Sermons preached

1. From their Drift, which is, to draw us from the Creature to God, and the World to Heaven; to mortify the Esteem of the false Happiness which tainteth and corrupteth our Natures, and to raise us to those noble Objects and Ends, which dignify and adorn the Soul, and make it in a sort Divine. It breedeth an excellent Spirit in us, which is carried above the World, and the Hopes and Fears of it. 1 Cor. 2. 12. Alas! what a mean Spirit have they, that drive no higher ⟨p. 79⟩Trade than providing for the Flesh, or accommodating a Life which must shortly expire? Like foolish Birds, who with great art and contrivance feather a Nest, which within a little while they leave. But how Divine and God-like are they, who look to higher things, to please God, enjoy Communion with him, and live with him for ever?

2. The Matter of the Promises. Many of which concern the Change of our Hearts, the Cleansing or Healing of our Natures. Heb. 8. 10. I will put my Laws in their Minds, and write them in their Hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a People. Ezek. 36. 25, 26. Then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your Filthiness, and from all your Idols will I cleanse you. A new Heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh, and I will give you a Heart of Flesh. Jer. 33. 8. And I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity. All which are Encouragements of Prayer to God for this Benefit. If God doth not exclude us, we should not exclude our selves.