be saved, but no man will draw nigh to God. The scripture informeth us, that if we desire salvation, we must attend to the means which God hath appointed; that is, we must receive his word with obedience and faith.

The scripture saith, this is everlasting life; to wit, to know God the Father, and to receive Christ as our only Saviour. Therefore let us learn, as it is here set forth, not to doubt of the certainty of our salvation; for the kingdom of God is within us. If we wish God to receive us, we must receive the doctrine given us by St. Paul. How are we called to the hope of salvation? By the influence of the grace of God, which maketh known to us his love and favour. Thus we may see what St. Paul's meaning is, when he saith, God will have his grace made known to all the world, and his gospel preached to all creatures. Therefore, we must endeavour, as much as possible, to persuade those who are strangers to the faith, and seem to be utterly deprived of the goodness of God, to accept of salvation.

Jesus Christ is not only a Saviour of few, but he offereth himself to all. As often as the gospel is preached to us, we ought to consider that God calleth us to him; and if we attend to this call, it shall not be in vain, neither shall it be lost labour. But can we come to him without any assistance, except what we derive from our own nature? Alas, we cannot! "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans viii. 7. When God dealeth so graciously with us, as to touch our hearts with his holy spirit, then he causeth his gospel to work profitably to our salvation; then he maketh a display of the virtue spoken of by St. Paul.

Again, we must remember when the gospel is preached to us, that it is to make us more void of

excuse. Seeing God hath already shown us that he was ready to receive us to mercy, if we would come unto him, our condemnation will no doubt be increased, if we be so wicked as to draw back, when he calleth so mildly and lovingly. Notwithstanding, (as we are here exhorted,) let us not leave off praying for all men in general; for St. Paul showeth that God will have all men to be saved; that is to say, men of all people and nations.

Although we see a great diversity among men, yet we must not forget that God hath made us all in his own image and likeness, and that we are the workmanship of his hand: therefore he extends his goodness to those who are afar off, of which we have had sufficient proof: for when he drew us unto him, were we not his enemies? How then cometh it to pass that we are now of the household of faith, the children of God, and members of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is it not because he hath gathered us to himself? And is he not the Saviour of the whole world, as well as of us? Did Jesus Christ come to be the mediator of two or three men only? No, no; but he is the mediator between God and men.

Therefore, we may be so much the more assured that God taketh and holdeth us for his children, if we endeavour to bring those to him who are afar off. Let us comfort ourselves, and take courage in this our calling although there be at this day a great forlornness, though we seem to be miserable creatures, utterly cast away and condemned, yet we must labour as much as possible, to draw those to salvation who seem to be afar off. And above all things, let us pray to God for them, waiting patiently till it please him to show his good will toward them, as he hath shown it to us.

SERMON VIII.

1 TIMOTHY, Chap. iii. verses 14 and 15.

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

WE see what holiness and perfection St. Paul required in all those that had any public charge in the church of God: we see also how he concluded that those who behaved themselves well and faithfully in office, "purchased to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ." When there is good order in the church, and the children of God do their duty faithfully, it is an honour to them; and men think them worthy of reverence. This is not to puff them up, and make them proud, but that they may be more and more enabled to serve God; and that men may more willingly hear them, and receive counsel and advice from them: this is the meaning of St. Paul.

Those that do not their duty as they ought, have their mouths stopped; they can do nothing with the people, but are worthily mocked: although they are bold, yet they have no gravity; therefore their doctrine cannot be received. Those that are called to fill offices in the church of God, must strive so much the more to do well; and endeavour to serve God, and the people of God, faithfully. But now-a-days, the wicked seem to bear the sway; before whom, the world, as it were, trembles.

Thus we see that things are much out of order among us. Where is our liberty at the present day? Not in the faith, but in all wickedness; among those that are hardened and past all shame. We see good men oppressed, who dare not speak in their own de

fence. If a man reprove sin, and go about to redress matters, and set them in order, he is beset on all sides by the wicked. We see not many that trouble themselves to maintain a good cause, for every man betrayeth the truth. We suffer things to go as evil as they can; these are the days spoken of by the prophet Isaiah; righteousness and justice are hunted out from among us; and there is no man that hath zeal enough to set himself against wickedness. It may well seem that we have conspired to foster wickedness, and bring it to full maturity.

The wrath of God is kindled against us; all things are out of order. Those that walk as becometh christians, and labour to serve God purely, are marked out as enemies; and men seek to trample them under foot. On the other hand, we see the wicked do what they list; they act as wild beasts yet men stand in fear of them; and this liberty that is given them, maketh them the more hardened. When we see such disorder, have we not reason to sigh and be ashamed of ourselves, knowing that God doth not rule at all among us, but that the devil hath full possession? Shall we boast that we have the gospel? It is true, his word is preached among us, but do we not see that it is contemned, and that men make a mock of it? But let them flatter themselves in hardening their hearts against God; yet notwithstanding, this doctrine will continue, and will be preached for a witness against us in the latter day, unless the Lord come speedily and reform us.

St. Paul writeth these things to Timothy, that if he tarry long, before he come, he may know how to behave himself in the house of God. Here St. Paul exhorteth Timothy, and in his person all the faithful, to walk warily and carefully in conformity to the spiritual government of the church. For the house of God, if he dwell therein, is the upholder of the

truth. Therefore it is no trifling matter to be called of the Lord, to serve him in the office spoken of by St. Paul. We must beware and fail not, seeing God bestoweth upon us the honour of governing his house: yea, that house wherein he hath his abode, and will make known his majesty which is, as it were, a closet where his truth is kept, that it may be maintained and preserved in the world. If the matter stand thus, have not those whom God hath thus honoured, great occasion to be watchful, and to endeavour to execute the charge committed to them? Thus we see St. Paul's meaning.

But before we go any farther, it will be necessary to put aside the impudency of the papists, who abuse this text, in order to establish their own tyranny. For if they can once set up the church of God, they think they have won the field. But they should first prove that theirs is the church of God; which is so difficult a matter for them to do, that the contrary is evident. And why so? Because St. Paul saith, the church is the house of God. They have driven our Lord Jesus Christ out of doors, so that he reigneth no more among them as ruler, whereto he was appointed by the Father; who requireth that we should do him homage, submitting ourselves wholly to his doctrine.

Do the papists suffer Jesus Christ to govern them purely and peaceably? Nay, I am sure they do not. They coin and stamp whatever they think proper and whatsoever they decree, is taken for articles of belief. They mingle and confound the doctrine of the gospel, with notions devised by themselves so that we may easily see, it is not God's house: otherwise Jesus Christ would not be banished therefrom. Moreover, St. Paul addeth, the church must uphold the truth. But we see in these times, that it is oppressed by the tyranny of the pope ; where there remaineth nothing but lies, errours, cor