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tune: whereas in the former Cafe, there is an infeparable Conjunction between the End and the Means, between eternal Happiness and true Chriftian Obedience; which no change of Fortune can diffolve, no unforefeen Calamity can overthrow. Therein the Undertaker is only to answer for his Diligence: nor is any thing required to compleat his Success but what is entirely in his Power. If he be not wanting to himself, he may reft fecure of the Reward; the Nature, the Extent, the Duration, and the Seat of which our Lord, hath fully made known unto Man; that fo he might not any longer be distracted with anxious Thoughts about it; and fo hath upon that account alfo, as he promised in the precedent Verfes, given Reft unto his Soul, wearied before. with a fruitless and uncertain Search of Happiness.

The last Argument, which I propofed to fpeak of, is taken from the external Affiftance, which Chrift hath promised, and doth Still continue to his Difciples in the Exercise of their Duty. Our Lord, in impofing his Toke upon Mankind, knew very well the Infirmities of their Nature, the Oppofition of his Precepts to their ordinary Paffions, the Tenderness and Clemency, which became the Saviour, Redeemer, and Mediator of Mankind; and therefore did not abandon them to the Conduct of their Free-will alone, but affifted their Obedience with the Mo

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tions of his Holy Spirit, with those fupernatural Gifts and Graces, which he beftows upon all his fincere Disciples; which render the impofition of thofe Precepts which he laid upon them, Eafy and Pleasant to them.

To convey this Grace to all the worthy Receivers of it, he hath founded a Church, a Society of Men profeffing and publickly declaring Obedience to him in that manner, and with thofe Rites, which himfelf hath inftituted. He hath made himself the Head of this Body, and as fuch communicates the Influences of his blessed Spirit to all the Members of it, to us who continue in Communion with it. If any feparate themselves from this Body, whereof himself is the Head, they cease to have any Relation to him, receive none of those fupernatural Affiftances which are derived from the Head to all Parts of the Body: At least they cannot receive them by the ordinary Method appointed to convey them. And if any pretend new Lights and new Ways, they are fuch as have no Promife annexed to them.

It is not to admired therefore, what may be truly obferved, that all Hereticks and Schifmaticks dividing themselves from the Communion of the Church, have in all Ages endeavoured to take away the Obligation of moral Duties, and fet up the Pretence of greater Lights, of a more refined Knowledge,

ledge, to compenfate the neglect of Temperance and Meeknefs, of Juftice and Charity, They having divided themfelves from the Body of the Church, cut off the ordinary Communication between Chrift and them; and thereby depriving themfelves of the Benefit of thofe Divine Graces and Affistances which are conveyed by that Channel, found themfelves unable to practise those Chriftian Virtues, which our Lord requireth of his Difciples; and therefore endeavoured to annul the Neceffity and Obligation of them.

But this is not to alleviate, but to caft off the Toke of Chrift; to claim the Benefits, and refufe the Conditions of the Covenant which he made with Mankind: and in the mean while to cheat themfelves and others, with vain Perfuafions and arrogant Pretences.

Our Lord hath promifed the Assistance of his Spirit, and therein he will not fail; he hath fettled the Means of conveying it, and that he will not change. If we flight the Affistance, we are unworthy of it; if we forfake the Means, we are incapable. Let us rightly esteem and implore this Affiftance to our felves; let us hold faft the Means whereby we may receive it; that is, a conftant Communion with his Body the Church in all her Holy Offices and Sacraments; fo fhall we experience, that his Commands are not only excellent

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cellent in themselves, agreeable to our Nature, and rendred pleafant by their Reward, but are alfo made eafy by his Grace and the Influences of his Spirit. In the whole we shall be convinced of the Truth of what he affirmed, that his Toke is eafy, and his Burden light, and find affurance of what he promited, Reft to our wearied Souls.

SER

SERMON XIII

Preach'd at Lambeth Chapel.

ROM. XII. 19.

Dearly beloved, avenge not your selves; but rather give place unto wrath.

For

it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, faith the Lord.

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HE Apostle having exhorted to the Duty of Charity throughout th whole Chapter, and enforced his Exhortation with many Arguments, at last concludeth his Arguments with thefe Words; whereby he proveth, that to act in a contrary manner, were to encroach upon the Prerogative of God, and invade what he claimeth peculiarly to himself.

And furely no less an Argument than the Fear of violating the Majefty and the Power of God, could deter Men from the Practice and Prosecution of Revenge, which at first fight appears to be fo natural a Paffion in

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Man,

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