303 SERMON XLIV. The Second Sermon on Air Text. The Nature and Influence of the Promifes of the Gofpel. 2 PETER I. Q.. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Pro mifes ; that by thefe ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature. IMade entranceinto thefe words thelaft Day, in the handling whereof I pro- pofed to do thefe two things. Firfi, To confider the Promifes here fpoken of ; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great andprecious Promifer. Secondly, The Influence which thefe Promifes ought to have upon us; thatby thefeye might be partakers of a Divine Nature. The fzrft of thefe I have done with, and proceed now to the Second, viz. The Influence which thefe Promifes ought to have upon us ; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promifes, that by thefe ye might be partakers ofa Divine Nature. Not that we can partake of the Efence and Nature ofGod, as fome have blafphemoufly affirmed, pretending, in their can- ting and fenfelefs Language, to be Gaddedwith God, and Chrifled with Chrift. In th's fcnfe it is impoffible for us topartake ofthe Divine Nature; for this would be for Men to become Gods, and to be advanced to the Stateand Perfection of the Deity. But the word 05; doth frequently in Scripture lignifie a temper and difpo- frtion ; and to be partakers of a Divine Nature, is to be of a Divine Temper and Difpofition, to have our Corrupt Natures re&iled and purged from all fin ful Lulls, and irregular Pallions, and from all Vicious and Corrupt Affeítions ; and there- fore it follows in the Text, having elcaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lufl ; and betides this, giving all diligence, add to your Faith Virtue, and to Virtue Knowledge, and to Knowledge Temperance, and to Temperance Patience, and to Patience Godlinefr, and to Godlinefs Brotherly-kindnefs, and to Brotherly- kindne,fs Charity. So that we are made partakers of a Divine Nature, as the Apoftle here explains it, thefe two ways; by cleanfing our (elves from the Exits of the Flefh, which the Apoftle here calls the corruption or defilement which is in the World through Lufl ; and by adiligent endeavour after all Chriftian Graces, and Virtues, Faith, and Temperance, and Patience, a fincere love of the Brethren, and an univerfal Charity and good -will towards all Men. And that this is the proper influence and efficacy of the great Promifes ofthe Gofpel upon the hearts and lives ofMen, the Apoftle St. Paul fully declares to us, 2 Cor. ry. I. Having therefore theft Promifes, Dearly Beloved, let uscleanfe our felver from allfilthinefr of the Flefh, and Spirit; that is, from the lulls of the Flefh, and of uncleannefs, and from all evil and corrupt affeftions of the Mind, fuch as Wrath, Envy, Malice, Hatred, Strife, Revenge, Cruelty, Pride, and the like; perfeciing bonnets. in thefear of God ; that is, continually afpiring fill more and more after further degrees ofHolinefs, and Virtue, and Goodnefs, which are the great Perfe&ionsof the Divine Nature. And thus by a confiant and fincere en- deavour to cleanfe ourfelves from all impurity of Fief, and Spirit, and bypralli/ing all the Virtues of a good Life, we (hall by degrees raife and advance our felves to
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