SERMON VIII. Others arc Believers in Profeflion and their own Conceit, but Infidels in Practice. !,i~et11~/;~/:~i~~~fat~:'c~~;~~~nbu~ ,~,y~:eo~rlf~atd:~at~~~ ~~d1~lla~lffu'~;~~e, tl~aufe evident, confidering that the Doctrines of the Gofpel are not meerly inteii~C!ua!'~1 's Obj;Gts of Theory and .Speculation, but moral and practical , the Objects of 0~~ ~~~;fic;:~o~~:"~~nf/1~ :;f.;;J:o}a[~tf:!,~!'"xc:~~di;~fit;fc ~~f~~z~t~~i/~! J:fu, is reared not only in the Mind, but in the Heart, and IS correlpondent to the infalli~~ Truth and tranfcendent Goodnefs of the thing revealed, they make fuch an Impref!ioe ~:m t~1e Soul~ that t.he ~alue_ of them is above Life, and whatever comes in Corn petitio~ IS wtth de!ptfing Dtfdam reJected. But when Men !eldom remember and little regard etornal Things, ho~v lpecious foever the Profeflion is, can there be a reafonable Belief ~L~~~~~o"'/ft;~fo~~~j~ft);~~do~V':Jk})e;;;~~r~~det~~ ~i~},:~;;t:};et~:r:~ ~~ri0~u~:fie~: ers; it being .morally impoflible that Men fi10uld fincerdy believe, and have a due Ap. prehenfion ol tt, but 1t muft be the great Defign of thetr Souls, and the main BuGnefs of . theirLivesto obtain it. 2. Security is the confiant Effect of Infidelity, and hardens Men in their Sins and the neglect of Salvation fodearly purchas'd, and gracioufiy offered to them in th~ Go. fpel, Direct Infidels fet tlmr Mouth agamfl Heaven, and defy the Furnace of Hell. They are blindly bold, and fearlefs of that Judgment that makes the Devils tremble. Others, tho not open nnd palpable Infidels, are in a dead Calm, not lenftble of their Sins, and have flight Apprehenfions of their great Danger : Infidelity lies at the bot. tom of their Security. As the Egyptians in the thick Darknefs that covered the Land, ;:or~J~fs:fri: ~~~(o~;a;~~f c~ Je~~!t:J;~~;~~~n:V~~1k,~e:::n~t ~~~~ ~~~r/~h~t ~~~~~ firong Apprehenfions of Evils imminentand defiructive, will Ay to Chrifi as a Sanl.lu. ary and Shelter, and fubmit to his Terms of faving them. Secondly, The Corrupt Nature will not fubmitto the Sanctity and Purity of the G()o fpel. The fore.ctted Scnpture tells us, the Carnal Mmd is Enmity agamf/ God, and that Enmity is arm'd with many Jlrong Lufl• oppofmg his Law. The principal Cauii: L~ 19. 14. of tejcc1ing the Gofpel is common to all, We will not h~ve this Man to reign over 11s, 'Tis obfervable, that as Holinefs is that Attribute whe,em God doth. moft excel, and Men are moft defective; [o the corrupt Will is moft oppofite to it. The Juilice and Power of God in fome cafes Men do approve and apply themfelves to .. if injurioufiy nccufed or opprefi, they defire his Jufiice to vindicate their Innocence, and re\renge their Wrongs : if in DJfirefs and Exigencies, they pray that his powerful Providence may regard and relieve them: but they are extreamly averfe fi·om his Holinefs fhinmg in his Laws, which excites his Jufiice and Power to punith thole who rebel againll it. , Kings .,.4 • They are ready to fay t6 Chrifi, what the rebelious I.(raelites faid to Rehoboham, Thy Fatl;er made our Toke grrevous : now tberefore make thou tbe grie-vous Service of thy Father, and bis heavy Toke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will ferve thee. They will mea. fure out the fcantling of their Obedience, how far he n,.u rule, and farther they wdl Mar.,. not yield. But our Saviour declares, I am not come to dej/roy the Law, but to fu/jl tl. 'Tis true, the Gofpel is a Covenant of Grace, a foveraigo ~ompofition of prcc~o_us ~~~~~~e:,~~o~:~Jse~~J: ?:~c;;it~0~n ~~~d~~:J~:J~r~b/;J.ut l~s ~~f~h~~a\(:o~np~n%~~~ to the Jufiice, fo without Conformity to the Holmefs ofGod, we can never be refiored to his Favour, and enjoy him as our Felicity. Our Saviour prefcribes this indi!penfable Rule to his Difciples, If a11y Man will comt after me, let him deny him]elf, and take up !Jis Crofs andfollow me. This is a comprehenftve Fundamental Duty, and the natural Man has a firong ReluCtancy to every part of /.t. Self.dependance upon our own Venues and Duties for the obtaining the Favour of God, and the Eternal Reward, is very natural to Men : it was the Condltlon of, the firftCovenant to which they cleave. Men of aFatrConverfatwn, andunblemJfhdm the Eyes of ti1c World, have!ome Sparks of the Phari!ee in them, wbo ;uf/ifedbirnfelf, tbat be was no Extortioner, nor Unjujf, 110r ,.zn Adulterer, nor as the profane PuUrcan; and tbat be fafled andpaid Titlm. Upon li1ch Reafons many prefume ot the Goodnefs and Safety of their Spiritual State: they take Pnde and Content m themlelves, Jn thelf Moral Goodnefs, and do not feel the want of a Saviour, nor apply themfelves wJth humble mournful AffeCtions to him for Reconctliaticn to God. Others thmk by the Worrhinefs of their Works to compenfate for the Unworthinefs of their Sms, to~~;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=