III.

not curious in unnecessary Matters, for more S ERM. things are fhewed unto thee than Men under

ftand, Ecclus. iii. 21, 22, 23.

But, lastly, let us not close a Difcourfe on this Subject without remembring what the Text reminds us of, viz. that Christianity is a Mystery of Godliness. For if fo, the Belief of it, furely, ought to have a fpecial Influence upon our Life and Practice. So that indeed as the Denial of the proper Divinity of our Saviour, and of his co-eternal Exiftence with the Father, on the one hand, undermines the very Foundation of our holy Religion; fo, on the other hand, does it much take off from our Obligation to Obedience, and dull thofe Affections which a Reflection on this Mystery muft raise in our Minds, For what greater Obligation to Holiness and Obedience can there poffibly be; than the Confideration that our Redeemer was no less than the co-eternal and co-effential Son of the Almighty God? This fhould, as it were, extort from us a good Life, which is indeed the best Evidence of our Belief of these Articles, and much beyond the Subtilty of Difputation. This shews that we do more than barely affent to the Truth of them; that we are affected and moved by them to produce those faving Effects in our felves, for which to be sure they

were

SER M. were first discovered.

.

And thus living now in Obedience to the holy Will of God, revealed to us by his Son, through the Affiftance of the Holy Ghoft, we fhall at last be admitted to the Sight and Fruition of his glorious Godhead, and fing Praises and Hallelujahs to the Bleffed Trinity for ever and ever. In the mean while let us pray for the Security of our Faith in this Profeffion, in the apt apt and excellent Language of our Church.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy Servants Grace, by the Confeffion of a true Faith, to acknowledge the Glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the Power of the Divine Majefty to worship the Unity; we beseech thee, that thou wouldeft keep us ftedfaft in this Faith, and evermore defend us from all Adverfities; who art one God, one Lord, not one only Perfon, but three Perfons, in one Subftance: For that which we believe of the Glory of the Father,the fame we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, without any Difference or Inequality. Therefore with Angels and ArchAngels, and with all the Company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praifing thee and faying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory, Glory be to thee, O Lord moft High. SERMON

SERMON IV.

BEZALEEL and AHOLI AB: or, Men's Abilities and Skill the Gifts of GOD, and their Profeffions and Trades the Ways of Serving Him.

Preached before the Gentlemen educated at the MERCHANT-TAYLORS SCHOOL.

EXOD. xxxi.

1. The LORD spake unto Mofes, Saying, 2. See, I have called by name, Bezaleel, the Son of Uri, the Son of Hur, of the Tribe of Judah : 3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of GOD, in Wisdom, and in Understanding, and in Knowledge, and in all Manner of Workmanship,

4. To devife cunning Works, to work in Gold, and in Silver and in Brafs,

5. And in Cutting of Stones to fet them, and in Carving of Timber, to work in all Manner of Workmanship. 6. And I, behold I have given with him, Aholiab the Son of Ahifamach, of the Tribe

of

SERM.
IV.

of Dan; and in the Hearts of all that are wife-hearted I have put Wisdom; that they may make all that I have commanded thee.

W

HAT an agreeable Return does. this Day yield to every one that pays it its due Honour and Refpect! With what Complacency and Delight does the View of this Profpect fill the Soul of each of you that attend to Grace and adorn it! For there is nothing more desirable to the Nature of Man, than Occafions of beholding and rejoicing in the Profperity of those we efteem And if the Friends, we would con

:

gratulate, be of the Number of those whom an early and difinterested, an intimate and long Acquaintance has endear'd; our Joy is then heightened; we not only fee it, but fhare in it alfo, and make it our own.

And if foWhat numerous and various pleafing Senfations must this Day's Meeting, I fay, minifter to our Minds! when fo many, and fuch good, and fuch valuable Friends affemble and unite on purpose to augment, and all to partake of, one common Joy! We are here with Pleasure to fee, once more, the Affociates and Companions of our younger Years, our old Partners in our ju

IV.

venile Labours and Tafks; by whofe mutualS ERM. Affiftance, Conversation and Relief (this hopeful Train*, I doubt not, will Witness what I fay) the Leffons and Difcipline then inftilled, however ufeful we may have proved them fince, would not at that Time have relished altogether so pleasant and sweet. But though thus link'd for ever perhaps in Affection and Love, yet the Years advancing which were to draw us off nearer to the Business we were born for, viz. Action and Life, the Friends were foon obliged to part, and each of them to take a different Way, as their Genius or Intereft, their own or their Country's Good required. The melancholy News that too too often afterwards fucceeded, of fome loft by Death, and others by the Frowns and Misfortunes of the World, has been balanced, perhaps, by the more welcome Report of others rifing in Reputation and Character, in Station and Life. But this, though a Pleafure, has been still uncompleat; as having been yet, with Regard to us, but little more than Report:- We believed and rejoiced in the Profperity of our Friends; but have wanted to see those Friends themselves, to fill our Joy +.

The prefent SCHOLARS. † 2 Tim. i.-4.