SERMONS ON THE Subjects following, Viz. On the Nativity of our Bleffed The Doctrine of the Refurrection The beauty of Holinefs difcover'd The Neceffity, Reasonableness, and Excellency of doing Good, Illuftrated. Of the Dury and Advantages of The Nature and Neceffity of Sacra- The great Benefits of Chrift's A- An inquiry into the Distinction, By THOMAS GREGORT, M. A. Late of Wadham College in Oxford. LONDON: Printed for MAURICE ATKINS at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1708. D THE PREFACE TO THE READER. T HE Author of the following Difcourfes, being (fome time fince) deceas'd, it may be thought Decent, if not Neceffary, that a Friend's Hand fhould introduce 'em to the Publick; A 2 lick; for befides,that 'tis an Office both of Tenderness and Piety to place out the Orphan, when the Parent is Dead, especially where there is ground to believe he would have difpos'd of it in this very way, had it pleas'd God to have prolong'd his Life. The Cuftom of Prefacing has moreover crept into fo general a vogue, that the moft ferious and concerning Subjects cannot fteal abroad without the varnish of a Preface, or the passport of a Dedication: Indeed, of all Subjects I fhould think that Religious Difcourfes might make their way without fo much Ceremony, fince the importance of their Matter, and the honesty of their Delign, is a fair Plea for their Friendly Reception; and perhaps they might enjoy the Advantage of this diftinction, did not their variety and number stand in bar to their Succefs; for to fay Truth, the Prefs has within 40 Years laft paft, prefented the World with so many excellent Difcourfes upon all the parts of Practical Piety (and Sermons more efpecially) that the lefs Zealous and Devout (which are far the bigger Family) feem overcharg'd with the Plenty, like the Ifraelites of old with their Quails and Manna. And then for those that have more Piety, but withal a nicer Palate, they are very fhy of admitting any Pieces of this kind, that are not Grac'd with the Names and Authorities of the greatest Mafters in this way; fo that between the Coolness of the one fide. and the Delicacy of the other, the best Difcourfes, under the Title of Sermons, can hardly A 3 work L |