IX.

SER M. fore the Tribunal of Chrift, men were to be judged in Nations and Bodies Politick, in Parties and Societies of human eftablishment, according to certain Forms of Government and particular Systems of Notions, and Rites and Ceremonies; and not that every fingle Man fhall then perfonally be acquitted or condemned, according to the Great and Univerfal Rules of the Gofpel; according to what He himfelf in his own perfon has actually done in the Flesh, whether it be good, or whether it be evil; that is, according to his Obedience or Difobedience to the Commands of God, the Morality or Immorality of the Actions of his Life. The Want of This confideration, has incredibly perplext Men's Notions concerning the Church of God: And though no Two things are in Scripture conftantly reprefented fo directly oppofite to each other, as the Love of God and the Love of the World; yet in all Popish times principally, and in all Other corrupt Ages (proportionably) Dominion and Pomp and Power, instead of Truth and Righteousness and Charity, have been efteemed as Marks and Characters

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IX.

Characters of Chrift's Holy Catholick SER M. Church. But undoubtedly the true Church of God here upon Earth, confifts of the fame Perfons, is made up of the very fame Members, of which hereafter it fhall be constituted in Heaven. And therefore as, at the day of judgment, our Saviour has no where given us any the leaft Intimation, that in order to determine any Man's final Sentence, inquiry will be made concerning Nations and Parties, concerning a man's relation to one body politick or another, concerning Rites and Ceremonies or Forms of Government and the like; which are Now the Great Objects of Men's Zeal, and the main Caufes of their reviling, hating, and perfecuting each other: but every Man's future and eternal State will Then be appointed him by the Impartial and unerring Judge, according to his behaviour in every station and circumstance wherein Providence has placed him, i. e. according to the virtuoufnefs or viciouf nefs of his paft life: So Now also, if we would make a right Judgment concerning ourselves or Others, whether we be real and Living Members of the Body of Christ,

SERM. Chrift, children of God, and Heirs of IX. His Kingdom; we must take our Efti

mate from the fame divine Rules and Measures, by which we fhall at last be judged; and not from our prefent human Paffions, and worldly Marks of Distinction. They who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, as our Saviour describes the True Worshippers, Joh. iv. 23; that is, who live with an habitual Senfe of Religion upon their Minds; in a constant Exercife of Piety towards God, through Jefus Chrift; in a fober and temperate injoyment of the things of this present World, with an abhorrence of all Vice and Debauchery; and in a regular Practice of Justice, Righteousness, Equity, Meekness, Charity, and univerfal Goodwill towards Mankind; looking for, and waiting unto, the bleed Hope, and the glorious Appearance of the Great God and of our Saviour Jefus Chrift; who, according to his Promife, fhall give them an inheritance in That New Heavens and New Earth, wherein Truth and Righteousness are to dwell for ever: These, and These only, are the true and living Members of the

Body of Christ, of his Flesh, and of his SER M. Bones, (as St Paul by a bold and lively IX. Figure most elegantly expreffes it, Eph. v. 30;) of One Body, and of One Spirit with him: Thefe are indeed the Holy Church, and City, and Temple, of God: These are they, of whom the Apostle in the Texts by one of the noblest and most expreffive Metaphors that ever was used by Any Writer, affirms that they are already come unto Mount Sion; Even while they still continue here upon Earth, in this mortal and tranfitory ftate; yet because their converfation is in Heaven, and they live according to the righteous Laws of That spiritual Country, wherein they expect their portion of inheritance, and into which there fhall in no cafe enter any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh Abomination, or maketh a Lie; therefore they are already, faith he, come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, and to an innumerable Company of Angels, To the general Assembly and Church of the firft-born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of All, and to the Spirits

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SER M.Spirits of just men made perfect, and to IX. Jefus the Mediator of the New Cove

nant.

IN the further treating upon which words, I fhall first confider diftinctly the feveral Perfons, whom the Apostle here fuppofes to have a relation to, and communion with, each other: And from thence, fecondly, there will naturally appear the true Scripture-notion of the Catholick Church of Christ, and of That Unity, or Communion, which is between the Members of it, as Members of the One Body of Chrift.

Ist, As to the several Perfons, whom the Apostle here fuppofes to have a relation to, and communion with, each other; 'tis to be observed that the Kingdom of God, is in Scripture defcribed under the Notion or Similitude of a royal City: Hẹb. xi. 10. Abraham looked for a City which lath foundations, whofe builder and maker is God: In the words of the Text, 'tis Mount Sion, the City of the Living. God, the heavenly Jerufalem. Now as in every City or Kingdom, All who in Any station belong unto it, have a mutual re

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