11. Motives to moderation. Moderation becomes the Christian character,

464; adorns Christianity, 464; heals divisions, 464; is enforced by

the vicissitudes of events, 465, and by the nearness of the judge-

ment, in which Christ will pass a final sentence, 465–467.

Application to the subject of the pestilence, 469.

SERMON XXVIII. (page 472.)

PREACHED BEFORE THE KING, ON EASTER-DAY. Hebr. xiii.

20, 21. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our

Lord Jesus, &c.

The words contain: I. a prayer; II. arguments to enforce it.

I. In the prayer, we may observe, 1. the matter of it, perfection in every

good work, 473; 2. the rule of our perfection in working, God's will,

475; 3. the end of doing his will, to please him, 475; 4. the prin-

ciples of this perfection, God's peaceable affection towards us in

Christ, 475; and his gracious working in us, 478.

II. The arguments to enforce the prayer are drawn, 1. from the free

grace of God in an everlasting covenant, 479; 2. from the love of

Christ in purchasing the mercies of that covenant with the price of

his own blood, 480; 3. from the power of God, bearing witness to

the efficacy of that blood, in raising Christ from the dead, 485; 4.

from the pastoral office of Christ in dispensing the mercies of this

covenant, 487.

SERMON XXIX. (page 490.)

PREACHED BEFORE THE KING. Phil. iii. 8. I count all things

but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my

Lord.

The excellency of the Gospel will appear, 1. by comparing it with the

state of innocency in paradise, 492; 2. with the law of Moses, 494;

3. with the noblest perfections, acquirable by natural abilities, 497;

4. by referring to the absolute excellence of the Gospel, 498; its

sublimity, godliness, 499; its reconciliation of divine attributes, 499,

as the means of salvation, 501; its sufficiency for its purposes, 502;

preciousness of objects contained in it, 503; its introducing us

to the possession of God and Christ, 505; the eternity of its future

glory, 507.

SERMON XXX. (page 513.)

PREACHED BEFORE THE LORD MAYOR. Micah vi. 6-8. Where-

with shall I come before the Lord, &c.

The words contain two parts: I. the question of a guilty people; II. the

answer of the prophet to that enquiry.

I. The question implies, 1. a festination, wherewith shall I come, 517;

2. their humility, and low myself, 519; 3. an anticipation of the

prophet's answer, by proffering external services, and works of su-

pererogations, invented by themselves, 520-523.

II. The prophet's answer contains: 1. a reprehension of confidence in

external duties, and of projects of human devotion, 524. 2. a di-

rection to appear before God with the duties of judgement in ad-

ministration, 527, in negotiation, 529, in conversation, 530; with the

duty of mercy, 531, and of humbly walking with God. These duties

must be founded on the light of God's law, and on the authority of

God's will, 533. The mode of discharging the duties must be marked

by constancy, 534, by sincerity, 534, by humility and self-denial in

our persons and duties, 534, and by faith, 535. The inducements

unto these duties are the considerations of human frailty, 535; of

God's nature, who, as a most high God, cannot be otherwise ap-

proached; and, as a God of mercy, will teach us how we may draw

near to him, 536.

These duties are good by their conformity to the will of God, 536, and by
their contributing to the felicity of man.

SERMONS

ON

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

VOL. V.

B

SION'S PRAISES;

Opened in a SERMON, preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Common-Council of London: on the day of Solemn Thanksgiving unto God for his long and gracious preservation of that great City, from Pestilence, Fire, and other Dangers.

TO THE HONOURABLE

SIR ROBERT TITCHBORNE, KNIGHT,

LORD MAYOR OF LONDON,

THE ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCIL

OF THAT GREAT AND FAMOUS CITY.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

Instead of a dedication, I must make an apology, that this short Sermon hath been so long in the second birth of it from the press; for besides my various diversions and indisposedness, by reason of infirmities, to spend much time together, in revising, transcribing, and maturing short notes for a public view; I had at the same time another service of the like nature upon me, which having been before begun, I could not, till finished, conveniently attend this. It pleaseth the Lord still so to continue those mercies to this city, for the thankful recounting whereof, he put it into your hearts to appoint this service, that as the duty was very seasonable when it was performed; so I hope the publication (though too long after) may not be altogether improper, to mind us all of the Lord's great goodness, in continuing those comforts unto us, and of our duty, daily to resume and revive the memory of them. If this weak endeavour of mine to quicken you and myself unto that great work of praising