35ö SERMONS upors Serm. 28. which would be a madnefs, if they were falle and counterfeit, frnce they might fo ea- fily enquire into the Truth of the Report. Foreign Hiftories teftify that fach things were done, tho they Peek to depravq, the Anions, as if done by the Power of Satan. And hitherto the Church hath maintained the Truth of them againft all Oppofers. But of this hereafter. Z1fe. To prefs us to reverence the Word of God, fìnce God hath owned it by Mira- cles, and fealed np Infirudion, as the Exprelíon is, yob 33. 16. that is, ratified it by extraordinary Difpenfations. The Apoftle proveth, that the Delpifers of the Gofpel will have a forer Judgment than the Defpifers of the Law. Heb. a. a, 3, 4. For if the Word fpoken by Angels was ftedfaft, and every Trani reffìon and Difobedience received a jail7ecompence of Reward : How lull we efcape if we neglect fo great Salvation, which at the firfl began to be fpolten by the Lord, and was confirmed unto to by them that heard him, God alfo bearing them witnefs, both with Signsand Wonders, and with divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to his own Will ? The Tranfgreffors of Law, tho they did not fee God giving it upon the Mount, were punifhed ; and fo will the Difregarders of the Golpel, tho they did not fee the Miracles. It is better to believe, than to make trial; there are no Atheifts and Antifcripturifis in Hell, they feel the Truth of what they would not fear. Nay, when God hath owned it, if you neglen it, or receive it carelefly, or do not fludy it, tho you do not openlyoppofe, or fe- cretly queflion the Authority of it, if you neglen it, God will deal feverely with you. The Miracles were then wrought, and the Doarine needeth not often Confir- mation. Thirdly, The Accomplilhment of Prophecies, Threatnings, Promifes ; as if God had made the Word a Rule of proceeding, and the whole Government of the World were managed in a conformity to the Scriptures, for his whole Providence is but a Comment upon it. r. Prophecies. How have they always been accomplifhed, as let down in the Word ? Ifa. 41.23. Skew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are Gods. A Man may foretel things that depend on Natural Caufes, as Snow, Rain, Heat, Cold, Eclipfes ; but things meerly contingent, depending upon the Free Grace of God, or Free Will of Man, are foretold in the Word ; as the Rejenion of the Jews, and the Calling of the Gentiles, are clearly fpoken of, and dearly accomplifhed. The Scripture is not only an Authentick Regifter of what is part, but an infallible Progno- ftication of what is to come; nothing good or bad befel, but that which was foretold. 2. So for Threatnings, God governeth the World by this Rule. Threatnings have been accomplifhed 5 Hofea 7. 52. I will chaftife them, as their Congregation hath heard. A Man might have the Hiftory of the Jews, from Time to Time, out of the Threat- ningsof Mof s, and prophetical Predi &ions, and extrait the Life of Chrilt out of the Writings of the Prophets. Objetl. But Threatnings many Times are not accomplifhed. ..4nfw. The Prerogative of Free-Grace many times cloth interpole, and God worketh extra ordinem. God bath referved this Liberty to himfelf, he is not bound tho we are. It is for his Honour that it fhould be fo; as all humane Laws allow the chief Magiftrate á liberty of Pardoning. There is difference between Laws and Decrees ; the Threat- nings are the Sanetiou of the Law. 3. Then for Promifes. We never waited upon God, and put forth Hope according to a Promife, but it was made good to a tittle. Jofhua 23. 14. Behold, this day I am going the way of all the Earth ; and ye know in all your Hearts, and in all your Souls, that not one thing path failed of all the good things which the Lord your God flake. concerning - you : all are come to pafi unto you, and not one thing bath failed thereof He was about to die, and therefore could not be fuppofed to feign. Now he appealeth to their Expe- rience, You know in all your Hearts, &c. So Solomon fpeaks, 1 Kings 8.56. Bled be the Lord, that hath given refi unto his People Ifrael, according to all that he promifed there bath not failed one word of all his good Promife, which he promáfed by the Hand of Mofes his Servant. So if a Man would but obferve the Courfe of Providence, after a little Faith and Patience, which is required of all that would inherit the Promifes, God never failed, but made good his Word to a Tittle. Objeïl. Many Temporal. Mercies are .Promifes, which Promifes are not accom plifhed. 4nfw.
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