SER M. the Scripture reprefents Angels, as rejoy

18.

Joh. iv.

Which

cing and delighting to perform their Lord's
pleasure; And our Saviour declares that
'twas his meat and drink to do the Will
of his Father which is in Heaven.
Examples when we can in any tolerable
degree imitate, then is fulfilled in us the
obfervation of St John, that perfect Love
cafteth out Fear; and That of St Paul,
Rom. viii. 15. that we have not received
the Spirit of bondage to Fear, but the Spi-
rit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father; and 2 Tim. i. 7. God hath not gi-
ven us the Spirit of fear, but of love, and of
a found mind.

THESE are the Circumftances requifite to make the performance of this Duty acceptable and complete: We must love the Lord our God, with all our Heart, with all our Soul, with all our Strength, and with all our Mind. The

IIId and last thing obfervable in the Text, is the Weight and Importance of the Duty; It is the First and great Commandment. The Reafon is, becaufe 'tis the Foundation of all; and, without Regard to God, there can be no Religion. Not that Virtue, at any time, or in any

perfon

V.

perfon whatsoever, can be not praise-wor- SER M.
thy; much less, that in those who have
not a right knowledge of God, even vir-
tuous Actions themselves are (as some

have very
very unreasonably affirmed) only
Splendid Sins; but that there is no fecu-
rity, no certain depending upon fuch vir-
tues, as arise merely accidentally from
natural goodness of Temper, and are not
built upon a firm and fettled perfwafion,
that God does Now govern, and will fi-
nally judge the World. The House, is
good; but it is built (according to our
Saviour's comparison) upon the Sand on-
ly, and not upon a Rock. 'Tis Faith on-
ly, that overcomes the World: Nothing
but a fteddy Belief of a Judgment to
come, and of God's being a Rewarder
of them that diligently feek him, can be
effectual to conquer the Temptations of Sin.
This Faith therefore, that we may all hold
faft, God of his infinite Mercy grant, &c.

SERMON VI

Of the FEAR of GOD.

JOB Xxiii. 15.

Therefore am I troubled at his prefence: When I confider, I am afraid of him.

I

N This Chapter Job gives a SERM.
noble Defcription of the VI.
Senfe he had upon his Mind,
of the invifible Omniprefence

and Omnifcience of God. Ver. 8. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there: and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he bideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot fee him: But he knoweth the way that

I

4

SER M. that I take. To a man of Virtue and In VI. tegrity, the confideration of This great Truth is a folid Ground of real and lasting Satisfaction. He knoweth the way that I take: My foot bath held his fteps; his way have I kept, and not declined: Neither have I gone back from the Commandment of his Lips: I have efteemed the Words of his Mouth, more than my necessary Food, ver. 11. In times of Affliction particularly, 'tis an inexpreffible Support, if a man can be able to say with this exemplary perfon, ver. 3. O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his Seat! I would order my Caufe before him, and fill my Mouth with Arguments.- -Will be plead against me with his great Power? No; but he would put Strength in me. He knoweth the Way that I take: When he bath tried me, I fhall come forth as Gold. Nevertheless, though the Hope fignified by these high Expreffions, is indeed a well-grounded Hope, and what the Apostle St John 1 Joh. iii. Calls, an affuring of our Hearts before God; Yet confidering the infinite Purity of the Divine Nature, and the Frailnefs of this our mortal State, and the unprofitableness

19.