Peace, which he fees others fo foolishly part with, as not knowing the value of it: befides a most comfortable Profpect of that further Bleffedness of which this here is but a Taft, even the Everlasting Sabbath and Reft of the Saints of God, To which God of his Mercy bring us all thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghoft, be with us all evermore. Amen.

F 2 SERMON IV.

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SERMON IV.

Hebrews III. 12.

Take heed Brethren left there be in any of You an Evil Heart of Unbelief.

W

it

HEN the Doctrine of Chrift was Firft Publifh'd to the World, as it carry'd with it the Cleareft Evidence of Truth, whereby it was able to approve felf, a Faithfull Saying, 1 Tim. 1.15. fo it had likewife ftamp'd upon it the moft amiable Characters of Goodnefs, fufficient to render it worthy of All Acceptation, ibid.

A continu'd Series of Prophecies deliver'd down fucceffively from Age to Age for above three thousand Years before our SaF3

viour's

viour's appearing in the Flesh, all Visibly Centring and Receiving their full Accomplishment in Him, was an Unexceptionable Proof of his being Sent from God. Efpecially when in thofe Predictions were foretold not only fuch Things, as Omniscience only could forefee, but fuch as Omnipotence only could bring to pafs: Thofe Mighty Works I mean which Our Bleffed Saviour did. For the Truth of the Strange and Invisible Mysterys that he Taught, he confirm'd by as Strange, but Vifible Miracles that he wrought; and to give Authority to his Words, which were fuch as never Man pake, he Perform'd Such Works as never Man did. Now either of these taken fingly, The Prophecys I mean that spoke of Him, or the Miracles that were done by Him, were a very convincing Proof of his Miffion, and were therefore often feparately urg'd as Such by Chrift Himself. The Works that I do bear Witness of me that the Father hath fent me, John 5. 36. And a little after, Search the Scriptures, V. 39. meaning the Prophetical Writings, they are they which testify of me. For had ye believ'd Mofes ye would have believ'd me, for he wrote of me. But if feverally propos'd, each of thefe was a strong Argument, join'd together they amounted to an invincible Demonstration. And therefore our Saviour, when the Baptist fent

his

his Disciples to ask this Queftion, Luke 7. 20. Art thou He that fhould come or look we for another? willing to give full Conviction to this his Great Forerunner, instead of a direct answer, refers him to a Notable Prediction of the Prophet Ifaiah, 35. 5. and 61. 1. and fulfills it in the fight of those that came to him on this Errand; Go, tell John, fays he, What things Ye have seen and beard, How that the Blind See, the Lame Walk, and the Lepers are Cleans'd, the Deaf Hear, the Dead are Raised, to the Poor the Gospel is Preachd. Luke. 7. 21, 22.

Where he at once appeals both to Prophecy and Miracles, fhewing John's Difciples fuch Works, then in their Sight accomplish'd, but long before by the Prophet foretold, as None but a Divine Power could Effect, none but a Divine Wisdom could Foreknow.

Such were the Credentials which our Saviour produc'd, abundantly fufficient to confirm the Divinity of his Miffion, and consequently the Truth of that Doctrine he was fent to Preach,

But the Gospel of Christ was not only by the concurrent Teftimony of Prophecys forerunning it, and Miracles attending it, thus Outwardly furnish'd with fufficient Motives to Convince the Understanding; but fo recommended by the Intrinsic Worth

of

;