74° SERMON XI. E,od.,.••,,,. Works done by Mofes, the Command of God was the beginning. Take tby Rod f/retch t 8 •6 ' · out tby Hand, and other Orders that demonil:rate the mitaculous Actions not ', 0 1 • !1· ceed from an inherent Virtue in his Perfon, but from a fuperior and borrowed p0£~oJofh. xo. n. Sometimes Prayer was add reil: to God before the Miracles were done: Thus Jofo ua fi n jpeaks to tbe Lord, before he commands tbe Sun to fland f/ill upon Gibeon, and tl~e tdr xn tbe Fa/fey of Ajalon. Thus Elias and Elifha revived the Dead by Praye r to ;h; Lord of Life. This was declaratory, that the Prophets were but Inil:rumenrs and that God was the abfolute Author of them. Accordingly in the Converflon of Souls which is a Work as miraculous as any of thofe illuil:rious M~racles, there mull be th; Divine Appointment of the Means, and ardent Prayer to God for his Bletrmg. 'Tis the great Encouragement of Minifiers in their Service, that whatfoever is God's Ordinance ihall effect that for which it is ordain'd : the Rod of Mofes was powerful to fubdue ~fJ:~, ~~t~~v~.:':~~~:hL~~dp~~n~~~t~l1~~:, !:gr~~~d t~~,~~~g~rl~rst!";~f~he1~i~ dianites. Ail:onifhi ng Victqry ) And tbe Gojpel is tbe Power of God to Salvati01 1• But Prayer is requilite to obtain the holy Spirit, by whofe Influence the Word is effectual to recover loft Souls to Heaven. And 'tis evidem, that numerous and entire Converfwns of Sinners have been by the Miniil:ry of holy Men, who made it their great and earnell: Requeil: that they might be fuccefs ful in bringing Souls to Chriil:.Cold Formalities are unacceptable to God, and without Efficacy; but Praye r actuated with Life and holy Heat of Affection, afcends to Heaven and prevails. And what is more worthy of.our confiant and moil: ardent Detires, than the Salvation of precious and immortal Souls! II. To excite Miniil:ers to a faithful Difcharge of their Duty, let them confide r, 1 . The Example of our bleJTed Saviour. It was one principal Part of his Office to preach the Gofpel: this he.undertook in wonderful Mercy, and perform'd with,. mazing Diligence. He rifes before Day, and retires ,himfelfinto a folitary Place to pray, that he may lore no ttme m Preaching. He preach cl on the Mountain,., in the Difert, 111 tl;e Ship, in the Synagogues, in the High.way, in tJJe Houfe: no Place, no Perfons, no M"k s. r. Time was unfeafonable. It was his Meat and Drink to do the .Will of. bis Father. Thus ~::k '6. i.J<. ~~n!f~l~t~~~~~~g;;::t~~~~:~~i~h~u~ft~~~y~;~ 1~l;:~)af~~,~~~~~~~il:~~~: G~:;~ d: J:i~~ ~~· 3 !;· ~:d7~~~~~;~1[~;ove and upbraid our Negligence ?How fuould it inflame us to imitate 2.. His Love to us fhould make us ardent and aelive to fave Souls, as a Tefiimony of our Love to-hrm. Thus he !peaks to Peter, LO'llef/thou me! Feedmy Lamhs. 'T~ his Delight and Glory to be the Saviour ofSinners. How dearly has he bought our Love 1 How wilhngly did he redeem us when we were Enemies 1 His Love condefcended to our low State, to become a Servant, that he might exalt us to his State, to be the Sons of God. How does he out-love us 1 We do not love his Glory as he loved our Meanncfs, not him the bleJTed God, as he did us curfed Creatures. 0 the Miracle of his ardent Love to us! 0 the Strangenefs of our cold Affection to him ! Love cannot be idle, but will add Fire and Vigor, and caufe unfainting Perfeverance / in our Lord's Service. Love and Duty will overcome all Difficulties. Ifwe confider by how many Titles he deferves our Service, and feel the dear Obligations he has laid up· on us, we l11all compel tbem to come in, that our glorious King's Houfe may be full. I fhall only add, that to fave Souls, the Work 1s glorious, and the Reward is more glo. rious. In the Aifembly of immortal Spirits above, all united in Perfection and Felicity, Thofe who turn many to Rig,bteoujnefs,jha/1 fhine xvitb a hrigbter Glory, like the Stars for ever ami ever. Who would be fo unhappy as to prefer lluggil11 Eafe before a brighter Crown in Heaven? Lail:ly; I will finifh this Difcourfe with an earneil: Perf\valive, that Men would comply with the Invitations of the Divine Mercy. Who can without fome Sparks of Pity and Indignation ferioully obferve that Men are flight and foolifh in things of eternallntereil:, beyond all the degrees ofFolly in the Concerns of this World 1 Who would that is in -danae r to lofe his Life or Eil:ate, and has but one day to fecure them, waile 1t mfnvolous Marcers, when the Opportunity is fo fhorr, and the Omiffion is irreparabl.e ? Yet altho the prefenr Life be certainly fhort, and uncertainly continued, and Etermty depends upon our prefent fecuring the Favour of God, and our Title in his Kingdom, Men employ theirTime togainthe World, and neglect their Salvation, in companfon whereof all the Affairs ofTi me are a buly Folly, and vain Impertinence, Srupendwus Security ! Now to perf\vade Men to come to ChriHfor Life. let them. confider, r. 'Tis God 's Call to which prefent Obed1ence IS due. Carnal Senfe IS apt to object Is it not aMan f fCe and hear? 'Tis true, but the Melfagc is the King's, no~ rhe Embaifador's that brings it. A fpiritual Eye looks beyond the Object of Carnal S1~~J
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