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SER M. in Compliance with our own pious IncliXIV. nations, proftrated ourselves before the

Throne of Grace, to call down, by our Prayers, the Mercies of God upon this finful Nation; to befeech him, that though he fhould be pleafed to chaften and correct us; yet that he would not finally give us over unto Death: But let us remember, that those very Prayers, without Amendment of Life, would be an Abomination to the Lord: For what do we pray for, but that God would be pleafed to accept our fincere Repentance? And how can that Repentance be accounted fincere, that does not produce a Reformation of our Manners?

Our Sins are the greatest Enemies that we have to fear; even Rebellion, unless the Sword fhould receive a judicial Commiffion from God, is not fo much to be dreaded. Rebellion is like a Hurricane; which, however big with formidable Evils, is often of no long Duration, but Things fettle again into Order and Regularity: It alarms the Nation, and puts every well-affected Perfon upon making a refolute Stand against it. But Irreligion paves the Way for fuch a Train of Vices as by Degrees fap and undermine the whole Constitution. Though it works our Ruin in a flower, yet it is in a furer Way. If the one be like a raging Fever in the Body, the other is like a flow,

lingering

XIV.

lingering Confumption; a flattering but a SER M.
fatal Diftemper, making us think all is well,
when we are every Day making nearer
Approaches to our Diffolution.

Let us then return to thofe Principles from which there has been a moft dreadful Falling-off. Let us hold fast the Profeffion of our Faith, and in it the wellgrounded Hope of a blessed Immortality through Jefus Chrift. Chriftian Principles are the fureft, I may say the fole Foundation on which a true Reverence to God can be laid. Thefe will therefore make us the best Men, and thereby the most faithful Subjects of the King, and the trueft Lovers of our Country, by speaking moft home to our Confcience.

And for our Encouragement in the Exercife of true Piety, and an unspotted Innocence of Life, let us remember, that hereby we shall not only fecure our own Salvation, and by our good Example fet forward the Salvation of others, but may likewise be found of the Number of those few Perfons, for whofe Sake it may please the Almighty to fpare the whole Nation. Virtue does not receive a Value from, but gives a true Value to Greatness: And however it may be placed more commodiously for Obfervation among those of Distinction; yet in the Sight of God it is of as great Value among those of

lower

1

SER M. lower Condition. God is no Refpecter of Perfons.

XIV.

It was faid by a Monarch, who was a Papift in Difguife, that he owned the Reformed Religion was much better than the Popish; but those of that Communion feemed to be in earnest about their Religion; but we feemed to be in jest about our's. How far they may be in earnest about their's, I know not: But that we too many of us feem to be in jeft about our's is, I doubt, too true. Let us remove this Reproach by a constant Attendance on each religious Duty in the publick Affembly, in our Families, and in our Clofet And let the Purity of our Church's Doctrines appear in the Purity of our Lives: And God grant that the holy Scriptures may recover their deserved Esteem among us, that we may fo attend to the Voice of God speaking to us by his Prophets, the Apostles, and his Son Jefus Christ, that all the People may hear, and fear, and do no more prefumptuously!

SERMON

XV.

The Happiness of the GOOD in

a Future State.

Preached in TWICKENHAM-CHAPEL the
Sunday after Dr. WATERLAND's
Interment.

349

MATTHEW XXV. 21.

Well done, thou good and faithful Servant; Thou hast been faithful over a few Things, I will make thee Ruler over many Things: enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.

BY

XV.

Y the good and faithful Servant in SER M. this Text, is meant one, that has improved the Talents, which were entrusted with him, to the Advancement of Religion, and the Good of Mankind: By being Ruler over many Things, and entring into the Joy of his Lord, is fhadowed out the future Happiness of those, who have discharged their Duty faithfully.

SERM I have made Choice of thefe Words XV. with a Defign to draw the Character of

M.

a very faithful Servant, the late worthy Minifter of this Parish, and Archdeacon of this County; after I have, in the first Place, briefly defcribed the Joys of Heaven, and the Nature of that Happiness which our Saviour has, by his Revelation, displayed; and, by his Merits, enfured to us.

Some Philofophers and Divines of the first Distinction have imagined the Soul to have feveral Faculties, which, though the cannot now display them, while her Operations are clogged and encumbered by Matter, will shoot out and exert themselves, as foon as the is divorced from this grofs corruptible Body.

But, however this be; whether fome Faculties are originally vested in the Mind, which are to be hereafter new Inlets of Pleasure; or whether God will fuperadd new Capacities to it; it is undoubtedly certain, that our Bliss will be as great, as our enlarged Soul, the Subject of it, can then receive; and greater than our narrow Understanding can at prefent comprehend.

The chief Ingredients of our future Happiness we may, however, proceed to mark out, viz.

I. The Perfections of Soul and Body.

II. The

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