put away from us Fornication, Uncleannefs, inordinate Affection, evil Concupifcence, and Covetousness, which is Idolatry, Anger, Wrath, Malice, and Uncharitableness, and all other Sins whatfoever; and let us live in the fincere and conftant Performance of all the Duties that are enjoyn'd us; and then when, CHRIST fhall appear, he fhall change our vile Bodies, that they may be fashion'd like unto his own glorious Body, according to the mighty Workings, whereby he is able to fubdue all Things to himself.

SERMON iii.

Acts ii. 33.

Therefore being by the Right-Hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promife of the Holy Choft, be bath fhed for this, which now fee, and bear.

T

ye

HESE Words are Part of a Sermon preach'd by St. Peter, upon

that

a

that aftonishing Defcent of the Holy Ghoft; which the Church doth on this Day commemorate. The Perfons upon whom this Defcent was made, were the Apoftles of the bleffed JESUS, Men whom he chofe out of the World to be the Objects of his extraordinary Love and Kindness: Men whom he employ'd in the honourable, yet difficult and laborious Office, of planting his Religion, and publishing the glad Tydings of Salvation.

But notwithstanding these Privileges and Advantages which they enjoy'd above the rest of the Sons of Adam; they were very ignorant, and unlearned, and exceedingly remarkable for the Dulness of their Understanding: So that it was highly Neceffary to give them a great Meafure of Divine Affiftance, whereby they might be qualified for the Difcharge of that weighty Truft which was commited unto them. Our Saviour therefore who very well knew the Neceffity of fuch a fupernatural Aid promised to beftow the fame upon them. This he did a little before his Crucifixion; and again after that, before his Afcenfion. For perceiving that they were mightily troubled and caft

4

a Preached on Whitsunday.

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down,

down, at the Thoughts of his Departure; to chear their fainting Hearts, and revive their drooping Spirits, he told them that he would fend them another Comforter, even the Holy Ghost; who fhould enable them to finish the Work which he gave them to do; and furnifh them with Strength fufficient to conquer whatsoever Oppofition they might meet with.

And as our Saviour made this Promife to his Apoftles, during the Time of his Abode upon Earth; fo he commanded them to tarry at Jerufalem until he had fulfilled it. Accordingly we find that they waited there in Expectation of it: And when the Day of Pentecoft was fully come; as they were all affembled together, fuddenly there came from Heaven a Sound, as of a ruffing mighty Wind; which filled allthe Houfe where they were fitting: And there appeared unto them cloven Tongues, like as of Fire, and fat upon each of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft, and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them Utterance. So it came to pafs, that those unpolifh'd Mortals, who were utterly unacquainted with Learning and Languages, could on a fudden talk what Language they pleas'd; and they who were not like

ly

ly to make any Profelytes by the Charms of perfuafive Eloquence, could convert whole Nations by the over-powering Demonftration of the Spirit.

This was a Miracle ftrangely furprizing indeed, and might well raife the Admiration of the Multitude which heard and faw it: It was wrought at a Time when Jerufalem was filled with Jews out of every Nation under Heaven; and every' Man beard the Apostles pake in his own Language the wonderful Works of God: And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, faying one to another, What meaneth this? Other mocking, faid, Thefe Men are full of new Wine. Hereupon St. Peter ftood up, and refuted the frivolous Cavil of thofe filly Gainfayers, and gave a rational Account of the Thing which had happen'd.

He fhew'd, that JESUS of Nazareth who had been crucified, dead, and buried, was the the CHRIST of God; who raifed him up from the dead; and exalted him by his Right Hand; whereby he receiv'd Power to fhed forth that extraordinary Gift of the Holy Ghoft, which then ftruck them-with fo much Wonder and Amazement.

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With

With Relation to this it is, that he fpeaks in my Text, and the Verfe immediately before it. This JESUS, lays he, bath God raised up, whereof we are all Witneffes: And then he goes on; Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted, and having receiv'd of the Father the Promife of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now fee and hear. In difcourfing from which Words, I fhall confider,

Firft of all, The Exaltation of CHRIST.

Secondly, The Defcent of the Holy Ghost after CHRIST'S Exaltation, And. Thirdly, The Behaviour of the Apostles after this Defcent upon them.

First then, I am to confider the Exal. tation of CHRIST by Way of Introduction, to which, it may not be amifs to look back a little upon his Humiliation. When our First Parents had broken the Covenant which God made with them, and by lo doing, render'd themselves, and all their Pofterity, liable to the fad Effects of his everlafting Displeasure; the eternal Son of God, who was the Brightness of his Father's Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Perfon; He, I fay, out of his boundless Love, and inexpreffible Good-will towards Man