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SER M. and unconftant, yielding no folid and abid-
XII. ing pleasure. Friendship founded in wif-

dom, and improved to the purposes of vir-
tue, carrieth in it the beft fentiments and
affections, and the trueft and highest plea-
fures that the human nature is capable of,
and which will laft to the utmoft duration
of our beings, even to perpetuity. If then
we be fenfible of our own frailty, and our
danger of declining from the right way,
fhould we not avoid the intimacies which
may betray our integrity, and expose us to
many temptations; and, on the contrary,
chufe those which may be the means of
correcting bad difpofitions, and strengthen-
ing good ones, and by which we may rea-
fonably hope for daily good instructions,
and an example to be fet before us, which
fhall tend to our furtherance in
every chri-
ftian virtue?

SER

SERMON XIII.

The FOUNDATION of CONFIDENCE towards GOD, explained.

I JOHN III. 19, 20, 21.

And bereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall affure our hearts before him. For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then bave we confidence towards God.

OTH

N

OTHING can poffibly be of greater SERM. importance to men, than to know XIII. how they may obtain the divine approbation, and upon what grounds they may hope for it; confequences of the last moment to our happiness or mifery depend upon it; if God juftifieth, who is he that condemneth? There is no fuperior tribunal to reverse his decrees, nothing to be dreaded from any adverfe power; power; if he condemneth there is no defence against his wrath, and who knoweth its power? It can reach to the

whole

SERM. whole of our being, and to a length of duXIII. ration beyond what the jealous felf-con

demning mind can imagine. Now, seeing God, as the governor of mankind, hath given them a law (he was written it in their hearts, and at fundry times, and in divers manners revealed his will to them) we justly infer from his moral perfections, that he will judge them according to that law, rewarding the obedient, and punishing the disobedient. But the question is, whether there be any rule whereby we may judge beforehand what fentence we are to expect? And if there be any fuch rule, and a poffibility of arriving at certainty in this judgment concerning ourselves, here is the proper fubject of our most folicitous inquiry. Who would not employ all the powers of his mind in a matter of fuch concernment, postponing all other affairs as trifles in comparifon? Who would not apply himself with the greatest earneftnefs to the trial of this one point, if it is to be known, what fentence he is to expect from the righteous and moft awful tribunal of God, and upon what terms he is with the judge of the world? What inward confidence and fecurity of mind, what comfortable enjoyment even of his prefent existence muit the man poffefs,

whe

who hath the folid hope of being acquitted SERM. XIII. by his fupreme ruler, perfectly wife, powerful, and juft, in whofe favour is life? On the contrary, what horror, trembling, and confufion, must seize the heart which is even fufpicious of being difapproved by him, and hath the foreboding apprehenfions of a future condemnation ?

The apoftle hath preremptorily determined this matter in my text, fhewing us upon what grounds we may affure our hearts before God, as he fpeaketh, that is, fatiffy ourselves that we are entitled to his acceptance, as knowing that we are of the truth, or have fulfilled the obligations to obedience we are under, according to the true intent and meaning of his law: and then he explaineth himself more fully by laying down this general doctrine, that the teftimony of our own confciences is the only just measure of our expectations from God; if they condemn us, as wilfully and wickedly tranfgreffing his law, and coming short of that duty which he requireth, we have nothing to look for but his displeasure; for he is greater than our hearts, which are immediately subject to his judgment, more impartial than they; and he knoweth all things, all the fecret infincerity which is in

them,

SERM. them, and every aggravating circumstance XIII. which atendeth our offences. On the other

hand, if our hearts do not condemn, but acquit us, then we have confidence towards God; we may enjoy inward ferenity, and can look to the fuperior divine tribunal without terror; we are perfuaded that the services we now perform are acceptable to him, which feemeth to be the apostle's immediate defign, for he addeth, ver. 22. and whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleafing to him; not that he will grant us every thing we defire, which may not be beft for us; but that he will accept our dutiful addreffes, and bestow those bleffings, which his infinite wisdom feeth fitteft for us; and upon the fame foundation, we shall have boldnefs in the day of judgment, as this facred writer elsewhere fpeaketh, we fhall not be afraid of Chrift's coming, in the glory of his Father, to pro nounce the laft decifive fentence, which shall finally determine the condition of every man. It is true, the preceding context relateth particularly to charity, which St. John, after the example of his great mafter, earneftly recommendeth in all his writings; he layeth a mighty ftrefs on the love of the

brethren;

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