SERM, fincere repentance and reformation. It is XV. true that men, even without a revelation,

have great reafon to believe that God, whofe tender mercies are over all his works, and who exerciseth fuch long-fuffering, patience, and forbearance, towards mankind, is placable, if his offending creatures heartily repent and amend their doings, and that his impartial equity will make a difference between fuch as do fo, and them who continue obftinately impenitent and difobedient; but how far his wifdom might fee fit to teftify his displeasure against the finful inventions even of the penitent, and what he may require previously to their enjoying the full effects of his reconciled favour, their reafon could not fo fully fatisfy them, but that it must be acknowledged an invaluable advantage to have a pofitive and clear declaration from himself well attefted, that he will grant them a full and free remiffion of all their fins, that he will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and remember their tranfgreffions no more; and this we have by Jefus Chrift, in whofe name repentance is preached and forgiveness. An ingenuous mind will find itself strongly engaged by the facred bond of gratitude to the mercy of God, who hath published his law of grace, excellently accommodated to

our

427 our state of infirmity, and guilt, whereby he SER M. enjoineth and promiseth to accept of repent- XV. ance, that is, an affectionate return to our duty, with a hearty concern for our past offences, and a diligent endeavour to do his will for the future. There is a mighty force in that argument, which is so strongly urged by the facred writers, ye are not your own, for you are bought with a price, which is explained thus, ye are redeemed from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, not with corruptible things, as filver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a lamb without blemish and without fpot; therefore glorify God in your bodies and fpirits, that is, abound in all good works, and in the practice of every virtue, whereby you may do honour to, and promote the cause of, truth and pure religion which is the caufe of God; and a converfation like the reft of the corrupt world is fo far from becoming the gospel, you should be perfuaded by the mercies of God which it bringeth and delareth to you, no more to be conformed to the world, but to be tranformed by the renewing of your minds.

2dly, Another great encouragement we have is, the promise of divine affistance in order to our doing good works, and standing

up

SERM. Compleat in all the will of God. Such is XV the weakness of men, fo ftrong their prejudices, efpecially by vicious cuftoms which have obtained, and evil habits, that to reclaim them, and bring them to integrity and goodness, there needed a gracious interpofition of God himself. Of this, wife men men among the heathens were fenfible, and expreffed their defire and expectations of it; and the more rare examples of illuftrious virtue they attributed to fuperior aids from heaven. But it is fully explained and afcertained by the gofpel, a great part of which is taken in defcribing the various operations and influences of the Holy Spirit on the minds of men, in order to their carrying religious virtue to a just measure of perfection. The ancient prophets foretold it, as the glory of the laft and most perfect form of religion, namely, the chriftian, that the Spirit of God fhould be poured abundantly on his fervants; and though many of their prophecies relate to extraordinary gifts, yet fome speak of the affiftances which fhould be given for the ordinary purposes of religious life, as Ezekiel xxxvi. 26. A new heart alfo will I give you, and a new fpirit will I put within you; and I will take away the ftony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of fefb; and I

will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to SERM. walk in my ftatutes. But in the New Tefta XV. ment this is declared more plainly. Our Saviour affureth his disciples that their heavenly Father will give his fpirit to them that ask him. There were indeed miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost given to the apoftles and others for the confirmation of chriftianity, but the Spirit is alfo given to other chriftians, to instruct, and establish, and comfort them; and the apoftle teacheth us that the virtues of temperance, patience, meeknefs, and charity, are the fruits of the Spirit, produced, exercifed, and carried to perfection, by his af fiftance. The examples propofed in fcripture for our imitation carry alfo in them a ftrong perfuafive force, fince they fhew that as virtue appeareth beautiful and lovely in the defcription, fo it is practicable in life; that it is not only for fuperior natures, but shineth with a peculiar luftre, when it refifteth many difficulties, and conquereth violent oppofition Above all, the perfect pattern given us by Jefus Chrift, the captain of our Salvation, who was made perfect by fufferings, his example, I fay, should inspire us with a noble ardor and strong refolution to follow his steps.

Laftly,

SERM. Laftly, The great rewards which our SaXV. viour hath declared he will give to his faith

ful fervants at the last day, are a mighty support to virtue. However ftrong the arguments from reafon itself may appear to us for a future existence, yet the wifeft men who had no revelation were uncertain about it; but now God hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel, which defcribeth the future judgment fo fully and circumftantially, and reprefenteth the iffues of it fo diftinctly, that the argument drawn from that topic appeareth in a quite different light; and the apostle had reason to say, as he doth Acts xvii. 30. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent. And not only is this a confideration which strongly urgeth us to repentance and the reforming our lives in general, but it hath force enough to raise every virtue to the highest pitch and defeat the most powerful temptations. Are we called to arduous fervices, and to undergo grievous fufferings, to take up the crofs and follow Chrift, to deny ourselves, to fubmit to God's will patiently under the greatest afflictions, and truft in him, even in the greatest dangers ? There is fufficient encouragement to all this in the exceeding great and eternal weight of glory