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to acknowledge and admire the Love of God to us in Christ, who hath not only freed us from the Power and Dominion of Sin here, by the bleffed Influences of his Spirit, and nourishes us by his Body and Blood in the Holy Sacrament (if we be not fuch Jews and Pagans as to turn our Backs upon it) but also, according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again, to a lively Hope, by the Refurrection from the Dead, unto an Inheritance incorrup tible and undefiled. For he that owneth not this, can never fufficiently value the Price of that precious Blood, nor be proportionably thankful for fuch plenteous Redemption.

Wherefore to conclude; let us then with Heart and Voice, confefs to the Glory of his Name, that Death could never have been conquered, but by that Death which was of more Value than Ten Thousand Worlds That we could never have been under the comfortable Expectation of living again, had not the Son of God purchased Life and Immortality for us. To him therefore, and to the Eternal Trinity, let us this Day and for ever render all poffible Thanks and Praife, faying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory. Glory be to Thee, O Lord moft Higb.

SER

SERMON VII.

The Doubts concerning a Future Judgment confidered.

2 PETER ill. 4.

Where is the Promife of his Coming? For fince the Fathers fell asleep, all Things continue as they were from the Beginning of the Creation.

TH

HE Defign of St. Peter in this Chapter, was to confirm the Chriftians, to whom he writ in the Belief of Chrift's Second coming to Judgment; and to caution them against thofe Herefies which fhould afterwards fpring K 4.

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up; which should contradict that great Article of their Faith, and deride it as Vain and Fabulous, thereby to give themselves the greater Indulgence and Security in their Lufts. Verfe 3. There hall come in the last Days Scoffers, walking after their own Lufts.

Of this Number, doubtlefs, were the Simonians and Gnofticks, and other Libertines, who fprang up immediately after the Apoftles; framed a new and fanciful Scheme of Religion, full of hard Words, unintelligible Notions, and licentious Doctrines; in particular deny ing the Refurrection of the Dead, and by confequence, the future Coming and Kingdom of Chrift. Nay, there were fome even in the Apostle's Times, who began to fpread thefe Doctrines through the Churches; as is manifeft from the 15th Chapter of the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, and 12th Verfe, and the Second Chapter of the 2d Epiftle to Timothy and the 17th Verfe, where we are told that there were fome, whofe Word eateth as doth a Canker, of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who concerning the Truth have erred, faying that the Refurrection is past already, and overthrow the Faith of fome,

Now the most popular and taking Argu ment they used, was, that Chrift had deceived their Expectation, in not coming to Judg ment: And I can't fay but that it was well chofe to ferve their Defign; for there was a common Opinion amongst the Chriftians of thofe Times, that Chrift would come fpeedily,

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to deliver them from their Sufferings and Perfecutions; but he had not yet appeared, nor were there any Signs at all of his Coming: And therefore, notwithstanding what they might have read in the Antient Prophets, or heard from the Apoftles concerning him, or what their own credulous, and delufive Hopes might have raised in them: Yet fo many Ages had already paffed over, without any Alteration in the State of Things; Nature ftill drove on in her wonted Course, nothing was Changed or New under the Sun; the Face of Heaven, and Earth, and all the Parts of the Creation continued as they were from the Beginning of the World.

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And to add the greater Sting to their Arguments, they give them the Turns of Wit, and Satyr ; what they want in Strength and Solidity, they fupply by Scorn and Derifion for there is a fleering Sarcafm in the Words. Following herein the Example of their Predeceffors in impiety, who fcoffed at the Prophets of God, faying,, The Vifion that he feeth is for many Days to come; he prophecyeth of the Times that are afar off. Where is the God of Judgment? So thefe Scoffers in the Text. Where is the Promife of his Coming? For fince the Fathers fell asleep, all Things continue as they were from the Beginning of the Creation.

Thefe Words plainly refer to the laft Appearance, and folemn coming of our Saviour Chrift to Judgment; and they may admit of a twofold Senfe and Interpretation, Either.

1. As fpoken by way of Doubt and Question, whether Chrift will come to Judgment; whether he hath not delayed the Time, and flipped the Promife of his coming. Or,:! II. As fpoken by way of abfolute Denial; that that is a vain Promise and Expectation; he will never come to Judgment.

I fhall difcourfe of the Words in both these Senfes, noting what may be proper and ufeful under each of them.

I. I will confider them as fpoken by way of Doubt and Queftion; whether Chrift will come to Judgment; whether he hath not delayed the Time, and flipped the Promise of his coming. Where I will do thefe Things.

1. I will enquire what might give Occafion to fuch a Doubt or Queftion, as this amongst the Chriftians. 2dly, I will fhew the Groundlefhefs of it. 3dly, I will make fome practical Ufe, and Improvement of both.

1. I will enquire what might give Occafion to this Doubt or Queftion amongst the Chriftians, concerning the Certainty of Chrift's coming to Judgment. Now in order to the finding out of this, we muft note, that there was a prevailing, and almoft general Perfwa

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