Page images
PDF
EPUB

In this Part of our Cafe, the Application, I blefs God, is made to my Hands. His Care over us has already appeared, and we are like to be faved whether we defire it or

no.

Let us then raise our Hearts to a juft Senfe of our Deliverance, that we may unfeignedly adore his holy Name for all his Mercies; and let us ftrive together to promote his Glory by a conftant and stedfast Adherence to the Church established, by a dutiful and ready Submiffion to our Prince, and by Love and Charity one among another.

DISCOURSE VI.

MATT. iv. 17.

From that Time Jefus began to preach, and to fay, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.

THE Defign of this Meeting being to promote the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts; and the Success of this Work depending on fuch Methods as human Prudence can fuggeft, now left deftitute of those miraculous Affiftances, which the Church of Chrift in her Infancy enjoyed; the Occafion will naturally fuggeft to your Thoughts, the Confideration of the Encouragements and Difficulties which attend this Undertaking; and of the Methods proper to attain this End, so much to be defired by every good and pious Christian;

but

but yet, fince I fucceed much abler Men, who have gone before me in the Performance of this Duty, and have with great Judgment confidered thefe neceffary Points; fince also I stand at prefent before fo many much abler, whofe Thoughts have long dwelt upon this important Subject; I beg Leave to decline the unequal Tafk, and to spend the Time allotted me in confidering upon what Foot the Gospel first set out in the World, when it was published by our bleffed Saviour and his Apoftles; and what it had to recommend it to the Reason of Mankind, abstracted from thofe Signs and Wonders, which were wrought by the Hand of God for its Confirmation.

The holy Evangelift tells us, that the first Doctrine which our bleffed Lord taught, was that of Repentance; From that Time Jefus began to preach, and to fay, Repent: That he taught it as neceffary to qualify Men for the Kingdom of Heaven; Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. What is to be understood by the Kingdom of Heaven's being at Hand, may be learnt from the parallel Place in St. Mark, chap. i. 14, 15. Now after that John was put in Prifon, Jefus came into Galilee, preaching

the

the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and faying, The Time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at Hand: Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. Now whatever we understand by the Kingdom of Heaven, it is plain that the Reason why it was faid to be at Hand, was because the Time was fulfilled, for the publishing the Gospel to all the World; and that the Exhortation in St. Matthew, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, is the fame with that recorded in St. Mark, Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. From whence it is evident, that Repentance was inculcated, as neceffary to prepare us for receiving the Gospel of Chrift Jefus.

The fame appears likewife, from the preaching of John the Baptift, who taught the fame Doctrine, and in the fame Words with our bleffed Saviour; he was that Voice crying in the Wilderness, Prepare ye the Way of the Lord, make his Paths firaight. As it was his proper Office to prepare the World for the Reception of the great Prophet, who was to come after him, we may certainly conclude from his Preaching, what was the neceffary Preparation required; and as his Doctrine was confined to the fingle Point of Repentance, this was undoubtedly the neceffary

K

ceffary Qualification for all who were to receive the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

As our Saviour, and his Forerunner the Baptift, taught Repentance as the first neceffary Step to the Gospel; so also did the Apostles. When the Twelve were sent out by our bleffed Lord in the 6th of St Mark, the Evangelift tells us in the 12th Verfe, that they went out and preached, that Men fhould repent: St. Peter, in his firft Sermon recorded in the 2d of the Acts, exhorts his Countrymen to repent, and be baptized, for the Remiffion of Sins, Verfe 38. And in the 20th of the Acts, St. Paul tells us how he had spent his Time, testifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, Repentance towards God, and Faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift, Verfe 21ft; which were the very Topics infifted on by our Lord, when he called upon Men to repent and to believe the Gospel. The fame Account he gives of his preaching to King Agrippa, Acts xxvi. 20. namely, that he had fhewed both to Jew and Gentile, that they should repent, and turn to God, and do Works meet for Repentance. In the 11th of the Acts it is faid, that the Apostles and Brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the

Word

« PreviousContinue »