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which he raises them, and the wonderful plan and progrefs of redeeming love. But who is fufficient for these things? Alas! how small a portion of his ways are we able to trace! But I would be thankful, that the defire of attempting this great fubject was put into my heart, and that having obtained help of God, I have been preferved and enabled to finish my defign. Imperfect as my execution of it has been, I cannot doubt that the various topics, I have been led to infift on, are the great truths of God. For what is properly my own, the defects and weakneffes, which mix with my best services, I entreat his forgivenefs, and request your candour. But I do not hesitate to fay, that the fubftance of what I have advanced, deferves and demands your very ferious attention.

It is probable, that those of my hearers, who admire this Oratorio, and are often prefent when it is performed, may think me harsh and fingular in my opinion, that of all our mufical compofitions, this is the most improper for a public entertainment. But while it continues to be equally acceptable, whether performed in a church, or in the theatre, and while the greater part of the

per

performers and of the audience, are the fame at both places, I can rate it no higher, than as one of the many fashionable amusements, which mark the character of this age of diffipation. Though the fubject be ferious and folemn, in the highest fenfe, yea, for that very reason, and though the mufic is, in a striking manner, adapted to the subject, yet, if the far greater part of the people who frequent the Oratorio, are evidently unaffected by the Redeemer's love, and uninfluenced by his commands, I am afraid, it is no better, than a profanation of the name and truths of God, a crucifying the Son of God afresh. You must judge for yourselves. If you think differently from me, you will act accordingly. Yet, permit me to hope and to pray, that the next time you hear the Meffiah, God may bring fomething that you have heard in the course of thefe fermons, nearly connected with the peace and welfare of your fouls, effectually to your remembrance.

I would humbly hope, that fome perfons, who were strangers to the power and grace of MESSIAH, when I entered upon this fervice, are now defirous of feeking him with their whole hearts. Yes, I trust I have not

laboured

laboured wholly in vain. The gospel is the rod of his ftrength *, which, when accompanied by the power of his Spirit, produces greater effects than the wonder-working rod of Mofes. It caufes the blind to fee, the deaf to hear, and the dead to live. A faithful minister, will account a fingle instance of success, a rich recompenfe for the labour of a life. May this joy be mine! May the Lord encourage you to go on feeking him. Then he will furely be found of you. An open door is fet before you †, and if you are truly willing to enter, none shall be able to shut it.

But may I not fear, that I am still speaking to others, who, to this hour, have no cordial admiring thoughts of the great Saviour? Alas! fhould you die in your prefent frame of mind, let me, once more, entreat you to confider, what your fituation and employment will be, when all his redeemed people, and all his holy angels, shall join in worshipping and praising him, in the great day of his appearance. Unless you repent, lay down your arms, and submit to his golden fceptre, your doom is al+ Rev. iii. 8.

* Pf. cx. 2.

ready

ready pronounced. Awful are the words of the Lord, by the prophet, and very ap plicable to your cafe, if (which may his mercy prevent!) you fhould die in your fins. Therefore, thus faith the Lord God, Behold my fervants fhall eat, but ye shall be hungry : behold, my fervants fhall drink, but ye Shall be thirsty; behold, my fervants shall rejoice, but ye shall afhamed: behold, my fervants fhall fing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for forrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of Spirit *. If the Scribes and Pharifees were filled with envy and grief, when the children, in the temple, fung, Hofanna to the Son of David †; what must be their anguish and remorfe, their rage and despair, when the whole creation fhall join in his praise? If your thoughts of him now, are like theirs, tremble at your danger, for unlefs you repent, your lot must be with them hereafter.

*Ifa. lxv. 13, 14,

+ Matt. xxi. 15.

IN

IN D E X.

The Numeral Letters refer to the Volume, the Figures
to the Page.

A.

AARON, his behaviour on the lofs of his two fons, i.414.
ABBADIE, Mr. his Reflections on our ignorance refpecting
the doctrine of the Trinity, ii. 25.

ABEL, the cause of his death, i. 115.

ABRAHAM, juftified by faith in the promifed feed, i. 13-
highly favoured by God, 130-and the other Patriarchs,
fhepherds, 235.-rejoiced to fee the day of Chrift, ii. 231.
Accommodation, a useful way of preaching by, i. 407.
ADAM, the confequences of his fall, i. 9, 100, 111, 125,370,
ii. 54, 230, 269, & paffim. (See Fallen man, Sin, &c.)—
the promife of the Redeemer made to him, i. 295. ii. 54
230-his fall forefeen and provided for, i. 367. ii. 266.
Adove, meaning of that word, i. 393.

Adonai, a name of God, i. 69.

Afflictions, the fruit of fin, i. 16. (See Adam, Man, Sin, &c.}
-light and momentary compared to the glories of heaven,
18, 121, 419. ii. 311-trials of the believer's faith, not
tokens of God's difpleafure, i. 372-neceffary in our pre-
fent ftate, ii. 388.

Aywna, meaning of that word, i. 394.

AHITHOPHEL, his counfel to Abfalom, ii. 222.

ALEXANDER the Great, a principal inftrument to prepare the
way of MESSIAH, i. 36.

Alienation from God, a confequence of the fall, i.. 113, &
paffim.

Allegorical Interpretation, to be admitted with caution, i.405.
AMERICA, the principal events of the prefent age in, have
a tendency to promote the accomplishment of the pro
phecies, ii. 194-prefent ftate of the gofpel in, 204-
reflections on the late revolution in, 221.

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