SER M. which are known by the Name of Moral XIII. Virtues, are also in Scripture ftiled Graces or Gifts of the Spirit: Moral Virtues, as they are seated in the Mind of Man, directing his Intentions, and appearing in his Practife: And, at the fame time, Gifts or Fruits of the Spirit; as they are promoted by the Arguments of revealed Religion, by the Affiftance of the Spirit of God, and by being practifed in express Obedience to the Divine Commands. The Fruit of the Spirit, (faith St Paul, Eph. v. 9.) is in all Goodness and Righteoufnefs and Truth. And Gal. v. 22. The Fruit of the Spirit, is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-fuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meeknefs, Temperance; against Such, there is No Law. AND Now, having premifed a large explication of the general Doctrine, upon which the exhortation in the Text is founded; I should in the next place have proceeded to confider diflinctly, the feveral particular expreffions made use of in the Text: What is meant, by working out our Salvation; what it is, to work it out with Fear and Trembling; and why, in in That manner: What is meant by God's SER M. giving us both to will and to do, of his XIII. good pleasure; and how This confideration is a Motive to Us, to endeavour to work out our own Salvation. But the diftinct Confideration of Thefe particulars, must be referred to a following opportunity. SERMON SERMON XIV. Of the GRACE of GOD. PHIL. ii. latter part of the 12th, and the 13th verse. Work out your own Salvation with Na foregoing Discourse upon SER Mẻ is founded. I fhall now proceed to con VOL. II. X fider SERM. fider diftinctly, the feveral particular ExXIV. preffions made use of in the Text: What is meant by working out cur Salvation; what it is, to work it out with Fear and Trembling; and why, in That manner; what is meant by God's working in us both to will and to do, of his good pleasure; and How This confideration is a Motive to Us, to endeavour to work out our own Salvation. I. IN the first place I am to confider what is meant, by working out our Salvation. The word, Salvation, originally and in its general Notion, fignifies Deliverance from any great and imminent Danger; especially fuch Deliverance or Efcape, as is accomplished not without labour and hazard. And from hence it comes in Scripture to be applied in the Spiritual fenfe, to fignify particularly and by way of eminence, the Great and Final Deliverance of virtuous and good men from that general Destruction, which, in the nature of Things, and by the righteous appointment of God, must at laft overwhelm a wicked and incorrigible world. The whole World, faith St John, |