SERMON XLVII. 69 ape longer be f' subject to a bondage of spirit through fear of death, for death is conquered by the Son of God ; life and im- mortality brought to light by the gospel, and God hath notgiven us the spirit vl bondage, and terror under the Christian dispensa- tion ; but the spirit of courage, and faith, and love, and jolt unspeakable ;" 2 Tim. L 7 -10. For ever blessed be the Lord, who bath eálled us to be christians. III. " Do we enjoy the privilege of knowing this better covenant, and shall any of us content ourselves without a certain interest inthe blessings of it ?" Do we hear of these better pro- mises, and shall we be satisfied without a this to them ? Shall we belong to that wretched tribe of despisers, whobehold this great salvation, and wonder, and perish? Acts xiii. 41. What double anguish will seize our consciences, when the Judge shall pronounce at the last day, Go ye cursed into endless misery; ye bad all the glories and joys of heaven brought nearest of all to you in this better covenant, and offered to you in these better pro- mises, and yet ye refused to accept them. IV. " If we christians liveunder abettercovenant, and en- joy better promises, we must needs reproach ourselves if we find ourfaith and obedience fall below that of the Jews." Havewe nobler assistance in our holy race to heaven, and yet shall we move on slower than they, and lag behind them ? llave we brighter encouragements, and yet shall our zeal be colder? Are pur"duties set before us in a far clearer light, and shall our obe- dience be more defective? Does divine mercy reign in the pro- mises of the gospel with superior glory, and shall our faith in these promises be more feeble and wavering? O let us set the pattern of Abraham and David, and other ancient saints before us, and shame ourselves out of thisearthiness of spirit, our lazy humour, our cold affection to divine things, and our languishing hope of immortality. Let the name, andpattern, and Spirit of the blessed Jesus inspire us with new vigour to follow him, who is the Mediator of this new and better covenant, till he shall have brought us to the accomplishmentof all these better promi- .ses. Omen. 8`
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