In differences among brethren, our behaviour should be bound by

Two limits:

I. By preserving things that make for peace, 286.

We are at liberty to oppose the obstinate, 287.

We must not sacrifice fundamental doctrines, 288; as in case of heresy, idolatry, and spiritual tyranny, 289.

Motives to peace: love of brethren, 292; jealousy of enemies, 293; honour of religion, 295.

Peace may be preserved, by being humble in opinion of our knowledge, 295; by moderating our zeal, 297, in stretching truth too far, 298, and in falsely accusing our opponents, 298; by keeping ourselves in our station, 298; by brotherly kindness, 299; by avoiding curious questions, 300. Differences may be composed, by joint obedience to common truths, 302; by condescending to the weak, 303; by docility, 304; by a single-hearted love of truth, 303; by mutual love, 304; by not respecting persons, 304; by being wise unto sobriety, 305; by holding the form of sound words, 306, and the custom of the churches, 306.

II. The Peace, which we pursue, must tend to edification, 309; must have faith, hope, and love for its foundation, 312; order and connexion, for its superstruction, 313; the discipline of kings and ministers, for its roof and protection; and must be promoted by the virtues of the people, 315.

SERMON III. (page 318.)

SELF-DENIAL. Matth. xvi. 24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, aud follow me.

I. Self-denial should be exercised, absolutely and simply, in a man's denying his sinful self, with regard to the whole body of corruption, 323; and to more besetting sins, 324.

II. Self-denial should be exercised in denying a man's natural self, 324, not in superstitious and morose devotions, but when things are temptations and snares, 325, or when they must be dedicated unto God, 326.

III. Self-denial should be exercised in denying our very virtues and

graces, 327.

Rules, by which the
They may be quick-

As the people of Christ, let us exercise self-denial in avoiding self-love, 328; self-seeking, 328; self-depending, 329. people of Christ may practise self-denial, 331. ened to this duty by considering that it enables them to bear afflic tion, 333, and to follow Christ in full obedience, 333.

As the ministers of Christ, let them pray for and practise self-denial, by

considering that self-seeking is dangerous to states and churches, 335; unfits them for great services, 335; and exposes them to many temptations, 337.

The subject applied to the Assembly of Divines, 338-348.

SERMON IV. (page 349.)

ANIMALIS Hомо. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

General scope of the Apostle's argument in the three first chapters of

this Epistle, 552.

What is meant by

ψυχικὸς ἄνθρωπος, 353.

τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ Θεοῦ, 355.

οὐ δέχεται, 355.

μωρία, 356.

οὐ δύναται γνῶναι, 356.

πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται, 357.

Six inferences, resulting from the interpretation of the preceding words.

How far the natural man may understand divine things, 359–362.

What divine things are unintelligible to the natural man, 363.

Grace of Christ, and the Holy Spirit are necessary for the comprehension

of supernatural things; proved from scripture, 368; from the dis-

proportion between heavenly objects and human intellect, 369.

Knowledge of divine things impeded by the difficulty of the subject, 370;

by the wisdom of the flesh, 370; and by the passions of a sinful

heart, 370.

Our ignorance of spiritual things should teach us not to be proud of

human learning, 372; to lament our obstinacy against divine grace,

373; and to despise the ridicule, with which gospel-mysteries are

assailed, 373.

Heavenly doctrines may be discerned from the illusions of evil spirits and

impostors, by their own heavenly light, 374; by continual prayer,

374; and by living a holy life, 375.

SERMON V. (page 378.)

JOY IN THE LORD. Phil. iv. 4. Rejoice in the Lord alway;

and again I say, Rejoice.

Christ is the joy of his people.

He is a good, present, 380 and 383; precious, 381 and 384; full, 381

and 385; pure, 381 and 386; rare, 382 and 386; various, 382 and

387; prevalent and sovereign, 382 and 387; perpetual, 383 and 388;

our own and peculiar, 383 and 388.

Christ is a ground of joy from his royal office, as described by Zechariah :

he is a king, 388; he cometh, 389; he is just, 389; hath salvation,

390; mild and courteous, 390; active in doing good, 391; warlike

against foes, 391.

Folly of those who seek joy from empty creatures, 382.

Danger of those who are offended at the person of Christ, 393; his

cross, 394; his free grace, 395; at the sublimity, simplicity, and se-

verity of his doctrine, 396.

Not to rejoice in Christ implies undervaluing of him, 397; love of sin,

397; slight apprehensions of future wrath, 397; contumacy in sin,

398; unsavouriness of soul, 398.

Let us rejoice in the person of Christ, 399; his mediation, 399; in our

knowledge of him, 399; in the means of communion with him,

400; in his work, graces, light of his countenance, hope of his

glory, fellowship of his sufferings, 401.

Let us rejoice in Christ greatly, 401; alway, with reverence, 402; with

improvement of this joy unto thankfulness, 402; unto more cheer-

ful service, 403; unto consolation against evils, 403; unto provo-

cation of others to the same joy, 404.

Sorrow for sin is no obstacle to this joy, 404.

SERMON VI. (page 408.)

TRUE GAIN. Matth. xvi. 26. For what is a man profited, if

he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a

man give in exchange for his soul?

Christ vindicates the severity of the Cross from the scandal of death,

409; of its stripping us of enjoyments, 410; of ignominy and

shame, 410.

1. A Christian may look after true gain, 412; and therefore God dissuades

from sin, 413, as being unprofitable, and assigns many advantages to

holiness, 415.

We must not expect profit as the end, 416, or reason, 416, of our obe-

dience; nor as the fruit of any merit in our services, 416; but as

the reward of obedience, 417; as a manifestation of God's bounty,

417; and as matter of encouragement under difficulties, 417.

II. Worldly love is inconsistent with true gain, as being insatiable, 418;

disproportionable to the heart of man, 419; injurious to God, 420;

injurious to ourselves, from being unnatural, 420, and unnecessary,

421, and disquieting, 421.

III. The saving of the soul is the only true gain, as may be proved from

the nature and value of the soul, 423.

Uses which may be made of the preceding doctrine, relative to the nature
of the human soul, 424-5.

Parallel between a Christian and a wise merchant, 427.

SERMON VII. (page 434.)

THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.

Psalm cxxxii. 6-9. Pray for

the peace of Jerusalem, &c.

Occasion, and parts, of this Psalm, 435.

Exhortation to the duty of praying for the peace of the Church. This

peace, for which we pray, must not be sinful, but heavenly, as with

God, 440; internal, as among the members of the Church, 441;

external, as with all men, 442.

Arguments to enforce the duty of praying for the peace of the Church:

condition of the church, 443; celebrity of God's worship, 443;

benefits of this peace to ourselves, 443, and to our brethren, 443,

and to the house of God, 444.

Root and ground of this duty is Love; which is a fundamental passion,

444; is a cause of obedience, 445; hath great interest in God,

445; alleviates the labour of duty, and commends every service to

God, 446.

The Peace of the Church may often be promoted by the coercive power

of Rulers and Magistrates, exercised towards hereticks, profligate

persons, &c. 448-457.

SERMON VIII. (page 459.)

DEATH'S ADVANTAGE.

and to die is gain.

Phil. i. 21. For me to live is Christ,

General scope of the passage, 459.

The text contains three propositions.

1. To live is Christ. Christ is life in every way of causality, 460; as the

matter of our life, 461; the form of a believer's spiritual life, 462;

the end and scope of our whole life, 462.

Senses, in which Christ is our life, 463.

II. To die is gain, 465. Death liberates us from toil, 468; from tyranny

of sin, 469; from temptations of Satan, and from cares and sor-

rows, 469. Death brings us home to our true country, 470; estates

us in life, makes us perfect in our spiritual part, and keeps our

relicks for the resurrection, 471.

Death, though a gain, must not be desired out of fretfulness, nor accele-

rated by any compendious way, 473.

III. Christ is gain, both in life and death.

Funeral eulogy on Mr. Peter Whaley, 474.