to afpife after that real change, that renovatioh 
 
 • Rom. viii. 37. ^ Gal. vl. g. 
 
 of 
 
SERMON VII. 231 
 
 of heart and pudty of life, and confl:ant and 
 ■camilinnal advancpment ^herein, which tnuft 
 make us meet to he partakers. of the inheritance 
 af the faints in light ^, ^iSti :. 
 
 Nothing jy^|ioja^|:J^ holy influence of thelf 
 
 principle? gnd .dajljc^ can cleaijie our minds, 
 
 iand piurify our heart? : nothing fhprt of this 
 
 real change ^a<a bring us to heaven. N.o ill- 
 
 ibunded notions of imputed righteaufoefs, or 
 
 the impeccability of the eleft, no yifionary 
 
 vfchemes of arbitrary predeiiination or caprir 
 
 cious r<elpe«3: of penfons, no prefumptuous re- 
 
 ^liance or antinomian confidence in thenj^its 
 
 iof Chrift, no fanatic petfuafion .of nc^niinsil re,^ 
 
 generation without real and vital improvement, 
 
 -no zeal for the hon^unof reJigion, or fupppfed 
 
 transferable fubftitution of mother men's yiri^yes, 
 
 no real or pretended gifts of the moft exalted 
 
 mature, either of utterance or languages, of the 
 
 ^moibfplendidexertions, or moil brilliant ^<^ons ; 
 
 nothing but the principle. of divine love \vithin 
 
 .us, jnanifefted % a fuita^le conformity in our 
 
 practice and habitual purity in our lives, can 
 
 ' Col.i. 12. 
 
 0^4 effed^ually 
 
232 SERMON VII. 
 
 efFediiallywork out our falvation, can deanfim 
 from alljilthinefs oftheflejh andfpiriif't or ac- 
 cording to the Gofpel conftitution can bring 
 us through Chrift to the biifsful mansions of 
 thofe bleffed fpirits, whofe delightful employ- 
 ment is to praife and adore their rhi6ft holy 
 God for ever and ever. And yet after all, af- 
 ter the ^hcerefl and beft obedience j lb many 
 are the failings of our nature, fuch the imper- 
 fedtibn of our pureft holinefs, and fo exalted 
 the re'ward • of our future Hate of- glory ;.fo 
 difproportionate to our beft fervices, and fo 
 fat beyohd our ftritSeft obedience; ithat wc 
 are with juftice taught toconfider: Qurfelves, 
 efpecially as contfafted'with our: reward, in 
 the light of unprofitable fervants 3 ;and to. ac- 
 knowledge that eternal life is theivte and un- 
 merited gift of God", •■■ 
 
 III. But ftiil neither the dodrines nor the 
 duties, how^ever excellent in themfelves, and 
 well adapted to the exigencies, the deiires, or 
 the 'confolations of mankind, can fill up the 
 
 ■" 2 Cor. vii. I. " Rom. vi. 23. 
 
 . , ■ meafure 
 
SERMON Vir. £33 
 
 meafiire of that provifion, which the Golpel 
 ®f. God affords for our edification and inftmc- 
 tion in the words of eternal life. For, in the 
 third place, we have thefe duties illuftrated, and 
 .the influence of thefe do6trines manifeiled, in 
 the life of Chrift, that faithfiil copy/ and moft 
 appofite example of all virtue. 
 
 I 
 
 The human mind is, and mufl always be In 
 the prefentftate of things, very much influenced 
 by the obie6ts;of fenfe. The generality of raeh 
 will not often allow themfelves time for much 
 refledtion. External objedls frequently flrike 
 tliem fo forcibly, that they prefently gain their 
 approbation, and prgudice their -minds in their 
 favour, without permitting us to contemplate 
 them in ali> their circumflances, much lefs to 
 reafon upon them with cautious deliberation. 
 Where the obje6ts clofe with: our commonly 
 received notions of redlitude, or fall in with 
 our natural convidtions, they win upon us 
 with furprifing alacrity", and the powers of 
 both our fenfible and rational faculties are 
 
 » Longumi eft iter per praecepta, breve et efEcax, per 
 exempla. Sen, 
 
 united 
 
23* SERMON Vir, 
 
 united In their fupport. Now this is the feit 
 of evidence, which is coMveyedto the mind 
 by example ; and as the principle of icnitation 
 is very ftrong and prevalent within us, fo no-- 
 thing can more recojuiinend doiStrines^ or £n>- 
 :<brce precepts, than the v^ew of their inr 
 fluence exempU:fied and difplayed in th£ hutr 
 man life. 
 
 To convince by fuch eiyidence as this, and 
 to fulfil all righteaufnefa, our Moied Lord 
 came into the wofld in fadh a jfetuation, as 
 might exhibit his charafter in the moft y^ied 
 lights, and to the mofl genpiral iiptjce. in- 
 ilead of .appearing in the greatjeft; pomp (Of 
 external majefty, the Son of God .condofeeftd- 
 .-^^d do take upon hm the farm of a fer^e^:^j, 
 thereby ito inftruft us in that rfund^QSieatfil 
 ^principle, humility, to .wean u« &om :pride 
 ^nd felfifhnefs, and to 'draw us off d&OJPd ^ 
 >par.tial fondnefs for the pleafures, tthe ;Yajiitle,s, 
 the .honours of this world. -?n this huBPthle 
 -department what a n;iultitvide of j^Qirtawt 
 duties did his life exhibit to our imitation. 
 
 p Phil, ii, 7. 
 
 fuch 
 
SERMON Vlt. 835 
 
 fUch as (equaniirifty in diftrefs, eoiitentednefe 
 in his allotted citcumftanceSi a generous con- 
 tempt of the things of this world, and & 
 •Ifcady de^endance on the Parent of all, the 
 Giver c^ every godd gift ! What ejrefcifes off 
 piety to this Almighty Being was he often 
 engaged in, fb as to pafs whole nights in 
 prayer to God I HoW fubmiflive to his will, 
 how refi'gnted tolhis dl^&fal> how attentive to 
 his ^leafftpfe, hoXv Jealous for his hoajoor 
 thfoughbai the whie^e condu^ of his life ! 
 
 J^br was bur Lord's fcha^ity tb tfien itfs 
 tjdemplary than his piety to God. In all his 
 
 "commerce with theTn We find hitn prudent, 
 gentle, bfehi^ftj attentive to their welfatie, 
 
 'embracing every fair opportunity to inftrudl, 
 correct, and fefoi'm them j difcovering the 
 difpofitions of th^ir minds, and diredbing his 
 
 'encouragements or reproofs towards them, as 
 they might be pfefumedtofakfe the beft effedt. 
 Under their cbritumblibs 'ahd "reproaches he 
 was meek, calm, acquiefcingj the feverities 
 of their ill ufage he fuftained with iri^^incible 
 patience, requited their evil with good, iv^en 
 
 he 
 
236 S P R M O N VII. 
 
 he "was, revi^^d, reviled not again % but prayed 
 for his revilers and murderers ; thus fulfilling 
 that declaration, which in the prophetic 
 mind had long before marked his charatSer, 
 that he made intercejjion for the tranjgnejfors '. 
 
 ' The relative duties of life the Saviour of 
 mankind .difeharged vvith all propei) attention; 
 was fubjeft to his paretits,' fubmiflive -to- the 
 ruling powers, afFe£tiona4e to his difpiples 
 and friends, and comported himfelf ' toward 
 thbfe who fought his inftrudlion, fo as to 
 manifeft himfelf to have always had an -■ eye 
 to bis Father's bufinefs. :He mourned and 
 wept over his country, . bevvailed the impend- 
 ing fate of Jerufaleni, fubmitted to • have his 
 life taken away by a njoft unjuft judgement, 
 and when a view of the heavy weight of , his 
 Father's wrath occafioned the fevereft llruggle 
 that he had ever experienced in his arduous 
 engagement, he terminates the difficulty with 
 this pious ejaculation, If this cup may not paji 
 
 « I Pet. ii. 23. ' Ifai. liii. 12. 
 
 away 
 
SERMON VII. itn 
 
 away from me, except I i/rm^. it, thy will 
 he done*: ., 3 , 
 
 View him in his more publick walks, and 
 you will behold him no lefs attrad:ive and 
 amiable than in the private life. At the age 
 of twelve years, when he was prefentedin the 
 temple, he intermixed with the Jewifh doc- 
 tors, and bore a part in their conferences j fo 
 that all that heard him were aftonifhed at the 
 readinefs of his conceptions and the adroitnefs 
 of his replies* When he attended the mar- 
 riage-feaft at Cana in, Galilee, he wrought a 
 miracle in compliance with the wiflies of his 
 parent for the more comfortable accommoda- 
 tion of the guefts j and whilft he was en- 
 gaged in his public miniftry, his very food 
 was to do the will of him that fent him, and to 
 finijh his work '. He ever fliewed himfelf an 
 example of the moft confummate innocence 
 and fpotlefs purity, was never furprifed by 
 any artful combinations or enfnaring queftions, 
 was never, at a lofs in the moft trying emer- 
 
 • Matt. xxvi. 42. ' John iv. 34. 
 
 gencies. 
 
2^S SERMON VII. 
 
 gcHoies, but always difcovered the trueft fim- 
 plicity, guarded with the moft difcreet wif- 
 dom. And yet, when the multitude, ftruek 
 with the cireumftances of his appearance and 
 the power of his mighty woAs, would have 
 made him a king ; however juft his preten- 
 fions, and exalted his character, he withdrew 
 from their intended honours, as h's kingdom 
 i&as not of this i)oorld'*. 
 
 Attend him farther to the final fcene at the 
 clofe of his life : what refignation in his whole 
 deportment, and yet what majefty ! How 
 gentle was his reply to the mifcreant that 
 -betrayed him ; how full of tendernefs his 
 afpedl to -the difciplp that denied him ; how 
 fubmifliye his carriage to the governour -that 
 unjuftly condemned him j ?ind how full of 
 compaffion was his foul for thofe wretches 
 that crucified him, whep he uttered that fer- 
 vent prayer, Father, forgive them 5 for ihey 
 know not what tkey do^. 
 
 " John xviii. 36. '^ Luke xxiil. 34, 
 
 It 
 
SERMON VII. 239 
 
 It were vain to attempt an enumeration of 
 the whole feries ai his virtues. As one end 
 of his life feenis to have beea to fulfil the 
 Whole duty of man to God, and thereby lite* 
 rally fatisfy the ftrifteft demands of the divine 
 jufticcj fo what hath been offered may faffi.ce 
 to Aew what an example he has left thai w£ 
 jhoiddfoUow his Jleps ", who, in his own em- 
 phatical words, hath exhibited himfelf to us, 
 as the 'may, and the truth, and, the Ufe^. 
 
 What great reafon have we then to Jeok 
 unto Jefus, the auth&r and finijber af our 
 faith'' ', whom if we look up unto, wfi fhall 
 be enlightened ; if we fet him always before 
 us, he will guide us by his eye, and inflrudt 
 us in the way wherein we fhould walk,; and 
 if' we would have ioldnefs in the daf of judge- 
 jment, even as he was-, fo mujl we be in this 
 world *. 
 
 Such are the principal methods which the 
 word of God, or the religion of Jefus, hath 
 
 * I Pet. ii. 2 1 . y John xiv. 6, 
 
 " Hcb. xii. 2. * 1 John iv. 17. 
 
 offered. 
 
240 SERMON VII. 
 
 oiFered, to recover mankind from the do- 
 minion, and to guard them from the fnares* 
 of fin. The view of things propofed to our 
 belief carries with it a clear, ftrong, and 
 awakening, conviftion : the duties offered tc^ 
 our practice are founded on fuch reafonable 
 and powerful evidence, enforced by fuch co- 
 gent and alarming motives, and above all il- 
 luftrated by fo bright and'perfed: an example, 
 that tl^ey cannot but approve themfelves as 
 worthy of all acceptation, cannot but prevail 
 on our hearts to fubmit to their influence; Jf 
 we would confult our own fafety or hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 But befide the internal marks of truth and 
 convidlion which thefe doftrines and duties 
 bring with them, they are enforced to our 
 notice by fuch external atteftations as muft 
 fully difcover their divine original. What a 
 long-feries of predicted events, increafing with 
 new and gradual evidence from the beginning 
 of time to that awful period, when they rcr 
 ceived their defigned completion in the death 
 and refurredlion of Chrift, do we find record- 
 ed 
 
SERMON Vll. 241 
 
 ed in the word of God ? What aftonifhing, 
 and at the fame time amiable inftances do we 
 meet with therein, of j:he courfe of nature 
 being diverted, the order of things changed, 
 the vifible interpofitions of a miraculous power 
 demonftrated, called by St. Paul the demon- 
 Jlration ofthefp'irit and of power^ , the fudden 
 and repeated production of fuch gracious and 
 mighty works as muft furpafs all the art of 
 man, which were foretold of the Meffiah, 
 and which were executed by the power of 
 God in the perfdn of Jefus Chrift. He was 
 the i^eal Word of God, the incarnate Deity, the 
 Prophet mighty in deed and imrd % the true 
 light that lighteneth every man ^ ; with a view 
 to whofe manifeftiation the whole fyftem of 
 things had been conduced from the begin- 
 ning, in whofe life and charadter all that il- 
 luftriou^ arrangement, which we have endea- 
 voured to point at in the preceding parts of 
 this work, received its full accomplifhment, 
 and under whofe guidance the glorious "plan 
 pf redemption will ftill be carried on, until, and 
 
 ^ I Cor. ii. 4. * Luke xxiv. 19. *■ John i. 9. 
 
 > R with 
 
242 SERMON Vir. 
 
 with a profpedt to, that awful Day^ nsihett 
 G.9djhall judge the world in righteoufnefs by 
 ti)(tt Man whom he hath, ordained, and fvkereof 
 he hath given affurance unto all men, in that 
 hf hath raifed him from the dead^. 
 
 Now what is more natural, than that fuch 
 an illuftrious fcene of things ihould gain the 
 aiTent and approbation of our underftandings, 
 together with the cordial concurrence of our 
 lives and condudt ? The duties of feith and 
 obedience are thus founded on the ftrongeft 
 evidence, on the moft rational convidlion, and 
 are the main points of that reaforiable fervice 
 which Chriftianity requires of man to God. 
 To illuftrate the various particulars and minute 
 branches of this reafonable fervice, what 
 would it be lefs than to explain the whole 
 duty of man ? 
 
 Let me juft obferye that our faith muft be 
 aftivcj lively, comprehenlive i muft renew 
 our minds, warm our hearts, influence oUr 
 
 * Afts x;ii. 31. 
 
 whole 
 
SERMON VII. 243 
 
 whole pradtice: that we muft not content 
 ourfelves with a mere fpeculative affent, or 
 enwrap our main attention in the favourite 
 contemplation of any fublime and exalted 
 truths, without fuffering- them- to produce 
 their due efFeft upon our lives. But we muft 
 pay a general and univerfal refpeit to all the 
 truths of the Gofpel, and ftudy to obey, and 
 thereby adorn the do£irine of God our Saviour 
 in all things^. From a frequent review of 
 the word and will of God, a devout medita- 
 tion on the duties of the Chriftian life, a 
 fteady eye on that pattern, of all perfeftion 
 Jefus Chrift the righteous, we muft endea- 
 vour to obtain this faith, without which it 
 will be impoffible to pleafe God ^ j and which 
 muft have its fruit unto holinefs, that the end 
 may be everlafing life \ 
 
 ^ Tit. ij. 10, 8 Heb. xi. 6. *■ Rom., vl. 23.- 
 
 R ^ S E R- 
 
SERMON VIII. 
 
 Hebrews^vu. 25. , 
 
 Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the 
 utter moji that come unto God by him, feeing 
 he ever liveth to make intercejjion for them. 
 
 IT is one great excellency of the Chfiftlan 
 Religion, that it comes recommended to 
 us by almoft every fort of evidence, and makes 
 its appeals to all the powers of the human 
 mind. It not only addrefles the reafon in a 
 great variety of unparalleled methods, but of- 
 fers fuch convidtion to the fenfes of men, as 
 muft plainly demonflrate the divine interpo- 
 fition, to all who will admit its teftimony, or 
 attend to its hiftory with impartiality and can- 
 dour. The example of Chrift was a con- 
 tinued feries of feniible demonftration of the 
 R 3 vital 
 
246 SERMON VIII. 
 
 vital truths which he taught, and his mighty 
 works with the fame kind of evidence illuf- 
 trated alfo the dodltines which he delivered. 
 The grand doftrine, which he came to incul- 
 cate on men, was that of a refurredtion to 
 everlafting Life, by and through the merits of 
 his own atonement. And of the reality of this 
 he even vouchfafed to convince the fenfes with 
 intuitive evidence, being himfelf, after he rofe 
 from the dead, carried up from earth to hea- 
 ven, in the prefence of a multitude of wit- 
 neffes -, who all obferved, and with their eyes 
 followed this tranflation of their Lord, till a 
 ckud r eve wed him out of their Jight '. 
 
 Thus after he had finifhed his Work upon 
 earth, he afcended up to his heavenly reward; 
 he w^s cdnveyed by an adlual exaltation of 
 his human nature into the higheft heavens, 
 thei-e to appear in the prtfence of God for us ^ ; 
 there to go on with the glorious bufinefs he 
 had here begun, the falvation of men -, there 
 tofave to the uttermoji thtfe that come untd 
 
 * Afts i. 9. " Heb, ik. 2^.. 
 
 Cad 
 
S E RiM O N VIII. 247 
 
 God by bim, thofe that acknowledge him a^ 
 their Redeemer, embrace him as their Saviour, 
 and 6bey him as their Lord. Whilft he re- 
 maked upon earth, he fiiiiflied all that could 
 be done for us here below. He paid the ran- 
 fpm, made the atonement, gave us a rule for 
 our condudt, and left us an 'example. He /iab- 
 dued fin, and removed the difqualifying cir- 
 cumflances 5 he opened the door, and pointed 
 out the way to eternal life. 
 
 But fomething farther was neceiTary to en- 
 able us to walk therein, fome new affiftance 
 to make us rife above the power and dominion 
 of fin, and to qualify us for our everlafting 
 inheritance. For this purpofe our triumphant 
 Saviour hath afcended up on highy that he 
 might become our Interceflbr and Advocate, 
 might lead captivity captive, and impart hii 
 gifts unto men"* God hath highly exalted him, 
 and given him a name above tvety name ^ j who 
 after he had offered one facrifice for fins , for 
 tter fate down at the right band of God", 
 
 « Pf. Ixviii. 18. .Ephef. iv. 8. " Phil. ij. 9. 
 
 * HTeb. X. 12. 
 
 R 4. that 
 
248 S E R M O N VIII. 
 
 that he might finifh the grand work of our 
 redemption, might perfeft for, ever them that 
 are {s,nQiiBed, Jee^'ng he ever liveth to make in- 
 ter cejjion for US} he ever liveth and reigneth 
 the Son and Word of God, having an his 'uef- 
 ture and on his thigh the name written^ King 
 of kings, 0nd Lord of lords ^ ' , 
 
 As all power was given him in heaven and 
 in earth, he now exercifes this power in the 
 affiftance, protedtion, and government of his 
 church. This church upon earth has often 
 experienced many hoftile attacks, and is ftill 
 in a militant flate againft a variety of enemies. 
 Our mighty Redeemer aflifts it with his grace, 
 ftrengthens it with his intereft, and fupports 
 it with his authority. Upon each of theie 
 points I would wifh to be more particular, in 
 order to fliew farther how the body of fin 
 may be fully deftroyed in us, through the mer- 
 cies and interceflion of Jefus Chriil our Lord. 
 
 I. And, firft, let us refle(^ on the affiftance 
 
 * Rev.xix. 1 6. ' 
 
 afforded 
 
SERMON VIII.. 249 
 
 afforded mankind by the grace of God in 
 Chrift Jefus. 
 
 Our bleffed Lord before his death affured 
 his difciples, that he would not leave them 
 Gbmfortlefsj but that he would pray the Father, 
 and he fhould give them ainother comforter, 
 the Holy Ghoft, who fhould abide' with his 
 followers for ever ^. This fpirit of truth, with 
 which the apoftlcs and firft teachers of Chrif- 
 tianity were plentifully filled, brought atl things 
 to their remembrance ^, which their divine Maf- 
 ter had faid unto them, taught them all ne- 
 cefTary truths, enabled them to work miracles 
 to confirm thofe truths, and endued them 
 with fuch abilities and extraordinary powers, as 
 were expedient to convert the world, to bring 
 mankind to the ' knowledge and reception of 
 the Gofpel of peace, and to propagate the re- 
 ligion of Jefus to thofe that were near, and 
 thofe that were afar off, even as many as the 
 Lord their God Jhould. caW, 
 
 « John xiv. 1 6, 1 8. '' Ver. 26. 
 
 ' AiSs, ii. 39. 
 
 And 
 
250 SERMON Vlir. 
 
 And when the original defign of difleminat- 
 ing the Truth over the various nations of the 
 earth was anfwered, then their extraordinary 
 gifts were withdrawn, as being no longer ne- 
 ceffary. But in their place Chriftians were 
 fupplied with what was as expedient for them, 
 and as beneficial to them, the general grace 
 and affiftance of God's fprrit, which was to 
 continue with them to the end of the world. 
 
 That any influence of this fort is communi- 
 cated to men, or indeed that we ftand in need 
 of it, is denied by thofe proud dilputers, who 
 meafure the operations of the divine agency by 
 the imbecillity of their own underftandings. 
 What is above their reafon muft be rejedted, 
 as well as what is contrary to it. No impref- 
 fions mufl be allowed, however fupported by 
 analogical reafonings, unlefs they can be im- 
 puted altogether to merely natural and ordinary 
 means. Hence thofe important truths will be 
 difregarded, which men of deep reflection 
 from a review of our nature have generally 
 acknowledged, and which the Scriptures fo 
 plainly declare, that ive are notfufficient of our- 
 
 /elves 
 
SERMON VIII. 25J 
 
 felves to think any thing as of oiirfehes, hut 
 that our Jufficiency is of God". 
 
 Others appear in an oppofite extreme fo to 
 magnify the grace, as to confider themfelves 
 altogether guided by irrefiftible impuU'es in the 
 concerns of religion ; or in fad: to be little 
 more than the mere mechanical inftruments 
 of a fupernatural agent. An opinion .that may 
 be favourable to their own indolence or vanity, 
 but which is quite irreconcileable with that 
 true ftate of the matter given by St. Paul, 
 who exhorts us to -work out our falvation with 
 feat and trembllngi becaufe it is God that ivork^ 
 4th in us to will and to do of his good pteafure^ . 
 The fpirit of God, which worketh with our 
 fpirit, was never meant to fuperfede or pre- 
 vent our own exertions. But as his quicken- 
 ing influence is a ftrong proof of his love and 
 paternal regard for us, fo fliould it be alfo a 
 ftrong motive for our love and filial obedience 
 to him. 
 
 This gface of the fpirit is given liberally to 
 
 "" 2 Cor. iii. 5. ' Phil, ii. 12, 13. 
 
 all 
 
252 SERMON VIII. 
 
 all men, who defire to live godly in Chrift Je- 
 fus. Not in fuch a meafure as to be ufually 
 perceived by fenfible illuminations, but by 
 gentle infinuations into the underftandings of 
 men ; thus opening their minds, and preparing 
 them with fuch a teachable and humble dif- 
 pofition, as is always requifite for the iaving 
 knowledge of divine truths. Thefe facred 
 truths it offers in fuch an advantageous light, 
 impreffes theni with fuch flrong convictions, 
 removes the various prejudice's that may op-, 
 pofe them, or counteradts their influence in (o 
 engaging a manner, as impels our wills to 
 embrace them ; to admit their influence, fuf- 
 fer ourfelves to be guided by their impreffion, 
 and to cooperate with them in the refiflance 
 of fin,, and the purfuit of holinefs. The ef- 
 fectual workings of this fpirit not only engage 
 us in the love and practice of our duty, but 
 curb our giddy and tumultuous paflions, re- 
 flrain our perverfe inclinations, moderate our 
 defires and affedions, foften our tempers, com- 
 pofe our fpirits, and quiet our hearts. And 
 all thefe bleffed effedts are produced in us in a 
 manner generally conformable to our own na- 
 tural 
 
SERMON VIIL 253 
 
 tural impulfes, agreeably to the dictates of our 
 beft reafbn, and without any violence tp our 
 own ordinary powers and ufual abilities. In 
 fine, to this holy influence of the fpirit we 
 owe the final completion, and probably the 
 firft movements in the work of our falva- 
 tion without whofe renewing power we, ge- 
 nerally fpeaking, can do nothing, but muft be 
 quickened hereby to good works, to perform 
 the acceptable will ofGod^. He is our faith- 
 ful monitor in all our lapfes, our fecurity in 
 all dangers, our guide in all perplexities, our 
 protedlor in all adverfities, our fupport in all 
 temptations, our friend and comforter in all 
 the duties and paths of life. 
 
 Nor Is this grace of the fpirit of life in 
 Chrift Jefus denied to any Chriftians who 
 humbly implore it, and confcientioufly im- 
 prove iti The bodies of Chriftians are the 
 temples of the Holy Ghoji " j and the fpirit of 
 Ctr'ijl dwelleth in us, except we are reprobates ". 
 Nothing can prevent us from tbe benefits of 
 
 ■" Rom. xii. 2. " i Cor. vi. 19. " z Cor. xiii. 5. 
 
 this 
 
254 3 E R M N VIII. 
 
 this grace, nothing will deprive us of it»'but 
 the wickednefs ^nd obflinate perverfen.efs pf 
 Wr hearts. It is given us ,st eur firft admifr 
 fiQji into the Chriftjsn covenant ; it vyiU be 
 ?©ntinuec} to us afterwards, g§ we ftudy jo de- 
 niean ourfelyes, and ta eoniport ourfelvest 
 worthily for the refidence and delight of this 
 heavenly gueft. It gradually retires from us,. 
 if we neglect it, or behave purfelves unfuitably 
 for his prefence. It is perhaps never totally 
 yvithdrawnv • unlefs fin has gained fuch a. 
 horrid afcendancy over the wretch, that the 
 thoughts of his heart in the ftrideft fenfe ara 
 only evil continually. Where there is fuch a 
 falling from grace, it muft be impofjible in tl)& 
 ordinary courfe of things to renew fuch aban- 
 doned finners to repentanpe. But we truft' 
 fuch cafes through the mercies of Grod will 
 rarely happen, that Satan wiJl feldocp gain 
 fuqh an abfolute dominion over any manj 
 fo that no one fhould defpir of recovering the 
 fgrfeited favour of God upon his deep and finir- 
 cere repentan<?e ; no one, how grievous fo- 
 ever his fins may have been, fhould refufe to 
 
 exert 
 
S E R ]y[ O N Vill. 255 
 
 exert his beft endeayours, and pray for th? 
 grace of the fpirit, if by any means he may 
 be enabled tp efcape the wrath to come '. 
 
 But Chriftians in general fliould be ?fpe- 
 cially careful to invite and pncpurage the rege-p 
 Berating power of this fpirit of God j fhotild 
 court his gentle il|apfe?, cherifh Jjis quicken-, 
 jng influences, hearjcen tp his friendjy fuggef^ 
 jions, guard againft his awful alarms, and im-» 
 prove his kind admonitipns and counleis. SucI^ 
 decifive evidence fhould be ftudioufly fought 
 after in their minds, and conflantly esdii- 
 bited in their liyes, as may infallibly mark 
 them to be worthy of his vifits, to be fit ^a-f 
 
 P TJipugh every encouragement polIi)}le fhouljl b^ held out 
 to the returning finner, yet it muft be acknowledged, that a 
 long wilful and obftinate impenitence miift douhtlefs be a 
 yery dangpxous cafe. If the note and obfervations tjiat I have 
 offered at p. 225, will have no effeft on perfons of this obdu- 
 rate turn of mind, I would earneftly reconjmend to them to 
 confider w^ll tJiat awful denunciation of the t;rHeft Wifdom, 
 rqcor4ed, . Prov. i. 24, &c. an^d to recolledl alfo, that we are 
 exhorted to looA diiigently, left any manfgil pf' the grace of God, 
 and that thofe who perfift in rejeifting the bleffing, may find no 
 place of repentance, t^iouglj they fhould feek it cci'tefnlly 'imth 
 tears. Heb. xii. 15, 17. 
 
 bitatiqns 
 
256 SERMON VIII. 
 
 bitattom of God through the Spirit '. Who- 
 foever is thus' favoured will be carefdl to avoid 
 all fin, will turn away his eyes from beholding 
 Vanity, will ftudy to be purified in his flpih 
 and in his nlind, and to crucify the flefh with 
 the affedlions and luftsj will moreover mani- 
 feft a fiiicere xegard to the fruits of the fplrit, 
 and a genuine and con«ftant cultivation of then! 
 in his life. Such fruits as are thefe, love, joy, 
 peace, long-fuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, faith ^ 
 meeknefs, temperance \ ;- .'; i 
 
 Every real Chriftian will ^ be always flriving 
 to be animated with higher degrees and larger 
 meafures of this grace, fo that he- may grow 
 thereby ' ; will be making continual advances 
 in goodnefs, and endeavouring to perfed; ho- 
 linefs in the fear of God. However fplendisi 
 may have been his life and performances, he 
 will not vainly imagine that he hath already 
 attained the meafure of the feature of a perfeSt' 
 man in Chrijijefus"- : but will go on in faith 
 
 s Ephef. ii. 22. ■• Gal. v. 22, 23. 
 
 » I Pet. ii. 2. ' Ephef. iv. 13. 
 
 with 
 
SERMON VIII. 257 
 
 with fieady perfeverance, and forgetting thofe 
 things which are paft or behind, reach for- 
 wards towards the mark of the higheft, pu- 
 rity ; and be conftantly praying for farther il- 
 luminations and a greater increafe of ftrength, 
 till he be fitted for an inheritance amongft 
 them that are fanftified, till he obtain the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Chriji Jefus''. 
 
 Such is the affiflance which we receive 
 from the Spirit of God j and fuch the genuine 
 indications of its real exiftence in us, that we 
 duly cooperate with it, and are fuitably im- 
 proved by it. 
 
 Many falfe pretences to this grace are fre- 
 quently affumed by the vain, many falfe ap- 
 pearances of it held forth by the deluded part 
 of mankind. Thefe deceits' are at all times 
 big with danger, and have oftpnt;mes been 
 produiftive jof very fatal efFecSts. Enthufiafts" 
 
 » Pliil. iii. 14. 
 
 ^ It were much to be wiflied, that all men, but efpecially 
 perfons of this caft, would confider themfelves, not only as in- 
 dividuals, but as members of fociety ; and, in this country, 
 as men^bers of a Chriftian fociety, and of a church perhaps 
 more wifely reformed than any proteftant church ia the world, 
 more nicely poifed between the corruptions of the church of 
 
 S Rome 
 
258 SERMON VIII. 
 
 of every fort muft be watched with nice at- 
 tention, and guarded againft with the utmoft 
 
 Rome on the one hand, and the errors and phrenzies of fanati- 
 cifm on the other. Now if perfons are io live infociety, they 
 fliould conform their minds and opinions to fuch general rules 
 and praftices, as are effential to the very fupport of it. They 
 muft of courfe be fubjeft to the higher powers, and obey them 
 that have the rule over them, and fubmit themfelves ; as thefe 
 are principles, not only agreeable to the dictates of their reafon 
 and- confcience, but enforced by the revealed will of God'. 
 They fliould confider the general welfare as a point of the firlt 
 and greateft importance, to be promoted by the wifeft asd 
 fureft methods ; and hence fliould be careful of Tapping a well- 
 conftrufted edifice, devifed for this purpofe by the wifdom of 
 our anceftors, or weakening the foundations of it, before they 
 are perhaps fufEciently acquainted which the whole to be com- 
 petent judges of its propriety and beauty, or fufficiently expe- 
 rienced to correfl, or even point out its defefts. Tl^ey Ihould 
 attend duly to the following fentiments of the judicious Mr. 
 Hooker. " Except our. own private, and but probable refolu- 
 " tions, be by the law of public determinations over-ruled, we 
 " take away all poffibility of fociable life in the world. The 
 " bell men otherwife are not always the beft in regard of fociety,, 
 " The reafon whereof is, that the law of men's aftions is one, if 
 " they be refpefted only as men, and another when they are 
 " confidered as parts of a politic body. — By following tlie law 
 " of private reafon, where the law of public fliould takepIacCj 
 " they breed difturbance." Ecclef. Pol. b. i. p. 102. 
 
 Thefe obfervations are certainly not meant with the leaft 
 . defign to infringe on the right of a private and well-informed 
 judgement, expecially in matters of importance. But they are 
 chiefly offered with a view to difcourage and prevent divifions, 
 and to promote unity and peace. And I am forry to add, that 
 the complexion of the times feems to call for them too loudly. 
 The inclinations of many appear to be fadly warped by pride 
 and felf-will, to be too much addifted to change and inno- 
 vation, 
 
SERMON Vlir. 259 
 
 caution. Their zeal is generally of a very in- 
 temperate caft, which too frequently outruns 
 their knowledge and their judgement, Tliey 
 feldom, allow thenofelves time tP difcriminate 
 properly j and hence many hot infufions, the 
 refult of their diftem.pered and. prejudiced fan- 
 cies, are miftaken for the dictates of the fpirit 
 of God. Inftead of flopping to examine them 
 by. the. only unerring rule, whether they will- 
 produce' the fruits of the fpirit, whether they 
 tend to iniprove and forward them in virtue 
 and holinefs, they too often fufFer themfelves 
 to- be impetuoufly borne away by them to the 
 fubveffidn of order, truth, public and private 
 peace, and fometimes to the iritrodudion of 
 fuch mifchievous effects, as may endanger the 
 exiftence of civil fociety itfelf. 
 
 The greateft evils may be feared from the 
 perverfion and abufe of the moft excellent 
 things. Nothing can be more falutary, no- 
 thing more beneficial for us, than this grace 
 of the fpirit of Chrift. Yet nothing is more 
 
 vatiou, aiid to be more felicitous for matters of lefler moment, 
 or even fpeculative notions, than for the more important truths 
 and .vital energies of the religion of Chrift. 
 
 S 2 danger- 
 
26o SERMON VIII. 
 
 dangerous, or attended perhaps with more fre- 
 (Juent and fatal michicfs, than the perverfioft 
 of this invaluable gift by deluded or defigning 
 men. Where a mifchief of any fort creefps on 
 gradually, it may be checked, or flopped, or 
 diverted into a better channel ; but where it 
 forces itfelf with great impetuofity, and 
 quickly fwells into a torrent, it may furpafs 
 the art of man to reftrainits bounds, if itsfirft 
 fallies are not guarded againfl: with prudent 
 attention and the moll difcreet vigilance. The 
 Apoftle St. John exhorts us to iry theJpiritSf 
 whether they are of God^ -, bring them to the 
 tefl of his dodlrines, and the flandard of his 
 laws : And St. Paul has recounted among the 
 works of the flefh a black catalogue of vices', 
 which we are affured are not of the fpirit; 
 and in general we may conclude, that what- 
 ever is not agreeable to the fpirit of a found 
 mind and a good heart, cannot proceed from 
 the Spirit of God. 
 
 II. Nor is the interceffion of cur great 
 High-priefl confined to the gifts or graces* 
 
 1 I John iv. 1. * Gal. v. 19—21. 
 
 which 
 
SERMON VIII. 261 
 
 which we receive from his fpirit on earth; 
 but he continually appears in the prefence of 
 Xaod for us } to perform the office of our ad- 
 vocate, to plead our caufe, and his merits with 
 the Father in that fame nature, wherein he 
 lived and died amongft the fons of ^nien : 
 which is the fecond confideration I propofed 
 torefledton. 
 
 There is fuch an infinite difparity between 
 the divine and the human nature, between 
 the great fupreme Lord of all things and fin- 
 ful duft and afhes, that we might well be 
 afraid to appear before the prefence of his 
 dread Majefty, and anxious to enquire who 
 fhall intercedesfor us at the throne of his grace. 
 Now neither the religion of nature, nor the 
 inftitutions of Mofes could fatisfy men's minds 
 in this refpcdt. The multiplicity and variety 
 of deities, to which the heathens addrefled 
 themfeives, muft fliew that they were fully 
 convinced of the neceffity of fome mode of 
 interceffion, though they were fadly.^gwildered 
 and loft in 'the inveftigation of the true one. 
 And though the law of Mofes- .directed the 
 priefts to intreat the Almighty in behalf of his 
 
 S 3 people. 
 
262 SERMON VIII. 
 
 people, yet neither the fins of the priefts, nor 
 the mortality to which they were ]iable,^could 
 fuffer the people to be fatisfied with fuch in- 
 terceflbrs, unlefs they were confidered as re- 
 prefenting fome greater and better High-Prieft 
 to come. 
 
 But what the law, or the minijlration of 
 death *, could not fupply, the bringing in of a 
 better hope did^. By the Gofpel we are af- 
 fured, that our bleffed Lord is feated at the 
 right hand of God, to make interceffion for 
 thofe, who would come unto God by himj 
 who through faith and patience defire to in- 
 herit his promifed falvation. He is gone, not 
 into the holy places made with hands, like the 
 priefts under the law j but into Heaven itfelf, 
 there to appear in the prefence of God for us ' : 
 where he is our mighty and prevailing Inter- 
 ceflbr, exerting his intereft with the Author 
 of all goodnefs in our behalf. 
 
 Not that the Almighty Parent of all is of 
 
 » 2 Cor. iii. 7. •> Heb. vii. 1 9. ' Heb. ix. 24. 
 
 himfelf 
 
SERMON VIII. 263 
 
 htmfelf unwilling to grant our requefts, if 
 they are fuch, as his wifdoni may judge pro- 
 per and expedient for us : but he hath ap- 
 pointed us in this manner to make our ad- 
 drefles to him, as probably for other reafons 
 beft known to his all- feeing Providenpe, fo 
 for thefe obvious ones to us, to convince us 
 of our own unworthinefs, and to infpire us 
 with a fuitable reverenccj and a confidential 
 aflurance of his favourable regard. And there- 
 fore our Lord ftill exercifes his mediatorial 
 office before the throne, prefents our prayers 
 and fupplications to the King of Heaven, and 
 obtains a favourable anfwer to all the real 
 wants of his faithful fervants, by pleading the 
 efficacy of his merits, and the fufficiency of 
 his ranfom. All the fuccours we ftand in 
 need of, all the graces we can hope for, all 
 the favours we could wifh, our pardon, grace, 
 and ilrength, are all derived down to us 
 through his mediation, in whom the Father 
 is well pleafed. He knoweth all our weak- 
 neffes, temptations, diftreffes -, and, having 
 fhared the fame nature with us, is touched 
 
 S 4 ■ , 1X111} 
 
i64 S E R M O H" VIII. 
 
 with thefeding of our infirmities^ ; and in^ that 
 he hathfuffered hi'mjelf, being tempt ed^ is a§k 
 iojuccoicr all thofe that are tempted'. ■ - 
 
 Nor is he lefs willing than able to txnder- 
 tak.6 our caufe, and to promote our ftiit. For 
 he is our merciful and compaffionate High- 
 prieft, always ready to receive our prayers, 
 and to hearken unto our requefls ; who hath 
 given us this comfortable aflurance, that 
 nvhatfoever we Jhall ajk the Father'tri Ms^ndi^e, 
 he 'bilhglve it us^ ; as far as is confiftent with 
 his glory, and our real welfare. On which ac- 
 counts we are exhorted to come boldly unto the 
 throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy ^ 
 and Jind grace to help in time of need ^. 
 
 Under the legal difpenfatibn the priefthood 
 was coiitinually changing by reafon of death j 
 but our great High-prieft hath an unchange- 
 able priefthoodj and cohtinueth for evermore''. 
 His mediation therefore is To powerful, iand 
 of fuch' conftant and continual efficacy, that 
 
 ■> Heb. iv. 15. ■= Ch. ii. 18. f Johaxv. 16. 
 
 2 Ht;b. iv. il. >■ ph. vii, 23, 24. 
 
 nothing 
 
SERMON VIII. 265 
 
 hothing more is wanting, to bring all who 
 Will duly avail theaifelves of it unto God. 
 
 Neither is there any other power to whom 
 we are allowed to ftiake our applications. For 
 as i&ere is one, and but one God-, fo there is 
 one, and but ot^e^ Mediator between. God and 
 many the man Chriji Jefus^. He alone js 
 mighty to fave, and he is able alfo to fave ts 
 the utttrmofi ihofe that come unto God by him-. 
 We have no authority to afk the mediation' 
 or interpofition of any other, have bo founda- 
 tion to think |hat departed fpirits can hear our 
 prayers, much lefs can anfwer our requefts. 
 Even the vrorfhipping of angels is confidered 
 by St. Paul, as a voluntary humiliation that 
 may beguile us of our reward''. And the 
 adoration of thofe of the fame imperfed: na- 
 ture with ourfelves, is a fort of will-worfhip, 
 which is not fupported by fcripture, and 
 which, however ^ifguifed by fubtle diftinc- 
 tions, or palliated by artful evafions, or avow- 
 ed by bold reprefentations, is nothing lefs than 
 
 » I Tim. ii. 5. '^Col. ii. 18. 
 
 idolatry. 
 
266 S E R M O^N VIIL, 
 
 idolatry'. The commandment, as dteds by 
 
 our Saviour, is exprefs and decifivej 'Thou 
 
 Jhalt worjhip the Lord thy God, and Him only 
 
 Jhalt thoujerve^.. For he will be yeryjealous, 
 
 if we give his hon6ur to another. How great 
 
 or how highly eftsemeci foever, the creature 
 
 may be, it muft never ufurp any fhare of the 
 
 glory due to the Creator, ijoho is over. all,, the 
 
 only wife God, blejj'edfor evermore^, ■ 'There is 
 
 therefore no other name^ but that of our one 
 
 mediator Jefus Chrift, . whereby we pan be 
 
 faved " i ,and by Him alone we have accefs 
 
 through onefpirit unto the Father^. 
 
 III. But we are not yet arrived to the full 
 fenfe of the mediatorial kingdom,' according 
 to the fcripture account of it : for our bleffed 
 Lord not only affifts us with his grace, and 
 ilrengthens us with his intereft, but farther 
 
 I It is mentioned by Puffendorf, that Leo Ifaurus quite ejefted 
 images out of the churches, becaufe the adoration of them was 
 wholly degenerated. into idolatry ; and as to the outward apt 
 pearance, jthe Saints were more regarded than God himfel/, 
 Introd. to Europe, p. 405. 
 
 "■ Luke iv. 8. " Rom. ix, 5. ° Afts iv. 12. 
 
 P Ephef. ii. J 8. = - 
 
 protedls 
 
SERMON VIII. 267 
 
 protedts and fupports us with his omnipotence 
 or unlimited authority. 
 
 Many are the adverfaries, which the church 
 of Chrift muft contend with in this its ftate 
 of warfare; many the affaults which it hath 
 had to conflidt with, and which' it muft ftill 
 fncounter, from wicked fpirits/ as well as 
 from wicked men. Sin and Satan are the 
 principal enemies of our falvation. Thefe 
 our mighty Redeemer will fo far curb and re- 
 ftrain, that they fhall be no prevailing impe- 
 diment to our eternal intereft, if we will man- 
 fully exert ourfelves, and under his banners 
 ftrenuoufly aim at vidtory. 
 
 Nothing (hall ever prevail againft the church 
 of Chrift, how many things foever may re- 
 main to oppofe it. Neither the influence of 
 fin or of the Devil will be entirely aboliftied, 
 till the confummatiori of all things, when 
 every enemy fhall be put under his feet. Thefe 
 enemies however, though not yet finally de- 
 ftroyed by the Son of God, are fubdued unto 
 him ; fo that fin (hall no longer reign over 
 
 the 
 
268 SERMON VIII. 
 
 the mortal bodies of his eledt, nor the 
 prince of the darknefs of this world excrcifc 
 any commanding authority over thofe that 
 will live godly in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 So far thefe foes are already put under the 
 footilool of the Mediator, that they can have 
 no povi^er over his faithful fervants, nor injure 
 thofc who j^ght i&e good figlot of faiths that 
 they may lay hold of eternal life '. The Lord 
 knvivetb, and always fecureth, them that are 
 his ', thofe that naming thfe name, and em- 
 bracing the faith, of ChriA, depart from ini- 
 quity. lUie fouls of the righteous are continu- 
 ally in the hand of God, and their hqpe is full 
 of immortality ' ; and thofe that by his grace 
 are enabled to overcome all the dangers and 
 temptations of the world, are the approved of 
 God, whom he hath found worthy for him- 
 felf, and fuch hath: God the Father fealed. 
 Though an hoft fhould affail them, yet will 
 they not be afraid ; the fovereign influence of 
 Chrift will guard and protedt them in all ad- 
 
 9 1 Tim. vi. 1 2. "• 2 1* im. ii. i g. ' Wifd; iii. i , 4. 
 
 verfities. 
 
SERMON VIII. 269 
 
 f erfities, and the Lord will remember them 
 in that ^, when he maketh up his jewels \ 
 and they fhall inherit his glory. 
 
 But upon thofe that refufe the offers of 
 mercy, and will not have the Son of God to 
 reign over them, the authority of fin and 
 ^atan obtains ftill too fure an influence. The 
 children of difobedience, over whom fin reign- 
 eth unto death, yield themfelves a prey unto 
 that malicious fpirit, who is continually wan- 
 dering abroad on the earth, Jeeking 'whom be 
 may devour '. He hath indeed no power over 
 us without our confent ; but if any, inftead 
 of refilling him, refign themfelves to hia fway, 
 will abdicate their true Lord and Mafter, and 
 fuffer other lords to. have dominion over them, 
 they mull be fubjed: to his tyranny, and par- 
 take of his mifery, whofe vaflals and Haves 
 they are. And it is but jull, that fuch as 
 obftinately refufe to honour Chrill by their 
 obedience and voluntary fubmilfion, lhoul4 
 contribute to the tremendous glgry of Hk 
 
 * Mal.iii, 17. »,» Pet. v, 8. 
 
 Majefty 
 
270 SERMON VIII. 
 
 Majefty by their final doom and awful fen- 
 tence, coniigning them to that everlajiing^. 
 funijhment, 'which is prepared for the Devil 
 and his angels'^. Thus horrible will be the 
 end of the unrighteous generation ^, thus ter- 
 ribly will they difplay his averficn to fin,- and 
 the fearful refentment of the abufed goodnefs 
 and juftiice of God. 
 
 As our prefent exifi:ence is a ftate of tryal and 
 difcipline, the enemies of our falvation mufl: 
 continue with us, till thofe that are approved 
 fhall be made manifeft. T!he loft enemy that 
 Jhall be defrayed is death ''■ ; and at that dread 
 period, when death fhall be no more, ot Jhall 
 be fmallowed up in viSiory *, all the powers 
 that oppofe themfelves, fhall be at an end 
 likewife. Then, when death and hell are 
 entirely vanquiflbed, and multitudesf of the true 
 fons of God are brought unto glory, the me- 
 diatorial authority itfelf fhall be completed 
 and ceafe j the grand fcheme of our redemp- 
 tion being finally clofed, and thofe, who arc 
 
 " Matt. XXV. 41. )" Wifd. iii. ig. : 
 
 * I Cor. XV. 2.6. * Ver. 54. 
 
 found 
 
SERMON VIII. 271 
 
 ifoufid; worthy, admitted tov reign in the realms 
 of blifs for evep; , When, upon a revievv Qf 
 the mighty power of God difplayed in the 
 falvation of manicind through the fatisfaiStion 
 and atonement of Clirift, the whple hpft of 
 heaven; will loudly proclaim. Worthy is the 
 Lajftb that was Jlam to receive power, and 
 ^iches, and wifdom,. and Jirengthj, and honour^ 
 and glory, andbkffing. Biejing thcxtiotc and 
 honour, and .glory, and power, b^ unto him 
 that Jittetb upon the- throne, and unto the 
 , Lamb for ever 0^4 ever ''. . ; 
 
 We have now finifLed our prppofed plan, 
 and, under the guidance of the fcriptures, 
 given an imperfedl fketch of the mediatorial 
 kingdom, from the fall of man, or the lofs of 
 his original blifs through .fin, to the comple- 
 tion of his recovery and full reinftatement 
 into the favour of God, through the mercies 
 and merits of the fore-ordained Deliverer: the 
 defign of whofe final ^difpenfation is, - that as 
 Jin hath reigned unto, death,:, even Jb Jbould 
 
 •"Rev. V. 12, 13. 
 
 grace 
 
272 SERMON Vlir. 
 
 grace reign through right eoufneji^unto eternal 
 life by Jefus Chriji our Lord^. 
 
 Long had men laboured and bewildered 
 themfelves to find Out a remedy for the evil 
 of fin, and the way to peace and happinefe. 
 But their reafbnings upon the exiftence of a 
 future ftate were fo intricate or precarious, 
 that no efforts of their own could difcover the 
 certainty, much lefs afcertain the path, of 
 everkfting life. So far indeed the mind and 
 will of God were made known to men, that 
 at no period does the Almighty Father of 
 Lights fepm to have left himfelf without 
 witnefs j and in every age of the old world 
 his faithful fervants had a fufficient (hare of 
 knowledge to enliven their hopes, and induce 
 them to take refuge in the profpeft of his 
 promifed mercies j which there was always 
 reafon to believe would be (hewn to thofe, 
 who fhould live in the faith and fear of God, 
 and the confcientious obfervance of his known 
 laws. But there appears to have been fa 
 
 ' Rom. V. 21. 
 
 much 
 
SERMON VIII. 273 
 
 much of human weaknefs, intermixed with 
 their profpecSs and confolatiqns, that the hopes 
 of the moil: part were then gloomy and un- 
 certain, of the heft not without fome allays 
 of fear and irn perfection. As they could open 
 no fountain for fin and for uncleannefs, they 
 could not draw the waters of eternal life. 
 
 Behold, then, what manner of love the Fa- 
 rther hath hejiowed upon us ", to whom life 
 and immortaliCy are brought to light by the 
 Gofpel. To us. it is given to know this 
 myftery of the kingdom of Heaven, to hear 
 him, who alone had the words of eternal life, 
 to have the reality of our future exiftence 
 made as clear and plain to us as matter of 
 fad, as fure as the Word of God. This, 
 were it no more, is a glorious fubjedt for our 
 mofl elevated contemplations ; and the mind 
 cannot but exult in the thought, that it fhall 
 be for ever. But it is indeed much more ; it 
 immediately influences our practice by fetting 
 the rule of our condudl beyond all pofTibility 
 
 '' I John iii. i . 
 
 T of 
 
274 SERMON VIII. 
 
 of doubt, and the motives to our obfervahce 
 of it, beyond every fhadow of objedion. So 
 that what muft otherwife have been darknefs 
 to our fteps, what we (hall be hereafter, is 
 now become the light of our life. 
 
 In proportion to our uncertainty concerning 
 any end, we are always apt to fluftuate and 
 tniftake in the application of the means. 
 The foul of man, how willing foever to aflert 
 its prerogative to govern the inferior part of 
 •Our cGnftitution, can but ill maintain its fu* 
 p&tmtily, while paflion and appetite difpute 
 the <|ueftion ; whether the pure reafon of 
 things ihoaid be the only guide of a being 
 not purely rational ; whilfl the folicitations of 
 pleafure and pain> and the view^ of prefent 
 intereft, point out a very different courfe, and 
 urge a deviation from the rugged ways of 
 truth and right. 
 
 But Eternity being once put in the fcale, 
 the motives of pleafure, pain, and interefty 
 all come over with an united weight to the 
 fide of virtue. We now indeed fee what is 
 
 man. 
 
SERMON VIII. ^75 
 
 man, and wherefore is he i what is his good, 
 and what is his evilj and know what a 
 wretched bargain we fliould make, fhould we 
 gain the whole loorld, and lofe our own fouls'. 
 We have now therefore a victory, which 
 overcometh the world, even that faith, which 
 is the evidence of things not feen ^ the con- 
 viftion that the things which are feen are tem- 
 poral, but the things which are not feen are 
 eternal^. We may now, in whatfoevcr con- 
 dition we are here for a time, under all temp- 
 tations, and in all afflidtions, whether of life 
 or death, fupport and comfort ourfelves, and 
 one another, with thefe words. We fhall not 
 only be for ever, but Jhall ever be with the 
 Lord"-. 
 
 Wherefore as God hath thus fent his Son 
 to blefs us, let this bleffing be not defeated in 
 its defign, of turning us away from our ini- 
 quities : but let every one that hath this hope 
 ilrive to purify himfelf, even as God is pure j 
 let him give all diligence to add to his faith 
 
 « Matt. xvi. 26. ^ Heb, xi. i. s 2 Cor. iv. 18. 
 * I Their, iv. 18. 
 
 every 
 
276 SERMON VIII. 
 
 every virtue, always ahounding in the ivork of 
 the Lord, Jime -we know that our labour pall 
 not be in -vain in the Lord '. 
 
 ^ I Cor. XV. 58. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Lately publijhed by the fame. Author^ 
 
 DANIEL, 
 
 AN IMPROVED VERSION ATTEMPTED} 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION, 
 
 AND 
 
 NOTES 
 
 CRITICAL, HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY. 
 
A List of Persons who have preached the 
 BAMPTON LECTURES from their firft 
 Eftablifhment ; 
 
 In 
 
 1780. James Bandinel, D. D. of Jefus College. 
 
 1781. Timothy Neve, D. D. of Merton College. 
 
 1782. Robert Holmes, M. A. of New College. 
 
 1783. John Cobb, D. D. of St, John's College. 
 
 1784. Jofeph White, B. D. of Wadham College. 
 
 1785. Ralph Churton, M. A. of Brazen-nofe College. 
 
 1786. George Croft, D. D. of Univerfity College. 
 
 1787. William Hawkins, M. A. of Pembroke College. 
 
 1788. Richard Shepherd, D. D. of Corpus Chriftl Coll. 
 
 1789. Edward Tatham, D. D. of Lincdn College. 
 
 1790. Henry Kett, M. A. of Trinity College. 
 
 1 79 1. Robert Morres, M. A. of Brazen-nofe College. 
 
 1792. John Eveleigh, D. D. Provoft of Oriel College. 
 
 1793. James Williamfori, B. D. of Queen's College. 
 
 1794. Thomas Wintle, B. D. of Pembroke College.