i 24 The Prefence of the 1VIe/Jîa.c, &c. Vo1.1 his Difeafe, and make his Cafe defperate. Not but that our inward Joy may law- fully be accompanied with all outward innocent Expreffions of it : But we can- not be truly thankful, if we allow our felves at this time in any thing contrary to the Purity and Sobriety of the Gofpel. It is matter ofjuft and fad complaint, being of great fcandal to our Saviour, and his holy Religion, that fuch irregular and extravagant things are at this time commonly done bymany, who call them- felves Chriftians ; and done under a pretence of doing Honour to the Memory of Chrift's Birth; as if, becaufe the Son.of God was at this time made Man, it were fit for Men to make themfelves Beaffs. If we would honour him indeed, we muff take care that our Joy do not degene- rate into Sin and Senfuality, and that we do not exprefs it by Lewdnefs and Luxury, by Intemperance and Excefs, by prodigal Gaming, and profufe wafting of our Effaces, as the manner offame is; as if we intended literally to requite our Saviour, who being rich, for our fakes became poor. This is the way ofparting with houfes and land, and becoming poor for his fake, for which he will never thank, nor reward us. This is not to commemorate,.the Coming of our Saviour; but to contradifl it, and openly to declare that we will uphold the Works of the Devil, in defpight of the Son ofGod, who came to defray them. It is for all the World like that lewd and fenflefs piece of Loyalty, too much in fafhion fome Years ago, of being Drunk for the King. Good God ! that ever it fhould pafs for a piece of Religion among Chriftians, to run into all manner of excefs for Twelve days together, in honour of our Saviour ! A greater Aggravation of Sin cannot eafily be imagined, than to abufe the Memory of the greateft Blefling that ever was, Chr f coming into the World to take away fin, into an opportunity of committing it ; this is to reprefent the Son of God as a Patron of Sin andLicen- tioufnefs, and to treat him more contumelioufly than the yews did, who bowed the Knee to him andmocked him, and called him King and fpat upon him ; and, under a pretence of rejoycing for his Birth, to crucifte to our felves afrefh the Lord of life andglory ; and toput him to an open fhame. I will conclude all with the Apoftle's Exhortation, Rom. 13. 12, 13, 14. Let us call off the works of darknefs, itnd let us put on the Armour of Light. Let us walk decently as in the day ; not in rioting and drunkennefs, not in chamberingand wantonnefs, not in firife andenvying. But put ye on the Lord Jefus Chriß, andmake not provifion fin' theflefh, to_fulfil the lulls thereof Now to our moft gracious and merciful God, the great Friend and Lover of Souls, who regarded us in our low and loft Condition, and caft an Eye of pity uponus, when we were in our Blood, and no other Eye pityed us, and when we had loft and ruined our felves, was pleafed in tender compaffion to Mankind, to fend'his only begotten Son into the World, to feek andfaveus, and by the Purity of his Doctrine, and the Pattern of his Life, and the Sacrifice of his Death, to purchafe Eternal Life for us, and to dire& and lead us in the way to it : And to him alfo, the Bleífed Saviour and Redeemer ofMankind, who carne down from Heaven, that he might carry us thither, and took Human Nature upon him, that we thereby might be made Partakers of a Divine Nature ; and humbled him- Pelf to Death, even the Death of the Croft, that he might exalt us to Glory and Honour ; and whilft we were bitter Enemies to him, gave fuels a Demoftration ofhis Love to us, as never any Man did to his belt Friend : Unto him that fitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb that was plain, to God, even our Father, and to our Lord Jefus Chrifl, thefr/f begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings ofthe Earth, to him who bath loved us, and wafhed us from our fins in his own Blood, and bath made us kings and priefis unto God and his Father, to him be glory and honour, dominion andpower, now andfor ever. Amen. SERMON
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