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deavoured, by comparing one Scripture with another, to know what was Revealed, and what they found Reveal'd they firmly believed.

We fhould not dare to argue about the Equity of God's Reveal'd will, or the Certainty of what he hath declared shall be, but reft in a firm Belief, that whatsoever he hath determined is Unexceptionably Juft and Equitable, because he hath determined it, and whatsoever he hath declared that he will do, shall unquestionably be performed, because he hath declared it. We may by our Reafon examine, and fatisfy our felves in the motives of Credibility, the evidence which God hath given, that the Holy Scriptures are his Word and Will; but all Scruples and Uncertainty, about the Reafonableness of what he hath thus Revealed, are Foolish and Unlawful, Impious and Destructive.

3ly, and laftly, We may hence learn what are the proper Grounds of our obligation to conform our lives to the Gospel of Christ.

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Doubtlefs

Doubtless after fome time spent in Sincere and Induftrious endeavours to correct and fubdue our Inordinate and Impetuous paffions and inclinations, the fatisfactions of a Virtuous life do abun- ' dantly exceed the pleasures of Sin. But Arguments drawn from this confideration, though ever fo artfully contrived and recommended, are of no great force with Habitual Sinners. The excellency of Virtue fimply and abfolutely confider'd, without any relation to God's commands, Confcience and a Future ftate, is commonly flighted and rejected by those, whofe daily enjoyments and delights do, at leaft in their own opinion, contradict all the fine characters and descriptions of it. Under the Gospel we have no occafion for these empty and ineffectual Arguments, grounded upon the beauties of Virtue in this Abfolute fenfe confider'd; and by the use of fuch Arguments alone, or perhaps by the frequent use of them, we fhould not a little derogate from the Honour of the Gospel; in which are reveal'd Principles unfpeak

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ably more Excellent and Effectual, motives equal to the utmost of our Hopes and Fears, the Engaging expectation of Eternal Happiness, and the Dreadful apprehenfions of Eternal Misery.

We now know Affuredly, that the time will come, when all Profane and Irreligious Wit, which is now carefs'd with so much Approbation and Delight, will plainly prove the groffeft and most wretched Folly. The time will come, when all the Pleasures of finful enjoyment will be past and gone, and as if they had never been, upon all accounts but that they will be fucceeded with Endless mifery. The time will come, when all the Troubles and Difficulties of an Holy life fhall be Rewarded, at God's right hand, with Joys abundantly furpaffing all that we can now Describe or Imagine; with all the Happiness that we shall even then, when our Faculties are Refined and Improved, be capable either of Enjoying or Defiring. To which Bleffed and Glorious ftate God of his Infinite Mercy bring us all, by the Continu

al Influence of his Holy Spirit upon us, through the Merits and Interceffion of Jefus Chrift our Saviour; To whom be afcribed all Honour and Glory henceforth and for Evermore, Amen.

SERMON II.

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SERMON II.

The Resurrection of the fame Body.

MATTH. XXII. 31, 32.

As touching the Refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was fpoken unto you by God, faying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

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Rejudice is fo ftrong a Biafs upon the Thoughts, that thofe, who are fwayed by it, do generally become as Tenacious of a Falfe opinion, as of a True one. And that unhappy Turn, which it gives to the Mind, does not only appear in matters of little moment,

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