Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERM. into his Hands. Here, as a on fure and folid IV. Bottom, let us reft; nor let any Difficulties, which may be thrown in our Way, make us to waver in our Belief, or to faulter in our Goings.

Ir it be alledged, that Men are reprefented in the Scriptures to be dead in Trefpaffes and Sins (0),---let us confider, that figurative Expreffions are not to be interpreted with a literal Exactnefs; or allowing this particular one were fo, yet that it does not reach our Cafe. For this relates to Men in a State of Nature under the Curfe of Adam, out of which we Chriftians are refcued, as we are begotten again unto a lively Hope (p),---are paffed from Death unto Life (q), and are alive unto God by Jefus Christ our Lord. In receiving this fpiritual Life it must be allowed, we were entirely paffive: But having obtained it, we may weaken or may ftrengthen it,---may prefervé or may destroy it,---may fo fall away, as not to be renewed unto Repentance (r) or may droop and recover again, and grow at laft to perfect Manhood, to the Meafure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ (s). Though therefore the new Birth

L

(r) hef. ii. 1.
(q) 1 St. John iii. 14.
(s) Ephef. iv. 13.

(p) St. Pet. i. 3.

(r) Heb. vi. 6.

be

be the fingle Work of the Spirit, and a SER M. gracious as well as a glorious Life the fole IV. Gift of God; ftill it does not from hence follow, but that as the Attainment of the one, fo the Progrefs of the other may in a certain Degree be the Refult alfo of our own beft Endeavours.

OR, if it be pleaded, that God will have Mercy on whom he will have Mercy (t), Let us take Care righty to diftinguish between national Election to temporal Privileges, and perfonal Election to eternal Life, and fo to understand fuch Paffages of Scripture, as that the Revelation of Christ may not be made to contradict the Religion of Nature, nor we tempted to imagine God's Will to be unconducted by perfect Wisdom, Juftice, Goodness and Truth. Yet thus unworthily must we conceive of the infinite Being by maintaining, that his Mercy is abfolute and unconditional, and his Grace too forcible to be refifted. For no tolerable. Reason can be affigned on this Suppofition, why all Men fhould not be faved, if any are, without charging upon God the cruelleft Partiality and most arbitrary Tyranny: Mercy we must grant to be under no Restraint, and Grace of univerfal Extent: However

L 4

(t) Rom. ix. 15.

SERM. However we fhall forfeit them both,---
IV. be neither the Subjects of this, nor the Ob-

'jects of that; unless under their Influence
we tend towards the Point, they direct to,
i. e. cleanfe ourselves from all Filthiness of
Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holiness in the
Fear of the Lord (t), and purify our Souls
in obeying the Truth through the Spirit (u)..

To conclude, therefore, Let us not think of ftanding ftill, and expect to see the Salvation of God, but let us roufe and exert ourselves, and ufe all Diligence to make our Calling and Election fure. Let us not trifle away the Day of Life idle and unconcerned, as though we had no Employment to fet about, or were able to do nothing; but being hired into the Vineyard, let us fall to the Tafk allotted us, and redeem the Time we have loft, by increafing our Industry, for the future.---Let us humbly unite our Labours to the Divine Affiftance; and fo fhall we act fecurely, whilft we work out

own Salvation with Fear and Trembling, as is required of us,---with Caution, but not Terrour,---with Vigour, but not Arrogance. Let us remember, that a vain Conceit of our Self-fufficiency will be as fatal

[ocr errors]

(t) 2 Cor. vii. 1.

(u) 1 St. Pet. i. 22.

fatal, as a weak Opinion of our utter Inca- SERM. pacity; and he, who confidently undertakes IV. Things beyond his Strength, and difdains the Help reached out to him, must fail of Succefs as certainly, as he, who timerously doubtful of his, and fancying that to be wholly loft, which is but impaired, has not the Refolution to attempt any Thing; and that if we are, and muft be, fupported by the Holy Spirit in this most important Bufinefs, we can fafely depend on his Succours only fo long, as we answer the Defign of them: To treat them with Indifference by making no Use of them, or with Contempt by putting them on our Drudgery, is the ready way to lofe them. Their heavenly Leader moves not one Step without us; if we defert our own Caufe, he never will alone defend it; and if we engage not voluntarily in it, this is a Service into which we fhall not be preffed,

BUT how warm and refolute foever we may appear, either in making or maintaining our Conquefts, let us be cautioned not to affume the Honour of them to ourfelves; Let us be fenfible of our utter Infufficiency without God's efficacious Aid,---how fmall a Part we bear in the Labour tho' the Fruit

SERM. is all our own; and when the Principle, by V. which we concur with him, whether it be

inborn or infused, and all the Motives, which quicken this Principle to Action, are from him, let us afcribe the whole Glory of our being righteous here and happy hereafter to God alone.

To be short; inftead of abounding in our own Senfe,of confiding in our own Strength, let us befeech God to instruct us more and more in the right Knowledge of his Will, and to aflift us in the worthy Performance of it,---to afford us a clear Conviction of our Inability to discharge it exclufe of his Help, and of the Weakness of fuch Excufes for Difobedience, as are formed on the Suppofition of our wanting, what he in Fact copiously pours down upon us. Thus the mutual Neceffity of his Grace and our Endeavours being feen and attended to, that will animate us in the Pursuit of good Works, and these perfifted in will continually draw down further Supplies of the other, till it is confummated in Glory. To which, &c.

SERMON

« EelmineJätka »