SERMON XI. ACts 5· 3 r. Jefus CIJ~ifl : Flim hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to gi'Ve Repe t a11d Remijjion of Si11s. The Death of Chrifr may be confidered as an Act of Obed~e~~: to God, and of Love to Men. HIS IntentiOn was to glonfY God by bringing I a Souls to him. Now 'tis promifed as a Reward of his Sufferings, 'he jha/1 fie oft~ Travail of bis Soul, and hfatisjied. He is infinitely pleafed with the Salvation ~f ~(~~~ l~ftt~J:;~:t ~~a:'~~~~ tclfe~~i~~~~~o~~J ~g~dn2~ted\~ed E/,~~jo~/L~""~~er fpecial refpect to his Honour, that his Death might not be in vain : that the Son ~ God may be magnified in his unfpeai<able Love to them, and their fin cere Obedicn~e to him : his relative Glory, as fiead of the Body, wi ll ihine in them for ever. 'Tis alfo obfervable, the Decree of Election which is of infallible Accompli0 1ment both as to the Converlion and Perfeveranceof the Elect, becaufethe Divine Willis no' changeable and infuperable with refpect to lhe Events determined by it, bath a peculi. arregard to the Glory of Chnft. No Pnnetple of Oppofitwn m the corrupt Heart of Man can fruftrate the Operation of God's Spirit, either in the powerful entrance or John 6.J7• furecontinuanceof hisGrac~. Our.Saviour te11s ~s1 All that t/;e Father g)'uu'me, J oim ' 0 · ' ' · jhd/1 come to me. And, fpeakmg of h1s Sheep, he f31th, My Fat/m whicb ga-ve them me, is greater tban all: and none is aMe to pun tbern out of my Fat!Jefs Hand. The Purpofe at God, and Purchafe of Chrift fecure their Salvation : for thefe our Saviour in. John 17 . rr. tercedes, l-Io!J Father, Keep tkrougb t~i~e o~n Name,. tbofe Jl>hom tbou haft given me, that tbey may be one, as zve are. H1s MediatiOn IS never tnterrupred : when Chrifl:'s Prayer and God's Power are ineffectual, then may they fall away totally and for ever whom ~~~i~~~f~r ~!:~ g~r~~lc~;;:;~?~~~~aCl; 1~~~;~~Le~~~~ ~~~~'Jj~v~~!'~h:· s;~~~,:~~ of Souls, which the Father has defign'd for the Honour of his Mercy, and which the Son of God c!leems his dearefr Glory. Tbe APPLICATION. z. From hence there is jufl:caufe to admire the glorious Grace of God in converting Sinners, and making them willing to comply with the Terms of the Gofpel. Indeed 'tis fl:range to Amazement, that Men involv'd under the Guilt of Sins fo numerous and fo heinous, and liable every hour to the Sentence of the Law, fo fure and fevere Eternal Death for their Sins, fhould neglect a Pardon fo dearll' purchas'd, and fo gra: ciouOy offer·d, and not with the deepe(l Hum1hty, with rav1.fhmg Joy, and the J1igheft Thankfulnefs recCI":e it. Is there noSpmt, no Un.derfta~dmg left m them ? Nay, is fenfible Nature and ItS InVIOlable InclinatiOns ro extmgudh d, that they are Enemies to themfelves ? But if .we confider the Depravation of Mankind fo inveterate and invinci.. ble, we fhall turn the Current of our Wonder another way, that the obilinatePerverfe. nefs of any is fubdued, and that with contenting Wills they receive Chrifr as their Eph,r. '· Prince and Saviour. Election is the Fountain of diftinguifhing Grace: Many areca/- Rom '· :r~~~·::::ll~~~hfr:::~ o<f 0e~~1{i~~nM!~t0~y fi~eft:~Q'~;;ci~~~~~a~r~~' A~0~ffih~ ~"Fh;ir';. own Will, he chafe fame out of the corrupt Generality, (and they are but a littlcdi. Alh , 3. minutive Flock) to make them Velfels of Honour, that his Goodnefs might be the Joho u. more admirable. ' Thofe who are made a ,.i/ling People, were by the natural and contracted Hardnefs of their Hearts , as averfe and repugnant to the Heavenly Call as others ; if after a thoufand Repulfes, the Spirit had been withdrawn, they had died in their Sins: but as 'tis !aid of Lot's miraculous Refcue from the Flames of Sodom, While be lingred, the Angels laid holdupon his Hand, tbe Lordheingmerciful to bim, and lmut}!t him fortb, andfet bim wit bout the City; fo the free and omnipotent Grace over-rul'd their reluctant Hearts, and frrongly and 1\veetly indin'~ thell) to God their fupream and fatisfying Good, and to come to Chrifr as the only mea:ns to reftore them to the Favour and Enjoyment of God. The natural Man IS no more able to beheve w1th a faving Faith in Chrift, than toobeythewholeLaw: 'tJS t/;e Gift ofGod. He provides the Means of Salvation, and applies them; he by victorious Grace leads Captivity capttve, and beftows that moft precious Gift upon his People. How many that enjoy'd the fame Gofpel, and did not reject fo many Invitations, nor fo often .grieve and vex the holy Spirit, nor fo long abufe the Pattenceof God, wereJuftly left m thmSins? th" will fet a Luftre upon fpecia l and favmg Mercy. 0, what a confp1cuous D1fcovery, what a lively and thankful Senfe will there be of this Grace in the next World! Our r., kc , 3. ' '· Saviour tells the unbelieving Jews, There jha/1 be JVeepingandgnajhrng of Teetl;, JVI!en~e ft;a/1 fte Abraham, and!faac, andJacob, in the KingdOm of God, andyou your/elves turn f out. The Comparifon of the oppofite States wdl then be more Joyful and tranfportmo to the Sa into, and more manifefi and tormcntwg to the Reprobates. They~t~~nf~~
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