you shall be conquerours nay more than conquerours over them and hark what Christ promises to them that overcome Nay to every one of them Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Conformity to Christ in his Humiliation will end in a conformity to him in his Exaltation All in the next world shall resemble in glory whom grace in this world has made to resemble him Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory 8. One word farther I would speak to my self and my brethren in the Ministry of the Gospel We are under special obligations to follow Christs Example All the flock should be like the great Shepherd but especially the Vnder-Shepherds should resemble him that they may be able to say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of us for we are followers of Christ How clear should be the light in our Heads who have special instruction from him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.3 With what authority should we speak who speak in his Name Who speak his words and preach his everlasting Gospel and what we bind on Earth is bound in Heaven and what we loose on Earth is loosed in heaven How should we have compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of the way How faithfully should we warn the secure to flee from wrath How earnestly should we intreat sinners to be reconciled How should we long after Souls in the bowels of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.8 And since He thought not his blood too dear to redeem them we should not think much of our Prayers Tears Study Sweat and Labour for their Salvation How self-denying should we be counting it far greater wisdom to win Souls than to seek great things for our selves How exemplary should we be in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity * Memento voci tuae dare vocem virtutis ut opera tua verbis concinant Cures prius facere qâ—à m docere Sermo quidem vivus efficax exemplâ—m est operis facile faciens suadibile quod dicitur dum monstrat factibâ—â— quod suadetur Bernard Epist 201. Passione ostendit quid pro veritate sustinere Resurrectione quid in aeternitate sperare debeâ—mus Aug. de C. D. lib. 18. c. 49. 1 Tim. 4.12 In all things we should shew our selves patterns of good works That our Sermons being practised by our selves as well as preached may be with greater efficacy upon others And since our Lord Jesus after he had preached the Kingdom of God was himself a Sacrifice we should not be unwilling to confirm the doctrine we deliver with our blood nor refuse if called to it to be offered upon the Sacrifice and Service of the Churches Faith Phil. 2.17 This kind of Spirit made the Apostle like to Christ indeed Acts 20.24 But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus Christ to testify the Gospel of the grace of God In the fourth and last place I am to conclude with some Directions how you may be able to follow the Example of our Lord Jesus 1. Let your unlikeness to Christ be matter of your great humiliation It should be your trouble that you have been so long learning and have learned Christ no better That so much of the old Man remains to be put off that no more of the new man is put on Look upon the passions and lusts of the flesh as so many foul blemishes as so many deforming wrinkles of the Old Adam the more of these there is in you they make you the more unlike to him who is altogether lovely Be humbled for your sin and hate it that 's the way to be rid of it Sin cannot stand before a perfect hatred but languishes and dies away whereas love to it is the life and strength of it 2. Study more the admirable excellency and fairness of the copy Christ has set you And how desireable it is still to be growing up more and more into him in all things The beauty of Men and Angels is black to Christ's fairness to be like Him is to have that which truly deserves the name of excellency With open face and intentive eyes behold as in a glass the glory of your Lord that you may be changed into the same image and become glorious your selves 2 Cor 3. ult 3. Being sensible of your own impotency live by Faith on the Son of God Remember 't is in Him that you have both righteousness and strength Isa 45.24 Grace to be like Christ is from him He strengthens the weak hands he confirms the feeble knees that we may work and walk after his Example If you should attempt to do this in your own might that attempt would be not only vain but an argument of your pride and ignorance Can the branch bear fruit of it self 'T is from the Vine that sap is communicated to it to make it fruitful You must be and abide in Christ and ever be deriving life and virtue from Him that you may bear fruit worthy of Him Joh. 15.4 5. Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 4 Give up your selves to the conduct of Christs own Spirit How often is it said He that hath an ear let him hâ—ar what the Spirit saith unto the Churches The Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus represents his amiableness and anoints the eyes with eye-salve that it may be seen And where-ever the Image of Christ is 't is this Spirit that has instampt it upon the Soul Live in the Spirit and Walk in the Spirit so your feet shall not decline from the Steps of Christ you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.16.25 He will cause you to look unto Jesus and enable you to follow him without turning aside or drawing back Till you come to be where he is and behold his glory and then you will be satisfied with his likeness and be for ever with the Lord. The Case Proposed Quest How may a luke-warm Temper be effectually cured I add in our selves and in one another The Resolution given SERMON XIV Heb. x. 24 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day to be approaching THE inspired Author of this profound
some sins are majoris reatus but minoris scandali so it is here The sins of Sodom had more Scandal but the sins of Capernaum greater Guilt Q. But wherein lyes the sinfulness of Impenitency under the Gospel above other sin Ans 1. Such will be left without Excuse above all others If the Heathen are said to be without excuse not living and worshipping God according to the dictates of natural Light and the notices of God suggested by the works of Creation Rom. 1.20 If the Jews will have their Mouth stopped having the written Law of God and the Knowledge of God's Will therein and yet transgressing this Law as the Apostle speaks Rom. 3.19 much more will those who live impenitently under the Gospel be without excuse and have their mouths stopped in the day of Judgment Had I not come and spoken to them saith Christ they had had no sin but now they have no cloak for their sin John 15.22 The Gospel strips sinners of every Cloak and so exposeth them more naked to the severe Justice of God John 3.19 For this is the Condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light And so are without excuse 1. Such cannot plead as the Heathen may that they were ignorant of a Saviour and how to be saved by him from their sin 2. Neither can they plead that Salvation by him was revealed so darkly that they could not have any distinct knowledge of it as the Jew may plead 3. Neither can they plead that this Revelation was never confirmed from Heaven so that they might certainly believe it to be from Heaven and not the invention of Men. The Confirmation of it is now made evident 4. Neither can they plead that they knew not that Unbelief and Impenitency were damnable sins and would expose men to the judgment and wrath of God 5. Neither can they plead Ignorance of God's punitive Justice The Sufferings of Christ for sin to satisfie offended Justice do clearly evidence this to all that know any thing of the Gospel And this more fully than any Judgments God hath inflicted upon sinners in this world even Sodom it self 6. Neither can they plead Ignorance of a future state of the Immortality of the Soul the Resurrection of the Body and Judgment to come and Heaven and Hell Though the Heathen had but dark notions the wisest of them about these things yet now Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel and a future state is more clearly revealed than before either to Jew or Gentile 7. Neither can they plead ignorance of God's pardoning Mercy and his readiness to pardon upon repentance whereby sinners may be hardned in their sin as being without all hope There is forgiveness with thee that thou may'st be feared saith the Psalmist Psal 130.3 And knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance saith the Apostle Rom. 2.4 2 Cor. 5.19 And God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them His pardoning Mercy is now clearly revealed which is the great Motive to Repentance Obj. But then to be ignorant will be a Man's advantage and will furnish him with an excuse Ans 1. That Ignorance which is invincible will excuse but not slothful and affected Ignorance If a King hath publish't and proclaimed his Law a Man's Ignorance will not excuse him from the penalty And to shut out the Light is as sinful as to sin against it When the light shineth in darkness it will be no excuse if the darkness comprehend it not 2. Impenitency under the Gospel is a resisting the loudest Calls of God to Repentance The Heathen were call'd to Repentance by the Light of natural Conscience and the Works of Creation and Providence The Jews were call'd by the Law God gave them and the Prophets God sent among them but now under the Gospel the Call is louder than before When the Gospel was entring the World in John Baptist's Ministry it entred thus Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Matth. 3.2 And under Christ's own Ministry the Call was louder The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel Mark 1.15 And under the Apostle's Ministry the Call went into all the World Acts 17.30 The times of their ignorance God winked at now he calls all men every-where to repent And still the great Work of the Ministry is that which our Saviour speaks of his and the end of his coming Not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance And what the Apostle Paul speaks of his Ministry in Asia Teaching Repentance towards God and Faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 this is the great Work of the Ministry now And higher Motives are laid before sinners to repent under the Gospel than ever before 3. There is the highest Contempt of God in it He call'd by his Prophets to repentance before but now he hath call'd by his own Son If a King sends his own Son to command Rebels to lay down their Arms and accept of terms of Mercy and they still refuse it is greater Contempt than if he had sent his Servants As the King in the Parable said Surely they will reverence my Son Matth. 21.37 though they misused and killed his Servants There hath been Contempt of God by sinners in every Age as the Psalmist complains Psal 10.13 Wherefore do the wicked contemn God But this Contempt riseth to an higher degree under the Gospel since Christ came into the world 1. An higher Contempt of God's Authority To transgress the Law of God delivered by Angels upon the Mount to Moses and by Moses to the People was a Contempt of God's Authority and received a just recompence of reward Heb. 2.2 How greater Contempt is it to disobey the Gospel which was preached by the Lord himself as the Apostle there argues To refuse him that spake from Heaven is greater Contempt of God's Authority than to refuse him that spake from Earth Heb. 12.25 Rejecting the Gospel Christ calls it a despising both him and his Father Luke 10.16 And the Law was delivered in the hand of Christ to men when he came into the world so that now disobedience to it is an higher Contempt both of the Law and Law-giver than before If I had not come and spoke saith Christ they had no sin John 15.22 The Authority of the Speaker makes the Contempt the greater 2. An higher Contempt of God's Goodness For the Goodness of God is now revealed in the Gospel more fully and clearly than before Every impenitent sinner under the Gospel puts a Contempt upon the highest revelation of God's Goodness And that Goodness that should lead him to Repentance is now rejected and despised And nothing doth aggravate Sin more than when committed against special Love Grace Kindness and Goodness To turn Grace into Wantonness is great abuse but to put it under
is but a peradventure we have that which will shut it out of all consideration and eclipse that which otherwise might have had some lustre vers 8. God commends his love to us that when we were yet sinners Christ died for us § 2. If the love of relations will not afford us a just Measure for the Love of Christ let 's see if there be any thing else in the whole scale of Nature that may furnish us with a line commensurate to it And we can no sooner think of making the Inquiry but we propose to our selves the height of Heaven the breadth of the Earth Prov. 25.3 The Heaven for height and the Earth for breadth but we must despair of finding any thing that may measure or circumscribe this love since the Apostle has assured us Ephes 3.8 that the riches of Christ are unsearchable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as we must expect no footsteps of in the whole Creation The Apostle might Preach it but could not fully reach it The treasures of Gold and Silver which wise providence has hid so deep in the bowels of the Earth yet the vein may be pursued so far till it s worn out but this treasure of Love in the Heart of Christ is so deep and is so rich that we can neither find out nor exhaust the fulness of it when God would give us some shadow of his Love he represents it by the height of the Heavens not that his Love reaches no higher but because there 's nothing in created Nature higher to represent it by Psal 103.11 As the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his Mercy towards them that fear him The Love of God is only to be measur'd by it self that is by himself for God is Love 1 John 4.8 No Creature no Saint no Angel can fadom the Love of Gods heart Jer. 29.11 I know the thoughts that I think towards you And we must say the same of Christ's Love there 's one Dimension more in the Love of Christ than in the Creation Ephes 3.18 That you may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are taught to distinguish between the measure of a Man and the measure of God All bodies have but three dimensions Rev. 21.17 He measured the City with a Reed twelve thousand furlongs the length the breadth the height were equal according to the measure of a Man but in the measuring Spiritual Heavenly things such as are the Love of God and of Christ there 's one dimension more So we have it in that sublime discourse of Zophar Job 11.7 8 9. Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection It is as high as Heaven what canst thou do Deeper then Hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer then the Earth and broader then the Sea And thus we are taught modesty and not to limit God and his purposes of Love by our narrow conceptions Isa 55.8 My thoughts are not your thoughts for as the Heavens are higher then the Earth so are my thoughts then your thoughts saith the Lord. And 1. for the Breadth of the Love of Christ It reaches Jews and Gentiles it extends to all ranks of Men high and low rich and poor it reaches all the cases of Men's Souls the Tempted Deserted the Backslider and Persecutor it reaches the bruised Reed the smoaking Flax it extends to the pardon of all sins truly repented of so that we may say that his promises which are the vehicles of Truth and Love are exceeding broad as well as his Precepts which are the indications of his Authority and Power The Love of Christ is wider than Mans will Rom. 10.21 All the day long I have stretched out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people It s wider than Mans power for John 6.44 No Man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him And yet vers 37. All that the Father has given me shall come unto me It is wider than all our wants and necessities there 's more bread in his house than there are hungry Souls to eat more mansions in Heaven than there are Souls to fill it s wider than our capacities and we may sooner enter into our Masters joy Matth. 25. than that joy can enter into us 1 Cor. 2.9 It cannot enter into the heart of Man what things God has prepared for them that love him 2. The length of the Love of Christ An extent of Grace and Love that reaches Souls at the greatest distance It reacht Paul when he was in the heat and height of his desperate fury mad and desperately mad with an inveterate enmity against Christ It reacht Mary Magdalen when she was possest with seven Devils it reacht the Gentiles when they were far off from God estranged from the light and life of God by their Abominable Idolatries Ephes 2.13 Ye who sometimes were a far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ It reacht the Prodigal when he was far off Luke 15.20 And as it finds and reaches Souls at the greatest distance of sin and enmity so it reaches a length which we cannot with consistence of thought conceive of Hebr. 7.25 Able to save to the utmost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the uttermost length of Gods Promise and the believers Faith and Hope to the uttermost extent of Gods Purposes and our Prayers to the uttermost duration of this Life and the next through all time beyond all time to eternity 3. The depth of the Love of Christ And here unless we could sound the depth of our Misery we can never fadom the depth of Christs Love unless we could know the power of Gods Anger Psal 90.11 we can never reach the power of Christs Love The Torments of Hell are unknown Torments and those Torments which Christ endured in his Soul to deliver us from thence were unknown Torments The Love of Christ does not only reach the depth of our Misery by reason of Sin but those depths of Sorrow into which sometimes even holy Souls are plunged by Desertion The Psalmist cryed unto God out of the Depth Divine Love heard him and reacht him there Psal 130.1 Jonah cryed unto God out of the belly of Hell Divine Love heard him there and deliver'd him thence Jonah 2.2 Heman was plunged in the lowest pit in darkness in the deeps yet Love reacht him in that sad and dismal condition Psal 88.6 4. The height of the Love of Christ All the measure of the height of Christs Love we can take is to say its unmeasurable It is high we cannot attain unto it Psal 139.6 his Love reaches the Soul on Earth and never leaves it till it has conducted it to Heaven he Loves Grace into the Soul and Loves the Soul into Glory what that Glory is Go and see The taste of it is to be had
may be most helpful to promote the entertainment of the Gospel To assist those whose hearts the Lord shall bow over to mind this excellent work I shall lay before them two Directions 1. They must carefully avoid all those things that have a proper tendency to alienate their minds and affections from the Gospel or to exasperate them against it 2. They must endeavour to use such means and to take such courses as have an aptitude to beget in them an esteem and veneration for the Gospel and so dispose them to embrace it 1. They who design and endeavour to win upon others and to dispose them for the Reception of the Gospel must carefully avoid all such things as have an aptitude to alienate them from it I shall exemplifie this Direction in some instances as 1. Private Christians must prevent or suppress all bitter contentions among themselves It is sad to observe That differences among Brethren are usually managed with such mutual accusations and reproaches as make the name of Christians despicable or odious especially to those who are prejudiced against them Contentions and Animosities among Christians break out on two Occasions 1. There may Quarrels arise about Earthly things What can Heathens think of them when they see them to malign and worry one another for such things as their own Philosophy hath taught them to make little account of Abraham was very apprehensive of the evil consequences that might have attended the strife between his and Lots Herdsmen probably about their pasturage or watering-places and therefore he would not insist upon such pleas as he might reasonably have alledged on his own side but stifled the contention and sought an amicable composure because he dreaded the scandal which would have been given to the Heathen by their brabbles This is suggested Gen. xiii 8 9. The Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt in the Land The Contentions and wranglings of the Corinthians about things that appertain to this life and their going to Law for them especially the bringing of their suits before Heathen-tribunals was to cast reproach on the Christian Religion as the Apostle intimates 1 Cor. vi 1 2. How can Christians without blushing and confuting themselves perswade others To embrace the Gospel which teacheth them to set their affections on things above and not on things on the Earth To have their hearts crucified toward the world and yet for the sake thereof to violate all the precepts and to despise all the Promises of the Gospel And like Dogs that fight about a bone to tear out one anothers throats in their rage and fury we may then conclude that men in whom a worldly Spirit is predominant are very unfit to recommend the Gospel unto others 2. The Cross-sentiments which men espouse and vindicate in things wherein Religion seems to be concerned have begâ—tten the widest breaches and the most furious contentions that were ever found among Christians If we enquire what spark hath kindled this raging fire We shall often find that this Earnest contending is not for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints but a dispute who shall be greatest or it may be about something that is dark doubtful or unnecessary or about some undetermined Mode Or possibly as in some great conflagrations we see the fire preys upon and devours all and yet we know not who kindled it or how it began This is and must be for a Lamentation Once I am sure the divisions among Christians and the bitter zeal which manageth their controversies about Religion is a mighty impediment and obstruction that stops the progress of the Gospel In the writings of the Ancients we find that the Heathen fortified themselves in their infidelity and resisted the arguments and perswasions of those who recommended the Faith of the Gospel to them with this Objection Ye Christians are not agreed among your selves ye are broken into many Sects and Factions ye confute and condemn one another therefore it is more adviseable for us to continue as we are than to leave our present station before we know where to fix with any assurance that we are in the Right All that I am able to do at present for the removal of this scandal is to beseech private Christians in the bowels of Christ To value love and follow after the things that make for peace Rom. xiv 19. For I fear the Gospel will hardly get ground in the world until the Spirit of Love reigning and acting the hearts of those that profess it do open the way for it In the first planting of it the Concord of believers Acts ii 42. did greatly contribute to its entertainment It became a Proverbial speech touching Christians Ecce quà m se diligunt invicem Behold how they love one another This is a Subject that cannot be too much insisted upon nor too zealously inforced I account them excellent and happy persons indeed who have a right to bear that Motto Beati Pacifici This may suffice touching the first obstruction that hinders the entertainment of the Gospel 2. It is apparent that they do not promote but obstruct the entertainment of the Gospel who would obtrude on those whom they perswade to embrace it such things to be believed or practised as a part of their Religion as are no where to be found in it much more if they be directly contrary to it e. gr The Gospel doth expresly determine that God only is to be the Object of religious worship Mat. iv 10. How then can they recommend the Gospel who tell their Proselites that they may admit mere Creatures to be sharers with God in that worship which is appropriated to him The Gospel saith That there is but one Lord Mediator between God and Man 1 Cor. viii 6. 1 Tim. ii 5. And yet there are these who pretend to win over men to the Gospel who tell them they must conjoin Angels and departed Saints with Christ in his Office and Work of Mediator The Gospel severely chargeth all those who believe it to flie from Idolatry 1 Cor. x. 14. 1 Joh. v. 21. which is the enforcement of the second Commandment Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. What then can they whom they are to instruct think of it when they see them in profound devotion to creep to fall down before and worship Images especially when upon that very account it is notorious that Jews and Mahometans abhor the Gospel upon a supposition that the worship of Images is either Taught or allowed therein If I may have leave to declare my apprehensions I must say That the Gospel propounded in its own Native purity and simplicity as our Lord Jesus Christ delivered it and as they who were divinely inspired have recorded it without any Additional supplements or forreign mixtures is the most effectual way that God hath appointed and promised to bless for the subduing of the world to Jesus Christ And I should beseech those who endeavour the
and brought under his Government Rom. x. 14 15 17. If ye then promote the spreading of the Gospel ye enlarge the Kingdom of Christ 3. Tenderly pity and compassionate the many Millions of the Sons and Daughters of Adam who were hewn out of the same Rock and dig'd out of the same hole of the Pit with your selves who as yet lye in thraldom under Satan and are Members of his visible Kingdom It would doubtless be very grateful to you if your assistance might contribute any thing toward their deliverance out of that miserable bondage and the means to procure it is to help on as far as ye may the bringing of the Gospel among them for that is God's appointed way to effect it Luk. iv 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives Acts xxvi 17 18. and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of Sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified 4. Remember That Grace when it hath its freedom of exercise will draw you off from centering in Self and raise in you a spirit of freedom and nobleness to seek the good of others especially to advance the Glory of God in the Salvation of Souls Take heed that ye be not found in the number of those of whom the Apostle speaks Phil. ii 21. For all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs 5. I hope ye do not desire to be excused or excluded from bearing any part in that honourable and glorious work of being employed by Christ in your Stations and according to your Capacities in the affairs of his Kingdom but that it would grieve you at the very heart to be laid aside as a despised broken Idol when all this is recollected and maturely pondered where is that godly private Christian that will deliberately say I am not concerned to be helpful in such ways as are proper for me in promoting the Entertainment of the Gospel Secondly As for those godly private Christians whose hearts are sincerely willing to be serviceable to the Lord Jesus Christ and would exceedingly rejoyce to contribute all the assistance that they are able to afford for the Conversion and Salvation of perishing Souls but complain That the work in which this Discourse would engage them lies a great way off and is out of their reach But could they be employed about any thing of that nature within the compass of their sphere of activity they would most gladly embrace it and vigorously bestir themselves in it If that be really the Case of any Then I say to such Up and be doing and the Lord be with you to direct help and succeed you for ye will find enough to do at your own doors and probably in your own Houses Briefly and plainly then the matter stands thus There are many who have entertained the Gospel as far as a general ignorant customary Profession will go but are so far from admitting the spirit life and power of it into their hearts that they are not only utter strangers to it but are full of bitter enmity against it Will ye be helpful now to prevail with them to receive it with Faith Love and Obedience It will be as acceptable and I fear ye will find it as difficult a work to bring a wicked hard-hearted Christian to believe in Christ to the Salvation of his Soul as an open Infidel to make profession of the Gospel Ye will find many as ignorant of the very Essentials of Christianity as the very Pagans as froward perverse and opposite to all means of Instruction as Indians many that love their Lusts and hold them as fast as any in the world The Barbarians are prejudiced against our Religion because they understand it not or have had it mis-represented to them but the more plainly and truly it is set forth before prophane ones at home the more bitterly do they hate it and discover the greater aversation to it So ye see That tho' the Scene of the Question seemed to be laid afar off yet the purport and design of it reacheth us at home And I believe No godly private Christian will say that he is not concerned to seek the Conversion and Salvation of the ignorant sensual prophane and ungodly ones among whom they live If ye ask me then How may we be helpful thereunto I answer That generally the same Methods are to be made use of that have already been insisted upon As To endeavour in our several Stations and Capacities That such may be employed and encouraged to Preach the Gospel as are themselves seasoned with the Spirit and grace of it and zealously seek the Conversion and Salvation of Souls To Pray more fervently for the pouring out of the Spirit to make the Preaching of the Word successful To remove all Impediments and Obstructions as far as we can out of their way To assist them with what help we can by obliging instructing and perswading and walking exemplarily before them But I shall not proceed farther in this because it would draw out the Discourse to too great a length and I think it would be for your Edification to review over again what hath been already insisted upon and then upon second thoughts ye may discover more than fell under your notice in the first cursory reading I shall conclude all with Jam. v. 19 20. Brethren If any of you do err from the faith and one convert him Let him know that he which converteth the Sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins Quest How Christ is to be followed as our Example SERMON XIII 1 Pet. 2.21 lat part Leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps THE Persons to whom the Apostle wrote this Epistle are in the beginning of it styled Strangers So they were because dispersed and scatter'd in several Kingdoms of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 3.7 and they were Pilgrims and Sojourners in the Earth it self being regenerated and born from above and minding a better Country than was to be found here below The Apostle endeavours to strengthen their Faith to enliven their Hope to fix their hearts upon the incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance and to keep them in the way that leads to it In this Chapter where my Text lies He admonishes them to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul he exhorts them to a conversation that would glorifie God convince the World and adorn the Gospel their Zeal ought to be so great of those works that are good that they should not think much to suffer for well doing Bona agere mala pati to do good and to hold on in