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mies, (compared to which even Popery itfelf is an innocent thing), that attacks us with im pudent boldnefs, while we have few to ftand by us; and it is too much to be fufpected, that our own divifions have in part occafioned, and certainly have greatly increafed this evil; and while we have been hating and diftreffing one another, we have contributed to that contempt which is fallen upon the whole.

It is far above my capacity to think of an effectual remedy, or how this torrent of impiety may be best stopped; but furely every one of us is bound to ufe all poffible endea vours to bring men back to the knowledge and fear of the great God, and to a facred regard to his worship. But all our efforts will be in vain, unlefs our own conduct is fuitable to our profeffion. If we are feen to be swayed by the love of the things of this world, which above all others we ought to undervalue; if we are governed by felfish and angry paffions; if we endeavour to raise ourfelves upon the ruin of our brethren; if we deviate from that candour and integrity, that fimplicity, and purity of manners, which becomes our office; if, to gain the favour or efteem of men, we in the leaft prostitute our character, and allow ourfelves in any liberties inconfiftent with that feverity of life which is required of minifters of the gofpel; in a word, if it is not our conftant care "to ad66 orn the doctrine of God our Saviour in "all things," and to conform ourfelves to

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thofe divine rules of conduct which are prefcribed us in the holy fcriptures, and by which we may be affured the world will judge of us; we betray the interefts of religion, we put a fword into the hands of its enemies, and contribute more than all others to expofe it to contempt; and at the fame time we bring juft difgrace upon ourfelves; for, by acting unfuitably to our character, we become truly ridiculous, and deferve to be infamous.

And, next to the conduct of our own lives, it will be of the greatest service to public wor fhip, that we reprefent it, as indeed it is, highly rational, and conducive to the prefent, as well as to the future happiness of men. When it is fhown to have a direct tendency to infpire us with worthy fentiments of the Divine Being, with the love, reverence, and fear of him; to lead us to imitate him in our lives; to be juft and merciful, peaceable, forgiving, and gentle; to promote the interefts of our fellow-creatures; to fubdue our unruly paflions; when it is fhewn to have a tendency to beget and promote in us thofe heavenly difpofitions which will render us bleff. ings to one another in this world, and qualify us for the happiness of the world to come; when it is fhewn in this light, we may hope it will yet again force its way into the hearts and confciences of men. Amen.

SER

SERMON V.

On the Death of Christ.

By THOMAS SOMERVILLE.

MATT. xxvii. 54.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jefus, faw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

WE inquire, with the most eager curio

fity, concerning the circumftances and behaviour which clofe the history of perfons who have been great and distinguished through life. If the laft fcene has been marked with diftrefs, it grows more powerfully interefting and instructive. The tendereft feelings of the heart are exercifed; the noblest fatisfaction is derived, from contemplating, in our own nature, that excellence of conduct which fuffering goodness only can exhibit; we are penetrated with the virtues which we admire, and retire with refolutions which have a promifing tendency to imprefs and to elevate the whole tenor of future actions.

The peculiar duty of this day* coincides * Preached before the celebration of the Lord's fupper.

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with this natural propenfity of the mind, to direct our meditations to the most important circumstances which attended the death of Chrift.

Miracles performed, prophecies fulfilled, virtues difplayed, in the clofing scene of our Lord's life, all confpire to enforce the conclufion drawn by the centurion, Truly this was the Son of God.

Miracles are a fpecies of evidence which apply to the fenfes, and produce inftantaneous and full conviction in the mind The fun darkened, the earth trembling, the vail of the temple rent, were, to thofe who beheld them, awful demonftrations of the dignity of the fuffering Jefus. To the impreffion of thefe we are chiefly to afcribe the conclufion. of the centurion, and of thofe who were with him.

The Jews fought the evidence of the Meffiah's authority in the books of the Old Teftament. Hence the facred hiftorians are at pains to remark the correfpondence of every event of our Lord's life to the types of the law, and the predictions of the prophets. That Jefus fhould be crucified; that his fide Should be pierced, his garments divided by lot; that he should receive vinegar to drink, and make his grave with the rich;

vine prefcience could fortell?

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vine power could accomplish the fulfilment of a ferics of circumftances fo minute and contin. gent?

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The evidence of divinity drawn from the character or virtues of Jefus, requires the deliberate attention of the mind; but it carries down its force undiminished to the remoteft ages, and terminates in conviction no less firm and pleasant. With these advantages, it excites difpofitions of heart peculiarly suitable to the remembrance of the death of Chrift.

1. SENSIBILITY and fortitude united form a rare and illuftrious combination of virtues, and proclaim the Son of God through the difguife of external humiliation, with which he was covered, when he became obedient to death. As it behoved our High Prieft to be made in all things like unto his brethren; fo we find him through preceding life, and particularly at the approach of death, difplaying that fenfibility which is an effential property of human nature. Without fenfibility, courage is no more than brutal ferocity: it excites the averfion, rather than the approbation, of spec

tators.

Would you contemplate the most affecting fenfe of fuffering, fupported by the nobleft fortitude and refignation to the divine will ? Recollect what Jefus felt, and how he submitted in the garden of Gethsemane: "He be

gan to be fore amazed, and very heavy." The hour of approaching danger is big with anxiety and horror. Though death be unavoidable, yet whilft the time and manner of it are uncertain, the flattering imagination of

the

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