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SER M. the only just ground upon which they can XIV. have hope towards him.

2dly, It is to be regretted that some arti cles of christianity itself have been perverted to purposes contrary to their true defign, particularly contrary to the doctrine of this text; especially what the gospel hath taught concerning the mediation of Chrift, his facrifice, and our juftification by faith in him, hath been fo mifapplied. It is the principle of the Antinomians, that chriftians are fo only justified by faith in his imputed righteoufnefs, that they are discharged from all obligation to obey the divine moral precepts, as neceffary to their acceptance with God. This opinion hath by fome been carried into practice, who thereupon have abandoned themselves to licentious immorality with confidence; though, indeed, good men, who have contended for it in fpeculation, have, through the ftrength of their virtuous affections, escaped its pernicious influence. But many there are who, without examining carefully the principle, place their hope towards God on the merits of Jefus Chrift, while their hearts condemn them; at least, if they confidered, would.condemn them for wilful tranfgreffion unrepented of and unreformed. If any such doctrine were taught

in

in the New Testament, it would be a strong SER M. prejudice against it; for what man, atten- XIV. tively confidering the conftitution of his own mind, will believe that there is, or can be, any just ground of hope towards God, while his heart doth not acquit him of hypocrify and iniquity? or who that understandeth and is perfuaded of the divine moral attributes, without which religion is loft, both natural and revealed, can think that God would require men to receive a principle which directly tendeth to overturn the obligations of morality, which our Saviour exprefily disowneth, for he, near the beginning of his ministry, telleth a great affembly, that He came not to deftroy the law, but to fulfil it. But that this is not the doctrine of the facred writers, my text is a plain proof, and fo are many other of their declarations. Muft not every one who dealeth fairly by the gospel, and confidereth it impartially, be convinced that the defign of it is what St. Paul faith it is, namely, to teach us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteously, and godly, in this prefent world; and upon that foundation only look with confidence for the blessed hope. Is not the favour of God conftantly promised to the virtuous and good, and his wrath

SERM. wrath denounced against the impiety and XIV. unrighteoufnefs of men? It is true that, in

the gofpel, great virtue is attributed to the blood of Chrift, it cleanfeth us from all fin, it purgeth our confciences from dead works to ferve the living God; and by it God hath reconciled the world to himfelf, not imputing their trefpales: But all this is not intended to fuperfede the neceffity of repentance and new fincere obedience; for the fins which we truly forfake, bringing forth fruits meet for amendment of life, and unallowed infirmities, we have the higheft affurance that they shall not be imputed; and the mercy of God, manifested in the death of Chrift, is the great confirmation of our hopes: But to carry our confidence further, and to expect the forgiveness of the fins in which we obftinately perfift, becaufe he died for us, and gave full fatisfaction for our offences, is to make him the minifter of fin.

I conclude with an exhortation, always to preserve a facred regard to confcience: Seeing its approbation is of fo vaft moment, the only ground upon which we can affure our hearts before God, we should pay a submisfive refpect to its dictates, and maintain its rights inviolable, for they are the rights of its great and fole Lord. We fhould always

hear

hear its voice against any thing that may SERM come in competition with it, whether the XIV. perfuafion or authority of men, or our own paffions, worldly interefts, and fselfish affections: If we do not follow its direction in our conduct, we cannot hope for its approving testimony upon a review of it. It is true you will be even in this method liable to mistakes, and fo you will in every method you can take, for infallibility is not the privilege of the human understanding; but always study fincerity, that is, be diligent and unprejudiced in your inquiry, that you may know your duty, and impartially follow the best judgment you can make. This will supply the want of infallibility to the purpose of our acceptance with that equitable judge, who hath himself so framed our nat ture, that it is the very best way we can act.

The doctrines of the gofpel concerning the free Grace of God and the death of Christ, may then be improved to our confolation; we have entrance with boldness into the divine prefence by the blood of Jefus, if we draw near with a true heart, in the affurance of faith, having our hearts Sprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed with pure water, Heb. x. 22.

VOL. III.

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SERMON XV.

Walking by FAITH, not by SIGHT, explained and recommended.

SERM.
XV.

2 CORINTHIANS V. 7.

For we walk by faith not by fight.

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HERE is nothing more becoming fuch reasonable creatures as we are, than upon mature deliberation to fix fome certain principle as a general rule whereby to govern our lives, and conftantly to adhere to it. The least attention to what paffeth in our own minds, will convince us that there are various fprings of action in them; we have affections, appetites, and paffions, of different tendencies, and which determine us to the pursuit of different objects, as much fo as heaven and earth, as fpirit and body, as the improvement of knowledge and the gratification of sense, as the mental pleasures which arife from moral good, and the low enjoyments which are common to men and brutes. But every

man,

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