SERM. My Friends, amidst all the Infidelity and Delufion of the Age, wherein we live, let us ftedfaftly adhere to the caufe of Truth and Righteousness, as taught us in the Gospel, and make the best use we can of thofe Helps we have to understand it; and we fhall affuredly find it an impregnable Fortrefs; capable of bearing all Weathers, and withstanding the fury of all Affaults, in every method of Attack. Bigots may rave, and Infidels fneer; but the Rage of the former is impotent, as the breaking Wave against a Rock; and the Pride of the latter fhall end in Confufion. The time will come, when the grand Laugh will be turned upon themselves. And if their pointed Shafts of Ridicule be not retorted now (r), they will certainly rebound upon them hereafter and we have all the reafon in the World, in fo good a caufe patiently to wait the Decifion of that great laft Day. 4. Under (r) As they have been by a fine and nervous hand, against a late celebrated and noble Mafter, of that Science. See Brown's first and third Essays on the Characteristicks. 4. Under every Affliction of Life let us turn our Eyes to our fuffering Redeemer, as a perfect Pattern of Patience; and fay"Infinitely more than this did my dear "Lord and Mafter bear for me. And "how did he bear it? Oh, with what "Meekness, and Patience, and Peace, with "what Fortitude, and Faith, and perfect "Submiffion to the Will of GOD! "then after his Example, and as his Fol"lower, would I endeavour to bear the "prefent Load. And herein, I know, he " is always ready to help me, and his Grace " is fufficient for me." Thus Laftly, From what hath been delivered on the latter part of the Subject, let us triumph in the Faith and views of a triumphant Saviour. That Suffering Jefus is now exalted, and extolled, and is very high. He who was humbled fo much on Earth, now reigns at God's right Hand in Heaven; hath changed his Crofs for a Throne, his Crown of Thorns for one of Glory: And he will reign, till he hath made all his Enemies hist Footstool. Let us then bow to his Authority, and own his Rule. As his Subjects we have fworn Allegiance to him; let no other N 2 SER M. VII. SERM. other Lords then have Dominion over us. Let not the World, let not Sin, let not our dearest Comfort on Earth ufurp the Dominion of our Heart; let us preferve it facred to the Redeemer, and admit nothing there in competition with him. And thus if we permit him to reign over us now, he will admit us to reign with him for ever. To that Bleed Lamb of GOD be Glory, Dominion and Praise, World without end, Amen. SER SERMON VIII. The peculiar Doctrines of Chriftianity the Subject of antient Prophecy. So fhall be Sprinkle many Nations, the Kings fhall fout their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them fhall they fee; and that which they had not heard Shall they confider. HESE Words are a con tinuation of that famous Pro T phecy of the Messiah, begun in the two preceding Verfes, which were the Subject of the foregoing Difcourfe; and contains a brief description of those two infinitely different N 3 condi SERM. conditions, wherein he should hereafter apVIII. pear; and which are more particularly men tioned in the following Chapter. The relative particle (He) therefore refers us to the perfon spoken of in the foregoing Verse, viz. the Meffiab. And what is here foretold of him is, that the Divine Doctrines of his Gospel should be diffused through various nations, and be embraced by perfons of the highest dignity on earth; who should be inftructed thereby in many important points of Truth, which they could never learn from all the Light of nature or Philosophy of men. This is the Sentiment in the Text; which is expreffed in the true prophetic Stile, at first view dark and difficult, but upon fixing the juft import of every expreffion, the fenfe of the whole foon becomes obvious and eafy, In order hereunto then let us briefly attend to the force and meaning of some of the principal Words and Phrafes here used. And, 1. The particle (So), with which the verse begins, connects it with, and refers it to, the preceding, which contains a brief and general defcription of the Mefiah's Humilia tion A |