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were caft off for their Obftinacy and Unbelief, we are called to the faving Knowledge, and Faith of the Meffiah; we who were Aliens Eph. 2, 12. to the Common-wealth of Ifrael, and Strangers to the Covenant of Promife, having no Hope and without God in the World. That is, without any Promifes on which to build a fure Hope of the heavenly Happiness, and without the clear Knowledge of his Nature and Will, and how to ferve him acceptably, and obtain his Favour. That what they faw by the Twilight of Types and Figures, and obfcure Promifes, is clearly discovered to us, on whom the Sun of Righteousness bath arifen with healing in his Wings, and bath brought Life and Immortality to Light in the Gospel.

And fince we are fure that the first Advent of our bleffed Saviour is Paft, let us live as those who firmly expect his fecond, which will be to judge the World at the last Day; When every Eye fhall fee him, and they alfo Rev. 1. 7. which pierced him, and all Kindreds of the Earth fhall wail because of him. If his first Appearance was mean and obfcure, in the Form of a Servant, infomuch that he was defpifed and rejected of Men, and when he came to his own, they received him not, his fecond

2 Theff. I. 7, &c.

fecond coming will be with astonishing Glory and Majefty, For the Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Voice of his Gofpel; who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction, from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. But to the Righteous it shall be a Scene of furprizing Joy and Comfort; for be fhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, on that Day.

God grant that you and I may fo believe and meditate upon thefe Things, as to be always prepared for the fecond Appearance of our Saviour, by leading holy and virtuous Lives; for to them that thus look for him, he Shall appear the Jecond Time, without Sin, unto Salvation.

A SER

A

SERMON

Preach'd at the

CASTLE of Dublin, before his Grace the Duke of BOLTON, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, after the Suppreffion of the Prefton Rebellion.

GAL. 4. Part of the 18th Verfe. But it is good to be Zealously affected always in a good Thing.

T

HE Galations upon their first Converfion by St. Paul's Ministry, had given the warmest Proofs of their Affection for his Perfon, and of their Zeal for the Chriftian Faith in its Simplicity and Purity. But during his Absence, certain falfe Teachers had found Means to practise on these young Believers,

and

and had poffeffed them that it was neceffary to retain certain Rites and Ufages of the Mofaick Law, and to incorporate the fame into the Religion of Chrift. This Defection was fo unaccountable, that he demands, who had bewitched them, Chap. 3. Ver. I.

These cunning Men had fucceeded fo well in their Design, as not only to fteal away their Hearts from the Apostle, but also to mislead their weak Zeal, and carry it off from the pure Precepts and fpiritual Worfhip of the Gofpel, to the dead and useless Rites of Judaism. The Apostle having expoftulated with them upon this Subject, and represented the Folly and Danger of fuch Defection, in the former Part of his Epistle; and likewise the base and mercenary Designs of these new Teachers, at the 17th Verse of this Chapter, he obferves to them in my Text, that it is good to be zealously affected always in a good Thing, and not only when he was prefent with them.

The firft and great Point is to make sure, that our Zeal is for a good Thing; for if we should happen to mistake here, either thorough Prepoffeffion, or Faction, or falfe Suggeftions

Suggestions of defigning Men, the Confequences will be extreamly bad.

The next Thing is to maintain and keep up our Zeal for good Things, to its proper Pitch, and not fuffer it to die away into Indifference and Luke-warmness.

The Zeal that is virtuous and founded upon true Principles, will be equal and uniform fo long as the Occafions last; but when it is fubject to cold Fits, and Intermiffions, it is rather a religious Diftemper than a Virtue of the Mind. This was the Fault of the Laodeceans, I know thy Works, that thou art neither cold nor hot So then because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will pew thee out of my Mouth.

The Expreffion is figurative, and alludes to the Reluctance of the Stomach, against tepid Liquors, and denotes here the high Displeasure of our Saviour against those Chriftians for having fallen off from their former Zeal for the Truth and Intereft of the Gospel; and therefore this Charge is back'd with an Admonition, Be zealous therefore and repent.

Having thus briefly fhewn how the Words are introduced, 1 shall from them take Oc

K

cafion

Rev. 3. 15

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