Juftice of God in the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments? After all these, Men live infenfible of either; flighting his Rewards, and defying his Punishments. Did Christ come into the World, and dye a painful Death? Did God exert his Power in fo many Miracles? Did the Holy Spirit defcend as upon this day, to put an end to the Empire of the Devil? Thefe Men by Perfeverance in Sin endeavour to re-establish it in the World, and do effectually reftore it in their own Souls.

Justly therefore may this Eternal Advocate implead thefe Men before the last Tribunal. I have conveyed the Knowledge of the true God even to thefe Sinners: I have convinced them of the Truth of the Chriftian Faith; at least they will pretend themfelves to have been convinced: I have nourifhed this Knowledge, by caufing the Holy Scriptures to be writ for their Edification: I have endeavoured the Improvement of it by the conftant Exhortation of those my Officers, which I have fettled in the Church: I have affifted it by the Grant of all neceffary Graces, as often as defired; yet notwithstanding all this, they have lived as if they knew not of it, much lefs as if they were convinced of it. All All my Graces and Sollicitations of them have produced no other effect, than to render their Sin the more heinous; in that they have wilfully difobeyed my Commands, flighted my Di

rections,

rections, contemned my Exhortations, and ftifled my Motions. All falfe Perfuafions, which might betray them to Sin and Difobedience, I have long fince corrected. If they imagine the Disbelief, or, which is all one, the Neglect of my Doctrines, to be no heinous Crime; I have long fince convinced the World of Sin. If they fancy God not to be an unerring and infallible Judge in the Difpenfation of Rewards and Punishments; I have long ago reproved the World of Righteousness. If they pretend the Temptations of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil to be irresistible, I have long fince judged the prince of this world, taken away his Kingdom, and limited his Power. These then are the most criminal Enemies of the Name of Chrift, who being by me convinced of their Duty to obey his Laws, refused to perform them; who ferving under his Banner, and kindly intreated by him, deferted his Service, and delivered up themfelves to his and their own Enemy, from whofe Tyranny I had before freed them. What then fhall we plead in behalf of our felves at that dreadful Day? Shall we alledge Want of Conviction? That we pretend not to; or if we should, the Holy Ghost hath by the Wonders and Benefits of this Day effectually confuted that Pretence. Shall we fay that we believed not God to have been in carneft, when he allured us with Rewards, or threatned us with Punishments? That

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That Plea is removed by the Affertion of the Righteousness of God made upon this Day. Or fhall we excufe our felves with want of extraordinary Affistances and Graces of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to perform our Duty, and overcome all Temptations? That Excufe is overthrown by the conftant Continuation of the kind Influences of the Holy Ghost.

We receive not now indeed thofe miraculous Gifts, with which the Apostles were once endued. Nor is it neceffary that we fhould receive them. Those contribute not directly to the fecuring of our Salvation, which may be equally obtained without them, and loft with them. All that is neceffary, all that is convenient for us, is yet continued to us. The Holy Ghost still diffufeth his inestimable Benefits to the Souls of Men, excites them by inward Motions, confirms them by his Affiftance, perfects them by his Graces; which left we should doubt that he still plentifully bestoweth on us for want of fome external Affurance, he hath inftituted the Holy Sacraments, more particularly the Eucharift, as visible Pledges of his Diftribution of Grace to all faithful Believers; herein beftowing no less a Benefit to the Members of the Church, than he did when he formerly defcended, as upon this Day, attended with mighty Signs and Miracles, with the Gift of Tongues, and Cure of Diseases.

We

We ate affured, that altho' any one speak with the tongues of Men and Angels; altho' he be able to remove Mountains; yet it is poffible for him to miscarry, and become a caft-away. But to him that receiveth this Holy Sacrament worthily; to him that bewails his former Sins, and feriously endeavours to reform them; to him that enters anew into Covenant with God, and lays hold of the Merits of his Crucified Saviour in the Participation of these facred Myfteries; to him that herein reconciles himself to Chrift his Head, by a lively Faith and Repentance, and to all the Members of the Church by unfeigned Charity; it is not poffible to mifs his defired End, the Salvation of his Soul; because God, who cannot lie, hath promised it by his Word and Spirit; the Son hath fealed it by his Blood; and the Holy Ghoft confirmed it; as at first by his Defcent upon this Day, fo now alfo by the fenfible Effects of his Grace, which he diffufeth to all worthy Communicants. To these three Perfons, but one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, be afcribed all Honour, Power, and Glory, henceforth and for evermore.

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SERMON II.

On TRINITY-SUNDAY, 1689. at Lambeth Chapel.

I COR. II. 11.

The things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God.

T

HE Doctrine of the Holy and Everbleffed Trinity (in Honour of which

this Day hath, for fome Ages, been Instituted and Celebrated in the Church) is that alone, among all the Principles of Chriftianity, which carrieth an undeniable Difficulty along with it, and hath been always made ufe of by the Enemies of the Cross, to oppose the Revelation of Chrift.

Other Doctrines, fuch as the Refurrection of the Body, Incarnation of the Son of God, and fuch like, may appear incredible; but at the fame time it cannot be denied, that they are poffible: And when the Motives of Faith are added to them, must by all Men rightly judging, be allowed to be credible. But it is pretended, that the Ex

iftence