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A76466 A sermon of the Epiphany preached in the Queen Dowagers chappel at Somerset-House, upon Twelfth Day, January the 6th. 1686. By John Betham, Doctor of Sorbon, and preacher in ordinary to his Majesty. Published by Her Majesties command. Betham, John, d. 1709. 1687 (1687) Wing B2059A; ESTC R210158 15,308 38

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of Jew and and Gentile Mercies are equally extended to them both the so long hidden way to Heaven is now laid open to all Jew and Gentile have free access by CHRIST to the Eternal FATHER being directed by the same divine Spirit Per ipsum habentes accessum Ver. 18. ambo in uno spiritu ad patrem These illegitimate children these sons of bondage and slavery these dogs as our Saviour himself styl'd them shall be now call'd as they are sayes St. Paul Vocabuntur filii Dei vivi Fellow Rom. 9. 26. Osee 1. 10. Ephes 2. 19. Citizens with the Saints and domesticks in the same House of God. Nay he added that we now are honoured in being part of that sacred Structure in which God himself pleases to reside by his divine Spirit Vos coaedificamini in Ver. 22. habitaculum Dei in Spiritu Those hearts that were defiled with all Impurities those Powers that were prophan'd with all Enormities those Souls that were possess'd by the Father of Darkness deform'd and hideous as become his habitation are now more Beautiful than the rising Sun so enrich'd with all the ornaments of Grace and Vertue so happily beautifi'd and adorn'd as to be chosen for that agreeable Mansion where God himself resides Vos coaedificamini in habit aculum Dei. Did ever the divine Mercy work such wonders as in making such Enemies worthy to be his bosom Friends Such hideous Monsters Angels of Light such sons of darkness shining pillars in the Heavenly Hierusalem This without dispute dear Christians is the most eminent act of Bounty and Mercy ever performed in the behalf of Man But if abus'd by our Ingratitude will make us the most Unfortunate of Creatures as I shall prove in my Second Part. Second Part. GOd's Mercies never appear'd more eminently above his other Works than in the Call of us Gentiles to the true Faith yet we find his Justice to have left whole Kingdoms which still miserably ly wast How many Millions have never heard of the true Messias how many Countryes that once receiv'd him have again fallen off and are over-run with Infidelity How many that pretend to follow him obey only by halfes admitting his Doctrine in part and reject what they please In fine dear Christians how many here present have the grief to see their friends kindred and nearest relations unfortunately engaged in Schism and Error whilst they themselves are so happy as to be partakers of the true Faith which can only lead to eternal Bliss If any here ask how it comes to pass that some have been Call'd others Abandon'd that we are Christians others Pagans you partakers of the true Faith others left in Schisms and Heresies you the happy object of his Mercy another of his Justice and Wrath here humane reason is at a stand and must with all humility and submission cry out with the great Apostle O altitudo divitiarum sapientiae Rom. 11. 33. et scientiae Dei O the profound abyss of the treasures both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of GOD his Secrets are too deep for our fathom his Aeconomy and Conduct are above our reach his Wayes are incomprehensible his Judgments inscrutable Incomprehensibilia sunt Judicia ejus investigabiles viae ejus To whom has he ever opened his Secrets Who has he ever made his Counsellor Therefore St. Augustin contemplating the inscrutability of this mystery why one was Call'd another Left declares frequently in his Works he can give no other answer to it than what St. Paul has left us O Altitudo O the profound Abyss and for such as are not satisfied with this answer he bids them consult some more learned than Aug. Quaerant Augustino doctiorem But he advises De spu Lit. Cp. 33. them to be careful they meet not with such as are too presumptuous Sed caveat ne inveniat presumptores His Scholler St. Prosper esteems it In Obec 14. Vincent a mystery lodg'd only in the divine Breast far enough above the reach of humane comprehension that none ought to attempt the knowledg Nec possibile comprehendere nec licitum investigare And therefore this knowledge ought to satisfy every Christian that no man is in the way of Salvation that is not call'd by God's mercy and sustained by his bounty and that no man sins but by his own perverse will and no man perishes but by his own sin and malice and this without further search or curiosity may and ought to satisfy every Christian Cum scire sufficeret ab illo esse quod statur ab illo non esse quod ruitur 'T is most certain no man ever miscarried but by his own fault no man was ever saved but by God's Grace But if you will farther know why his Mercy draws one happy creature out of the masse of perdition and why his Justice leaves another abandon'd to a reprobate sence O Altitudo The calling the first was an inconceavable Mercy the leaving the latter an act of irreproachable Justice Therefore dear Brethren how infinitly great is the obligation of all Christians who have been the Chosen Favourites out of millions To whom God has fully proved himself to be what St. Paul calls him Pater misericordiarum the Father of mercies such priviledg'd persons may justly cry out with holy David Non fecit Psal 147. 20. saliter omni nationi all Countryes and People have not been treated with that tenderness and mercy as you have been for all which we can give no reason on our side that could deserve this preference for if we consider the inclinations of thousands of Infidels they surpass us in the gifts of Nature more mild more humble more compassionate more charitable more just in their dealings than thousands of us Christians and in all appearance had they been call'd to the true Religion and Worship would have excell'd us in Christian Vertues Yet by an inscrutable secret of God's Judgments they are left in sin and infidelity for everlasting reproach and contumely Vas in contumeliam Rom. 9. 21. whilst you are prefer'd without the least desert chosen for everlasting honour and glory Vas in honorem One is justly abandon'd for his sins another is one of the elect who deserv'd as little a Peter is call'd to Repentance a Judas dies in Despair this made St. Paul invite all Gentiles to Rom. 11. 22. enter into the contemplation of this surprising mystery Vide ergo bonitatem et severitatem Dei Behold the bounty and severity of God his severity to those poor Creatures who were never call'd who have sin'd and never rise again in eos quidem qui ceciderunt severitatem and his bounty and inscrutable mercy to you In te autem bonitatem Dei who have been call'd before millions to the true Faith and true Church Happy we if grateful and faithful in our Masters service si perm●nseris in bonitate If you remain in that happy state his mercy has plac'd