SERM. all their Succeffors in the Faith of Christ. VIII. Whereupon, because the Promise is made in the largest Terms, without expreffing any Conditions; and yet common Senfe, as well as Religion, teaches that the whole Effect of it depends upon certain Conditions, which they likewife teach; I specify'd and confirm'd the fame from both Authorities, and fhew'd upon each of them, that the Name of Jefus Christ, which he himself hath encouraged his Church to accompany all their Prayers with, is fruitful of Reflections the most adapted and powerful to excite and compel Men to the Performing thofe Conditions.

They were (you may remember) first, of the Requests themselves, that they be made for Things good, and defign'd to good Ends; and, fecondly, that they who approach with them, lift up pure Hearts and holy Hands, fuftain'd by a full Affurance of Faith in the Divine Goodness. I endea vour'd to prove, that the Resignation and Charity comprehended in the former Part, and the Repentance and Reformation in the latter, were as ftrongly, as perpetually, awaken'd

awaken'd and inforced by that holy and SERM. reverend Name. And upon the Whole it VIII. might appear, that the Inferting of it in every Petition is a Suggeftion of the Terms on which alone they can be heard, evident enough to supply the Want of their being annex'd to the Promise in Words at Length. Only as to the Duty and Limitation of Faith, how that is directed and influenced thereby, I deferred to explain, because of its Coincidence with the Af furance of Succefs; which I propounded to treat of at large, as a very confiderable Benefit and Effect of our Lord's Appointment in my Text; Whatfoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give

it you.

This indeed is the direct and most obvious Use of it: But it was neceffary to treat of the Conditions upon which the Whole depends in the first Place, that we might embrace the Confolation there offer'd upon fure Grounds, having taken the due Care that both our Petitions and our Perfons should be fuch as the Promife is alone made to. After that, our Security of the Performance is built on the Con

fideration

SERM. fideration of the Truth of him that hath VIII engaged it; (for that fuppofes the Power ;)

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and we know that He is faithful that hath promifed. But fince that general Argument arifes equally from many other Places of Scripture, I fhall confine my Discourse to what is more peculiar to that before us, and fhew the Faith wherewith we are encouraged and obliged to plead the Name of our Lord in every Prayer that we fend up.

In order to this, let it be confidered, what is the chief Ground, whereupon Mankind harbours any Diftruft of averting Evil, or receiving Good at the Hand of God. We shall find it, the Conscience of Guilt. Our Nature deprav'd, and continual Tranfgreffion of his Laws, gives a Dread of his Purity and Juftice: And when we would prefent ourselves as Objects of his Favour and Bounty, our Minds condemn us as more reasonably those of his Displeasure and Vengeance. This Fear hath lain heavy upon the Hearts of Men in all Ages of Darkness, and damp'd any chearful Confidence in approaching to God, and run them into abfurd and fu

perftitious

VIII.

perftitious Devotions to escape from it. SERM. Indeed, when they confider'd the Author of their own Being, and of all the good Things in the World; when they reafoned on the Perfectness of his Nature, and entire Exemption from all Weakness, (whence alone Evil can fpring ;) they were led to admire and truft in his Bounty to his Creatures. But when they reflected on the Holiness of his Laws, and Immutability of his Juftice, Self-accufations and Defpondency fucceeded: Many Marks of his Indignation appeared in the Course of Things; and their own Breafts perpetually suggested and acknowledged the Reason. Neither could they fufficiently fatisfy their Doubts, or quiet their Fears with Repentance and Endeavours of returning and keeping to their Duty. For still it remained, that that Obedience was equally due in the Time paft, when it was not paid; as at the prefent, and for the future, when it might be endeavour'd. And befides, they were fadly confcious of the Imperfection of those Endeavours; and even of frequent Relapfes. What Sacrifice therefore could atVOL. I.

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tone

SERM. tone for long Habits of Difobedience; or VIII. what Merit render acceptable fuch imperfect Service, and procure Grace to par don and raise them up anew after the Provocations of repeated Backflidings? Wherewith should they come before the Lord, and bow themselves before the high God? The deep Concern of Mankind on this Head expofed them to the Pretences of Impoftors, who by their Devices brought them into the Condition of a ftill greater Guilt and jufter Despair.

But no true, no full Remedy was found, till the Sun of Righteousness arose with Healing in his Wings. The great Work of Expiation was above human Power to execute, or even Capacity to propofe. God alone knew what Satisfaction was fufficient and proper for the Violation of his Laws: And this he himself hath provided, and' accepted in the Perfon and Sufferings of Jefus Chrift. He made the Declaration and Promife in my Text to his Difciples, and in them to All, juft before he was going to finish that great Work of Attonement and Restitution of the World to the Divine Favour. Then he fhewed them

the