tle John faith, Whofoever denieth the Son the fame hath not the Father, but he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father alfo. 1 John ii. 23. This Command of bearing Chrift, though directed immediately to the Apofiles that were then prefent, was defigned for univerfal Obligation, and is binding on all thofe to whom the Gospel is published in every Age and Coun try to the End of the World.

If it be inquired, what we are to underftand by hearing the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Son of God? I anfwer, that it fignifieth, in general, a yielding a fincere unpreju diced Attention and religious Regard to the important Meffage he hath brought from Heaven. More particularly it includeth a receiving with teachable Minds, and with a lively Faith, the Doctrines he came to reveal; and obeying the pure and excellent Laws he hath given us in his Father's Name; and a Complying with the Offers of Grace and Mercy he hath brought us, and the reasonable and condefcending Terms upon which the Bleffings of the new Covenant are promifed through him.

First, When we are here commanded to bear the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, it fignifieth that we are obliged to receive with teachable and attentive Minds,

and

and with a Divine Faith, the heavenly Doctrines he came to reveal. He faith of himself, I am the Light of the World: He that followeth me fhall not walk in Darknefs, but shall have the Light of Life. John viii. 12. By him God hath made the cleareft Difcoveries of his Will to Mankind; he hath opened the glorious Designs of his Wisdom and Love for our Salvation, and hath instructed us in what it most nearly concerneth us to know: The only begotten Son, which is in the Bofom of the Father, bath revealed him unto us. John i. 18. And they are Truths of great Importance which he came to reveal, relating to the glorious Perfections and Providence of God as governing all the Events that befall us; to the wonderful Methods of our Redemption and Reconciliation through the Sufferings and Sacrifice, the Mediation and Interceffion of the great appointed Saviour; to the Terms of our Acceptance with God, and the Duties required of us in this State of Trial; to the glorious Hopes and Promises that are fet before us; to the Refurrection of the Body, a future Judgment, and the eternal Rewards that fhall be conferred upon the Righteous, and the Punishment that fhall be inflicted upon the Wicked in a future State. Since the Son of God came from Heaven to affure us of VOL. IV. these

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thefe Things, we are under the higheft Obligations to attend with teachable and unprejudiced Minds to the important Discoveries. And whosoever doth fo will difcern fuch a Divine Beauty and Glory and Excellency in them, will fee them to be fo worthy of God, of fuch an excellent Tendency for promoting his Glory and the Good of Mankind, fo full of Comfort to the truly Righteous and Sincere, without giving any Encouragement to thofe who go on in an obftinate Course of prefumptuous Sin and Difobedience, that, when confidered as accompanied with the most glorious Atteftations from Heaven given to our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom these Doctrines were publifhed, leave no reafonable Room to doubt of their being Divine. If there be fomething in them that transcends our Comprehenfion, this is not to be wondered at in Matters of fo fublime a Nature, confidering the Darkness and Narrowness of our Minds: It were rather to be wondered at, if it were not fo. Let us therefore receive these Truths and Doctrines which our Lord hath taught us with a firm Affent and Perfuafion of Soul, and with great Thankfulness; and endeavour to get a strong Senfe of them impreffed upon our Hearts, that we may tafter their Sweetness, and fee their Glory, and feel

their Divine Power and Energy, and may have them in us as the living Principles of all Holiness and Goodness.

Secondly, This Hearing the Lord Jefus Chrift, which is here required of us, includeth not only a Believing the Doctrines he hath taught, but Obeying the Laws which he hath injoined. He hath brought a Syftem of excellent Laws from Heaven, bearing upon them the bright Impreffions and Characters of the Divine Wisdom, and Goodness, and Purity. Thefe Laws are of a great Extent; they take in the Whole of the Duty we owe to God, our Neighbours, and ourselves; that we must deny Ungod linefs and worldly Lufts, and live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent World; they relate not only to our outward Actions, but to the inward Affections and Difpofitions of our Minds; and require not only an external Regularity of Deportment, but an inward universal Purity of Heart and Soul: Whatfoever Things are true, whatfoever Things are boneft or venerable, whatsoever, Things are juft, whatfoever Things are pure, whatfoever Things are lovely, whatsoever Things are of good Report: If there be any Virtue, and if there be any Praise, these are the Things we are commanded to think of, and to pursue. Phil. iv. 8. Now, if we would approve ourselves Chrift's faithful H 2 Disciples,

Difciples, we must make it our hearty and continual Endeavour to yield a fincere univerfal Obedience to these his holy and excellent Laws, to all of them without Exception or Reserve, both to the moral Precepts and pofitive Inftitutions he hath injoined; and muft not allow ourselves in the habitual prefumptuous Neglect and Violation of any of them.

Thirdly, This Hearing the Lord Jefus Christ includeth a hearty Approbation of thofe Offers of Divine Grace and Mercy that he came to bring us from Heaven, and a Compliance with the gracious Terms which he hath prescribed. He hath made the most ample and encouraging Discoveries of the Love and Mercy of God to perifhing Sinners, and hath brought the most happy and joyful Tidings of Pardon and Salvation to a loft World upon the reasonable and condescending Terms of the new Covenant: He came and preached Peace to them that were afar off, and to them that were nigh, as the Apostle speaks, Eph. ii. 17. i. e. both to Jews and Gentiles. And he declareth concerning himself, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor; he hath fent me to heal the Broken-hearted, to preach Deliverance to the Captives, and Recovering

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