297 SER \ XLIIL The r /t .Sermon alcir Tezt., The Nature and Influence of the Promifes of the Gofpel. 2 PETER I. 4. Thereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious mifes that by thefe ye might be partal(ers of the Divine Nature. TH E Connexion ofthefe words with the former is fomewhat obf use, but it Teems to-be this. The Apoftle had in the Verfe before faid, that the Divine Poorer ofChrifl bath by the knowledge ofthe .GoGofpel given us all things that pertain to Life andGodlinefr 5 that is, by the knowledge of the Gofpel we are furnifh'd with all Advantages which conduce to make Men happy in the next Life, and Religious in this 5 and then it follows, whereby are given unto us ex- ceeding great and precious Promifes. tyhereby 5 this feems to refer to the whole of the foregoing Verfe 5 as if it had been laid, " Chrift by the Gofpel hath gi- " ven to us all things that conduce to ourFuture Happinefs ; and in, order there- " to, all things whichtend tomake Men holy and good. Or elfe Life and God- linef are, by a Hebraifm frequent in the New Teftament, put for a Godly Life. And then among all thofe things which conduce to a Godly Life, the Apoftle in- ftanceth in the Promifes of the Gofpel, which do fo direâly tend to make Men Partakers ofa Divine Nature. In the handling of thefe words, I (hall, Firfi Confider the Promifes here fpoken of 5 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and;precious Promifes. Secondly, TheInfluence which thefe Promifes ought to have uponus; that by thefe ye might be made Partakers of a Divine Nature. Firfi, We will confider the Promifes which are here fpoken of 5 whereby are gi- ven unto us exceeding great andprecious Promifes. And becaufe the chief Promifes of the Gofpel are here intended, I (hall take occafion from this Text to handle the Dot-trine of the Promifes, which is frequently difcours'd of in Divinity, but not always fo clearly frated. And to this Purpofe, it will be proper to take into confideration thefe four Things. I. What the Promifes are which are here fpoken of; whereby are given unto us Promifes. II. Why they are Paid to be fo great and precious 5 exceeding great and precious Promifes: III. We will confider the Tenour of thefe Promifes. IV. When Men are laid to have a right to them, fo as they may apply them to themfelves. Thefe four Heads will comprehend what I have to fay upon this Argument. I. What the Promifes are which the Apoftle here (peaks of; whereby aregiven unto us Promifes. And, no doubt, the Apoftle here intends thofe great and ex-. cellent Promifes which Chrift bath made to us in the Gofpel. So that to fatisfy our felves in this Enquiry, we need only to confider what are the Principle Pro- miles of the Gofpel. Now the great Promifes of the Gofpel are thefe three. is The Promife of the free Pardon and Forgivenefs of our Sins, upon our Faith and Repentance. Qq Q. The
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