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SERMON I.

The Lawfulness of Feafting, with the
Danger of Abusing it.

JOB i. 4, 5.

Job's Sons went and feafted in their Houses,
every one bis Day, and fent and called for
their three Sifters to eat and to drink with
them.
And it was fo, when the Days of their Feaft-
ing were gone about, that Job fent and
fanctified them, and rofe up early in the
Morning, and offered Burnt Offerings ac-
cording to the Number of them all: for Job
Said, It may be that my Sons have finned
and curfed God in their Hearts. Thus did
Job continually.

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N these and the foregoing Words is con- SER M. tained a fhort Account of Job's Profperity and Integrity before his Misfortunes: The firft of which is recorded to the end that we may the better judge of the Weight and BitVOL. I.

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ternefs

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SER M. ternefs of his Afflictions, which, we may reafonably fuppofe, received no fmall Addition from his being so long and conftantly used to the Height of Happiness: The other to obviate any uncharitable Cenfure we might probably have entertained, and to caution us against imputing any thing to him, which might have drawn down this Adversity, which was laid upon him as a Trial and Probation of his Patience and Virtue. If we defire any general Character of this good Man, we have it in the first Verse, where we read that he was perfect and upright, and one that feared GOD and efchewed Evil: i. e. One whofe Virtue appeared in a moft unblameable Life, void of all Hypocrify, both in his Piety towards GOD, and in his Dealings with Men. If we further demand fome particular Inftance of his Goodnefs, the Text will fupply us, which contains an Account of his religious Care of his Children. They were from their Infancy, as we may reasonably fuppofe, educated in the Fear of GOD, and taught to live with one another in Love and Unity. And that this Friendship might continue inviolable, he indulged and encouraged his Sons to meet at fome certain Seafons at each other's House, and to make a Feaft every one in his Turn: And he, whofe

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Turn it was to entertain the reft, was to in- SER M. vite their three Sifters to eat and to drink with them. It being usual, it seems, then as well as now, to think the Obligation high enough, if the Female Sex graced the Entertainments made by the Men with their Prefence, though they were not at the Expence of entertaining again. And this Feafting and Merriment amongst his Children, Job thought doubtless a proper Means to confirm and strengthen them in their Amity and Concord. But because it might poffibly happen, that they might do or fpeak fomething that was profane, or misbecoming their Religion at these Times, when their Minds, loosened by Mirth, were less upon their Guard; their good Father never failed, as foon as ever the Time appointed for their Feasting was over, to call upon his Sons to reflect upon what had paffed in those Intervals of Mirth, and to prepare themselves for the Sacrifices he intended to offer to avert GOD'S Anger, if by any means they had incurred it during those Seasons: Exhorting them probably at the same time to recal themselves from those Liberties which they had then been indulging themselves in, and to apply themselves seriously to their Callings of Life, and their wonted Duties of Religion. And this we

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SER M. must observe was Job's conftant Practice; for fo faith the Text, Job's Sons went and feafted in their Houses, &c.

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The Words, thus paraphrafed and explained, might be of manifold Use to us, if we would take notice of all the Rules they would afford us for the Regulation of our Lives. As,

First, For Inftance, Fathers of a Family may from hence learn, how much it is their Duty, and ought to be their Care, to see that their Children and all others under their Tuition, be diligent Obfervers of their Duty to GOD.

Secondly, Children may again learn from hence, what an inestimable Bleffing their Love and Unity is both to themselves and their Parents. Add to this,

Thirdly, That Children are not exempted from their Obedience to their Parents, nor Parents discharged from their Care of their Children, though their Children may be removed from them, and fettled in Families of their own. Job's Sons were obedient to the Call of their Father, and their Father fanctified and offered Burnt Offerings for them. Again,

Fourthly, All may obferve that a bare Sufpicion or Surmife that ourselves or any others under our Care have finned, is a fufficient Reason

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Reason why we should humble ourselves and ȘER M. feek Reconcilement with God for ourfelves and them. Job was not certain that his Sons had tranfgreffed; he only faid, It may be that they have finned. Once more and

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Laftly, We may observe that it is not a few good Actions which will recommend us to GOD, but Conftancy and Perfeverance. Job's Care of his Children had not been recorded unless it had been his conftant Practice: But thus did fob continually.

These and several other Things might be drawn from the Text well worthy our Obfervation, which yet it must fuffice to have only mentioned at present; and that because the Words fuggeft to our Minds three other Confiderations, which will make a more feafonable Subject for my prefent Difcourfe. And they are,

I. FIRST, That Feafting, Mirth and Society are not inconfiftent with the Practice of Virtue and Religion; Job's Sons (it is to be fuppofed with the Approbation and Confent of their good Father) went and feafted in their Houfes every one his Day, and fent and called for their three Sifters to eat and to drink with them.

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