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Roberto 11-12-179.

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LTHOUGH thefe Sermons were preached in

reference

of that Church and land under her prefent divifions
and backflidings; yet they are compofed in fuch a
ftrain, as to be useful and applicable to any church
under the like diftempers, which, alas, is the cate of
the most part.
What remedies can be fo effectual to
cure them of thefe evils, as these propofed in the
following difcourfes, to wit, the excellent Baim of
Gilead, and The Glorious Miniftration of the Spirit?-
If it were the gracious will of God to difpofe all the
bishops and minifters of Britain and Ireland, to make.
it their business to open up and recommend these noble
remedies to their people, it would contribute greatly
to heal their maladies, and increafe the kingdom of
Chrift in these lands. I can't help thinking but those
who are confecrated to spiritual offices would be more
fuitably and profitably employed in this work, than in
attending courts, and purfuing fecular defigns.

Seeing now the arm of the Lord is beginning to awake, and many are excited to run to and fro for increafing gospel-knowledge, and labour to propagate the doctrine of falvation thro' the imputed righteoufnefs of the flain Lamb of God: And feeing the Lord is pleafed in fundry parts of the world to give countenance to these endeavours by the out-pouring of his Spirit, for awakening many fouls to an inquiry and fearch after true happinefs thro' the bleffed JESUS : It doth highly concern all gofpel-minifters and preach... ers to concur in helping forward the Lord's work, by proclaiming the faving doctrine and offers of free gra

to the world, and to exert themselves for removing out of the way all letts and hindrances of the kingdom of Chrift, that fo his dominion may fpread from fea to fea, thro' all nations of the earth

:

In the following Sermons I have made fome inquiry into the times and feafons of the increase of Chrift's kingdom and because this is greatly connected with the deftruction of Antichrift, I have mentioned fome conjectures and calculations about the time of his fall: though I think none fhould be too bold or peremptory in fixing the precife time, but all ought to wait patiently until God's fet time fhall come. All may now perceive Antichrift vifibly rifen and discovered. Nay, we have seen him arrived at his pomp and height about 1500 years after Chrift: Since that time the Lord hath begun to wafte and confume him, by the revival of religion and learning in the world. As his rife was gradual, fo fhall his confumption be. He hath now been labouring under a deadly confumption above thefe 200 years paft. The wound given him is deep and mortal, fo whatever pains be taken fometimes to heal it, all fhall be in vain; for as Chrift muft increase, fo Antichrift muft decrease, and be quite ruined at length, as is thewed in the following difcourfes. May all the lovers of Chrift pray fervently and look out for that blessed and joyful time.

DUNDEE, 2.
Jan. 20. 1742. S

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