IX. the Incarnation of the Son of God by a SERMON Virgin: This being contrary to the Order of Nature, could not be learned in Nature: The wisest among Men could not be led to the Knowledge of this wonderful Nativity by any lefs Light than that of a miraculous Star. This was a Mystery hidden from all Ages and Generations of the Gentile World; it was a Knowledge too wonderful and excellent for them, they could not attain unto it. But yet as they were not left deftitute of all outward Light, small as it was, fo neither were they without an inward Teacher; and indeed without fuch a one to fend Truth home to our Hearts with a practical Influence, all that we gather by the help of Reafon, either from Books or Observations on Nature, are no better than fhadowy Representations of Truth, and like those delufive Images that float in the Brain of him" who dreameth that he "eateth, and behold, when he awaketh, "his Soul is empty." Now that Jefus Chrift, as that Truth and Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, hath communicated Himfelf in a meafure to all the Children of Men, to a Poffibility of Salvation, is a Truth founded on Gospel Teftimony, and anfwers R IX. SERMON answers well to that friendly Character given to Him, the glorious Son of Righteoufnefs, as that Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. He is the compaffionate Voice of God calling out in every Heart, as aforetime to Adam, and faying, O Sinner, Where art thou? What haft thou done! O how great is thy Misery! He calleth them to Judgment at the Bar of Confcience, that they may be convinced of Sin, and ftand Self-condemned for it; and then He calleth to them in a Voice of Mercy, Pardon and Grace-" Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy "laden, and I will give you Reft." Indeed He telleth not his Name to all, as He told Gen xxxii.it not to Jacob when he blessed him: But 29. 1 John ii. 2. if they come to Him as the Light and Love, as the Grace and Peace of God, He will give them to partake in the Bleffednefs of his Nature; for He "who died " for all," and so became a fufficient " Pro pitiation, not for our Sins only, but also "for the Sins of the whole World," is loving and gracious to all that call upon Him: And to the End that we might helther doubt of the Extent of his Mercy, nor yet of the high Privilege of Believers, He hath 10. IX. hath declared Himself " the Saviour of all SERMON Men, but efpecially of thofe that believe." To the Former, viz. to the 1 Tim. iv. Gentiles, who are obedient to the heavenly" Call, He is the Wisdom and Goodness of God in a hidden Mystery; to the latter He is the Revelation of the Myftery, as is fully declared in the Verse of the Text in Connexion with that which follows. "The "Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations, but now is "made manifeft to his Saints; to whom "God would make known what is the "Riches of the Glory of this Mystery "among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory." Shall we then fay, That all who have not heard the Sound of the precious Gospel of Christ with the outward Ear, nor received it in the Way of Man's Ministry, have neither Lot nor Part in this Matter? Let it *It will be difficult to affign a fufficient Reason why the Greek fhould be tranflated here among the Gentiles and not in the Gentiles, feeing that the Prepofition & has the fame Power before "El [Gentiles] as before [you] in the following Part of the Sentence; and as an inward Chrift is predicated of in both Places, in Them as the hidden Power of God to the Poffibility of their Salvation; in You as manifefted to be that Foundation whereon is built your Hope of immortal Glory. SERMON not be fo faid; for then muft we fay, that than Half its Virtue; that by this dreadful But how can the free Gift belong to thofe that know it not? Be it anfwered; as Salvation does to Infants who have the Grace tho' they want the Understanding of it: So they stand in the Grace of Chrift tho' they know not Him thro' whom it cometh. By this they are led to the one true John xiv. God and Father of all, for "no Man com"eth unto the Father but by the Son:' And their Works done in this Grace are accepted of the Father in the Beloved, as 6. IX. were the Prayers and Alms of Cornelius the SERMON Gentile before he had the Gofpel preached to him; for in this way alone, viz. thro' Chrift, he that feareth God in every Nation, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted of Him; "neither is there Salvation A&s iv. "in any other, for there is none otheriz. "Name under Heaven given among Men "whereby we must be faved." Let not then the Children of Faith boast themselves, because of their high Privilege, against the Children of Mercy who have not attained to their Faith, for tho' the latter on Account of their Inferiority be esteemed but as Dogs, if compared to those who fit down to Meat with their Lord, yet they feed on the Crumbs that fall from his Table; nay, if they are faithful to the one Talent given them, He will own them for his Sheep, Johnx.16, tho' of another Fold; their Faith in the one true God, tho' they know not his Diftinction of Perfons, and their earneft Defire of Acceptance thro' Mercy, will penetrate the Heart of the Son who is in the Bofom and Effence of the Father, and He will be to them a Saviour. And forafmuch as the Perfons here fpoken of are fuppofed to have been in a Difpofition R 3 gladly |