TH

Lately publish'd by the fame Author.

HE Eternity of Future Punishment afferted and vindicated. In Anfwer to Mr Whifton's late Treatise on that Subject. In two Sermons preach'd before the University of Oxford.

The Nature, Procedure, Extent, Value and Effects of a Rational Faith Confidered. In two Sermons preach'd before the University of Oxford.

The Practical Influence of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity represented. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford, on Trinity Sunday, 1745

The Nature, Extent and Support of human Laws confider'd. A Sermon preach'd at the Affizes held at Oxford, by the Hon. Mr. Baron Clarke and Mr. Juftice Forfter, on Thursday, March 8. 1749.

The Importance of the Chriftian Faith illuftrated, in the Explanation of St. Paul's Wifh of being accurs'd for his Brethren. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford, on Sunday, Jan. 26. 1752.

Printed for F. Fletcher in the Turl, Oxford.

Where may be had.

The Nature and Reasonableness of the Inward Call and Outward Miffion to the Holy Miniftry Confider'd. A Sermon preach'd before the Right Rev. Father in God THOMAS Lord Bishop of Oxford, at the Ordination at Christ Church, on Sunday Dec. 22. 1745. and before the University of Oxford, at St Mary's Mar. 2. 1745-6.

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The Natural Effect and Religious Improvement of extraordinary Divine Judgments, and of Solemn Falts inftituted in Remembrance of them. Sermon preach'd before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the AlAldermen and Citizens of London; at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on Friday Sept. 2. 1748. Being the Anniversary Faft appointed for the dreadful Fire in London in the Year 1666.

The Expediency of the Miraculous Powers of the Chriftian Fathers; and the Inexpediency of thofe that are claim'd by the Church of Rome, confider'd. Two Sermons preach'd before the University of Oxford, at St.Mary's.

The Mofaick Hiftory of the Fall confider'd. Two Sermons preach'd before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's.

The Grounds of Submiffion to Government, the Origin of the different Modes of Civil Polity, and the Happiness of our own Form of Legiflature in particular confider'd. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, June 11. 1752. being the Anniversary of his Majesty's Acceffion to the Throne.

A Sermon preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Three Choirs of Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, in the Cathedral Church at Hereford, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 1753.

Cathe

Thefe Six laft, by the Rev. William Parker, B. D. Rector of Little Ilford in Effex, Minister of St, rine Cree, London, and F. R.S.

The Importance of the Chriftian Faith illuftrated in the Explanation of St. Paul's Wish of being accurfed for his Brethren.

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SERMON

Preach'd before the

UNIVERSITY

O F

OXFORD,

On Sunday, January 26. 1752.

By WILLIAM DODWELL D. D. Rector of Shottefbrook, Berks, and Prebendary

of Sarum.

Printed at the Request of the VICE-CHANCELLOR and the Heads of Houses.

OXFORD,

Printed at the THEATRE for JAMES FLETCHER in the Turl, and Sold by S. BIRT in Ave-Mary-Lane, and J. and J. RIVINGTON in St. Paul's Church-Yard, London. M DCC LII.

ROM. ix. 3.

I could wish that Myself were accurfed from Chrift for my Brethren, my Kinfmen according to the Flesh.

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N extraordinary Kind of Wish in all Appearance this! and fuch an one, as at first Sight, We scarce perhaps know how to reconcile to the Apoftolical Character. It may be of fome Use to ascertain the Senfe of this Paffage, before We proceed to confider the important End which He had in View in this warm and fingular Expreffion.

For does it not seem, according to the obvious Senfe of the Words, to import, as if St. Paul could with Himself in the Condition of the accurfed from Chrift, in the fad State of those who were finally separated from their Saviour, provided He could thereby answer the Purpose He was speaking of; which was indeed the Converfion of his Jewish Brethren? But now could a reasonable Creature, a Christian, an Apostle, make fuch an unaccountable Wish as this? Is it barely poffible that a Thinking Being could thus contradict the Instinct of Nature, and the Dictate of Reafon (Both which teach the Defire of SelfA

Prefer

Prefervation and Happiness) and wish Himself for ever miferable, upon any End or View whatfoever? Does not Religion' apply its Motives to this our innate Defire of Felicity, and continually represent the Importance of our Duty to our own Welfare? Does not that very Precept, which teaches us to love our Neighbours as Ourselves, proceed upon the Suppofition of our bearing neceffarily a ftrong Love to Ourfelves, and at the fame Time imply the Reasonableness of our doing fo, and the Impoffibility, upon the whole, of our loving Others better than Ourselves? "Tis true, the Believers of the Chriftian Doctrine may, and Many of its first Profeffors actually did, arrive at fo Heroick a Pitch of Virtue, as to disregard all the Interests of this Life for the Sake of doing Good to Others, and to facrifice Life itfelf for the Converfion even of their Perfecutors. But the Reason of all this was, because the Exchange proved to their own Advantage. Futurity yielded them a glorious Profpect, and all their Sufferings led them fooner to final Happiness. Whereas the being Accurfed from Chrift is a State that affords Nothing but an Expectation of endless Horror, and what No Man can feriously and premeditatedly wish to Himself, however rafhly He may proceed, through the Violence of present Temptations, in the Path that leads to it.

But if the Abfurdity and Impoffibility of this had not been fo open and flagrant in itself, yet the Apostle had Himself in this very Difcourfe difclaimed the Thought in the strongest Terms in