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But although he may have had this, whether in his infancy or in his adult age, yet if he do not believe with a right faith, he shall be damned," or condemned, as the original word is. Indeed, as St. John teflifies*, he is "condemned already." Not receiving the Gospel, as to the Truths, Privileges, and Precepts of it, with a "faith working by love," he remains in that state of ignorance and fin, of depravity and weaknefs, in which all are by nature; having contracted an increaled guilt, and being, of course, exposed to greater punishment, for rejecting the grace of God offered in the Gospel. "For this," adds the fame Apoftle in the next verfe, "is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." And, living and dying in this ftate, he cannot efcape condemnation at the Day of Judgment. For, on the one hand, being in a state of fpiritual darkness and death, he has neither title to, nor meetness for the vifion and enjoyment of God in glory; and, on the other hand, having rejected the means of illumination, juftification, and renovation, afforded him in the Gofpel, he has merited, and from a holy and just God, must meet with condemnation and mifery, proportioned to his guilt. For, "if the word fpoken by Angels," viz. the Law delivered on Sinai by the miniftry of Angels, "was ftedfast, and every tranfgreffion and act of difobedience, received a juft recompence of reward, how fhall we efcape if we neglect fo great falvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those that heard him; God also bearing witness, both with figns and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

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"Examine yourfelves," therefore, my brethren, "whether ye be in the faith, prove your own felves, know ye not your own felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you," in all his offices and characters, as your light and life, your wisdom, righte oufnefs, fanctification and redemption, "except ye be reprobates ?" See that you do not deceive yourfelves in a matter of fuch moment, a matter on which your everlasting falvation depends; and take care you do not reft, till that Gofpel, which has "come to you in word, come alfo in power, and in much affurance," and you find your mind enlightened by its truths, your heart enriched and comforted with its privileges, and your life regu lated by, and conformed to its precepts. Thus will you find it the Power of God to your falvation from fin here, and from all its confequences hereafter.

And as to us, my brethren, who are employed in the difpenfation of this Gofpel of the Grace of God, let us examine ourselves narrowly, as to our Call to, and Qualifications for the important office in which we are engaged; and when we are fatisfied, in some measure, as to thefe, let us make it our care to execute our truft faithfully. "Let us study to fhew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Let us make ourselves thoroughly acquainted with the Gospel of Chrift, with refpect to all the doctrines, promises, and commands of it; and let us take care, that we inculcate every part of it, keeping back from our people nothing that would be profitable to them. Like the great Apostle of the Gentiles, while we inftruct them publicly, and from house to house, let us efpecially testify" repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift," with the genuine fruit thereof, univerfal holiness of heart and life. Of thefe

thefe things, let us take care to be ourselves living witnesses; that fpeaking from experience, we may fpeak with demonftration of the Spirit and of power. Let us recommend our doctrine by our practice, and while we ferve the Lord with all humility of mind, and fimplicity of heart, let us be examples to believers, in converfation, in behaviour, in love, in faith, in purity; and let us take heed to ourselves," as well as to the fundry flocks "over which the Holy Ghoft hath made us overfeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." In order hereto, let us "give diligent attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; and follow after godliness, righteousness, faith, hope, love, patience, meekness." Let us "watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of Evangelifts, and make full proof of our miniftry." Let us meditate on these things, and give ourselves wholly to them, that our profiting may appear unto all." In fine, "Let us take heed to ourselves, and to our doctrine," and continue fo to do, for in this way, we shall both fave ourselves, and thofe that hear us."

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I.

SERMON II.

ON THE

NATURE AND DESIGN

OF THE

GOSPEL OF CHRIST;

AND THE

Confequences of not being properly acquainted with it.

PREACHED

At the NEW-CHAPEL, in LOWGATE, HULL,

Dec. 30, 1787.

2 CORINTHIANS, iii. 3, 4.

But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them

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"that are loft."

Moment's reflection upon the preceding verfes, with which this paffage of Scripture is closely connected, will caft much light upon it, and affift us to understand its purport. The Apoftle, in the foregoing chapter, having drawn a comparison between the Gospel and the Law, the Chriftian and Mofaic economy, and fhewn the fuperiority of the former to the latter, proceeds, in the beginning of this chapter, to fpeak of the conduct of himself and his fellow apoftles, who were entrusted with the difpenfation of this Gospel.

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2. Seeing then, (fays he), we have received this miniftry, a miniftry fo fuperior to that wherewith Mofes was entrusted, more excellent in its nature and more beneficial in its effects, transforming all who receive it into the image of God; as we have obtained mercy to be accounted faithful, as GOD has

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in

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