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holy, juft, and true one.
61, 65
III. This doctrine affords matter of comfort
and encouragement to the fincerely
good and virtuous. 65
And of reproof to the hypocrite and pro-
fane, who would extenuate their fins,
by reproaching human nature, and un-
der that, the wife author and contriver
of it.
An exhortation to beg of God his ftrength
and protection to carry us through all
temptations.
66
68
SERMON V.
The horrid Imprécation of the Jews,
and the Justice and Wisdom of God
in fulfilling it upon them.
MATTH. xvii. 25.
Then anfwered all the People, and faid: His
Blood be on us, and on our Children.
71
The hiftory of the Jewish nation a history
of divine providence.
I. The aggravating circumftances with
which the imprecation in the text was
attended, and the folemnity, unanimity,
and
and warmth with which it was express-
ed.
74
77
II. The wonderful manner with which it
was accomplished, in the deftruction of
the city and nation of the Jews.
Aftrict correspondence obfervable between
their crime and their punishment. 75
They are fill purfued with fuch circum-
stances of divine vengeance, as are very
different from thofe of other exiles or
captives, and from what befel them in
their former difperfions.
III. The juftice of God vindicated, in re-
fpect to thefe fufferers.::
His wisdom, with regard to the great ends
and defigns he propofed to himself in
their fufferings; viz. by making them
in their deftruction an irrefragable proof
of our Saviour's divine miffion. 78
And in their difperfion, a means of propa-
gating those divine oracles that foretold
and defcribed him.
79
IV. The inferences to be deduced from
hence are,
1. To abstain from all rash and horrid
imprecations, and to aim at fimplici-
ty of fpeech, as well as fincerity of
heart and integrity of manners.
80
2. Το
2. To admire the infcrutable methods of
God's providence, in bringing about
the falvation of finners; and making
the fcandal of the crois foon turn to
its greatest advantage. 81
3. To attribute the infidelity of those men
to a judicial blindnefs, who live where
the gospel of Chrift is profeffed, and
yet fhut their eyes against the light
4. 1o be fearful of defpifing the mercies
of God, and falling into that fin. by
which God's peculiar people forfeited
his protection and favour,
82
85
The Christian State, a tate of Suffer-
ing.
Even bereunto were ye called; because Chrift
alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye fhould follow his steps.
The duty of a Chriftian to imitate the
paffive, as well as the active graces of
his Saviour.
88
The chief defign of St. Peter in this E-
pistle.
89
1. The state of a Chriftian a' ftate of fuffer
ing, proved from fcripture.
From the folemn engagements into which
he entered at his baptifm.
90
91
The outward afflictions he meets with from
the world,
The inward anxieties and forrows, per-
plexities and troubles that attend him.
92
93
Since this is the ffate we are called to, it
behoves us to examine whether we are
really in fuch a ftate, and have fulfilled
the duties that entitle us to the pri
vileges of it.
II. The fufferings of Chrift a plain argu
ment why we fould likewife expect
our fhare of them.
Neither his infinite dignity, nor his perfect fanctity, made him exempt from them.
94
And fince we are predeftinate to be con
formed to his image, as far as we des
viate from that original, fo far we fall
hort of perfection.
His example a powerful motive to fup port us.
95
By the merit of thofe very fufferings, which he proposes to our imitation, he has purchased for us all fuch extraor 'j- VOL. III.
C
nary
nary aids as are requifite to fupport us.
SERMON VII.
98
Some Reafons affigned for our Savi-
our's appearing chiefly to the Apo-
ftles after his Refurrection, and his
Manner of converfing with them
reprefented.
ACTS i. 3.
To whom also he fhewed himself alive after his
Paffion by many infallible Proofs, being feen
of them forty Days, and fpeaking of the
Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
St. Chryfoftom's obfervation why the apoftles
were allowed to behold our Saviour af-
cending up into heaven, but not to fee
him in the act of rifing from the dead.
103
I, Reafons affignable from Scripture why
our Saviour continued upon earth for
fome time after his refurrection, viz.
To give the apoftles convincing proofs of
it.
104
To remove their prejudices in relation to
his