SER. III.

Our Sins are the greatest Enemies that we have to fear; even Rebellion, unless the Sword fhould receive a judicial Commiffion from God, is not fo much to be dreaded. Rebellion is like a Hurricane; which, however big with formidable Evils, is often of no long Duration, but Things fettle again into Order and Regularity: It alarms the Nation, and puts every well-affected Perfon upon making a refolute Stand against it. But Irreligion paves the Way for fuch a Train of Vices as by Degrees fap and undermine the whole Conftitution. Though it works our Ruin in a flower, yet it is in a furer Way. If the one be like a raging Fever in the Body, the other is like a flow, lingering Confumption; a flattering but a fatal Distemper, making us think all is well, when we are every Day making nearer Approaches to our Diffolution.

Let us then return to thofe Principles from which there has been a moft dreadful Falling-off. Let us hold faft the Profeffion of our Faith, and in it the wellgrounded Hope of a blessed Immortality through Jefus Chrift. Chriftian Principles. are the fureft, I may fay the fole Founda

tion on which a true Reverence to God SERM.III. can be laid. These will therefore make

us the best Men, and thereby the most faithful Subjects of the King, and the trueft Lovers of our Country, by speaking most home to our Confcience.

And for our Encouragement in the Exercise of true Piety, and an unspotted Innocence of Life, let us remember, that hereby we shall not only fecure our own Salvation, and by our good Example fet forward the Salvation of others, but may likewise be found of the Number of those few Perfons, for whofe Sake it may please the Almighty to fpare the whole Nation. Virtue does not receive a Value from, but gives a true Value to Greatnefs: And however it may be placed more commodioufly for Obfervation among thofe of Distinction; yet in the Sight of God it is of as great Value among those of lower Condition. God is no Refpecter of Per

fons.

It was faid by a monarch, who was a Papist in Disguife, that he owned the Reformed Religion was much better than the Popish; but thofe of that Communion feemed

2

SER. III. feemed to be in earnest about their Religion; but we seemed to be in jeft about our's. How far they may be in earnest about their's, I know not: but that we too many of us seem to be in jest about our's is, I doubt, too true. Let us remove this Reproach by a conftant Attendance on each religious Duty in the publick Affembly, in our Families, and in our Clofets: And let the Purity of our Church's Doctrines appear in the Purity of our Lives: And God grant that the holy Scriptures may recover their deserved Esteem among us, that we may fo attend to the Voice of God fpeaking to us by his Prophets, the Apoftles, and his Son Jefus Chrift, that all the People may bear, and fear, and do no more prefumptuously!

The End of the SERMONS.

THREE LETTERS

TO A

FRIEND

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

Satisfaction of CHRIST:

Wherein are occafionally confidered

The Infinity of the DEITY, His Eternity, Prescience, &c.

A