EXPOSITION OF THE Church-Catechiẩm : In Several DISCOURSES On all the PARTS of it. Together with Two Difcourfes. One, On confeffing Chrift before Men. VOL. II, By MATTHEW HOLE, D. D. Late Rector of Exeter-College in Oxford. I Cor. xiv. 12. Seek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the Church. D. LONDON, Printed in the Year M.DCC.XXXI. of the Enemy; Pfal. 107. 2. Not from Temporal Enemies alone, who can only kill the Body; but from fpiritual and cruel Enemies, who feek to damn and destroy the Soul. This fhould fill our Hearrs with Joy, and our Mouths with the Praises of our Redeemer: evermore faying, as we are taught in our daily Prayers, Bleffed be the Lord God of Ifrael, who hath vifited and redeemed bis People: Luke 1. 68. If a Redemption of our Bodies from the Bondage of Egypt, or the Slavery of Turkey, be apt to leave lafting Impreffions of Duty and Thankfulness to our Deliverer; what Extafies of Joy and Gratitude are due for a much greater Redemption of our Souls from the Powers of Death and Hell? efpecially confidering the Freenefs and Undefervedness of God's Goodness herein, being brought to pafs without any knowledge or concurrence of ours: for tho it coft our Saviour dear, yet it comes freely to us without Money or Merit. Add to this, the Largenefs and Extent of this Redemption, which is fufficient for, and offer'd to all Mankind; none are excluded from the Benefit of it, that will but fit themfelves for it, and are willing to receive it; which may and ought to excite in us the highest degree of Gratitude, and fill our Mouths with Songs of Thanksgiving. 2. We may learn hence, to put our Truft and Confidence as in God the Father our Almighty and Faithful Creator, fo in God the Son our All-fufficient Saviour and Redeemer. We can't doubt his Ability to fave us, who hath all Power both in Heaven and Earth: Nor need we question his readinefs to redeem us, who hath fhed his Blood, and laid down his Life to that end. We may now defy Satan and all Affaults, fince Chrift hath freed us from them. O Ifrael, fear not (fays God) for I have redeem'd thee; Ifa. 43. I. We may now fafely commit ourselves unto God in welldoing, and fay with David, Into thy hands I commend my Spirit, for thou hast redeem'd me, O Lord, thou God of Truth; Pfal 31. 6. Laftly, We may learn hence, to ferve, honour and worship our Redeemer all the days of our Life: his Goodnefs deferves this from us, and Juftice itfelf requires it; for we are not our own, we are bought with a Price: therefore (fays the Apoítle) glorify God with your Souls and Bodies, which are his. Let us live no longer to ourselves, but to him who hath fo dearly bought us; and fince he gave himfelf to redeem us from all Iniquity, let us purify ourfelves, and become a peculiar People unto him, zealous of good Works. VOL. I. A a D.IS |