Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

any Bowels and Mercies; fulfil ye my Joy; that ye be like minded, having the fame Love one to another. Did fuch a Compaffionate and pathetical Adjuration as this, ever teach Men to revile and flander ; to be cruel, revengeful, and irreconcileable? If therefore the Practices of Chriftians be found to run counter to these fundamental Graces, and moft facred Obligations of their Religion, (pretend they what they will) it is no want of Charity to affirm, that they are not moved by the Principles of true Faith; nor by that meek and humble Spirit, which dwelt in Chrift Jefus. But to return; and to conclude both this Head and the whole Difcourfe.

Let us then, in the firft Place, take heed, that our Faith be well built upon good and fubftantial Grounds; not upon falfe Principles and deceitful Practices, fuch as a late Faith and a Death-bed Repentance; not upon the doubtful Opinions, and Conjectures of particular Men, nor fufpended upon the Interefts of this or that Party which we have efpoufed; but upon the infallible Word of God, which is the Ground and Pillar of Truth. In the next Place, let us be careful, that it be governed with Modefty, Difcretion, and Charity. There is no Virtue in Confidence, nor Cor. 10. Safety in Boafting: Let him that thinketh be Jam. 4.6. ftands, take beed left be fall. And again, God refifteth the Proud, but he giveth Grace to the Humble. It is no Difparagement to our Faith, that we think diftruftfully of our felves,

12.

and

[ocr errors]

8.4.

v. 5:

v. 7.

and charitably of others; though they differ from us; nay, though we are well perfwaded that they are in an Error. Faith as well as Charity, vaunteth not it felf; is not puffed up, behaveth not it felf un-1 Cor. 13: Seemly is not eafily provoked; thinketh no Evil. But beareth all Things; believeth all Things hopeth all Things; endureth all Things. Indeed, Faith, and Charity are infeparable Companions in this World; neither is perfect, where either is wanting. In this World, I fay, for in Heaven they part; Faith there is turned into Vilion, we shall not then believe, but we fhall fee God Face to Face: But Charity ftill continues; good Men fhall love one another for ever. Charity never faileth: But whether there be v. 8. Prophefies, they fall fail; Tongues, they fhall ceafe; Knowledge, it fhall vanish

whether there be whether there be away. But when that which is Perfect is come, then that which is in Part fhall be done away. Which blissful and triumphant State of his Church, in the highest Heavens; God of his infinite Mercy haften, to the eternal Comfort of all those that love, and believe, and wait for the Coming and Kingdom of Chrift Jefus, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, &c.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

306

SERMON XV.

A Difcourfe fhewing what the Prayer of Faith for the Sick, and anointing them with Oil fignified in the Apoftolical Age, and how far that Practice concern'd the Chriftian Church afterwards; wherein the Foundation and Doctrine of the Popish Sacrament of extreme Unction is examined.

Is

St. JAMES V. 14.

any Sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with Oil in the Name of the Lord.

THE

"HE Life of a Chriftian in this World, ought to be a continued Preparation and fitting himself for another. But efpecially all

poffible

poffible Care fhould be taken of that laft and folemn Moment, when he is inftantly to refign up his Soul, and to appear before the Tribunal of God.

This the generality of Men are willing to do. However they have lived, they would die the Death of the Righteous, and go down to their Graves in Peace. If the Seafons of Life and Grace be not fhut upon them fuddenly, they are defirous to depart with the good Wifhes of their Friends; with the Prayers of their Spiritual Guides; under the Authentick Seals of the Chriftian Church, and the facred Pledges of eternal Life.

This Defire is natural to all, who have either the Fears of Men, or the Guilt of Sinners, or the Hopes of Chriftians; who have not extinguished Reafon; debauched Confcience, and finned away the Belief of another World. This alfo is very commendable and pious, and [under due Circumftances] of unfpeakable Advantage to the dying Penitent. And this was the very thing, the Apostle St. James was infifting upon, and recommending in these Words.

For in the Verfe foregoing, he had been difcourfing to the Chriftians, by what honeft Ways and innocent Diverfions, they might maintain an even Temper and chearfulness of Mind, under the feveral Providences of God towards them.

t

If they were afflicted, or under Perfecution for the Sake of their Religion; he advifeth them to have recourse to God by Prayer and Supplication. Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.

If their Condition was fo Peaceable and Happy, as to difpofe them to Joy and Mirth, he bids them ufe Thanksgiving and Pfalmody. Is any Merry? Let him fing Pfalms

If they were fick, he exhorts them to call for their Spiritual Phyfician; the Bishop or Paftor, under whofe immediate Care they lived; and to make use of those powerful and extraordinary Means which were then in the Church. Is any Sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with Oil in the Name of the Lord.

This Text is One, I think the Principal One, upon which the Church of Rome hath built the Doctrine, or (as the calls it) the Sacrament of extreme Union. And therefore

Eftius hath this bold Glofs upon the Words. From this Place of St. James, fays be) the Fathers of the Councel of Trent, and with them all the Orthodox, kave rightly determined, and proved that extreme Unction is derived from, Apoftolical Tradition; and that it is truly and properly a Sacrament of the new Law. The Councel thus delivers it felf. Extreme Undion was inftituted by our Saviour, as a Sacrament of the New-Teftament, truly and properly fo called and published by St. James to the Faithful.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »