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Y.

Rev. Mr. Gilbert Yarde of Whiteway, Devon
Mrs. Yeats of Swainfwick, Somerset
George Yeo, Efq; of Leicestershire

Rev. Mr. John Yeo of South-Hill, Cornwall
Mr. Richard Yeo of London

Rev. Mr. B. Yeo of Sherwill, Devon

Rev. Mr. Henry Yonge of Great Torrington, Devon, 2 Copies

Rev. Mr. Young of Dorchester

Z..

Mr. George Zeale of Bishop's-Nympon, Devon Mr. Henry Zeale, jun. of ditto

ERRAT A.

1. 8. af

Page 11. Line 22. for mention'd, read maintain’d. p. 13. ter bim, dele felf. p. 18. 1. 4. for fo r. to. p. 21. 1. ult. for ungergo, I. undergo. p. 39. 1. 20. for the in, 1. in the. p. 154. 1. 15. for exp. 199. 1. 25. clufe, x. exclufive. p. 185. 1. 12. for ever, r. even. dele of. p. 210. 1. 20. after urge, r them. p. 223. l. 1. for no, г. nothing. p. 236. 1. ult. dele the 1ft Word the. p. 269. 1. ult. for Man, t. Men.

SERMON I

I Cor. ii. 2.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, fave Fefus Chrift, and him crucified.

A

I.

S the greatest Subjects of the fe- SERM. veral Princes of the Earth have always esteemed the minifterial Attendance on their Sovereigns to be no way unfuitable to, or unworthy of, their Rank and Quality; but rather a Preferment, which the most Ambitious might justly be fond of: So does our Apostle extreamly delight and glory in the Service of his Royal Mafter; in this, and in his other Epiftles often calling himself the Steward and Embassador of Jefus Christ. Which is, indeed, the highest Title he could

SERM. give himself,-----the highest that can be given

I.

to any Man living: For Chrift Jefus being the greateft, as well as the best Master in the World, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (a). To receive and to execute his Commands must needs be the most noble Employment, and fupreme Honour, which can accrue to Mortals.

AND this St. Paul was not only fenfible of, but, looking upon himself to ftand in a very near Relation to his Lord by reprefenting his Person, and acting by his Commiffion, he made it his whole Bufinefs to serve him by fetting forth his Glory and Goodness in the Redemption of Mankind. Which yet he did not think it expedient to difplay with Excellency of Speech, or human Wisdom (tho' no Man was better qualified than himself for fuch a Work either by Eloquence or Learning): But he chofe to declare the Teftimony of God, as he told the Corinthians (b), with that Simplicity and Plainness which became the Gospel of Christ. And the Reason he here alledges in the Text for fo doing, even because he determined not to know, or make known any thing among them, fave Jefus Chrift, and bim crucified. THIS

(a) Rev. xvii. 14. (b) 1 Cor. ii. 1.

SERM.

THIS was the Sum and Subftance of all I that great Man's Preaching and Writing, and is in Truth, the last End of the Miniftry of the Gofpel which was ordained on Purpose to plant, propagate, and establish the -Knowledge of Jefus Chrift in the World: That Mankind might not be ignorant of their great Deliverer, by whom they may, and without whom, they cannot be rescued from the miferable Circumstances of their Nature: For, as St. Peter informed the Jews, (c) There is no Salvation in any other, neither is there any other Name under Heaven given amongst Men, whereby we must be faved. All who ever were or fhall be admitted to Pardon, Grace and Mercy from Adam inclufive, through all fucceeding Generations down to the End of Time, fhall enjoy the Bleffing through the alone Merits and Satisfaction of Chrift. It is for his Sake altogether, that God is pleafed to accept of our fincere though imperfect Endeavours to obey and fulfil his Will, and confequently, in vain is it to have Recourse to any other Saviour.

THEY are not the abftrufe Notions of the Philofophers, nor the entertaining Eloquence B 2

(c) Acts iv. 12.

of

I.

SERM. of the Orators, nor the Spirit and Fire of the Poets, which can bring us to our ultimate Happiness. Such Guides may lead us up and down in the Wilderness of this Life; but it is Jefus, of whom Joshua was the the Type, who must introduce us into the true Canaan. Arts and Sciences may amuse, or even affift us in the right Management of our temporal Affairs; but the Gofpel only can train us up for, and conduct us to our eternal Inheritance, -----that Gofpel! which reveals Chrift Jefus unto us; and therefore reveals him, that we may know him and the Efficacy of his Sacrifice to Salvation. Which Branch of Science the Apostle does not only prefer before all other mental Improvements, but before all worldly Acquifitions whatfoever. What Things, fays he, were Gain to me, thofe I counted Lofs for Chrift. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but Lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord: for whom I have fuffered the Lofs of all things, and do count them_but Dung, that I may win Chrift (d). Having discovered fuch an amazing Treasure of Wif dom, he found it fo very excellent and valuable, that he reckoned he fhould have been an immenfe Lofer, had he miffed of this, though

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(4) Phil. iii. 7, 8.

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