VII. and, for That reason, 'tis an Act of Vir- SER M. tue to be guided by them. For the fame reason, in matters of Revelation likewife; Bleffed, fays our Saviour, are they that have not feen, and yet have believed; Joh. XX. 29. That is Not, they who are credulous, and believe without reafon ; but they who, like the Bereans, are convinced of the Truth by Searching into the grounds of it. The Trial of whofe Faith, faith St Peter, will be found unto Praife and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though Now ye fee him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unSpeakable and full of glory; 1 Pet. i. 7. This is the character the Scripture gives us of the Virtue of Faith, and the commendation of those who are eminent for having it. On the contrary, they who by prejudices and vicious inclinations are prevented from searching after the Truth, and, inftead of attending to and examining what is Right, feek rather for Cavils industriously to evade the evidence and conviction of it; these are the perfons whom L 4 41. VII. SER M. whom the Scripture with the greateft fe verity condemns for their infidelity, as being an evil and adulterous generation, The uncircumcifion which is by nature, faith St Paul, if it fulfil the Law, fhall it not judge thee, who by the letter and circumcifion doft tranfgrefs the Law? Rom. ii. 27. Matt. xii. And our Saviour; The men of Nineveh, fays he, shall rise in judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold a greater than Jonas is bere. Perfons thus refifting the Truth, our Lord, after the first and fecond admonition, rejected; and refused to give them any further Signs and commanded his Difciples in like manner, to shake off the duft of their feet for a teftimony against them, and not continue to caft their pearls. before fwine. God had dealt with the Jews of old, after the fame manner; Pf. lxxxi, 12; My people would not hear my voice, and Ifrael would not obey me ; Sa I gave them up unto their own hearts lufts, and let them follow their own Imaginations. And to men in future Ages, who fhall be up VII. be found of the fame temper, the Scrip- SER M. ture threatens that God, in just anger, shall even fend them ftrong delufion, that they may believe a Lye; 2 Th. ii. 11. The Effect of mens being in this manner given for their Abusing the divine patience, is thus expreffed by the Pfalmift: P lxxviii. 60; When God heard this, he was wroth, and took fore difpleafure at Ifrael: So that he forfook the tabernacle in Shilo, even the Tent that he had pitched among men: He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand: He gave his people alfo over unto the fword, and was wroth with his inheritance. And by our Saviour in his affectionate lamentation over Jerusalem ; Matt. xxiii. 37; O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, thou that killeft the prophets, and ftoneft· them which are fent unto thee! How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a ben gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Bebold, your boufe is left unto you defolate. SERMON SERMON VIII. How the Law is faid to be the [A Paffion-Sermon.] I COR. XV. 56 and 57. The fting of Death is fin, and the Strength of fin is the law; but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. T HE Apostle having in the SER M. and the certainty of the fu ture refurrection of Chriftians; and having from thence taken occafion to give a full |