rrierfci;. of life, which fitsme for the hour of death, and makes nie ready and desi- rous to appear before Christ Jesus my Lord." If the publication of these discourses shall be so happy, as through the-influence of the Blessed Spirit to attain these ends, I have obtainedsn best aisTand hope, and will ascribe the glory to God my Saviour. The first sermons which I published* were takeh up chiefly in themore spiritual parts of our religion, and such as relate more immediately to the secret transactions of thesoul with God, and with his Son. Jesus Christ. In several following discourses, I have attempted to explain many duties of the clwistian life which refer to our fellow-creatures. I hope no man who loves thegospel of Christ, will knit his brow and throw disgrace upon the book, with a contempt of dull morality If such a person would give himself leave toperuse these sermons,: perhaps he would meet with,so much of Christ and the gospel in them, that he might learn to love his Saviour better than ever he did, and Mal hownecessary moral duties are to make his own religion either safe or honourable: While we are savedby¡eitla in the blood and righ- teousness of the Sonof God, we must rememberalso, that it is such afaith as rvorketh by love, forfaith without works is dead, and useless to allpurposes of hope and salvation, My design inthese sermons is to represent tine and virtue in their proper colours. I foresee that many readers will quickly spy out their neighbours' names amongst the vicious or unlovely characters; butit would turn perhaps to their better account, if they call find their own : for there is many a des- cription here that a hundred persons may lay a righteous claim to. It was my business to set a faithful glass before the face of conscience, by which we may examine ourselves, and learn what manner of persons we are; and I pray God to keep it daily before my own eyes. I acknowledge my defects, and stand corrected in many of my own sermons: Blessed be God for a Mediator who is exalted to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. .. Yet it maynot be On improper orunsuccessful methodof reproof tofold down a useful leaf now and thenfor a friend, and give him notice in such On inoffensive manner of any blemishes that may belong to his character. Thùs the silent page shall bestow upon him the richest benefit of friendship; it may whisper in his ear a secret word ofadmonition, and convey it to his con- science without offence. Such a gentle monitor may awaken him to inward shame and penitence; may rouse his virtue to shine brighter than ever, mad scatter the clouds that hung dark upon the evidence of his graces. Since I first published these discourses}, the world has been furnish- ed with a more complete account of most of these subjects, in that excel- lent treatisecalled the " ChristianTemper," which my worthy friend Doctor Evans hath sent abroad, and which is, perhaps, the most complete sum- , many of those duties which make up the christian life, that bath been published inour age. The next threesermons are employed on that divine subject, which I am ready to call the chief wonder and glory of the christian religion, that is, " the great atonement for sin madeby the death of Christ, and the practical at 21st February, 1720-21. t 25th March, 1723.
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