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to have a fair Profpect of the Continuance of thefe Bleffings among us; and, according to Human Eftimate, to be, in a good meafure, out of the Danger of our old Inveterate Enemy, Popery I mean, which, one would think, had now made its laft Effort among us.

Is not this now a great Bleffing? And must not all fincere Proteftants (of what Perfuafions foever they be in other refpects) neceffarily believe fo? Certainly they muft, if they think it a Bleffing to be delivered out of the Hands of our Enemies, and to be in a Condition to ferve

God without Fear.

Let us all therefore own it as fuch to God Almighty; let us thankfully remember all his paft Deliverances from Popery, and especially, let us never forget thofe of this Day; neither the former, nor this late one.

We have Reafon ro believe, that God hath a tender Care of his Church and Religion in thefe Kingdoms, not only because he hath fo many times fo fignally and wonderfully appeared for the Prefervation of it; but more efpecially, because we know, and are convinced, that our Religion is acccording to his Mind and Will; being no other than that which his Son Jefus Chrift taught unto the World; that is to fay, no other than that which is in the Bible, which is our only Rule of Faith.

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It infinitely concerns us all, therefore, so to behave ourselves, as to fhew, that we are neither unthankful for God's paft Mercies, nor unqualified for his future Protection.

And

And in order to that, I know no other way but this, that we all firmly adhere to the Principles of our Religion; and that in our Practices we conform ourselves to thofe Principles; that is to fay,

In the firft Place, That we fincerely love, and fear God, and have a hearty Senfe of his Prefence, and Goodness, and Providence, continually abiding in our Minds: That we truft in him, depend upon him, and acknowledge him in all our Ways: That we be careful of his Worship and Service, paying him the conftant Tribute of our Prayers, and Praifes, and Thanksgiving, both in Publick and Private.

And then, Secondly, That we be pure and unblameable in our Lives; avoiding the Pol lutions that are in the World through Luft: And exercifing Chastity and Modefty, Meeknefs and Humility, Temperance and Sobriety, amidst the fundry Temptations we have to conflict with.

And, Thirdly, That we have always a fervent Charity to one another: that we love as Brethren; endeavouring to do all the Good we can, but doing Harm to none. Ufing Truth and Justice, and a good Confcience in all our Dealings with Mankind. Living peaceably, if it be poffible, with all Men. And not only fo, but in our feveral Places and Stations, promoting Peace, and Unity, and Concord among Chriftians, and contributing what we can to the healing the fad Breaches and Divifions of our Nation,

And

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And then, Laftly, That we pay all Submiffon and Duty and Obedience to the King and Queen whom God hath fet over us; endeavouring in all the Ways that are in Power, to render their Government both as eafy to themfelves, and as acceptable to their Subjects, and as formidable to their Enemies as, is poffible.

If all of us, that call ourselves Proteftants, would charge ourfelves with the Practice of thefe Things, how affured might we reft that God would blefs us; that he would continue his Protection of our Nation, our Church, our Religion, against all Enemies whatsoever, and that we might fee our Jerufalem ftill more and more to flourish, and Peace to be in all her Borders.

May God Almighty pour upon us all the Spirit of his Grace, and work all these great Things in us, and for us: And in order hereunto, may he fend down his Bleffings upon the King and Queen, and fo influence and direct all their Councils, both Publick and Private, that all their Subjects may be happy in their Government, and lead peaceable and quiet Lives under them in all Godliness and Honefly. And after fuch a Happy and Peaceable Life here, may we all at laft arrive to God's Eternal Kingdom and Glory, through the Merits of his dear Son, To whom, &c.

SER

SERMON XI.

Preached before the

King and Queen,

A T

WHITE-HALL,

On CHRISTMAS-DAY, 1696.

HEB. ix. 26.

Now once in the End of the World bath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of bimfelf.

T

HIS Text doth naturally fuggeft Five
Things to be infifted on, most of them
proper for our Meditations on this
Day, which therefore I fhall make the

Heads of my following Difcourfe.

I. In General the Appearance of our Lord.
Now bath he appeared.

II. The Time of that Appearance. In the
End of the World.

III. The

III. The End and Defign for which he appeared. To put away Sin. IV. The Means by which he accomplished that End. By the Sacrifice of himself. V. The Difference of His Sacrifice from the Jewish ones. His was but once performed; theirs were every Day repeated. If his Sacrifice had been like theirs; then (as you have it in the former Part of the Verfe) muft he often have fuffered fince the Foundation of the World: But now once in the End of the World, bath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himSelf. This is the juft Refolution of the Text into its feveral Particulars, of each of which I fhall difcourfe as briefly and practically as I can.

I. I begin with the Firft, The Appearance of our Lord in general. Now hath be Appeared. Let us here confider, Firft, Who it was that appeared: And then, How he did appear.

The Perfon appearing, we will confider both as to his Nature, and as to his Office.

He that appeared, as to his Nature, was God and Man; both thefe Natures were united in him, and made one Perfon. He was God with us. So the Angel ftiles him in the First of St. Matthew.

He was the Word that was with God, and was God, and by whom all Things were made. He was, I fay, that Word made Flesh, and dwelling among us: So St. John ftiles him in the First of his Gofpel.

Laftly, He was God manifefted in the Flesh; fo St. Paul ftiles him in the First Epiftle to Timothy.

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