you

be, it is only a fatherly Displeasure, that we do not become better. And is not any Way of fhewing that, infinitely kinder, than leaving us unreproved, and letting us grow worfe? If then you perceive yourselves to have been falling into Sin or Negligence; be thankful for fo timely a Warning, and reform. But if you do not, or if have rectified your Course; for the Honour of Religion be of good Courage. Keep far indeed from Levity of Heart, Speech and Behaviour: especially in Relation to a Providence, intended to produce very different Effects: but still maintain and exprefs a peaceful, a cheerful Composure : nor let it once be faid, that You were in the greatest Fear, who have Caufe for none; while They were in none, who have Caufe for the greateft. Yet if you cannot help this, confider it only as a very pardonable Weakness in yourselves and inftead of entertaining even a momentary Thought of envying Them, recollect with tender Pity, how fwift the Hour of that inconceivably more terrible Shock is coming upon them, which the Words of St. John defcribe in fo awakening a Manner. And I bebeld, and lo there was a great Earthquake: and the Sun became black as Sackcloth, and the Moon became as Blood, and the Stars fell unto the Earth; and the Heaven departed as a Scrowl, when it is rolled together; and every Mountain and Island were removed out of their Place. And the Kings of the Earth, and the Great Men, and the Rich and the Mighty,

and

and every Bond-man and every Free-man, hid themfelves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains; and faid to the Mountains and the Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the Face of Him, that fitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb: for the great Day of his Wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand * ? If You defire to be able, your only Way is, to obey his Commands during Life, who is to determine your everlafting State after Death; obferving the Apostle's Exhortation, with which I conclude: See that ye refufe not Him, that Speaketh. For if they escaped not, who refused Him that fpake on Earth, at the Delivery of the Law; much more shall not we, if we turn away from Him, that speaketh from Heaven: whofe Voice then hook the Earth; but he hath promifed, faying, Yet once more I shake, not the Earth only, but alfo Heaven. And this Word, Yet once more, fignifieth the removing of those Things that are fhaken, as of Things that are made; that those, which cannot be shaken, may remain. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom, that cannot be moved; let us have Grace, whereby we may ferve him acceptably, with Reverence and godly Fear: for our God is a conJuming Fire +:

Rev. vi. 12-17.

+ Heb. xii. 25-29...

SER

SERMON

IX.

Preached at the Parish-Church of St. James, Westminster, December 1750, on refigning the Rectory.

2 COR. xiii. II.

Finally, Brethren, farewell.

30,

YOU have expected for feveral Months what you will immediately understand the Choice of thefe Words to import, my Re fignation of the Office of your Minifter. If any one blames me, or is forry for it, I intreat him to confider. Above feventeen Years and a half have paffed over my Head in this Place. I have spent the Flower and Vigour of my Life in your Service: and now I find, and muft expect to find, myself growing lefs fit every Day for the Duties of fo laborious a Cure. You would not wish to wear me quite out before my Time: I would not wish to be bur thenfome, without being ufeful to you: and it is much better, that you fhould be grieved at my Departure, than weary of my Stay; that I should leave you, while I can do fomething, than continue with you, when I can do nothing and convenient Opportunities of

re

removing are not likely, as you must be fenfible, to happen frequently. Befides, the Care of my Diocese requires me to be abfent from you near half my Time: another Perfon may be able to bestow His upon you almoft entirely. In fo long a Space I have given Offence probably to more Perfons than I am aware; whether juft Offence, is not for me to fay: my Succeffor will have offended no one. I have undergone fome pretty fevere Trials, with fuch Temper and Spirits as I could: but how either would hold out, in my declining Age, to undergo more of them, I cannot forefee. And therefore on the whole, I hope it will not be imputed to me as a Fault, that I have accepted of the Offer, which his Majefty's Goodness hath been induced to make me. I did not follicit to be brought amongst you; nor have I follicited to quit you. I had a large Income in the Church, when I came hither: I have not enriched myself by my Abode here: I shall not enrich myself by going from hence. Hitherto I trust I have not remarkably confulted my own Eafe: and hereafter, through God's Grace, I fhall be diligent according to my Ability, both in Preaching and other Duties of my Profeffion. But it muft not be thought ftrange, if amongst these, I chiefly devote myfelf, to the private Study of the holy Scripture, and the daily Attendance on Divine Worship, in the Station, to which I am retiring. I return you my heartieft Thanks for your kind Acceptance of

my

La

bours,

bours, for your Indulgence, for your Liberality to me. I humbly afk your Pardon for my Failings and Omiffions, which I am fenfible have been many though I can truly fay, that I have always uprightly endeavoured to promote your Good in every Thing, Spiritual and Temporal; and would willingly think I need not add, that I have in no Inftance attempted to do you Injuftice. If in any I can properly serve this Parish, or any Member of it, I fhall ever embrace the Occafion with Pleasure. And for the beft Proof, that I can give at prefent, of that Difpofition, I beg leave to mention a few Things at Parting, about your parochial Affairs, your future Minifter, and yourselves, which I conceive may be useful to you; and concerning which I beseech you to bear the fame Freedom of Speech from me, that you have allowed me to use, on other Subjects, for fo many Years past.

I begin with your civil Affairs. For both the Management of them, and the Judgment paffed upon it, are Points, that may confiderably affect, not only your Intereft, but your Confciences too. Conducting them right is Matter of Conscience, on one Hand: and abftaining from unjuft Accufations or Sufpicions, and feeling Sentiments of juft Gratitude, is fo, on the other. In fome of these Matters I have had a Share, jointly with your other Veftrymen and fhould by no Means do them Juftice, were I to omit faying, that I have О found