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otherwife could not be fo, is not our bulfinefs to determin. Much lefs are we willing to difpute the Poffibility of Salvation out of a Church, that has not fuch a Succeffion of Paftors by Epifcopal Ordination, as we moft juftly plead for. We know that neither God's Arm is fhorten'd, nor his Bowels fhut up, that neither his Power, nor his Goodness can be confin'd. We know, that his Mercy and Grace can fupply all Canonical defects, wherever there is true Faith and good Works. Juft as we Piously Hope and Warrantably Teach, that he confers the Benefits of Sacraments, where they are not poffible to be had, to the hearty defirers of Them. But this ftill, I think, we may fafely pronounce, that whatever Poffibility there may elsewhere be, the Certainty which depends upon God's Promifes, and the Efficacy of Ordinary Grace, is chiefly, if not folely to be had there, where this Order is retain'd. Because we there, and there only, are fure, that the Sacraments are adminifter'd by thofe, who have receiv'd Authority from the Holy Ghost to make them effectual. Let then our Charity be as large as is poffible to our Brethren of the Reform'd Churches abroad, but let it not make us unjust to the most found part of the whole Reformation at home. Let us not go about to defend Domeftick Schifm

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by Forreign Neceffity: Nor, with the f raelites, flight or reject this Divine Government, that we may be like to the Nations round about us.

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To conclude, if these things be True, if the Grace that is come by Jefus Chrift is not difpens d. but by his Church, if there is no Entrance into this Church, nor in it any Forgiveness of Sins, or means of Sanctifying Grace, but what is convey'd by their Office, to whom by the Holy Spirit is given the Ministry of Reconciliation, if this Miniftry none can have but thofe only that are lawfully Sent, and if none have power to fend but thofe that have receiv'd it in an uninterrupted Succeffion, from those that had it from Chrift himself, and laftly if none can justly lay claim to fuch a Succeffion but Bifhops duly Confecrated, if all these things are True, as I fee not how any one of them can be difprov'd, Then furely we have great Reason, as many as are of this Communion, to Bless Almighty God for the Affurance we have, that we are in the Covenant of the Gospel, which certainly none but those who are within the Pale of the Church can have. As for thofe who neither have, nor pretend to fuch a Succeffion from the Apoftles, whether they are within the Church or without, we judge not, (tho' indeed the

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Ancient Fathers do and that on the condemning fide) neither prefume we to fet limits to the Extraordinary Uncovenanted Mercies of God, what They are, or how far They may Extend, we know not: But This we are fure of, that the Privileges of being within Chrift's Holy Catholick Church, which only has a Right and Claim to the Promises, are Ineftimable, or else they had not been purchas'd for us at fo Dear a rate, as the most precious Blood of the Eternal Son, and made good and convey'd to us by the Holy Spirit of God.

To whom therefore, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit be afcribd all Glory and Praife, all Might, Majefty and Dominion both now and for evermore. Amen.

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SERMON XIII,

SERMON XIII.

Proverbs X. 9.

He that walketh Uprightly, walketh Surely.

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HERE is not a more Universal, nor indeed a more Juft Complaint in the World, than of the Uncertainty of all things in it. No Man can rationally account himself secure of keeping any Good he enjoys, or obtaining any he pursues, unless he could command all the Chances in the World. But how can he command them, when he cannot so much as number them? Poffibilities are as Infinite as God's Power; and whatsoever may come to pafs, no Man can certainly conclude fhall not. And there is no Good thing which a Man pleases himself in Poffeffing,

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