Securityagarnfl Death. 2 T 9 and carefully taughtus, and revealed unto us, we may be Paved, and mayeafily fee the way to obtain falvation. So we go beyond them in happinefi. Oh bleffed be the name ofthe Ever- livingGod,that befiele the peace and plenty, and other temporal benefits wherewithhe bath crowned this unworthy Nation of ours, he bath added this biding of blengs,this King of favours to give us fo clear a revelation of the Do&rine of falvation by faith in Chrift alone. Bkfled be his name, andlet your hearts fay Amen to this thankfgtving t and let it be one part of your endeavour this day to give folemn praife every man aparr, and his F.nnily a- part for this unfpeakable mercy ofhis,in making you live in the-dayes olLjg! (,and in the bright Sun-thine ofthe Gofpel : and you (hall prove your (elves to have be- gun to have kept Chriftfaying, if yóube thankful for his makingof it known unto, and for writing ofit in your hearts. This is the firft Ufe. Next, 1 bcfeech you let me take boldnefs to reprove (I fear) a great number of Ofe z. youof a fin; vehereof.l will make it appear you are gully. Men there are that make ßepteheahon. large promifes to themfelves that they (ball never be damned, they (hall not go to Hell, they hope Death fhail not have power to dragg them from this world to the place ofdarkncfs. , Thou hopeft fo ; Come,render a reafon ofthyhope. Tohope without a ground, is to deceive ones felf with extream folly. As for example; there are a number of prifoners in 2l(ew.gate, or in tome other Prifon:should they hope for tome man of great wealth to pay their debts, and fave them from hanging : ( hould they not be arrant fools tohope, except they could thew force ground for their hope, and force evidence for their expc&ingoffuch a kindnefs?Thou that hopefl,thoa/hall neverfee Death ; come anfwer God in thy confcience : doll thou keep thelaying ofChrca or no ? Where is the knowledgeof the Doérine ofthe GoJJsel? Dotl thou believe that which concerns thee touching thy mifery,and fo apply thatto thy feif,ro make thee a penitent fipner?Dolt thoubelieve the Do&rine concerningtheRemedy,and fo ap- ply that to thy felf,tomake theeperfeft thy repentance,by beingnot only grieved for fin, but taking boldnefs to confefs ir, and ask pardon, and by framing thy (elfin thankfulnefs to amendment of life, and new obedience ? Dott thou (I fay) know thisDocrine,and fo know it as to pra6life it ? Hope and fpare not ; the more thou hopeft, the better thy¿sope is; the ftronger and furerit is, the morethouglorifieft God, and the more it(hall comfort thee. But oh unhappy man, if thou findeft not in thy fell the care and power in Come nt,eafure to do thefe things ; curled be thy hopes, becaufe they be difgraceful to AlmightyGod, tending to make him a lyar, and an unjuft perfon; and becaufe they are dangerous to thy own foul, tending to rock thee afleep in the cradle of fecurity: Curled be thofe unfound and fandy-built hopes ofmolt men, that never yet applied themfelves to confefs and lament their fins ; that never applied them- felves tocrave pardon,aud to refolve uponamendment; thatnever ftudied to throw themfelves into the Armesof Godsmercy inChrift for pardon; that never intended to mornfie the deeds s the body, and to fubdue thefle/b with the kb thereof : and yet they hope they (hall not be damned : thou mail( as well hope that the Devil (hall come out ofHell into Heaven, as thou to go out ofearthinto Heaven. If thy hope benot groundedupon the workings of thefe graces, becaufe thou findeft thy Pelf penitent; becaufe thou findeft thy fellcareful to ftrive to reft wholly upon Chrift for falvation;becaufe thou findeftthy Pelf induftrious in the Rudy ofnewnefs of life : except (1-iy) thy hope be thus grounded, it is the vaineft thing in the world, and it will never do thee good at the late hour. Brethren giveme leave to tell you that there are two Gofpcls in the world : the Gofpel ofour Lord Jefus Chrift, and the Gafpel ofRekebeeb (as 'maycall it). the Gofpel ofthe Dcvil,that comes from Hell,and tendeth tobringmen thither. Chrifts' Gofpel is, lkepentandbelieve, and obey, and belayed. TheDevils gofpel is : -fay you believe, make your felves imagine that you have faith, and then never care for repentanceandobedience, and you (hall be Paved. Chrifts Gospel is fummed up thus by the Prophets,: Rettern tohim and live.. But the Devils goeth thus ; Affure thy Pelf thou (halelive, though thouwe not for repentance. Oh let not the Devil F f z beguile
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