LXXVI. neca, &c. That it was to fall out thus, might also be well SERM. inferred by reasons grounded upon the qualities of the Messiah's person, and upon the nature of his performances, such as they are described in prophetical scripture: he was to be really, and plainly to appear, a person of most admirable virtue and goodness; but never (as even pagan philosophers Plato, Sehave observed) was, or can there be any such without undergoing the trial of great affliction. He was to be an universal pattern to men of all sorts (especially to the greatest part of men, that is, to the poor and afflicted) of all righteousness; to exemplify particularly the most difficult pieces of duty; (humility, patience, meekness, charity, self-denial, entire resignation to God's will:) this he should not have had opportunity or advantage of doing, should he have been high, wealthy, splendid, and prosperous in secular matters: he was to exercise great pity and sympathy toward all mankind; toward the doing which it was requisite that he should himself taste and feel the inconveniences, troubles, pains, and sorrows incident to us. He was to advance the Vide Theodoti Orat. repute of spiritual goods and eternal blessings, de-in Eph. 1. pressing the value of these corporeal and temporal Coucil. p. things, which men do so fondly admire and dote on: the most compendious and effectual way of doing which was by an exemplary neglect or rejection of worldly glories and enjoyments; refusing the honours, profits, and pleasures here, adjoined to a high state. He was by the most kindly, gentle, and peaceable means to erect a spiritual kingdom; by pure force of reason to subdue the hearts and consciences of men to the love and obedience of God; 997. LXXVI. SERM. by wise instruction to raise in us the hopes of future recompenses in heaven; to the accomplishment of which purposes temporal glory (working on the carnal apprehensions and affections of men) had rather been prejudicial than conducible. He was to accomplish and manage his great designs by means supernatural and divine, the which would surely become more conspicuous by the visible meanness and impotency of his state. He was also most highly to merit from God, for himself and for us; (to merit God's high approbation of what he did, God's favour and grace to us;) this he could not perform so well, as by willingly enduring, for God's sake, and in our behalf, the most hard and grievous things. He was, in fine, designed perfectly to save us, and consequently to appease God's wrath, to satisfy divine justice, to expiate our sins; whereto it was requisite that he should undergo what we had deserved, being punished and afflicted for us. Now that Jesus our Lord did most thoroughly correspond to whatever is in this kind declared by the prophets concerning the Messias, we need not, by minutely relating the known history of his life and death, make out any further, since the whole matter is palpably notorious, and no adversary can deny it: I shall therefore conclude, that it is a clear and certain truth, which St. Peter in our text affirmeth, that those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Rev. i. 5,6. Now, Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. SERM. Amen. LXXVI. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, Rev. v. 13. be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen. SERMON LXXVII. A WHIT-SUNDAY SERMON OF THE GIFT OF Deut. xvi. ACTS ii. 38. -And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. SERM. AMONG the divers reasonable grounds and ends LXXVII. of the observing festival solemnities, (such as are Esth. ix. comforting the poor by hospitable relief, refreshing the weary labourer by cessation from ordinary toil, maintaining good-will among neighbours by cheerful and free conversation, quickening our spirits and raising our fancies by extraordinary representations and divertisements, infusing and preserving good humour in peoplea; such as are also the decent conspiring in public expressions of special reverence to God, withdrawing our minds from secular cares, and engaging them to spiritual meditations,) the two principal designs of them seem to be these: 1. The affording occasion (or rather imposing a * Θεοὶ δὲ οἰκτείραντες τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπίπονον πεφυκὸς γένος, ἀναπαύλας τε αὐτοῖς τῶν πόνων ἐτάξαντο, τὰς τῶν ἑορτῶν ἀμοιβὰς τοῖς θεοῖς. Plato 2. de Leg. Legum conditores festos instituerunt dies, ut ad hilaritatem homines publice cogerentur, tanquam necessarium laboribus interponentes temperamentum. Sen, de tranq. an. 15. LXXVII. constraint upon us) with a competent frequency to SERM. attend unto, to consider upon, to instruct ourselves and others in the mysterious doctrines and institutions of our religion. 2. The engaging us seasonably to practise that great duty of thankfully remembering and praising God for those eminent mercies and favours, which by his great grace and goodness have been vouchsafed to us. For these purposes chiefly did God himself appoint the Jewish festivals; for instance, the passover, the reason of which being instituted is thus expressed; that thou mayest remember the day, when thou Deut. xvi. camest forth out of the land of Egypt, all the days3 of thy life: which words imply that the observation of that solemnity did serve to preserve the memory, yea the continual remembrance of that so notable a blessing, which otherwise might have been totally forgotten, or seldom considered; the same did also suggest occasion of inquiry concerning the reasons of its appointment, procuring consequently needful information in that material point of their religion ; as doth appear by those words of God, And it shall Exod. xii. come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover—. 26, 27. Civ. Dei, In compliance with which prudent designs, the Aug. de Christian church, from her first infancy, hath em-x. 4. braced the opportunity of recommending to her children the observation of her chief holy festivals, continuing the time, and retaining the name, although changing or improving the matter and reason of those ancient ones; the divine Providence |