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with the Divine Perfections. So that if any,
wonderful Works fhould be wrought, for
the Credit of fuch Doctrines, instead of
believing them upon that account, we
ought to look upon fuch Works, as the
jugling Contrivances of defigning Men, or
the Delufions of evil Spirits. Agreeable
whereunto is the Caution given by Mofes
to the Ifraelites, Deut. xiii. 1, 2, 3. If
there arifeth among you a Prophet, or a
Dreamer of Dreams, and giveth thee a
Sign, or a Wonder; and the Sign or the
Wonder come to pass, whereof he spake
unto thee; faying, let us go after other
Gods which thou hast not known, and let
us ferve them. Thou shalt not bearken to
the Words of that Prophet, or that Drea
mer of Dreams; for the Lord
your God
proveth you, to know whether ye love the
Lord your God, with all your Heart and
with all your Soul.

When therefore I fay, that any Doctrine which is taught as a Revelation from God, befides what is contained in the Scriptures, must be proved by Miracles; (peak of fuch Doctrines as are the Reverse of thofe I just now mentioned. As for those, they are incapable of being confirm'd by Miracles: As for these, they must be fo confirmed before we embrace them;

them; because we are to efteem nothing as a fresh Revelation of the Will and Pleafure of the King of Kings, but what has, in this manner, had the Stamp of Omnipotence, and paffed the broad Seal of Heaven.

Thirdly, From what hath been faid concerning the Behaviour of the Apostles, after the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft upon them; we may obferve, that the Strength of unaffifted Nature is mightily exceeded by the Efficacy of Divine Grace. Before the Apoftles received this, they were exceedingly Fearful, Wavering, and Lukewarm: After they received it, they were as eminent for their Courage, Fidelity, and Zeal. When they were without the Aid from Above, and Power from on High; they were very much afraid of the Dangers and Afflictions, which the Profeffion of a new Religion would expole them to: But when they were endued with it, none of thofe Things moved them; neither did they count their Lives fo dear unto themselves, as that they might finish their Courfe with Joy, and the Miniftry which they had received of the Lord JESUS.

Let not therefore any Difficulties or Dangers that lie in the Way of our Chri

ftian Race, daunt or difmay us; because if we be not wanting to ourselves, we fhall have Power enough to furmount them all. For though we are not to expect thofe extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, which were beftowed upon the Apostles; yet God will not with-hold from us any Helps, that are necessary to carry us through the feveral Stages of our Duty; provided we make use of those Means which he hath appointed for the Conveyance of them. And they, as I ob served in my läft Difcourfe, are frequent and devout Prayer; reading his holy Word, and hearing it explain'd; and partaking of the Sacraments. Thefe Means therefore let us ferioufly and constantly make use of, and then he that will be with us, will be greater than he that is in the World, and we may do, or suffer Things through CHRIST, that will Strengthen us.

Lastly, Upon the Whole, we may obferve, how every Perfon of the facred Trinity was concerned in bestowing those miraculous Gifts, and Graces upon the Apoftles, which qualified them to preach the Gospel to all Nations.

Thofe Gifts, and Graces were communicated by the immediate Operation

of

of the Holy Ghoft; but that Holy Ghost was fent by the Son; and given by the Father. The Son being exalted at the right Hand of God, and having receiv'd from the Father the Promije of the Holy Gloft, fent that Holy Ghost to fhed forth thoje Gifts and Graces. To this facred Trinity therefore, three Perfons and one God, let our hearty Thanks be render'd, for thofe wonderful Gifts and Graces, wherewith the Apostles were furnished; by the bleffed Influence of which we have been brought out of Darkness and Error, into the Light of the glorious Gofpel of JESUS CHRIST. And let it be our carnest Prayer that this Light may fine upon those who still fit in Darkness, and the Shadow of Death; that their Feet may be guided into, and both theirs and ours, always preferved in the Way of Peace.

SERMON v.

Acts xvii. 31.

He hath appointed a Day, in the which be

will judge the World in Righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordain'd.

IT

T is, melancholly to confider how the Practice of Chriftians clashes with their Profeffion. Some of them have made fuch a Progrefs in Wickedness, that they live as if they had quite abandon'd themselves to Impiety, Injuftice, and Intemperance. Others there are who have the Semblance of Holiness to God-ward, but fhow very little Juftice or Charity among their Neighbours; they pay fome outward Regard to the Duties enjoyn'd' by the First Table, but seem easily drawn to tranfgrefs all, or most of the Commands of the Second. There are a third Sort of them, who may be honeft in their Dealings with Men, and well-meaning in the Worfhip of God too; but yet their Devotions are fo very carelefs, cold, and fpiritlefs, that one would think they were not speaking to the infinite Majefty of Heaven; or were meer Machines not animated with any Souls. Thus fadly are we degenerated from the uniform Obedience, and fervent Devotion of the Primitive Chriftians: And to what can we afcribe this Degeneracy of Men's Manners, but to the Degeneracy of their Principles? They muft either not believe, or not think of a

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