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PREBENDARY OF WESTMINSTER, AND CANON OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD.

A NEW EDITION, IN FOUR VOLUMES,

INCLUDING

THE POSTHUMOUS DISCOURSES.

VOL. IV.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG, CHEAPSIDE;
R. GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGOW; T. LE MESSURIER, DUBLIN; AND J. AND
S. A. TEGG, SYDNEY AND HOBART TOWN.

1843.

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THE

CHIEF HEADS OF THE SERMONS.

VOL. IV.

SERMON I.

OBSTINATE SINNERS DOOMED TO ETERNAL PERDITION.

PSALM XCV. 11.

Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

By this expression, "I sware in my wrath," is meant God's peremptory declaring his resolution to destroy the murmuring and rebellious Jews, I. The word "swearing" is very significant, and seems to import,

1. The certainty of the sentence here pronounced, 1.

2. The terror of it; if the children of Israel should say, "Let not God speak to us, lest we die," 2.

As for the word rest, we must admit in this scripture, as well as in many others of the like nature, a double interpretation; 1st. A temporal rest in Canaan the promised land. 2dly. An eternal rest in the heavenly Canaan, 2.

The words thus explained are drawn into one proposition, viz., that God sometimes in this life, upon extraordinary provocations, may and does inevitably design and seal up obstinate sinners to eternal destruction, 3. The prosecution is managed under these three particulars:

I. Showing how and by what means God seals up a sinner to perdition. There are three ways by which God usually does this:

1. By withholding the virtue and power of his ordinances, 3.

2. By restraining the convincing power of his providences, 4. And there are three sorts of providences instanced, in which God often speaks convincingly. 1st. In a general common calamity, 5. 2dly. By particular, personal, and distinguishing judgments, 6. 3dly. By signal, unexpected deliverances, 7.

3. By delivering up a sinner to a stupidity or searedness of conscience, 8. II. Showing what sort of obstinate sinners those are that God deals with in this manner: which are, 1. Such as sin against clear and notable warnings from God, 10. Such as sin against special renewed vows and promises of obedience made to God, 11.

III. Answering and resolving two questions that may arise from the foregoing particulars:

1. Whether the purpose of God passed upon an obstinate sinner (here expressed by God's swearing against him), be absolutely irrevocable? Concerning which it is affirmed that the scripture is full and clear for it, 13.

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