In fires, and inflame her Affections; receive SERM. II. new Acceffions of Blifs and Glory, and thereby make perpetual Approaches towards the Fountain of all. Perfection. this, we may well prefume, will confift the Happiness of those faithful Servants, who fhall be found to have done their Mafter's Will here on Earth. And a more pleafing Confideration cannot offer itfelf to the Mind of Man. Ought we not therefore to conclude, that during the intermediate Interval, in order to render the Whole of our Existence of a piece, the Soul, by Parity of Reason, should preferve the fame Tenor of Improvement? Let us then confider how far we are advanced in the Path of Life, and how far we have made it the Path of the Juft. Let us cultivate all our moral Faculties to fuch Degrees as to render them worthy to be accompanied by divine Grace. Let us endeavour to preferve fuch an uniform Obedience in our Lives, that they may know no Variety but in their Increase towards Perfection: And, as we are daily growing nearer to Eternity, God grant that we may be more and more prepared for a bleffed Eternity! SER. III. fure of Grace as the Divine Goodness itself ment (in Concert and Harmony with eternal Rectitude and Juftice) could beftow; could beftow, I mean, for the Probation of fuch rational Beings as should be in their Circumftances-What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it? He goes on to represent their ungrateful Returns, in the Abuse of those Bleffings; and asks, in the Way of human AstonishWherefore when I looked, that it should bring forth Grapes, brought it forth wild Grapes? But, in Proportion to the Greatness of the Mercy flighted, will the Severity of Juftice be inflicted: In Confequence therefore of their neglecting and defpifing God's gracious Overtures of making them a peculiar Treasure to himself above all People, in Confequence of their Impiety heightened by every Circumstance of Ingratitude, he threatens them with an utter Extirpation -I will take away the Hedge of my Vineyard, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the Wall thereof, and it fhall be troden down. The Occafion of the prefent Solemnity will fuggeft to you my Defign of applying this Parable to the Circumftances of our SER. III. own Nation; and, agreeably thereto, I fhall confider, It, What God hath done for us, and what Returns we have made. IIdly, What we may expect as the Confequence of our Ingratitude and Impiety. IIIdly, The proper Means to avert and remove God's Displeasure. Ift, I am to confider what God hath done for us, and what Returns we have made. In early Ages, when we were over-run with Heathenifm and Idolatry, it pleased God to plant the Chriftian Religion among us: A Religion every Way worthy of the Divine Difpenfation, and fuited to the Exigencies of Mankind. A Religion the most heavenly the World was ever blessed with; and bleffing all the Kingdoms wherein it fhould be received with the greatest Happiness, national, focial, and perfonal: SER. III. ment fure of Grace as the Divine Goodness itself (in Concert and Harmony with eternal Rectitude and Justice) could beftow; could beftow, I mean, for the Probation of fuch rational Beings as fhould be in their Circumftances-What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it? He goes on to represent their ungrateful Returns, in the Abuse of thofe Bleffings; and asks, in the Way of human AstonishWherefore when I looked, that it fhould bring forth Grapes, brought it forth wild Grapes? But, in Proportion to the Greatness of the Mercy flighted, will the Severity of Juftice be inflicted: In Confequence therefore of their neglecting and defpifing God's gracious Overtures of making them a peculiar Treasure to himself above all People, in Confequence of their Impiety heightened by every Circumftance of Ingratitude, he threatens them with an utter Extirpation — I will take away the Hedge of my Vineyard, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the Wall thereof, and it fhall be troden down. The Occafion of the prefent Solemnity will fuggeft to you my Defign of applying this Parable to the Circumftances of our SER. III. own Nation; and, agreeably thereto, I fhall confider, It, What God hath done for us, and what Returns we have made. IIdly, What we may expect as the Confequence of our Ingratitude and Impiety. IIIdly, The proper Means to avert and remove God's Displeasure. Ift, I am to confider what God hath done for us, and what Returns we have made. In early Ages, when we were over-run with Heathenifm and Idolatry, it pleased God to plant the Christian Religion among us: A Religion every Way worthy of the Divine Difpenfation, and fuited to the Exigencies of Mankind. A Religion the most heavenly the World was ever blessed with; and bleffing all the Kingdoms wherein it fhould be received with the greatest Happiness, national, focial, and personal: F 4 Con |