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X.

departure of thofe, who have left this SER M. wicked and miferable world, and are gone to reft from their labours? For fo faith the Spirit of God, kev. xiv. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth yea faith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

VOL. V.

R 2

SER

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KIXIX

SERMON XI.

The Inexcufableness of rejecting the Gospel.

[Preached on Whitfunday.]

HEB. ii. 3 and 4.

How shall we efcape, if we neglect fo great falvation, which at the first began to be Spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God alfo bearing them witness, both with figns and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to his own will?

T

HESE words contain an ac- S ER M. count, how utterly inexcufable XI. all men are, who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel; either

by rejecting it through Unbelief, when of

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SER M. fered unto them; or by living unworthily XI. of it, after they have pretended to em

many

brace it. Many confiderations there are, which highly aggravate the fault of fuch perfons as contemptuously neglect the propofal of a Favour, which 'tis both their duty and their greatest interest to accept; and circumftances make them more and more inexcufable, and justly to deserve the feverest punishment, for their ingratitude and contempt. The intrinfick Goodness and Excellency of the Thing itfelf, which they defpife and neglect; the great value, the neceffity and fingular importance of it; the exceeding great benefit, which, by being duly received, it would bring along with it; and the Extreme Evils which are confequent upon the neglect of it: The Power and Auhority, the Greatness and Goodness of the Person, whofe Favour we make light of; our Subjection to him and Dependence upon him, as our abfolute Governour; or our Obligations to him, as our greatest Benefactor: The Dignity and Excellency of the Perfon, by whose interpofition the

Benefit

XI.

Benefit is procured, and by whom it is SER M. conveyed or fent to us: The great Difficulties that were neceffary to be underwent in order to obtain it, or the great Coft that was requifite to purchase it: The Strength and Clearness of the Evidence, and the Number and Greatness of the Proofs, made use of to affure us of the Certainty of it: All these are Circumftances which greatly increase our Obligation, to accept with Thankfulness the Advantage proposed, to make that due Use of it for which it was conferred, and be influenced by it in all the Actions of our Lives. And if we neglect or defpife it, or behave ourselves ill and unworthily under it; all the fame circumstances do highly aggravate our guilt, render us very inexcufable, and make us juftly to deferve the fevereft of punishments for our ingratitude and contempt. To reject That, which in the nature of the thing itself is of the highest Excellency and intrinfick Goodness, is a mark of the greatest Depravity and Corruption of Manners. To defpife That, which is of the last and

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