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SERM. Day of Account a ftrict Enquiry will be III. made, not only how we have believed, but

alfo how we have lived,---that according to our Deeds, as well as our Faith will a Recompenfe be rendered unto us, and They, that have done Good, fhall come forth unto the Refurrection of Life (i). As many as walk according to this Rule, Peace be on them, and Mercy, and upon the Ifrael of God (k).

(i) St. John v. 29.

(k) Gal. vi. 16.

SERMON

SERMON IV.

Philipp. ii. 12, 13.

-Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. For it is God, that worketh in you both to will and do, of his own Pleasure.

I

F People will not be perfuaded SERM. to interpret Scripture by Scrip- IV. ture, but make it bend to their

preconceived Opinions, it is no Wonder, that they deviate always as widely from the Truth, as they differ often from one another. We fee the ill Effects of thefe Prejudices no where more temarkably, than in the contradictory Sentiments, which are entertained of the refpective Parts born by God and Man in the grand Concern of Salvation.

SOME

SERM.
IV.

SOME there are, who, convinced from the exprefs Declarations in holy Writ, that if they will enter into Life, they must keep the Commandments (a), and perhaps influenced by other leading Errors, being full of their own Strength, and fancying themselves allfufficient, have ftrenuously pleaded for the general Acceptation of the Word Grace, whilft they have overlooked the precife and fpecial one,---have fhut the Holy Spirit quite out from having any Hand in their Obedience, and allowing God only the Glory of discovering his Will to Men, have advanced their natural Faculties into a Capacity of acceptably performing it.

OTHERS, again, finding it to be alfo clearly revealed in the fame Scriptures, that Chrift Jefus is not only the Author, but the Finisher of Man's Salvation, and being prepoffeffed with a Notion of abfolute Election and God's unconditional Decrees, have magnified Grace to the utter Difparagement of Works. Nor is it uncommon with fuch Perfons, on the Commiffion of any Sin, to impute their Fall to the Defect of Grace, and not to any Fault in themfelves.

(a) St. Matth. xix. 17.

But

But is not this to charge God rather pro- SER M. fanely than foolishly, and to infinuate, that IV. there was nothing wanting to have preferved their Innocence, befides the irrefiftible Influ ence of his Holy Spirit, which, they imagine, he is bound to afford them? And this Way of thinking is obfervable, not in the loofe and profligate alone, who would. excuse themselves by accufing. God; but the Notion is likewife maintained and propagated even by thofe, who affect the Appearance of great Sanctity, and would be efteemed to have more Religion than their Neighbours.

J

YET fuch Perfons, however pious they may feem, have certainly not attained to a right Understanding in divine Matters, as the Truth is in Jefus. Whilft they have opposed, and that very juftly, the grofs and fatal Mistakes of fuch, as altogether reject the Doctrine of fanctifying Grace, and fuppofe Man to be left in the Hand of his own Counfel, without any Guidance or Help from his Maker, they have not been fufficiently on their Guard themselves,---have incautiously run off into the contrary Extreme, and peremptorily afferted, that Man, far from being able to obey God's Commandments

SERM. Commandments by his own Strength, canIV. not make the leaft Advance towards it, and only proceed in religious Affairs, as he is acted upon.

BUT neither of thefe Opinions receive any Warrant from the plain Scope and Tenour of God's Purpose concerning us in the Gospel of his Son. Such is our wretched. Condition by Nature (which, if we are fo blind as not to fee it of ourselves, God difcovers to us by the Light of Revelation) that exclufive of his Help we can do nothing towards our Recovery out of this State of Sin and Mifery. As we must be taught our Duty by his Word, fo muft we be fupported in the Performance of it by his mighty Aid; his Concurrence with us both to prevent and affift us, is abfolutely neceffary: And what is fo needful for us, to enable us to walk before him unto all wellpleafing, is not with-held from thofe, who are qualified, as all may be to receive it. His Grace is fufficient for us.----God worketh in us to will and to do;---what Help is requifite, we are promifed and fhall obtain, in order to work out our Salvation. God is never backward in his Part; and if we will not do ours in a Matter of fo much Moment,

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