II. fent out in different Difguifes to confound and SER M. delude us; some should be employed in depreciating Learning, which they know to be the greatest Bar in their Way. ༢ But it is more than Time that I fhould haften to conclude: And yet it would be inexcufable fhould I wholly make an End of a Difcourfe on this Subject, upon this Occafion, and before this Audience, without obferving. the near Resemblance we have the Happinefs to bear, in the Methods of our Education, to those ancient Seminaries of which we have been speaking. A Refemblance, I hope, that will always be a Motive to imitate them as clofely in Application and Diligence. And then what fhould hinder but that the one fhould be as illuftrious and ufeful as the other? We want nothing neceffary, or even convenient, to make us fo, which they enjoyed: Our Discipline is as regular, and our Helps for Studying are as great: Our manner of living is as well contrived to eafe us from Care, and our Dwellings as well fituated for Contemplation and Thought. In short we are no ways inferior in outward Advantages, if fo be we are not deficient as to those from within. And we shall not, I hope, be wantVOL. I. G ing SER M. ing to ourselves for what it is purely in our II. own Power to fupply. Inward Piety and ་ II. Sin, Wifd. i. 4. Not that we are now, by SER M. any Means, to expect the fame extraordinary Measures of Infpiration which were formerly youchfafed to the Prophetick Schools; fince we have not now the fame Occafion for them. Providence now does not call upon Men by any new Revelations, but leaves them to be inftructed and guided by the Old. All therefore that is now neceffary to fit out and qualify the Man of God, and to perfect the Saints for the Work of the Ministry, is to be able to understand those Revelations that have already been given, and to apply them dif creetly as new Occafions fhall arife. So that the Reason why our Schools are not favoured now with the fame extraordinary Gifts and Graces, with which the Prophetick Schools were endowed; is not because our Studies are of lefs Confequence, or our Calling less important; but because our ordinary Helps and Affistances are fuperior to thofe which they enjoyed; and because, in a word, we have now the Benefit of their Revelations. Not but that God, if we ftand in need of his Divine Illumination, and are duly qualified with thofe previous Difpofitions which he demands, will ftill fo far affift our Endeavours, as to render thofe Things eafy and intelligible, G 2 which, SERM. which, were we left to our own naturál Un II. derstandings alone, would be difficult and obfcure. A Reflection that should teach us, whenever we gain any new Degree of Light, not to afcribe it to our own Ability and Parts, but to him who is the Author and Father of Light that cometh down from above, James i. 17. For even all our Endowments, whether natural or acquired, must be referred to him; fince all these, as well as thofe that are supernatural, worketh that one and the felf-fame Spirit, which divideth to every Man feverally as he will, Cor. xii. 11. Even Nature itfelf must in the last Resolution be imputed to Grace: For who (faith the Apostle) maketh thee to differ from another? Or what haft thou, that thou didst not receive? 1 Cor. iv. 7. Whatever ufeful Gifts therefore any of us enjoy, let us praise the Author and Difpenfer of them all. And what ftill is wanting let us pray for to him, who promifes to answer us when we call, and to fhew us the great and mighty things which as yet we know not, Jer. xxxiii. 3. This was his Declaration to his Prophets of the Old Teftament, and the fame is confirmed by his Apoftles in the New: If any of you lack Wifdom (faith St. James) let him afk of God, that giveth to all Men libe rally, rally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him, James i. 5. And thus bleffed with the Divine Affiftance upon our own Industry and Pains, we shall make due use of the pious Benefactions we here enjoy; we fhall give a grateful Return to the Expence of our Friends, and answer the juft Expectations of our Country Which will then fee the Value of a regular Preaching built upon the Foundation of folid Learning; and know how to diftinguish it from the Rants of a wild Enthusiasm on the one hand, and from the Presumption of a stupid Ignorance on the other. In a word, even our Enemies will become our Friends, and we fhall be efteemed the Joy of the whole Earth. The Delightfomenefs of our Dwellings fhall not be envied, nor the Liberality of our Founders be thought too profufe: But though their Bodies have long fince been buried in Peace, their Names fhall live for evermore: The People shall tell of their Wisdom, and the Congregation fhall fhew forth their Praife, Eccluf. xliv. 14, 15. |