A Morality without the Gospel of CHRIST, is all that is to be found in their Sermons: Nothing higher than what is to be met withal in a Cicero, a Seneca, an Epictetus, or a Plutarch, is to be found in their Sermons. Nomen CHRISTI non est ibi! Nay, They count it a Disparagement unto their Sermons, to have the Name of CHRIST often mentioned in them. How unlike are such, unto that Servant of the Lord, who has the Name of CHRIST, no less than Ten Times in the Ten first Verses of his first Epistle to the Corinthians? CHRIST! How Copious the Subject! How Sublime! There is matter enough in it for your Meditation all the Days of your Lives. Do not Neglect by any means to Preach on the Glories, the Person, the Offices, the Actions, and the Benefits of CHRIST; and the Interest which He indeed has in Every Article ⟨p. 177⟩of our Holy Religion. Know the Truth as it is in JESUS! Wherefore,
Thirdly, Have an Eye still on a CHRIST, even when you are Preaching on other Subjects. We may not think, that if a Man Preaches on Subjects wherein CHRIST is not Immediately referred unto, CHRIST & the Gospel is not Preached in them: But This I will say unto you. Other Subjects are to be Preached on; and yet still in all, a CHRIST is to be Repaired unto. The Evil of Sin is to be Preached upon; The Misery of Man fallen by Sin, is to be Preached upon. But it must be to Lead the Hearers unto the CHRIST, who is the Mighty and Only SAVIOUR of Sinners. The Moral Law is to be Preached upon as the Rule of our Obedience to GOD. The Duties of Piety, and Equity, and Charity are to be Preached upon. But the Example of a CHRIST Observing the Law, and a Manuduction to Him for our Assistance and Acceptance in all we do, is always to Accompany it. Remember, The Life of your Preaching will be according to what there is of a CHRIST, who is, The Life, shining in it.
If you do thus Glorify CHRIST, GOD even His Eternal FATHER, will take it kindly from you. For there is nothing so Dear to HIM, as that Son of His Love. His CHRIST is Dearer to Him than all the Men on Earth; Dearer to Him than all the Angles in Heaven; Dearer to Him, than all the Worlds, which are the Works of His Hands; yea, tis for HIM that ⟨p. 178⟩He has made them all. He Delights exceedingly to see His CHRIST Glorified; and if this be what your Hearts are set upon, He will Reward you Wonderfully! You will have this Glorious Reward among the rest;
A Morality without the Gospel of CHRIST, is all that is to be found in their Sermons: Nothing higher than what is to be mett withal in a Cicero, a Seneca, an Epictetus, or a Plutarch, is to be found in their Sermons. Nomen CHRISTI non est ibi! Nay, They count it a Disparagement unto their Sermons, to have the Name of CHRIST often mention'd in them. How unlike are such, unto that Servant of the Lord, who has the Name of CHRIST, no less than Ten Times in the Ten first Verses of his first Epistle to the Corinthians? CHRIST! How Copious the Subject! How Sublime! There is matter enough in it for your Meditation all the Days of your Lives. Do not Neglect by any means to Preach on the Glories, the Person, the Offices, the Actions, and the Benefits of CHRIST; and the Interest which He indeed has in Every Article ⟨p. 177⟩of our Holy Religion. Know the Truth as it is in JESUS! Wherefore,
Thirdly, Have an Eye still on a CHRIST, even when you are Preaching on other Subjects. We may not think, that if a Man Preaches on Subjects wherein CHRIST is not Immediately referr'd unto, CHRIST & the Gospel is not Preached in them: But This I will say unto you. Other Subjects are to be Preached on; and yet still in all, a CHRIST is to be Repaired unto. The Evil of Sin is to be Preached upon; The Misery of Man fallen by Sin, is to be Preached upon. But it must be to Lead the Hearers unto the CHRIST, who is the Mighty and Only SAVIOUR of Sinners. The Moral Law is to be Preached upon as the Rule of our Obedience to GOD. The Duties of Piety, and Equity, and Charity are to be Preached upon. But the Example of a CHRIST Observing the Law, and a Manuduction to Him for our Assistence and Acceptance in all we do, is always to Accompany it. Remember, The Life of your Preaching will be according to what there is of a CHRIST, who is, The Life, shining in it.
If you do thus Glorify CHRIST, GOD even His Eternal FATHER, will take it kindly from you. For there is nothing so Dear to HIM, as that Son of His Love. His CHRIST is Dearer to Him than all the Men on Earth; Dearer to Him than all the Angles in Heaven; Dearer to Him, than all the Worlds, which are the Works of His Hands; yea, tis for HIM that ⟨p. 178⟩He has made them all. He Delights exceedingly to see His CHRIST Glorified; and if this be what your Hearts are set upon, He will Reward you Wonderfully! You will have this Glorious Reward among the rest;
