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of the Lord is fure, making wife the fim"ple.". -To reading you must join the hearing of the word preached; that powerful ordinance which God hath fo remarkably countenanced in all ages of the church, and made effectual by his bleffing, both for the conversion of finners, and for the establishment of his own people. Under this head I would particularly recommend to you a devout attendance upon the holy facrament of the Lord's Supper, which is fo peculiarly calculated to strengthen our faith, and to build us up in holiness and comfort, unto eternal life. This hath been found, in the experience of all the faints, to be a moft bleffed inftitution, which hath in every age enabled men to hold on their way with alacrity and joy, and in every fituation hath affifted them to renew their ftrength. To all this we muft add constant and fervent prayer to God. By this we maintain correfpondence with the "Father "of lights, from whom cometh down every "good and perfect gift." Prayer is the meffenger which he hath appointed for fonveying to us help in every time of need.

He

He hath promifed his Spirit to them who afk it, Let us "afk and receive, that our "joy may be full."

Thus, my brethren, brethren, I have fuggested to you a few plain directions which, through the bleffing of God, may be of use to affift you in maintaining that firm adherence to the Lord, which my text recommends. All that now remains is, that I intreat you to reduce them to practice, And what motive can I reprefent to you fo powerful as the confideration, that " to them who, by a "patient continuance in well-doing, feek "for glory, honour, and immortality, God "will render eternal life.” "To him that "overcometh," faith Chrift, " will I grant to "fit down with me on my throne, even as "I alfo overcame, and am fet down with « my Father on his throne." The time draweth near, when you fhall be placed beyond the reach of temptation, when your warfare fhall be accomplished, and your ftruggles at an end; and who would not sustain a short, though it were a sharp, conflict, that he might obtain a triumphant victory? Some of us perhaps have but a

few

few more efforts to make, and a few more affaults to fustain, before Chrift fhall call us home to receive the enriching reward,- a reward not of debt but of grace; even that exceeding and eternal weight of glory, with which our light and momentary afflictions are not worthy to be compared. Let us all then be perfuaded, "with purpose of heart ແ to cleave unto the Lord." Let us count all things but lofs, that we may win Chrift, and be found in him, not having our own righteousness, but that everlasting righteoufnefs which he hath prepared for them who "cleave to him." Let us go from this place, faying as Peter did, only with more humility, "Though all men fhould forfake “thee, yet will not we." And "now unto "him that is able to keep you from falling, "and to present you faultlefs before the pre"fence of his glory with exceeding joy: "To the only wife God our Saviour, be

glory and majesty, dominion and power, Amen.

"both now and ever."

SER

54

SERMON III.

MICAH vi. 3.

my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Teftify against

me.

T is impoffible to predict what impreffioni
the fame truth will make

I upon
IT

the dif ferent minds of men. That word, which will pierce one man, to the " dividing asun"der of the foul and fpirit," may have no edge at all when addressed to another. But, were I to judge from my own feelings, I fhould think, that all the terrors of God could not more effectually overawe the heart of a finner, than the paffage of Scripturé which I have now read. It ftrikes my ear like the laft found of God's mercy. Doth the Almighty command and threaten? I fear and tremble yet I have ftill fome expectation, that his compaffion may interpofe in

my

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my behalf.-But, doth he put off his ter rible Majesty, and, instead of vindicating the authority, condefcend to plead the reafonablenefs of his law? then I am fure that his forbearance is almost exhausted, and that my day of grace is drawing near to an end. For as he neither wants power to punish, nor provocation to justify the punishment he might inflict, his defign in stooping fo low, can only be to render my condemnation confiftent with the utmost extent of his mercy. In the words of the text, the Supreme Lord of heaven and earth appeals to finners themselves, for the mildness and equity of his government; and challengeth them to produce one inftance of undue feverity towards them, or the leaft fhadow of excufe for their undutiful behaviour towards him. "O my people, what have I "done unto thee? and wherein have I wea"ried thee? Teftify against me." And doth the infinitely wife God condescend to be tried at the bar of human reafon? Can

it then be fuppofed, that his caufe is doubt

ful, or that he runs the least hazard of be

ing caft in judgement? Have we not reason

to

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