poffibly allow, renew'd in us by our becoming pure, even as God is : pure. On this bleffed Difpenfation therefore, as on the Rock of our Salvation, let us fecurely and entirely depend, it being the only Means of raifing us out of the common Ruins of our corrupted Nature, and re-inftating us in the Favour of the Moft High The Breach of the first Covenant is abundantly made up by the Mercies of the Second; and the Almighty hath wonderfully magnified his Goodness towards us, in that while we were yet Sinners, Chrift died for us, the Just for the Unjust, that He might heal all our Infirmities and cover all our Sins; that He might fave our Souls from Deftruction, and crown us with Mercy and Loving-kindness. THIS then is our Hope, and our Happiness is this, tho' we do fin, God putteth away our Sins from us; tho' He punishes us with Natural Mortality, He will enrich us with a Spiritual Immortality; tho' He hath excluded us from the Tree of Life, and all the Bleffings of an Earthly Paradife, yet He feedeth us here with the Bread of Life, He giveth to us the the Cup of Salvation, and hath referved the Glories of his own Kingdom for our everlasting Inheritance; but all this for the Sake, and through the Merits of Jefus Christ our Lord. To whom with the Father, &c. SERMON SERMON V. 2 PETER iii. Ver. 18. former Part. Grow in Grace. HE true Notion of this Life is, that it is a State of Trial T and Probation, wherein we are to prepare ourselves for Heavenly and Eternal Glo ry: In order therefore to come up to this Notion of Life, we ought to make it a State of continual Improvement, that the nearer we approach the Period of it, we may be more and more continually tranfformed into the Nature of our everlasting Inheritance, by making thefe Scenes of Blifs, which are defigned for our Portion, more and more the Objects of our Love, our Hope, our exceeding Joy; and by raifing and advancing within our Souls thofe virtuous Habits and Difpofitions which are the neceffary Qualifications of enjoying the Happiness of God's Kingdom. Accordingly the Holy Scriptures every where make a fincere and diligent improving Perfeverance in Well-doing the Terms of our Salvation; there is no fet Pitch of Goodness whereunto we must rife, and need rife no higher, in this Life : It is our Duty to be as Holy and Virtuous as God's Grace, with our own Endeavours. can make us ; to be ever labouring after higher Kinds and Degrees of Spiritual Attainments; and, while we live in this State of Grace, to be continually growing in Grace. The Term Grace, muft here fignify that Godliness, which is the Effect of Grace; by growing must be meant Improvement; God's Grace is to the Inward what Food is to the Outward Man, and, as by the Means of the latter we encrease in Bodily Strength and Vigour, fo to the Bleffed Influences of the the former we entirely owe our Spiritual Growth and Advancement: We are commanded to grow in Grace; because, tho' it be the entire Gift of God, yet we are affured that it will be conftantly supplied in full Proportions to the Improvements we make of former Grace; and as it is in our own Power to make thefe Improvements, fo it is in our own Power to gain fresh Supplies, and thereby to make yet higher Improvements. The Precept therefore contain'd in thefe Words is plainly this; We must give all Diligence to paply those Portions of Grace which are vouchsafed us to the Purposes of Christian Holiness, for which they were given; we muft proceed in our Duty by the quickest and most exalted Advances we are able; endeavouring to excel more and more in every Inftance of Righteoufnefs, to encrease in all Goodnefs, to brighten and confirm every pious Temper and Habit; we must prefs forwards for the Prize of our High Calling, by making continual Improvements in thefe Virtues, which the Gospel enjoins, and going from Strength to Strength, we must ever afpire after |