maturer Years, at remembering the petty Afflictions of our Childhood.

f

Let us refolve then, that we will try to take even joyfully not only the Loffes of this World, knowing that we have in Heaven a better and an enduring Subftance; but also the Diffolution of this Tabernacle, fince when we are uncloathed we shall be cloathed upon with an House eternal, and Mortality be fwallowed up of Life'. Let us, under all Preffures, of whatever Kind, look up, and lift up our Heads: for our Redemption draweth nigh: and contentedly wait all the Days of our appointed Time, till our Change come * ; never cafting away that Confidence, which hath great Recompenfe of Reward; for yet a little while, and be that shall come will come, and will not tarry . Thefe Reflexions let us familiarize to ourselves and learn from them to fix our Hearts, not on fuch unworthy Objects, as we are fubject to be disappointed about every Moment, whilft we have them; and must at fartheft in a few Years undergo the final Disappointment of parting with them for ever: but extend our Ambition to nobler Views; and fince we are made for Eternity,

g

Heb. x. 35, 37.

become fuperior both to the Pleasures and the Griefs of Time, that being neither feduced by the one, nor dejected by the other, we may go on with a steady and cheerful Attention to our prefent Duty, and our approaching Blifs; till the few and evil Days of our Pilgrimage 1 being ended, we may have our Confummation in Peace; and be admitted everlasting Inhabitants of that City, which hath Foundations, whofe Builder and Maker is God'.

h

SER

SERMON VIII.

JOHN XV. 26.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

HE Bleffings, which we have received

TH

from the Sovereign Lord of all, are either the original ones of Creation and Providence, or the fuperadded one of Redemption from Sin and Mifery. The former Sort are in fome Measure difcoverable by Reafon, but much more fully made known by Revelation: of the latter our whole Knowledge is from Revelation alone. But being through its Means once acquainted with those new Relations, in which God's Mercy to fallen Man hath placed

us

us, and with the new Obligations, to which they fubject us; it is no lefs criminal to difregard this Part of Religion, than the other: fince not only the Foundation of it in the Truth of Things is equally real, but its Importance to our Happiness, if poffible, greater. And the feveral Persons of the Sacred Trinity having manifefted their Love to us by concurring in our Recovery, and conducting and executing, according to the Difpofition of infinite Wisdom, their feveral Shares of that gracious Work; we are confequently bound to distinct Acts of Faith and Duty towards each: the Performance of which, agreeably to the Direction of God's Word, constitutes the peculiar Duty of a Christian. Amongst these, the present Seafon leads us to confider, what Offices the Holy Ghost hath condefcended to execute for our Salvation. And as they confift, partly in teftifying to us outwardly the Certainty of our Religion, partly in moving us inwardly to be affected by it as we ought, I fhall difcourfe now on the former of thefe Points: by laying before you,

I. More generally, the Teftimony given by the Bleffed Spirit, in fucceffive Ages, to Divine Truths; above all to the Grant of a Saviour to Mankind.

II. In a more particular Manner, that evermemorable Confirmation, vouchfafed, as on this Day, to the Doctrine of the Gospel, by his descending on the Apoftles, and induing them with miraculous Gifts: of which I fhall prove the Reality, and draw from it proper Inferences. For it will be useful to put you in Remembrance of thefe Things, though ye know them, and be established in the prefent Truth'.

I. First then, I fhall lay before you, more generally and briefly, the Teftimony given by the Spirit, in fucceffive Ages, to Divine Truths.

as

Prophecy, as St. Peter obferves, came not in old Time by the Will of Man: but holy Men of God Spake they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Accordingly we find in Multitudes of Places, from the earliest Book of Scripture to the latest, fupernatural Impulfes and Illuminations afcribed to the Spirit of God":

nor can we

doubt therefore, but they proceeded from him always, though fometimes it is not exprefsly affirmed. So that we are to honour the Third

c Gen. vi. 3. xli. 38. Numb. xi. 25, 26. xxiv. 2. 1 Sam. X. 10. 2 Kings ii. 9. &c. 1 Chr. xii. 18. 2 Chr. xv. 1. Neh. Ezek. ii. 2. Zech, vii. 12. Rev. i. 10. ii. 7. iv. 2. &c.

ix.

30.

Perfon