The way to the highest honour a funeral sermon, on John XII, 26, preached…The way to the highest honour a funeral sermon, on John XII, 26, preach'd…

2. The Matter of their Sermons must be the Doctrine of the Gospel revealed from Heaven to reduce Men to their Duty, and restore them to Felicity. This is the Tenor of the Commission given by our Saviour to his Apostles, Go teach all Nations, to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. The preaching unrevealed or trivial things, impertinent to the Salvation and ⟨p. 23⟩Perfection of Souls, is directly contrary to the end of their Office. The wisest Method of recovering lost Sinners is to unfold the two Covenants, and represent the two Worlds to them. The first Covenant was with Man created in natural Righteousness and Holiness, but was of a short continuance: For by his rebellious Sin he made a deadly forfeiture of the Image and Favour of God, of Communion with him the Fountain of our Felicity. He is cut off from that blessed Life, and must remain in the state of Corruption and Death for ever without redeeming Mercy. 'Tis a necessary preparative for the Conversion and Recovery of Sinners, to convince them of the guilt, pollution, and dominion of Sin, and the everlasting Hell that follows it, that they may be roused out of their Security to fly from the Wrath to come. The Terrors of ⟨p. 24⟩the Lord make the first Breach into the Hearts of Men, and Grace victoriously enters, and subdues the reluctant Will. After the Conviction of Sin, 'tis seasonable to convince them of the all-sufficient Righteousness of Christ; that he is the Tree of Life, for the reviving dead Sinners, that he is Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, a universal Remedy for all the Evils that lie upon Man in his fallen State. And 'tis requisite to open the Terms upon which God offers his Mercy, the Law of Faith in the Gospel, that consists of Commands and Promises, both to check Presumption that flatters so many into Hell, and to prevent Despair that works as dangerously, though not so frequently, to the Ruin of Souls. That men may not from corrupt minds and carnal Affections misinterpret the Gospel, to live at ease in ⟨p. 25⟩their Sins, a faithful Minister must show them, that the Promises of Pardon and Salvation are made only to a certain order of Sinners, the repenting and reforming Sinners, that rely upon Christ alone for their acceptance; that he is a King as well as a Priest, and none can regularly depend upon his Sacrifice without Subjection to his Sceptre: