Imatges de pàgina
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III. It would be a great prejudice to us. ibid.

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I. THAT there is an aptnefs even in the spirits of good men to be inquifitively prying into futurity.

ibid.

II. THAT times or feafons, whether they be good or evil to a people, fall not out by chance.

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III. THAT men have it not in their power to order times and feafons of good and evil to God's people as they please. Therefore,

1. LABOUR to truft in GOD.

ibid.

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2. SUBMIT to him, who hath all things in his power. 3. INDEAVOUR to know your own times and seasons.

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4. SINCE you cannot look far into future time, look more into eternity.

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SERMON X.

On 2 COR. IV. 8.

INTRODUCTION.

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FROM the words it is obferved, that it is very poffible for fincere Chriftians to be incompassed with furrounding troubles, and yet at the fame time not to be diftreffed.

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page FIRST, It is confidered of whom this is faid; namely of thofe, who are fincere, and intire Chriftians; and who faithfully perfevere, ibid. SECONDLY, What it is that is here faid of

fuch.

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I. AFFIRMATIVELY, with respect to the nature and degree of this trouble. ibid

II. NEGATIVELY, that it is fuch as does not reach the heart, nor proceed to diftrefs.

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THIRDLY, The grounds of this are confidered; or the reafons why true fincere Chriftians may be troubled on every fide, and yet not . be diftreffed.

INFERENCES.

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I. How happy is a good man when no external trouble, tho it compass him on every fide, is yet able to bring him to distress!

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II. HENCE We fee the vaft difference there is between fuch a one, and a wicked man, who is unrelated to GOD. Therefore,

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I. LABOUR to be difingaged from all terrene things. And, 174 2. DRAW nigh to GoD, who is a Being of boundless goodnefs, in whom all fulness is. ibid,

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THE doctrine infifted upon is this; That the afflictions laid upon Chriftians for the fake of

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trial, are to a right and fpiritual judgement the matter of joy.

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FIRST, It is proposed to state the truth, or fhew how it is to be understood. And therefore,

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I. THE object of the judgement here made is confidered. And,

II. THE nature of it.

ibid.

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SECONDLY, The truth being ftated, the next thing is to give the grounds of it.

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AND if we would judge rationally, we are to count afflictions all joy, both on God's account and our own.

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INFERENCES.

I. SINCE this judgement is peculiar to the cafe of trials, in other cafes afflictions are vifibly punitive. II. MERE patience is not enough for Chriftians under afflictions.

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HI. To be impatient on this account is into

lerable.

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IV. Joy is exceedingly connatural to true religion.

ibid.

V. THERE is fomething very peculiar in living Christianity. Therefore,

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I. LABOUR to fix this judgement in general upon your minds.

ibid.

2. INDEAVOUR that it may be your judgement with application to your felves. And to inforce all this,

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(1.) CONSIDER how pleafant it is to have fpirits got into this frame and pofture. And, 200

(2.) THAT this is the only way we have to make an advantage of a matter that is bad in it felf, and in its own nature. ibid.

SERMON XII.

On I PETER V. IO.

THE obfervation from the words; That to a right and well difpofed judgement fpiritual improvements and advantages by fuffering are more defirable than a freedom from those fufferings themselves.

204. I. It is evinced, that a well informed judgement does reckon fo, from a twofold confideration.

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II. THAT there is fufficient reason for fuch a judgement. For,

207 1. THE Apostle's prayer in the text for the converted Jews is moft fuitable to that grace by which they had been called. And,

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2. To that state of glory to which they were -called.

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INFERENCES.

I. WE may hence learn that we have another intereft to concern our felves about, than that of our flesh or outward man.

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II. THAT these two interefts as they are di

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ftinct, fo they are commonly very oppofite to one another.

ibid.

III. THAT the intereft of the inward man is much more confiderable than that of the flesh.214 IV. THAT fufferings among the people of GOD in this world are no novelties. 215

FOR the eviction of thofe, who seem to be of another judgement from the Apoftle it is obferved, that there is a failure among us in this refpect, and a great evil in it. 217

In the clofe two things are recommended. 1. THAT we fhould fix this judgement of the Apostle in our felves as the standard and measure of our own. And,

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2. THAT agreeably to this, the scope and end of our prayers fhould be directed.

SERMON XIII.

On ISA I. LXXIII. 10.

INTRODUCTION.

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IT is obferved, that the rebellions of a people profeffing the name of GoD are very vexatious to his fpirit, and that fuch vexations ingage him against them as their enemy. 228

FIRST, It is inquired into the nature of the evil done; that is, vexing the fpirit, under which the various titles of the holy spirit are confidered.

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SECONDLY,. It is inquired alfo concerning the evil fuffered hereupon; namely, the nature and the iffue of it.

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