SERMON XII.

Of the Number of those that shall

Thou hast a few Names even in Sardis, that have not defiled their Garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

W

HETHER thefe Epiftles of SER M. our Saviour to the Seven XII. Churches of Afia, are to be understood literally only, as Exhortations to thofe Seven

particular Churches; or whether, accord

ing

SER M.ing to the Analogy of the reft of This XII. Book, they are to be applied in the prophetick ftyle to Seven different States, Succeffions, or Periods, of the Whole Church of Chrift; is not material to our present Purpose to inquire. The Matter contained in these Admonitions, may, by a Moral Application, become equally ufeful to us, upon either Suppofition. For, what St Paul affirms concerning the State of the ancient Jewish Church; that the things which befel them, were our Examples, and were writ for our Admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are come; is undoubtedly much more true, of the things relating to the Antient Chriftian Church, whether particular or universal. These Exhortations therefore of our Saviour, whether given to the Single Churches of Afia, or intended to be applied to the feveral Succeffive Periods of the Catholick Church are either way worthy of our most serious meditations. The Subject-matter of each of the seven Epiftles is very nearly the fame; confifting of three parts; A Commendation of the Faith and Patience

of

XII.

of the Saints, a Reproof of their Defects, S ER M. and an Exhortation either to Amendment, or Perfeverance. The State of the Church of Sardis is reprefented as one of the most reproveable of the feven; and therefore the Epistle to This Church does not begin, as most of the others do, with a Commendation of their Faith and Patience, but on the contrary with a very severe Reproof; ver. 1, I know thy Works, that thou hast a Name, that thou liveft, and art dead. Then follows the Exhortation to repent, ver. 2, Be watchful and Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy Works perfect before God: Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and bold faft, and repent. After which he adds in the laft place that fmall Commendation which could be allowed to fo imperfect a Church, in the Words of the Text: Nevertheless thou haft a Few Names even in Sardis, that have not defiled their Garments, and They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. It might reafonably be hoped, that, in a careless and corrupt Age, it should be an awakenVOL. IV,

T

ing

SER M.ing Confideration to All who have any XII. true Concern for the Glory of God, and for the Honour and Purity of Religion ;to think within themselves, if in the best and pureft Times of the Gofpel, if in thofe Primitive Ages, and among thofe moft eminent Churches of Afia, there was one to which no better Commendation could be afforded, than that there were in it a Few Names which had not

defiled their Garments; what Apprehenfions will it become Us to have of ourselves, in thefe laft and degenerate Ages, when our Works are not only Ready to die, but actually dead; nay, when we scarce have fo much as a Name that we live? when on the One hand by open Atheism, Irreligion and Prafanenefs, and on the Other hand by ignorant and fuperftitious Contentions about vain, needtefs and unintelligible Opinions, the Life and Soul of Religion, true Devotion and Piety towards God, and Univerfal Righteousness, Love and Good-will towards Men, is in a manner wholly eaten out and confumed? If in the Primitive Church itself, Judgment thus began at the House

of

حمة

of God, what must the End be of them SÉR M. that obey not the Gospel at all; And if the XII. Righteous fcarcely be faved, where shall the Ungodly and the Sinner appear? But This I intimate only, as a general Obfervation upon the Whole. In the Words themselves we may more diftinctly obferve the following Particulars. 1ft, The Number or Proportion of thofe, who fhall inherit Salvation; Thou hast a Few nàmės even in Sardis: 2dly, The Qualification by which they are entitled to that inheri tance; Which have not defiled their Garments: 3dly, The Nature or Defcription of the Reward promifed them; They shall walk with me in White: And 4thly, The Character or Encomium given to the perfons who fhall obtain this inheritance; For they are Worthy.

Ift, HERE is expreffed the Number or Proportion of thofe who fhall inherit Salvation; Thou hast a Few names even in Sardis: The Atrict and proper intention of which Words in this place, feems to be to declare, that even in Sardis, tho' one of the most corrupt of all the Seven Churches, yet even in That Church there