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go away? They, probably understanding no more of the preceding Difcourse than the others, answer by Peter, Lord, to whom shall we go ? Thou haft the Words of eternal Life. Let this fuffice us.

The Scriptures compar'd with human Writings, may be thought less curious and inftructive in many Particulars: Be it fo. The Greek cannot find in them the Wisdom he feeks: But whoever confiders our Lord, under the peculiar Character of the Author and Giver of Life, is immediately constrained to own, that he speaks as never Man spake. Herein is the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jefus our Lord. We may know him well in other refpects, as his Crucifiers heretofore did, and call his Blood upon our Heads, instead of incorporating it into our Hearts.

Some Perfons may probably think, that in the Profecution of this Subject,

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ject, in recommending the Search of the Scriptures from this fingle Motive, their containing in them eternal Life, that I have not done Juftice to other Inquiries, and that I may have leffen'd the Value of the feveral kinds of human Learning. This has been far from my Purpose. These Engagements may indeed by too eager a Purfuit draw us off from our highest Concern, and they may also be moderated and directed to affift it greatly. The Mind must be exercised variously as well as the Body, to improve its Strength and Vigour: The Employments of each are confiftent with eternal Life, and may either advance or retard the Bufinels of it, as they are fubordinated to it or otherwife. There is a Liberty, as well as a Simplicity in the Gofpel. Brethren, we are called unto Liberty, only use not Liberty for an Occafion to the Flesh. If we keep our fupreme Concern in our View, it

will blefs and fanctify all our Labours, and be a fweet Companion and Guide to us in all our Inquiries: But if we fuffer it to depart from us, we deprive our felves of our greatest Comfort, having nothing left to retreat to but Stupidity and Thoughtlessness.

I fhall conclude this Difcourfe with this moft excellent Collect of our Liturgy.

Bleffed Lord, who haft caufed all holy Scriptures to be written for our Learning: Grant that we may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digeft them, that by Patience and Comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold faft, the bleffed Hope of everlasting Life, which thou haft given us in our Saviour Jefus Chrift.

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DISCOURSE V.

The Gospel Notion of eternal Life inquired into and explained.

JOHN vi. 68.

Then Simon Peter anfwered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou haft the Words of eternal Life.

HE Occafion of these Words T was this: Our Lord had been entertaining his Followers with a very strange and my

fterious Difcourfe, which was fo fhocking and offenfive to many of them in its outward and obvious Meaning, that they call'd it a hard Saying, ask

ing amongst themselves, who could bear it? Nay, fo hard was it to them, that we are told, that from that time many of his Disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

The Discourse at which they were fo highly difgufted, and provoked to a final Desertion of him, was concerning eating and drinking his Flesh, and Blood; which he affured them was fo abfolutely neceffary, that without it they could have no Life in them. This, when understood in its Literal Meaning, must be very surprising to the Jews, who were under positive and repeated Commands from God, not to eat or drink fo much as the Blood of any Beast. Levit. vii. 26. it is faid, Ye shall eat no manner of Blood, whether it be of Fowl, or of Beaft, in any of your Dwellings : Whatfoever Soul it be that eateth any Blood, even that Soul fhall be cut off from his People. The Jews being under fuch

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