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the mystery of the Gospel, that therein they may speak boldly, as they ought to speak (p). What is our united fupplication?" Make, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, all bishops and paftors diligently to preach "thy holy word, and the people obe"diently to follow the fame. Grant that "the minifters and ftewards of thy myftefries may prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the difobedient to the wisdom of the juft. Grant

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funto us all that we, being called by thy holy word, may forthwith give up ourfelves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments, through Jefus Christ our "Lord.' joy motor daw noiq

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SERMON II.

On Believers and Unbelievers,

ACTS, xxviii. 24.

And fome believed the Things which were Spoken; and fome believed not.

ST. PAUL, delivered by his false accufers in Judea into the hands of the Roman governor, perceived that no prospect of preferving his life remained, but by an appeal unto Cæfar. Exercifing therefore the right of a Roman citizen, he demanded to be fent to the Emperor, that by him the cause might be examined and decided. He was accordingly conveyed, as a prisoner, to Rome. His first care, on his arrival in that city, was to affemble his countrymen, the Jews to fatisfy them, that he had never purposed, in appealing unto Cæfar, to exhibit any complaint against the Jewish nation; and distinctly to fet before them that faith in Jefus of Nazareth, the promised Saviour,

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Saviour, for which he was an ambassador in bonds. His countrymen replied, that no charge against himself had reached their ears; that they had received but imperfect accounts concerning the doctrine which he profeffed; that they knew it, however, to be universally spoken againft; and that they were defirous of hearing a full statement of his opinions. A day was appointed. Numbers came to his abode. Earneft for their converfion, and zealous for the glory of his Master, he expounded to them the Scriptures, and teftified the kingdom of God, perfuading them concerning Jefus, both out of the law of Mofes, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. What was the effect of his labour? Some believed the Things which were spoken; and fome believed not. Some believed: Why They could not resist the power and wildom with which he spoke. They were willing to fiften to the truth; therefore their preju dices yielded. They turned their eyes to the light; therefore the light fhone not in vain. They difcerned in Jefus of Nazareth the undeniable characters of that Meffiah, to whom the Law and the Prophets bare witness they difcerned them with joy and thankfulness; therefore they glorified

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God by faith in his beloved fon. Some believed not: Why? Because they were exactly such men as the foreknowledge of the Holy Ghoft had described by the mouth of Ifaiah. Their heart was waxed grofs, and their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes they had clofed; left they fhould fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and be converted, and God fhould heal them. Their heart, fixed upon ceremonial ordinances and worldly pursuits, was averfe to fpiritual religion, humility, and holiness. Their ear gave no attention to doctrines which contradicted their prepoffeffions, and proclaimed the iniquity of the felf-righteous. Their eyes they wilfully fhut against that light from above, by which ignorance was detected, and guilt expofed. Therefore it was that Mofes and the prophets teftified before them, and produced not conviction. Therefore it was, that hearing they heard, and did not understand; and seeing they faw, and did not perceive. Therefore it was, that they withstood the evidence of the Gofpel. Therefore it was, that they would not be converted and healed. Therefore it was, that they would not accept the falvation of God.

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How ftands the cafe with refpect to Chriftians? To them univerfally is the Revelation of Jefus Chrift addreffed. To them Moses and the prophets, and all the infpired writers of the New Teftament, deliver their teftimony concerning the Redeemer of mankind. To them the Sabbath, as well as many an intervening day, opens the houses of God, that, after humBle fupplication and fincere thanksgiving, they may hear the words of eternal life. To them, the minifters of religion cease not to direct appropriate inftruction; cease not to unfold the whole counfel of God; to unveil the radical corruption of human nature; to make manifeft the power, the deceitfulness, and the confequences of fin; to display the grand doctrines of redemption and fanctification; to explain and enforce the precepts, admonitions, and exhortations of Holy Writ; to animate the righteous by the examples of faints of antient days; to alarm the guilty by the fate of former rebels against the Moft High; to ftrengthen the feeble, to confirm the wa vering, to convince the gainfayer, to comfort the afflicted, to inftil caution into the rash, humility into the prefumptubus. The wol.

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