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VII.

and, for That reason, 'tis an Act of Vir-S ER M. tue to be guided by them. For the fame reason, in matters of Revelation likewife; Blessed, fays our Saviour, are they that have not feen, and yet have believed, Joh. XX. 29. That is: Not, they who are credulous, and believe without reafon; but they who, like the Bereans, are convinced of the Truth by Searching into the grounds of it. The Trial of whofe Faith, faith St Peter, will be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift: Whom having not feen, ye love; in whom, though Now ye fee him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unSpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. i. 7. This is the character the Scripture gives us of the Virtue of Faith, and the commendation of those who are eminent for having it. On the contrary, they who by prejudices and vicious inclinations are prevented from searching after the Truth, and, instead of attending to and examining what is Right, feek rather for Cavils industriously to evade the evidence and conviction of it; these are the perfons whom

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SER M. whom the Scripture with the greatest seVII. verity condemns for their infidelity, as be

ing an evil and adulterous generation. The uncircumcifion which is by nature, faith St Paul, if it fulfil the Law, shall it not judge thee, who by the letter and circumcifion doft tranfgrefs the Law? Rom ii. 27. Mat. xii. And our Saviour; The men of Nineveh,

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fays he, fhall rife in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold a greater than Jonas is bere. Perfons thus refifting the Truth, our Lord, after the first and fecond admonition, rejected; and refused to give them any further Signs: and commanded his Disciples in like manner, to shake off the duft of their feet for a teftimony against them, and not continue to caft their pearls before fwine. God had dealt with the Jews of old, after the fame manner : Pf. lxxxi. 12. My people would not hear my voice, and Ifrael would not obey me; So I gave them up unto their own hearts lufts, and let them follow their own imaginations. And to men in future Ages, who fhall

be

VII.

be found of the fame temper, the Scrip- SER M. ture threatens that God, in just anger, shall even fend them strong delufion, that they may believe a Lye, 2 Th. ii. 11. The Effect of mens being in this manner given up for their Abusing the divine patience, is thus expreffed by the Pfalmist. Pf lxxviii. 60. When God heard this, he was wroth, and took fore difpleasure at Ifrael: So that he forfook the tabernacle in Silo, even the Tent that he had pitched among men: He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's band: He gave his people alfo over unto the fword, and was wroth with his inheritance. And by our Saviour in his affectionate lamentation over Jerufalem, Matt. xxiii. 37, O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, thou that killeft the prophets, and ftoneft them which are fent unto thee! How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and would not! Behold, your houfe is left unto you defolate.

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SERMON

SERMON VIII.

How the Law is faid to be the
Strength of Sin.

[A Paffion-Sermon.]

29297029237 37 92 32.00 $25208 32 32

I COR. XV. 56 and 57.

The fting of Death is fin, and the Strength of fin is the law; but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift.

T

HE Apostle having in the SER M.
former part of this Chapter, VIII.
proved at large the truth of
the refurrection of Christ,

and the certainty of the fu

ture refurrection of Chriftians; and having from thence taken occafion to give a

full

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