Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

-

SERM. trivance calculated for the Good and Hap V. pinefs of Men, in that it is a more perfect Law than ever they had before, with a Provifion in it for the Sins and Infirmities of Mankind, together with Directions where to apply for Affiftance to help us in doing what we are not able to do of ourselves, and alfo in that it points out to us the Way to that glorious Immortality, which, by means of a little Light and much Darkness, some Conjecture, and much Uncertainty, had been hitherto fought in vain. Whereas, if Christ be not risen, then he prophefied falfly of himself, and fo did likewife the Prophets of him. The Gofpel is then nothing but a Fraud, there is no Certainty of a Par don for Sin, nor any Affurance of a future State; for tho' fome of the wifeft of the Gentiles might hope that a good God would pardon their Sins, and might also have fome tolerable Conjectures of a future State, yet what is Hope to Certainty ? We have now an Affurance of all these Things. Now we can fee the glorious OEconomy of our Redemption, viz. that he who died for our Sins, rofe again also for our Fuftifica

tion.

2. The Refurrection of Chrift from the Dead is the Foundation of our own Refurrection;

rection; for if he is risen as the First SERM, Fruits, we ball alfo rife as the Harvest.

[ocr errors]

ft, Because the fame Power can raise us too; and, 2dly, Because it will do fo. For he that raifed up Chrift from the Dead, fball alfo quicken our Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us. But then we are to confider that these Benefits extend only to those that lay hold of them: For unless we rife with Chrift, he is not rifen for us at all. We have no Benefit of his Refurrection. We fhall rife again, 'tis true; but to what? To live in Mifery? Where's the Advantage? Who would not rather flumber away ten thousand Years in Death, than live fo long in Torment? But, alas! we have not this in our Power; for a rational Soul cannot lie in the Duft. It is Heaven-born, and unless we deprive it of its celeftial Beauty, thither it will return; but if we do, it will be fent into thofe melancholy Regions where no Light appears, fave what the Glimmering of livid Flames cafts, pale and dreadful; or, as the Poet has it,

[ocr errors]

Where Hope ne'er comes, that comes to all ;

where dwells a Variety of Woes, Sorrows, Tortures infupportable; where there is no other Sight of God but of his Wrath, no other Proof of the omnipotent Being, but what

N 2

V.

V.

SERM. what arifes from the Horrors and Torments of the Place; where the Worm never dies, and the Fire is never quenced. But not to detain you any longer in View of this dreadful Profpect, this uncomfortable Scene of Horror, which I hope we fhall never fee any otherwise than by the Imagination, let us now turn our Eyes to that heavenly Place, where, if we rife with Chrift, we are taught to fet our Affections. Let us view that celeftial Paradise, that is filled with the Glory of the Divine Being, in Comparison of which, Behold even to the Moon, and it fbineth not;

[ocr errors]

yea the Stars

are not pure in his Sight: Where is no Fear, no Sorrow, no Care, but a perpetual Round of Joy and Happiness, without Bounds, and without Expreffion. This is the happy Place we are defign'd for; and I fuppofe it will be readily granted, that it is good for us to be here. Let us then fit and prepare ourselves for this heavenly State, by living fuch a Life as will naturally lead us to it. And as Chrift was raised from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, even fo let us also walk in Newness of Life. So may we boldly triumph with the Apoftle, O Death! where is thy Sting? O Grave! where is thy Victory? and

move

one move peaceably on from one Degree of SERM, Happiness to another, till at laft we flide V. infenfibly into that Infinitude of Happiness and Pleasure which is at God's Right-Hand for evermore.

Which God of his infinite Mercy grant
unto us all for the Sake of his Son
Jefus Christ our Lord.
To whom,
with the Father and Holy Ghoft,
be afcribed all Honour, Glory,
Might, Majefty, and Dominion,
benceforth, and for evermore.

鹽鹽

SER

SERM.

VI.

SERMON VI.

MATT. X. 34.

Think not that I am come to fend Peace on Earth; I came not to fend Peace, but a Sword.

F it were reasonable to judge of the Chriftian Religion by the ill Use that has been made of it, we fhould be forc'd to acknowledge thefe Words to be true in their obvious and literal Meaning. For the Practices of too many of its Profeffors have in all Ages of the World, from the Beginning of Chriftianity to this Time, been agreeable to this Interpretation.

But muft it come to this at laft, after all the Affurances we have, that the whole Defign of our bleffed Saviour's Coming into the World was to make us at Peace with God, and with one another; that Peace

was

« FöregåendeFortsätt »