Rom. 8. SERMON VII. ~~~:re ~~h~t~~~~~ ~i~~;~i;~~io~"~/~:a~~~ Invitation fhall be effectual in the Beans of The Propofition that I n,.u infifr on is this : 'Tis the great Duty of the Minij/ers of Chrij/ to ufe their left Endeavours to inftr 11 d per}wade Men to embrace the fa7Jing Mercies of the Gojpel. ' u an The Com!'li(fion was immediately given to the Apo!Ues, b~t extends to the end of r~~~~:%o~~~~/lil the Mm~!lratwn of the Go[pellhall ceafe. I wlil explicate the Doctrine I. Confider what is implied, the Averfenefs in Men from confenting to the Term of Salvation offered in the Gofpel. s I!. The Means by which they are wrought on, and induced to come to theCelefti. alFeafr. . Ill. Prove that 'tis the great Duty of the Minifrers of Chri!l to apply themfelves With a holy Zeal to bnng Men to partake of the favmg Merctes revealed in the Gofpel .I. There is an AverfenefS implied in the Expre(fion, Compel tbem to come in. Thi; wrll be ev~dent by confidenng, that the World, the Flefh, and Satan, are Enemies in Combmatwn agam!l the Souls of Men, and rarfe an Army of Objections again!\ their fubmitting to the Terms of the Gofpel. : ·. r. The World is the general Tem~tation : the natural World, and tl:e corrupt World, the Thmgs and Men otthe World hmder our commg toChrifr. rj/. The natural World, compriiing all the Creatures in it, was originally very good both in refpect of the Things themfelves, and their deiigned Ufe: for they were bene: ficial to Man, in order to his ferving and enjoying the blelfed Gcd. But iince his Fall from the State of unfrai·n'd Nature, they are accidentally evil to him. The Creatures are madefuhjell to l'anity, not willingly: they are perverted from their innocent ufe to foment and gratify Mens vicious Appetites. Therefore the Apofrle declares, the ,;hole Creation gr.onn_s ~nd tra'l.lels in Pain, is in a kind of Ago11_J ready to faint, not for the Labour, but the lndzgntttes theyfuffer. The Charge that God ta!lens upon Idolaters, is true a. gain!! Worldly Men: Tehave taken my Silver, and my Gold, and have carried into yo" Temples my goodly pleafant things. Tlie Riches, the Pleafures, the GreatnefS and Glory of the World are the Idols ot their Heads and Hearts. The lnterpofition of the Earrh darkens theirMinds,eclipfes their Eftecm of the Fruiuon of God as their only Happinefs; the Love of 1t ahenates and eftranges thetr Affechons from hrm, therr Trufr in it flackens their due Dependance.upon him. From hence it is, that the World, which, made by God, was a fair and bnght Theatre of Ins Perfechons, to rarfe the Thoughts and Affections of Men with Delight and Wonder to the blelfed Creator, as 'tis manag'd by Satan, and abus'd by the Luits of Men! is '!" Shado1v of Death: fuch as fome Trees cafr, that not only intercept the rcfrefiung Lrght of the Sun, but lhed a malignant contagious Influence. Strange Alterauon ! The World is prefcnt and feniible, and makes an eafy entrance into the Bofoms of Men. Their Soulsare furpriz'd and deceived by the Suggeftions of the Senfes, that reprefent earthly thrngs as great Reahties : fpiritual and future things are to them but matters of Fancy and Conceit. The prcfent and fuccee?ing World arc like Counterballances; as the one rifes, the other links rn Mens Oprnwns. When the World has got Poifeflion of them, it commands and captivates all their Powers and Faculties. All the Preaching in the World is in vain, a Throng of Bufinefs or loole Diverfions caufes the neglect of the great Salvation. Reprefent to them the attractive Mercies of God, his melting Bowels open'd in the Gofpel to all repenting Sinners; they are unmoved, frozen in their Dregs : Remember them, that their Bodies arc dying every day, and their Souls are already dead, and that without iincere coming to Chri!l they cannot be recovered to the Life of Grace and Glory, 'tis in vain: tell them, theymufl:lhorrly appear before the dread Lord ofSpirits, and be accountable for all things done in clris World and the Confequence will be eternal; all is in vain : they have other Affairs, other Deiires, which they regard and purfuc; they are lofr in the Labyrinth of the World and have no Time nor Inclination to fecure ther main Interefr. 'Tis' further obfervable, from the Excufes allcdged in the Parable of a Purchafe, and aMarriage, and as 'tis_ [aid in Ma~. 2.2. That tht; Invited m_ade light of it, one JIJent to b1s Farm, andmzotber to Ius Merchandife; that thofe Temptatton~ ot the World aremoft perfi.vafi.ve and fata l to Men, that feem to be very natural an~ mnocent. F?r what Duty is more clearly natural :tnd reafonable than to make Provrfion of Suppltes futablc to their Condition and State, to their Ch~r_ge an? Fam.rlies ~ ~Tis true, Confcience and ~~~f~;te:t:J~~~r~~~t~~g~lho~~~ ~%e ~~~~~k~11~/}~:av~;~"~ff,i' ,{~r ~~~h:.~::J,~Jf ::.~ leads
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