Sermons preached

The main design of them is to represent the inseparable connection between Christian Duties and Privileges, wherein the Essence of our Religion consists. The Gospel is not a naked unconditionate offer of Pardon and Eternal Life in favour of Sinners, but upon most convenient terms, for the Glory of God and the good of Men, and enforced by the strongest obligations upon them, to receive humbly and thankfully those Benefits. The Promises are attended with Commands, to Repent, Believe, and persevere in the uniform practice of Obedience. The Son of God came into the World, not to make God less holy, but to make us holy, that we might please and enjoy him: not to vacate our Duty, and free us from the Law as the Rule of Obedience, for that is both impossible, and would be most infamous and reproachful to our Saviour. To challenge such an exemption in point of right, is to make our selves Gods; to usurp it in point of fact, is to make our selves Devils. But his end was to enable and induce us to return to God, as our rightful Lord, and proper Felicity, from whom we rebelliously and miserably fell by our disobedience, in seeking for Happiness out of him. Accordingly the Gospel is called the Law of Faith, as it commands those Duties upon the Motives of eternal Hopes and Fears, and as it will justify or condemn Men with respect to their Obedience or Disobedience, which is the proper Character of a Law. These things are managed in the following Sermons in that convincing persuasive manner, as makes them very necessary for these times, when some that ⟨image 3⟩aspired to an extraordinary height in Religion, and esteemed themselves the Favourites of Heaven, yet woefully neglected the duties of the lower Hemisphere, as Righteousness, Truth, and Honesty, and when carnal Christians are so numerous, that despise serious Godliness, as solemn Hypocrisy, and live in an open violation of Christ's Precepts, yet presume to be saved by him. Though no Age has been more enlightened with the knowledge of holy Truths, yet none was ever more averse from obeying them.

The main design of them is to represent the inseparable connexion between Christian Duties and Priviledges, wherein the Essence of our Religion consists. The Gospel is not a naked unconditionate offer of Pardon and Eternal Life in favour of Sinners, but upon most convenient terms, for the Glory of God and the good of Men, and enforc'd by the strongest obligations upon them, to receive humbly and thankfully those Benefits. The Promises are attended with Commands, to Repent, Believe, and persevere in the uniform practice of Obedience. The Son of God came into the World, not to make God less holy, but to make us holy, that we might please and enjoy him: not to vacate our Duty, and free us from the Law as the Rule of Obedience, for that is both impossible, and would be most infamous and reproachful to our Saviour. To challenge such an exemption in point of right, is to make our selves Gods; to usurp it in point of fact, is to make our selves Devils. But his end was to enable and induce us to return to God, as our rightful Lord, and proper Felicity, from whom we rebelliously and miserably fell by our disobedience, in seeking for Happiness out of him. Accordingly the Gospel is called the Law of Faith, as it commands those Duties upon the Motives of eternal Hopes and Fears, and as it will justifie or condemn Men with respect to their Obedience or Disobedience, which is the proper Character of a Law. These things are managed in the following Sermons in that convincing perswasive manner, as makes them very necessary for these times, when some that