he knew, and he felt, that virtue had her beft fecurity, and most universal support. The fermon preached on the occafion of the Author's death, is, at the defire of many who heard it delivered, annexed to this vo-> lume; and it is hoped, both on account of the general truths which it contains, and the particular applications, that it will afford an agreeable entertainment to the reader. There is a fufficient number of fermons yet remaining among the Author's manufcripts to fill another volume equal in fize to the prefent; and if it fhall be defired by a refpectable number of fubfcribers or others, it may at fome future period be offered to the public, at the expence and hazard of the publisher. The reafon for mentioning this at prefent is, that if the demand should make the fecond volume neceffary, it is intended to give along with it, gratis, in order to fuit the conveniency of fubfcribers, title pages for a first and fecond volume. The reader will not be difpleafed to find,. that he has 12 fermons more than was offered in the fubfcription papers. The finallness of the type was the occafion of this. The number originally propofed was 18; and that number, in fuch a type as is ufually employed in fimilar publications, would have fully fufficed. The Editor hopes, that the knowledge. knowledge of this circumftance, together with his limitation in point of time, will plead his excufe with the reader of difcernment, who may occafionally remark either inacurracies or repetitions, which otherwife might have been more eafily prevented. 16. } FEBRUARY 16. 1794. CON CONTENTS. N. B. The Sermons diftinguished by an afterifk, are Action Sermons. 1. The evidences and illuftration of Chrift's refur- III. The bleffings of Chrifl's purchase fufficient for IV. The invitation to the bluffings of Chrifl's pur- V. The nature and pleasures of devotion *, VI. Chrift the defire of all nations *, VII. The fulness of Chrift illuftrated, VIII. Refignation to God under the afflictive difpen- X. Death the termination of temporal enjoyment, XI. Death the feparation of the foul from the body, XII. Death the entrance into an untried flate, XIII. The grounds of encouragement under offliction XV. SERM. Page XIX. On perfeverance in the love of Chrißt, XX. On ftedfaftness in the work of the Lord, XXI. On abounding in the work of the Lord, XXII. On imitating the moral perfections of God, XXIII. On Satan's temptations, and the manner of XXIV. On the ncceffity and manner of Divine in- 223 263 XXV. The nature and obligations of religious ̧cón- 304 XXVIII. On the prefence of Chrift in the ordinances XXIX. On the happiness of a future ftate, XXX. The death of the faints precious in the fight of the Lord.-The fubftance of a fermon preach- ed at Strathmiglo, February 24th 1793, on the death of the reverend George Lyon, by 361 SERMON I. THE EVIDENCES AND ILLUSTRATION OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. MATTHEW xxviii. 6. He is not here, for he is rifen, as he said: come, fee the place where the Lord lay. THE HE prediction of our Saviour, concerning his crucifixion and death, was now accomplished. His enemies had nailed him to the crofs; and he bowed the head and gave up the ghoft. During this fcene of affliction to the Son of God, his avowed difciples had forfaken him, and fled. The common ceremonies of burial, and the attendance and respect which all nations have given to the dead, would have been neglected in this inftance, if Jofeph of Arimathea, a rich man, and a difciple of Chrift in his heart, had not begged his body from the Roman governor, and laid it in his own tomb. While he was employed in this honourable fervice, Mary Magdalene, and another Mary, the mother of James and Jofes, who beheld the crucifixion afar off, were fitting over-against the fepulchre. The memory of our Saviour's character, and gratitude in Mary Magdalene, for the miracle which he had wrought in her cure, had a more powerful effect on these pious wo B men, |