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may have this Influence and Operation upon us, that fo from the Tryals and Temptations of this World we may pals into the Reft and Glory of Eternity..

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The Fourth Sermon.

ACTS X. 4.

Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a Memorial before God.

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Ome obferving what Bloud and Ruine, what Luxury and Avarice fills almost all places in Chriftendom,have been sometimes tempted to question, whether Christianity had wrought any effect in the World answerable to thofe glorious Eulogies bestowed it. The Power of God, Rom. 1. 16. And the Wisdom of God, Ephef. 1. 8. 'Tis true indeed, Idolatry is well nigh banished the World, at leaft the reformed World: But fince Men facrifice (though not to Baal or Moloch) to Ambition and Cruelty, (though not to Ashtaroth and Mam. mon yet) to Luft and Covetoufnels, they are to be judged not to have quitted but exchanged their Idols: 'Tis true, there are vast numbers abroad and at home, who dedicate themselves to the Service of the now known God; among

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these we may find Religion abroad (if it be to be found) here in the pompous Ceremonies, or Proceffions and Festivals, there in the Antick habits and Self-denying dresses of Monks and Nuns: At home in Volumes of Controverfies and Superftitious Separations. But fince 'tis apparent how much Evil the one and the other ferved to difguife- and how little good they have been able to produce; if this were all the Fruits of Christian Religion, I fhould be yet to feek what it had brought forth answerable to the glorious Prophecies relating to it, or to the great Characters of it.

But in this Affembly, and the Occa fion of it, I meet with a very fatisfactory Answer to this Objection, against the Vertue and Efficacy of the Chriftian Religion; here we may behold one, and that no Spurious but true and natural Off-fpring of the Chriftian Faith, and fuch a one as doth abundantly vindicate the Glory and Reputation of it: I mean Charity; Such a Charity, as for the Largeness of its Bounty and the Prudence of its Regulation, may become the Wealth and Grandeur,I may add the Majefty of its Founders,and the Wisdom and Piety of its Governours; a Charity which

in one word may become the Excellence and the Power of the Christian Faith.

That this Charity fo happily begun, fo piously and profperously conducted hitherto, may not only be preferved but daily encreased, is the End and Business of this Solemnity; to which, that I may contribute what I can, I fhall propose to your Imitation an example which for you to equal can be no disparagement, because approved of God and Angels. To outdo will be a great Honour and Advantage, but to fall fhort of it, a Reproach and Scandal; great and wealthy Citizens of the beft governed City, by a Roman, by a Souldier, Christians by a Pagan, or at best but a Profelyte of Judaism outdone in Devotion and Charity; It must not be, no I hope better things of you, things that accompany your Salvation, the Honour and Reputation of our Religion, and the Profperity and Glory of this great and opulent City; for I have reason to expect that nothing else will be the reward of a pious and generous Charity, when I confider with what a glorious Applause, with what miraculous favour it was crowned in Cornelius; An Angel being difpatched from Heaven to let him know

know how welcome his Sacrifices were there, and to what Glory and Immortality they had recommended him: Thy Prayers and thine Alms, &c. In these Words we have two parts, Cornelius his Character, and God's Approbation : 1st, Cornelius his Character confisting of two eminent Vertues, Devotion and Charity, Thy Prayers and thine Alms: 2dly, God's Approbation, are come up for a Memorial before God: 1ft, Of his Devotion; Devotion is an affection of Mind derived from the Contemplation of the lovely Perfections of God, from a lively confideration of his bounty and goodness towards us, and a juft fenfe of our dependance upon him: It expreffes it felf in the perfumes of Praife, and Thanksgiving, the Flames of Love, the Pantings and Breathings of Defire, the refignation of Faith, and Religious dependance, the Importunities of humble Fears and the Vigor and AЯtivity of an unfeigned Zeal and growing Hope: In this grace or rather eminence or height of Religious perfection Cornelius excelled: He was a devout Man, one that feared God with all his houfe and prayed to God always, Verf. 2. There are two things fo confiderable in this Character

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