Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERMON dividing from it? It ought not to be fo faid; V. for his Kingdom is of wider Extent, even

14.

in the Hearts of all Chriftians, however outwardly diftinguished or difperfed: And where there is true Repentance and Faith, Humility, Simplicity, and Purity of Heart; there is the Temple in which he delighteth to dwell: This is the true Communion of Saints; for they are influenced and guided by one and the fame Holy Spirit: This is that mystical Body, of which Christ is the fupreme and fole Head; and here only the Father is worshiped in Spirit, and in Truth.

But muft, there not be an Outward and Visible, as well as an Inward and Spiritual Church? Yes, furely: The King's Daughter, as interpreted of the Church, is indeed. Pfal. xlv. all glorious within; glorious in the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, and glorious in the Charms of unaffected Piety, and all Divine Graces: But then he is alfo comely and decent in her Apparel; her Government and Discipline, her Offices and Ceremonies, have their Beauty and Fitness, their Use and Excellency: Like the Scrip 2 Tim. iii,ture, they are profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in Righteousness;

16..

[ocr errors]

V.

Righteoufnefs; and generally neceffary for SERMON the more orderly training and building us up in the Divine Life. It is by the outward Teachings of the Word, a right and due Administration of the Sacraments, and a regular and folemn Celebration of Divine Service, under God's Bleffing, that the Mind is impreffed with faving Truths, the Affections raised to heavenly Things, and the Work of Grace both begun and carried on in the Heart: And therefore for any one to argue from the foregoing Doctrine in fuch a Way as might leffen, either the Expediency or Neceffity of an outward Ministry and Worship, would be grofly perverting our Saviour's Words; would be arguing against Scripture, and the conftant Practice of the Church in all Ages; and would tend to exclude one Part of the human Nature from its Share in the Service of God, even thofe Bodies, which we are taught to prefent as a living Sacrifice, holy, and accepta- Rom. xii. ble unto God, which is our reasonable Service. 1· But then we are to remember, that as the Soul is of a more excellent Nature than the Body, fo is the Part it bears in the great. Business of Religion; and therefore whilft we bold fast the Form, let us give the

more

i

SERMON

V.

more earnest Heed, that we alfo worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.

Permit me to conclude with a Word of Exhortation, addreffed to you, my younger Brethren in the Ministry. It is indeed with an humble Sense of my great Weakness, and a deep Consciousness of my Unworthinefs (I speak not this in a feigned Humility,) that I take this Office upon me; but I hope my well-meant Zeal and Love will plead its Excufe: But need I make any Apology for it? Is there not a Caufe, and is it not a Time, to exhort and encourage one another, like true Yoke-fellows, in the good Work that is given us to do, when Infidels and Scoffers do the fame in the worst of Causes; nay, have fet up their Banners for Tokens, and appear in open Defiance against the Lord, and against his Anointed? God be praised, we have not wanted, nor do yet want, our Champions to go forth against these uncircumcifed Philistines, to chaftife them with their own Weapons. Their Arguments and Objections drawn from Reafon, Philofophy, and human Learning, have been fully answered in Defences rational, philofophical, and learned; and the Shafts, which have been taken on both

V..

Sides out of the fame Quiver, have proved, SERMON on theirs, but as broken Reeds, whilft ours have been as Arrows in the Hand of the Giant. But, though fo often confuted, we have not yet been able to put to Silence the Ignorance of thefe foolish Men: remains wanting to this End, may your Learning and Abilities fupply! Go forth, and be valiant for theTruth; and may the Enemies of the Lord be found Liars before you!

What still

But true Religion hath its Adversaries of other Denominations, with whom we have to do, as the openly Vicious and Profane, and its falfe Friends, no lefs dangerous Enemies, the felf-righteous Moralift, and the decent external Profeffor, who fleeps fo foundly upon the foft Pillows of his Forms. But neither are we unprovided for these alfo; for we have Weapons of a Divine Temper, taken from the Armoury of God, wherewith to engage all that oppose the Truth, or hold the fame in Unrighteousness: Of this Number are the Sword of the Spirit, which is fharp and powerful, the Shield of Faith, and the Breaft-plate of Righteousness. Thus appointed, my dear Brethren, we may declare boldly, not only against the Unrighteousness, but also against the Self-righteousness,

2 Cor. x.

SERMON teoufnefs, of Men (that abominable Idof of Pride, before which fo many fall down, and worship; that filthy Cover of polluted Rags, that hinders Sinners from feeing the Corruption of their Nature, and the Rottennefs of their Hearts;) and fhall be mighty, through God, to the pulling down the StrongHolds of Sin and Satan, cafting down all Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the Knowledge of God," and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ.

4,5.

And can it be doubted, whether the utmoft Stretch of our Zeal and Diligence for the Glory of God, and the Good of Souls," be at this Day neceffary, when there is fuch a vifible Decay of true Piety, fuch a general Falling-off from the Life and Spirit of Christianity; when there is but little of the Form, and much lefs of the Power, of Godliness to be difcerned; and when Corruption, Self-feeking, and a moft idolatrous Love for the Things of this World, have fo deeply infected all Orders and Degrees of Men amongft us?

If we take our Meafures of Religion from the Gospel of Chrift, or the primitive Ages of the Church, how lamentable and

shocking

« PreviousContinue »