7

tempt of them in the Hearts of his giddy Followers Nor doth he only vilify and difgrace the Clergy of our Church, as if they were not able to direct Men in the Way to Salvation, but also condemns feveral valuable Books, composed by some of our most eminent Divines, as dangerous to be read by his Difciples. Such are, The Whole Duty of Man, Bishop Beveridge's Private Thoughts of Religion, and: Archbishop Tillotson's Works; all which are valuable Books, greatly tending to Edification. And yet this felf-conceited Man faith, that the Archbishop' knew no more of Christianity than Mahomet the Turk, though this pious Bishop was reckoned by the moft judicious as one of the most learned Di vines of his Age. But whether we fhould rely› upon the general Opinion of the wifeft Men in the Nation, or hearken to the flanderous Words of a frantic Enthufiaft, judge ye.

III. I come now in the Third and laft Place to fhew, By what Means we may prevent our being drawn away by the falfe and dangerous Doctrines of crafty Seducers.

1. We must endeavour to build ourselves up in the Faith of the Gofpel, as St. Jude advises in the Verfe immediately following my Text. Now to build ourselves up in the Faith, is fully to acquaint Qurfelves with the Hiftory and Doctrines of the Gospel. That there was fuch a Perfon as Jefus Christ, who was the true Meffias, promifed in the Old Teftament. That he was the Son of God, and fent by him into the World, by his Doctrine to inftruct, and by the Example of his Life to go before us in the Way to Happiness, and by the Merits and Satisfaction of his Death and Sufferings to appease and reconcile God to us, and to pur

chafe

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thafe for us the Pardon of Sins, and eternal Life, upon fuch Conditions, as he hath promifed to enable Chriftians, by the Affiftance of his Holy Spirit, to perform. Accordingly we read, when the Fulness of Time was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a Woman, who lived among the Jews, wrought many Miracles, was crucified, died, was buried, did rife again the third Day, afcended into Heaven, fat down at the right Hand of God, and will come from thence, at the End of the World, to judge both the Quick and the Dead. And then they that have believed in him, and walked according to the Rules of his holy Gospel, will receive the Sentence of Abfolution from him: But upon fuch as have continued incredulous and difobedient, will he pass the Sentence of Damnation. It therefore highly concerns all thofe, who defire and expect to be happy in a future State, to walk as becomes the Gofpel of Chrift in this Life and to take Care, that no Man feduce them from the Truth, as it is in Jefus. For if any follow falfe Teachers, they will certainly perifh, as well as their Teachers; notwithstanding they were received into the Church by Baptifm, and have made fome Progrefs in a virtuous Courfe: For as our Saviour obferves, if the Blind lead the Blind, both fhall fall into the Ditch.

2. We must humbly and importunately beseech God, to enable us, with his holy Spirit, to gain the Victory over all Seducers. Men are liable to fall into Error and Herefy, because they are naturally fubject to it and well pleased with it; for their Minds being vitiated with it and corrupted, Error is more agreeable to them than Truth. Juft Rea fon have we therefore always to guard against fuch, as make it their Bufinefs to feduce us from the Way of Truth and Righteoufnefs. And because we are C.....

not

not able to refift the Affaults of all our Enemies. by our own Strength, we must humbly befeech God to grant us the Affiftance of his Holy Spirit to conquer and fubdue them. And if we pray in Faith, and earnestly importune God for fuch. Things as we want, we have all the Reason in the World to expect that he will grant our Requests.. For our Saviour faith, what Things foever ye defire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.* And elfewhere he faith, if you afk any Thing in my Name, I will do it. Here Here you: fee we may have all our Requests granted, if we make them known unto God; and certainly they. are unworthy to receive any good Gift from him, who will not give themfelves the Trouble of afking for it. And being forewarned of the Coming of Mockers and Seducers, and of the fatal Dangers which their falfe and erroneous Doctrines will expofe Men to, we should carefully make use of Prayer, and of all other Means appointed for our Deliverance from them; following the Advice which St. Peter gives us in this Cafe; Beloved, faith he, Seeing ye know thefe Things before, beware left ye allo being led away with the Error of the Wicked, fall from your own Stedfaftness.

3. Another Means of efcaping the Dangers which falfe and erroneous Doctrines expofe Men to,. is to fhun and avoid the Meetings or Affemblies of falfe Teachers. Moft Men are fo fond of Novelties, and fo conceited of their own Knowledge, that they frequently go to the Affemblies of falle Teachers, thinking that they can receive no Harm from any Thing they can fay. Yet whatfoever fuch Perfons may think, God is fometimes pleased to punish their Prefumption, by giving them up to Strong

* Mark, Ch. xi. V. 24.
2 Peter, Ch. iii. V. 17,

† John, Ch. xiv. V. 14.

Strong Delufions, that they should believe a Lie. Beware then of going to any fuch Places, and if any of their Teachers or Difciples fhould attempt by good Words and fair Speeches to draw any of you over to their Party, then you must not wholly depend upon your own Judgment, but call in the Affiftance of your Minifter, and others well acquainted with the holy Scriptures, before you give any Credit to their Words; because no Man can be too vigilant and cautious when Religion is in Danger and Eternity is at Stake. For if a Man lofe his Soul, he lofeth his all; and if he could give the whole World to fave it, when the Time of this Life is past, there is no Redemption. For whatfoever the Papists pretend, there is no fuch Place as Purgatory, where after Death a Man's Sins are purged away by the Prayers and Maffes of the Living, but as Death leaves us, fo Eternity will find us. I fhall conclude all with the good Advice which St. Paul gives us, Let no Man deceive you with vain Words.* Which wholefome Counfel that we may all take, Almighty God, for his infinite Mercy's Sake, grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ephefians, Chap. v. V. 6.

FINIS.