SERMON must be the Office of that Divine Faith IV. which is wrought in us by the Spirit of

Grace, and wherewith the Heart believeth unto Righteoufness, even that operative holy Principle which the Apostle speaks of where he faith; the Life which I now "live, I live by the Faith of the Son of "God:"The former kind of Faith carnal Men often have, and yet both live and dye in their Sins: the latter is that which purifieth the Heart from Sin, and under the Influence of which we believe to the faving of the Soul With the one we call Jesus Lord by the Holy Ghost, and so with the Mouth make Confeffion to Salvation by the other the Devils could cry out, "Thou art the Son of God," for they knew that He was the Chrift. Much Strefs is laid by the Generality on the Evidence of Miracles, as if that were the beft and fureft Foundation of the Chriftian Faith, for outward Chriftians only build on outward Evidence, but where the Heart is fhut against the Grace of Faith, and the inward Demonftration of the Spirit and Power of Truth; to fuch the raifing of the Dead to Life (however it might furnish Matter for Curiofity or Admiration) would be ineffectual

tq

IV.

to the producing any beneficial Faith in the SERMON Heart. This Obfervation is not founded

on Opinion, but Fact; for the Jewish Rulers knew of our Lord's raifing not only Lazarus but alfo Himfelf from the Dead, and yet did all they could to fupprefs the Belief and Effect of thefe Miracles: And for this Cause probably it was, that our Saviour who wrought many Miracles, to the End that no Credentials might be wanting to his Miffion and Miniftry, but that every Mouth might be stopped and all Infidelity remain without Excufe, yet fefufed to fatisfy the Expectation of the Pharifees and of Herod on that Point, as likewife the Demand of those who required his coming down from the Crofs, that they might believe. Thus does our Heavenly Father reveal to Babes, to the Humble and Simple, what He conceals from the Wife and Prudent of this World. But to return to the Difciples in their Diftrefs.

It is faid in the fecond Verfe after the Text, that when the Difciples faw the the Lord walking on the Sea, they were troubled, faying, It is a Spirit, and they cried out for Fear How natural is it for People under any great Calamity to terrify themfelves

G 4

SERMON felves with the Workings of their own difIV. turbed Imaginations? and that the Disciples

were at this Time in fuch Circumstances as are apt to cause Perturbation of Mind we must readily allow, according to that juft and elegant Defcription given by the Pfalmift of Perfons at Sea in a Storm: CC They are carried up to the Heaven and down "again to the Deep; their Soul melteth

away because of the Trouble; they reel to "fro, and ftagger like a drunken Man, "and are at their Wits end." But allowing them to be fo far Masters of themselves as to preferve their Minds free from Disorder and all Delufions of Fancy upon this occasion, yet even fo we must grant it to be no un reasonable Conclufion, that the Form of a Man feen walking upon the Waters could be no other than a Spirit; for what Body of Flesh and Blood was ever known to do fo before? Who but He that created the Elements could fufpend or alter the Proper ties and Laws of their Nature, and walk upon the Sea as upon dry Ground? But tho', we apologize for their Mistake, yet how fhall we allow for their Fear becaufe of an Apparition? For what is there fo terrifying in the Sight of a Spirit? fince thofe

IV.

Beings are fubject to the Command and SERMON
Controul of Him who is the God of all
Spirits as much as of his other Creatures:
If they are good Spirits, they can have no
Inclination to hurt us, but come on a friend-
ly Errand for our Inftruction, Direction or
Comfort; "For are they not all miniftring
"Spirits fent to minifter unto them that

fhall be Heirs of Salvation ?" But if, on

the other hand, they be of an evil Nature, and Enemies to Men, yet even so, they are fubject to the Laws of their Kingdom, and the Almighty hath fet them Bounds which they cannot pafs; and therefore we have nothing more to fear from Spirits than from Men or any other Creatures, which may ferve equally by Commiffion and Appointment from God as Inftruments of Good or Evil to us: But the Truth of the Matter lies here: The Difciples were at this Time frail and weak like other Men who are more led by their Paffions than found Judgment: Add to this, that they were brought into seeming great Peril of Death, feparated from their dear Lord and only Friend, in the Midft of the Sea in a tempestuous Night, the Ship toffed with the Waves and the Wind contrary, and thus furrounded

IV.

SERMON with the Horrors of the Deep thinking that they faw a Spectre rifen from beneath to pronounce their Doom and bid them to pred pare for their watery Grave. Such and fo great was their Diftrefs when Jefus fpake unto them and faid; Be of good cheer. it is I, be not afraid: And when He came into the Ship the Wind ceafed, and they worshiped Him.

We may obferve here the Lord's graci ous Dealings towards his Children in the greatest seeming Severity of his Difpenfations, and how in the midft of Judgment He thinketh upon Mercy Were the Difciples brought into great Trouble'; let not God's Children at any Time complain when this happens to be their Cafe alfo, nor fay, with murmuring facob when afflicted, All "these things are against me;" for all thefe things work for good to them that love God, "He chaftneth them for their Profit that they may be Partakers of his Holinefs:" Nay, Sorrow and Trouble is the Lot of all Men living, in a greater or lefs Degree, answer fome Purpose of the Divine Mercy and Goodness toward them, unlefs defeated by not profiting by them as they ought. How many would have funk into a total

mito

Forget