Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

fures of life, and an averfion to the pomps of it; and therefore, his appetites being no ways increâ→ fed by his fortune, he had no occafion to enlarge the fcene of his enjoyments.

He was fo far from overvaluing any of the ap'pendages of life, that the thoughts even of life ittelf did not seem to affect him. Of its lofs he fpake often, in full health, with great unconcern; and, when his late diftemper attacked him (which, from the beginning, he judged fatal) after the firft furprise of that fad stroke was over, he fub"mitted to it with great meeknefs and refignation, as became a good man and a good Christian.

Though he had a long illness (confidering the great heat with which it raged) yet his intervals of fenfe being few and fhort, left but little room 'for the offices of devotion; at which he was the lefs concerned, because (as he himself then faid) he had not been wanting in those duties, while "he had ftrength to perform them. Indeed, on the Lord's day which immediately preceded this illnefs, he had received the facrament; and was, therefore (we have reafon to believe) when the Mfter of the house foon afterwards came, prepared and ready to receive him.

As the bleflings of God upon his honeft industry had been great, fo he was not without intentions of making fuitable returns to him, in acts of mercy and charity. Something of this kind he hath taken care of in his Will, drawn up at a time, while his family was as numerous as it is now, and his circumftances not so plentiful. One part of the benefactions, there directed, was worthy of him; being the expreffion of

a generous and grateful mind towards the perfons who had moft obliged him; and of a pious regard to the place of his education. More he would probably have done, had not the difeafe, of which he died, feized him with that violence, as to render him incapable of executing whatever of this kind his heart might have intended.

He is now gone, and his works have followed him: Let us imitate his example, that, when we alfo depart this life we may fhare his heavenly reward, and be as well spoken of by those who furvive us!

Now to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghaft, be afcribed all majesty, might, and glory, now, and for ever. Amen.

VOL. II.

D

A

A

SERMON

Preached before Her

MAJESTY

A T

St. JAMES's Chapel,

On Sunday, October 28, 1705.

Being the Festival of St. SIMON and St. JUDE

A Standing Revelation, the best means of Conviction.

LUKE xvi. 31.

If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, though one refe from the Dead.

THE

HE Happieft of mankind are often fubject to this great infirmity, that, overlooking thofe folid bleflings which they already have, they fet their hearts upon fomewhat which they want;

D 2

fome

fome untried pleasure or advantage, which if they could but tafte, if they could but obtain, they should then be certainly and completely bleft. And yet, no fooner have they climbed that hill, which thus determines their view at a distance, but a new profpect is opened to them, and they find themselves as far removed from the imaginary point of happiness, as ever.

In like manner, the standing evidences of the truth of the gospel, though in themselves most firm, folid, and fatisfying, yet make but faint impreffions on the minds of many Chriftians; who, after all the old miracles done by our Saviour and his apoftles, are ftill ready to demand new ones; to delire, that fome fpecial proof fhould be given, fome extraordinary application made, to them in particular: And then, they would refign all their fcruples, believe without doubt, and obey without referve. Thus do the ungodly reafon with themfelves, but not aright, as the lips of truth have affured us: for, If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be ferfuaded, though one rofe from the dead.

The affertion is our Saviour's, though uttered by him in the person of Abraham, the father of the faithful; who, on the account of that character, is very fitly introduced, in the parable concerning the rich man and Lazarus, declaring, what arguments and motives are moft likely to produce in men that firm, unshaken faith in God, of which he himself was fo illuftrious a pattern.

The parable was intended against the voluptuaries of that time (fuch as one of the apostles of this day, St. Jude, defcribes throughout his e

pifile;)

« PreviousContinue »