off; and thou ftandeft by faith: Be not highminded, but ear. For if God fpared not the ne tural branches, take heed left he alfo fpare not thee." Rom. xi. 20 21.

In order, therefore, to avoid their fate, let us avoid any resemblance of their guilt, and keep ourselves at as great a distance as we can from that fin of the Jews, which drew these calamities upon them, and in which even we, who live fo long after it was committed, may yet be, to fome des gree, involved; if we are profeffed enemies of goodness, if we flander Chrift's word, blafpheme his perfon, and despise his meffengers; if we pri vately bring in dangerous herefies, deftructive of Chriftian faith and Chriftian practice; for of fuch perfons St. Peter and St. Paul have pronounced, that they deny the Lord who bought them, crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open fhame," 2 Pet. ii. 1. Heb. vi. 6.

In order to ftand clear of this imputation, let it not be thought enough by us, that we do not run into any of thefe exceffes ourselves, while we abet, or connive, at those who do: But let us fet ourselves, in our feveral places and ftations, to discountenance infidelity, and to rebuke that spirit · of profaneness, which hath for many years paft appeared open and barefaced with impunity (I had almoft faid, with applause) amongst us, to the great offence of fober minds, to the prejudice of all good order and government, the difgrace of our religion, and the peril of fouls! It is high time that these daring attempts against the honour of Christ and his gofpel thould be effectually

check

checked and fuppreffed, that the civil magiftrate's authority should be employed, and the spiritual fword of excommunication unfheathed against fuch impious offenders. •

"He that defpifed Mofes's law, died without mercy" (I fpeak the words of the apostle to the Hebrews, and which are applied by him to this very purpose). "Of how much forer punifhment, fuppofe ye, fhall they be thought worthy, who have trodden under foot the Son of God, and have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith they were fanctified, an unholy thing?" Heb. x. 28, 29.

May the all-fufficient merit of that blood, though undervalued by them, be yet extended to them; purge their confciences from dead works, and enlighten their minds with faving knowledge! And if they will not repent, but refolve still to go on in their impieties, let us be fure to have no fellowship with them, but depart from the tents of these wicked men, left we be con-- fumed in their fins! Num. xvi. 26.

A

SERMO

Preached at

Westminster-Abbey,

November 1, 1717.

Being All-Saints Day.

The Christian state, a ftate of fuffering.

1 PET. ii. 21.

Even hereunto were ye called; because Ghrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye Jbould follow his fieps.

HE duty and the perfection of a Chriftian

THE confifts in the imitation of Chrift; in the

imitation of every part of the fpotlefs example, of the paffive as well as active graces, in which he abounded. Both fides of his character are highly useful and inftructive to us; Both, at different times and for different ends, alike neceffary to be attentively confidered, and clofely followed by us. But fome occafions, fome times there are, when that part of Chrift's example,

which relates to the fad fufferings he underwent, and the heroic manner in which he bore them, is principally to be regarded by Chriftians. Such was the feafon, at which St. Peter wrote this epiftle to his brethren of the difperfion, then every where oppreffed, afflicted, perfecuted: And fuch is this particular day in the Kalendar of our church; facred to the memory of those faints, confeflors and martyrs of old, who, being exercifed in afflictions, and trained up to fufferings, fought the good firht, and finished their courje, 2 Tim. iv. 7. and obtained the crown, which was laid up for them by the Author and Finisher of their faith, the great Pattern and Rewarder of their fufferings, Chrift Jefus! "Even hereunto they were called," and in this their faintfhip chiefly confifted; the imitation of "Him who fuffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his fteps."

The chief defign of St. Peter, throughout this erifle, is, to fortify the new converts against thofe difgraces and afflictions, which had befallen, Or were ready to befall them, on the account of their religion; and the argument, by which he perfuades them here in the text to equanimity and patience, is, we fee, that "even hereunto they were called" that they felt no more now, than what, from their very entrance on Chriftianity, they had reason to expect; that thefe were the terms, on which they embraced the faith; that fuch fufferings are the proper lot and portion of Chriftians; becaufe (as he adds) "Chrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an example that ye fhould follow his fteps," Heb. ii. 10. If the Captain

of

of our falvation was made perfect through fufferings," how fhould any man who marches under his enfigns, ever hope to exempt himself from them? He not only gave us precepts, which we are to obey, but a pattern alfo to direct and faci litate our obedience. They therefore, "who fay, they abide in him, ought themfelves alfo to walk, even as he walked;" 1 John ii. 6. and confequently (if the will of God fo be) to fuffer, as he fuffered, with a becoming meeknefs and pati ence, with fortitude and firmnefs: Efpecially if it be confidered, that he suffered for us, i. e. on our account, and for our advantage: And why then fhould we think it hard and unreasonable to fuffer for ourselves? or be forward and uneafy under any affliction of life that befalls us? He took out the fting, and expiated the guilt of our fins by his fufferings; but fo as to leave us ftill under an arrear of punishment, which we burfelves are to discharge, and, by that means (as St. Paul emphatically fpeaks) to "fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Ghrift in our fleth," Col. i. 24. "Even hereunto were we called; because Chrift also fuffered for us, leaving us an example, that we fhould follow his fteps."

The words, you fee, will give me a proper oc cafion of explaining two great truths, always fit to be inculcated to Chriftians, and always prefent to the minds, and exemplified in the actions, of thofe holy men and women, whom we this day profefs to commemorate.

The two Points are thefe :

I. First, That the Chriflian State, however will
VOL. III.

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