they do not forfeit it by their own mifbeha- SER M. viour: The title of children leadeth us to XIV. reflect on the character of the fathers, which if it be honourable, deriveth refpect unto the offspring. The apoftle then had reafon to fay, behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the fons of God! 1 John iii. 1. What wonderful condefcenfion on his part, what a high advancement and dignity to us? It is a title of love, and naturally directeth us to the expectation of favour. A kind and gracious father will furely provide for his houfhold, he hath them under his protection, and suitably to his own condition will give them an inheritance. This is what the fcripture often teacheth us concerning God's children, he keepeth them in fafety, watcheth over them with the tendereft care, he instructeth them, parcicularly, in their duty to himself, and giveth them confidence in drawing near to him; for because ye are fons, faith the apostle, Gal. iv. 6. God hath fent forth the fpirit of his fon into your hearts, crying abba father; and he hath referved for them a future glorious inheritance; for if we are children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift, Rom. viii. 17. The inheritance is according to the glory of the VOL. IV. Dd Fa SERM. Father, who being the univerfal king, the XIV. fupreme proprietor and Lord of all, hath prepared even for his adopted fons a king . dom, a crown of life, of righteousness and glory; an inheritance, as St. Peter 1 epift. i. 4. defcribeth it, uncorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Nay, in St. John's vifion, Rev. xxi. 7. It is faid, concerning every fincere chriftian, him that overcometh, that is, who against all temptations perfevereth ftedfaftly in his duty, that he fhall inherit all things, for, faith the Lord, I will be his Father, and he fall be my fon. 6 And, now, my brethren, I think this argument very ftrongly enforceth a peaceable difpofition. Strifes and debates disturbing fociety for the most part proceed from false notions of honour; Solomon telleth us, only from pride cometh contention; but if we seek the honour that is from God, the way to obtain it, is making and promoting peace as far as it is in our power; for then are we dignified with the character of his children, and may hope for the felicity and glory which is annexed to that honourable relation. Even in the ordinary affairs of life, we should be very careful to avoid quarrels, which marr the comfort of fociety, and weaken its force, and especially very much obstruct christian edifica edification. St. Paul cenfureth the Corin- SERM• thians, for a litigious fpirit, which appeared XIV. in their going to law about fmall matters. It is true this offenfive circumftance attended their difputes of that fort, that they were before heathen magiftrates, whereby reproach was brought on their religious profeffion; but ftill a wrangling temper is condemned by the reasons he giveth; and this question he putteth will always, to a candid mind, appear to have great force of reafon in it, why do you not fuffer yourselves to be defrauded, rather than that brother should go to law against brother, at least for matters of little moment? And the expedient he propofeth must be owned a reasonable one, that chriftians fhould choofe arbitrators among themselves to compose their differences, rather than implead one another before the publick judges. There are other methods of contention, yet more fcandalous, than even the unneceffary legal ones, fuch as the fame apoftle hath men tioned, 2 Cor. xii. 20. debates, envyings, wraths, ftrifes, backbitings, whisperings, fwellings, tumults: These are the bane of society and of peace. But above all to break peace under the pretence of zeal for religion, is most inexcufable; this was the fault of the Jewish zealots, for which St. James feverely Dd 2 re SERM. reproveth them, and warneth others against XIV. it, the 3d chapter of his epiftle, ver. 14. if ye have bitter envying and ftrife in your hearts, glory not in it, as if it were wife and good, and lie not against the truth, pretending it is for the truth, when really you are acting against it. And then he defcribeth, in the 15th and 17th verfes, two oppofite kinds of wisdom, the former not from above, is earthly, fenfual, devilish; which laft character feemeth to relate to ftrife, and the great fpring of it, pride, which are the genius of Satan. The other, which is from above, is pure, peaceable, gentle, and eafy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, aud without hypocrify; worthy to be the gift of the Father of lights, and by which men are prepared to fow the fruits of righteoufness in peace, and to make peace, thereby becoming the children of God; happy, therefore, in a moft honourable state, and a claim to the most valuable privileges. SER SERMON XV. A CONVERSATION becoming the PHILLIP. I. 27. Only let your converfation be as it becometh the gospel of Chrift. ST T. Paul had a very folicitous, or, as SERM. himself faith in his epiftle concerning XV. another with great commendation, a natural care for the christians at Phillipi; there was nothing he had more at heart than that their fouls fhould profper; he gave thanks to God upon every remembrance of them, and in his prayers made request for them with joy; nay, so fervent was his affection, that though he had a defire to depart, and be with Christ, which he knew was far better for himself, yet to be useful to them, and other christians, for their furtherance and joy of faith, was the fingle confideration that reconciled him to an abode in the flesh. In the mean time being unwillingly detained from miniftring perfonally Dd3 |