Sermons on Several Subjects, Sermon 5
SERMON V. The Nature and Neceſſity of Preparation for the Coming of Chriſt.
II COR. V. 9.
Wherefore we labour, that whether preſent or abſent we may be accepted of Him.
OF all the affairs, that employ the time and captivate the affections of the children of men, none ſo juſtly deſerve our attention and concern, as a preparation for that awful day, when we muſt ſtand before the impartial bar of Chriſt, and give an account of the things done in the body. This ſhould be the work of our early Years, and engage the ſtrength and vigour of our manly age; but alas! it is commonly delay'd to the dark evening of life, 'till the melancholy decays of nature warn us of our approaching end.
The ſpecious vanities and triſles of the world divert unthinking ſinners from a ſerious application to the one thing needful; they flatter themſelves, that the viſion is for many days, and they ſhall have time enough hereafter to ſecure the favour of their Judge.
The deluge of waters broke in upon the old world in the height of their ſecurity, whilſt they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and diſpatch'd them in a moment into irrecoverable miſery: and this preſent earth, which is reſerv'd for the fire of the laſt day, ſhall be deſtroy'd in as ſudden and irreſiſtible a manner. As it was in the days of Noah, ſo ſhall it be in the days of the Son of Man. When the world is drown'd in ſin and ſecurity, and dream of nothing but peace and ſafety, then ſhall ſudden deſtruction come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child.
Therefore our bleſſed Saviour exhorts his diſciples to continual watchfulneſs and diligence. Take heed, left at any time your hearts be overcharg'd with ſurfeiting and drunkenneſs, and the cares of this life, and ſo that day come upon you unawares; for as a ſnare will it come on all them that dwell on the face of the earth *Luk. 21.24, 25.. And every wiſe conſiderate man will receive the ſolemn caution, and avoid the danger of a ſudden ſurprize: Now this can only be done by making it the great buſineſs of Life to prepare for the coming of our Lord. This was the practice of St. Paul, as we find in our text; and his example is worthy of our careful and diligent imitation. The Point then to be inſiſted upon is this:
It ſhould be the great ſtudy and endeavor of every chriſtian, that he may be accepted of the Lord in the day of Judgment.
In ſpeaking to this Point, I ſhall
Firſt, Conſider what is required of us, that we may be accepted of the Lord in the day of Judgment.
Secondly, Why every Chriſtian ſhould make this his great ſtudy and endeavor.
Firſt. I ſhall conſider what is requir'd of us, that we may be accepted of the Lord in the day of Judgment. The caſe is practical, and deſerves our cloſe and diligent attention. I ſhall only inſiſt on a few general and comprehenſive articles.
1. We muſt by faith ſecure a title to the Merits and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. We are all by nature involv'd in the guilt of ſin, expos'd to the condemning ſentence of the law, and in danger of ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire; the holieſt of men are encompaſs'd with innumerable imperfections, and their beſt performances are defiled with ſo many blemiſhes, that ſhould God be ſtrict to mark iniquity, who could ſtand the fiery trial, and appear with ſafety at the inlightned tribunal of heaven? Hence the humble Pſalmiſt vehemently deprecates the ſtrict inquiry of juſtice; Enter not into judgment with thy ſervant, O Lord! for in thy ſight ſhall no man living be juſtified. And the great Doctor of the Gentiles, tho' among the chief of Saints, and an eminent Apoſtle, renounces all confidence in himſelf, and counts all things but loſs, that he may be found in Chriſt, not having on his own righteouſneſs which is of the law, but that which is through faith in him *Phil. 3.8, 9..— Not one of the ſons of men can perfectly obey the divine commands, nor by any thing that he can do or ſuffer, appeaſe the infinite diſpleaſure of an holy God: But the expiatory ſacrifice of Chriſt compleatly anſwer'd the demands of juſtice, and by his unſpotted innocence he vindicated the honour of the law, and purchas'd eternal redemption for his choſen People.
Now if ever we would be acquitted at the bar of God, and obtain the favour of our impartial Judge, we muſt plead, not any works of righteouſneſs that we have done, but the meritorious obedience and ſufferings of our bleſſed Saviour.
And that we may have a title to his invaluable merits, we muſt by faith accept of him as our only Saviour, and acknowledge him as our ſovereign Lord and Owner, with an entire dependance on his allſufficient ſacrifice, and an unfeigned deſire to obey his excellent precepts; for he is a Prieſt upon a throne, a Prince as well as a Saviour: And none will be ſav'd by the merits of his blood, but thoſe that ſubmit to the ſceptre of his government.— And happy are they who thus by faith receive him upon the terms of the Goſpel; for they are deliver'd from the condemning ſentence of the law, and may approach the ſacred tribunal of Juſtice with an humble confidence of approbation and acceptance.
2. Our natures muſt be ſanctified by the almighty influences of the Spirit, and renew'd after the image of the bleſſed God. Man by nature is not only involv'd in chains of guilt, but ſunk into the moſt deplorable ſtate of deformity and pollution; his underſtanding is darkned by clouds of error and ignorance, and filled with mighty prejudices againſt the divine and ſupernatural myſteries of the Goſpel: His will is ſtubborn and refractory, impatient of the yoke of God's authority, and inclin'd to continual rebellion againſt him: His affections are captivated to the dominion and tyranny of ſin, and plac'd upon the moſt degrading and inferiour objects: In ſhort, the whole man is perverſly alienated from the life and ſervice of God, and ſtrongly diſpos'd to the moſt abominable evils.— This is the unhappy charcter of man in a ſtate of unregenerate Nature— Hence ariſes the indiſpenſale neceſſity of an holy change, to qualify us for the acceptable ſevice of God upon earth, and prepare us for the ineffable glories of heaven.— The underſstanding muſt be illuminated by the Spirit of God, to believe the certainty and excellency of things unſeen and eternal, to perceive the beauty of holineſs, and the equity and reaſonableneſs of the divine commandments. The native enmity of the ſinner's heart muſt be ſubdu'd, and every faculty of the ſoul brought under a conſection to the ſervice of God.— Till this mighty change is produc'd, the ſinner is dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and his moſt perfect ſervices are a ſtench and abhorrence in the noſtrils of an holy God; and therefore he has nothing elſe to expect, but the awful frowns of his incenſed judge, and the diſtreſſing thunders of his avenging wrath.
The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, the heavens are not clean in his ſight, and his angels he chargeth with folly. None will be acknowledged and accepted by him, in the great day of Judgment, but ſuch as bear the impreſſion of the divine image, who cleanſe themſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, and are perfecting holineſs in the fear of the Lord. Without this inward purification, the moſt bright and diſtinguiſh'd profeſſion among men will be diſapprov'd and condemn'd by our all-ſeeing Judge. Others indeed may have a name in the church upon earth, and paſs for eminent Saints in the ſight of the world; but they will be excluded the Sanctuary above, and rank'd among the workers of iniquity, in the day of their deciſive trial.
3. A ſincere and impartial regard to the law of God is neceſſary to final acceptance with our judge. Many that boaſt of an high profeſſion, and vainly triumph in their Goſpel-privileges, are hypocritical in their pretences, and partial in their obedience to the laws of Chriſt.— With the ancient Phariſees, they are ſtrict in their attendance upon the divine worſhip, and zealouſly attach'd to the outward formalities of Religion; but unjuſt and oppreſſive in their dealings, carnal and covetous in their converſations.— While others build their hopes upon a moral and inoffenſive behaviour towards men, tho' they are ſadly negligent of their obligations to God, and live in an avow'd contempt of his worſhip and ordinances.— A third ſort calculate their Religion for the public view, and make a plauſble appearance in the Temple, but are ſtrangers to the devotions of the Cloſet; they liberally diſpenſe their alms, when the found of a trumpet proclaims their charity, but are ſordidly ſparing when there is no proſpect of gratifying a vain-glorious humour; they are zealous for the Kingdom of Chriſt, when it will advance their honour and intereſt, but are cold and indifferent when the great doctrines of Goſpel are fallen under reproach, and boidly aſſaulted by men of figure and eſtate.
By ſuch hypocritical pretences as theſe, multitudes lull themſelves into ſecurity, and vainly imagine to obtain the favour of God. But alas! his all-ſeeing eye pierces through every diſguiſe, and marks out the painted formaliſt, how cautiouſly ſsoever he may be concealed. A partial obedience to the divine commands will not ſtand the trial of an enlightned conſcience upon earth, nor be approv'd by the unerring verdict of heaven. If our hearts condemn us of any ſecret and indulg'd iniquity, God is greater than our hearts and knoweth all things: but if our hearts condemn us not, then we have confidence towards God, and may hope for the divine acceptance. 1 Joh. 3.20, 21.
If therefore we would enjoy the teſtimony of an unreproaching conſcience, and receive the euge of our Judge, we muſt have a ſacred reſpect to every duty, without exception or reſerve; and be the ſame in the ſecret cloſet, when no Eye but that of God and conſcience is upon us, as when we ſtand upon the open theatre of the world, and are encompaſs'd with a thouſand witneſſes. We muſt bear an univerſal hatred to ſin, tho' dear unto us as a right hand and a right eye; and particularly watch and ſtrive againſt thoſe darling iniquities, which the conſtitution of our bodies, the diſpoſition of our minds, and our company and buſineſs moſt ſtrongly incline us to the commiſſion of. In fine, we muſt not only pay a ſtrict regard to the important duties of piety towards God, but inviolably obſerve the ſacred rules of juſtice and charity to men. This will afford us a divine ſupport in the darkeſt hours of diſtreſs, and enable us to ſay with the inſpir'd Apoſt;e, Our rehoicing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world. 2 Cor. 1.12.
4. A frequent Review of our lives and actions, and a judging our ſelves for our ſins, is an happy preparative for the great day of trial. It is the wiſdom of perſons engag'd in worldly buſineſs, frequently to ſurvey their accounts, and enquire into the ſtate of their affairs: And it is equally incumbent on the children of light, to examine into the ſtate of their ſouls, that they may know what duties they have omitted, what ſins they have been guilty of, and what progreſs they have made in the chriſtian courſe.— While we tabernacle in fleſh, and are ſurrounded with ſo many inſnaring objects, the beſt of men will be ſometimes ſurpriſed into ſin through the remaining corruption of their natures, or overborn by the ſtrength and violence of temptations.— It is therefore highly neceſſary that we frequently review our conduct, and compare it with the law of God, the unerring rule of our duty; that ſo we may be acquainted with our errors and miſcarriages. — This will awaken our repentance for our daily offences, and engage us to a fervent application to the blood of Chriſt for pardon, that fountain which is ſet open for ſin and for uncleanneſs.— This will inſpire us with unfeign'd reſolutions of amendment, and excite our care and vigilance to avoid thoſe ſins for which we have ſo ſeverely judg'd and condemn'd our ſelves.— And this has a bleſſed tendency to deep our conſciences clear from indulg'd iniquities, and to prevent that awful ſurpriſe, that muſt ſeize the impenitent ſinner, when the midnightcry ſhall awaken him out of his ſecurity, and ſummon him to the tremendous judgment-ſeat of Chriſt.
What an unſpeakable happineſs will it then be, to have our conſcience puriſied from defiling ſins, and all breaches made up between God and our ſouls!mdash; Such may hear the ſound of the laſt trumpet with calmneſs and ſerenity of mind, and ſtand ſecure amidſt the ſhocks of a diſſolving world.
5. Continual Meditation upon the certainty and ſolemnity of a future Judgment, is an excellent means to engage us to a ſerious preparation for it. There's nothing more highly deſerves our ſerious and attentive regards, and yet nothing that unthinking ſinners ſo induſtriouſly baniſh out of their minds. What ſubject, of equal importance, can employ our thoughts and engage our attention, as this great and illuſtrious event? Which will unfold the myſteries of divine providence, clear up the difficulties of his government, and diſplay the perfections of the Deity in their brighteſt glories.—What are all the dazling triumph of the mighty Princes and Generals of the Earth, but childiſh and deſpicable trifles, in compariſon with the pompous deſcent of our almighty Saviour, attended with the ſhining equipage of heaven!— If now we are affected with the appearance of an earthly Judge, attended with the miniſters of juſtice, to enforce the execution of the law, is it not infinitely more reaſonable to employ our thoughts upon that vaſt and moſt affecting ſcene, in which all the poſterity of Adam ſhall ſtand before the throne of God, and receive an irrevocable ſentence of happineſs, or miſery, according to their works!—Eſpecially if we conſider, that we are all deeply concern'd in this great tranſaction, and muſt bear a part in the joys and triumphs, or in the fears and terrors of that awful day. The neglect of this great duty is one cauſe of the general impiety and wickedneſs of the world, and makes them preſumptuous and ſecure in the midſt of amazing dangers.
We ſhould therefore call off our thoughts from the contemptible vanities of time and ſenſe, fix them upon a future Judgment, and conſider its important conſequences, that ſo we may be quickned to prepare for that great and terrible day of the Lord.—I now proceed to conſider,
Secondly, Why it ſhould be the great Study and Endeavour of every Chriſtian to prepare for the day of Judgment, and that he may then be accepted of the Lord.
Now,
1. It is a work of the greateſt difficulty, and requires the utmoſt ſelf-denial, reſolution, and diligence. This our Maſter and Judge hath warn'd his followers of; that they might not pleaſe themſelves with vain dreams of carnal eaſe and pleaſure in the way to the Kingdom, but might be prepar'd to encounter the hardſhips that attend the chriſtian life. He hath aſſured us, that the kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force: He hath commanded us to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate; for many will ſeek to enter in and ſhall not be able *Mattl. 11.22. Luk. 13.24..
The Duties enjoyn'd upon us, are contrary to the corrupt inclinations of fleſh and blood, and require the deepeſt mortification and ſelf-denial. The carnal mind is enmity to God, impatient of reſtraint, and madly bent upon thoſe ways that lead to deſtruction and ruin.—And what can be a greater difficulty, than to offer violence to our depraved natures, to ſubdue our darling luits, and maintain a continual war againſt our ſelves?
And the difficulty is greatly increaſed, by the external impediments that attend us. Satan, the grand adverſary of ſouls, ſhoots his invenom'd arrows, on every ſide, to wound and deſtroy us, and uſes a thouſand unobſerv'd and politic ſtratagems to entice us from God and our Duty. The men of the world will revile and perſecute us for our fidelity and diligence in the diſcharge of our duty, and practiſe the moſt deſtructive Methods to corrupt and defile us. And is it not a laborious taſk to withſtand the rage of earth and hell, to reſiſt the infection of evil examples, and ſtem the tide of a degenerate age?— Is it not difficult to oppoſe the ſoft enchantments of vice, and eſcape the corruption that is in the world thro' luſt? What manly courage and reſolution is required, to ſubdue the inveterate habits of vice, to conquer our native indiſpoſition to holineſs, and to bear up againſt the ſubtle inſinuations and violent aſſaults of temptation? Now this muſt be done by every one that would be faithful to the cauſe of Chriſt, and obtain the approbation of his Judge. Therefore we are commanded, not to be ſiothful in buſineſs, but fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord *Rom. 12.11: and are exhorted to give all diligence to make our calling and election ſure †2 Pet. 1.10..
2. This Life is the only ſeaſon allotted for this great work. The foundation of our future happineſs muſt be laid in this world, if ever we expect to receive the reward of future glory. We muſt now ſow the feeds of righteouſneſs, if we would rejoice in a plentiful harveſt at the reſurrection of the juſt. The divine life muſt be begun upon earth, that ſo it may receive its laſt and finiſhing ſtroke of beauty and perfection in heaven. Now we muſt ariſe from the death of ſin, and follow Chriſt in the regeneration: and then we ſhall hereafter riſe unto Glory, and be accounted worthy to ſtand before the Son of Man, in the day of his appearance and kingdom. This is the time of trial, in which we muſt engage in the chriſtian warfare, fight the good fight, and continue faithful unto death, that in the day of Judgment we may give up our account with joy, and receive a crown of Life. For in that day the rewards and puniſhments will be diſtributed according to our preſent ſpirit and behaviour; and the ſentence that ſhall be paſs'd, will be final and irreverſible. No appeal can be made from this high tribunal; no review can be obtain'd in the court of heaven; the Judge will then be inexorable, and the ſtate of all mankind unalterable. Which leads me to ſay,
3. If death ſurpriſe us in an unprepar'd eſtate, the day of Judgment will be a day of inconceivable terror and amazement. Unutterable anguiſh and diſtreſs will ſeize upon impenitent ſinners, when they ſhall ſee him whom they have pierced, and remember the innumerable indignities they have thrown upon him. They will no longer be able to drown the voice of conſcience in floods of wine, nor drive away their melancholy thoughts with muſick and dancing, with gaiety and entertainment. The Principles of Infidelity, which are now ſo greedily imbib'd, againſt the repeated admonitions of conſcience and to the reproach of human nature, will then afford but a poor and feeble ſupport. Unbelievers will receive a terrible conviction, that the great doctrines of the Goſpel are not the dreams of enthuſiaſm,, nor the ſubtle inventions of the deſigning Prieſt and the crafty Politician. They will find by ſad experience, that God is not to be mock'd, that his wrath is not to be trifled with, nor the methods of his grace to be inſulted and blaſphem'd.
What excuſe will they plead for their inſolent defiance of Heaven, their ſtupid neglect of the invaluable offers of a Saviour, their obſtinate continuance in ſin, in oppoſition to the convictions and ſtrivings of the holy Spirit?— What defence will they make for their contempt of their baptiſinal vows, and their preferring the pomps and vanities of this world, to the favour of God, and the ineffable joys of his prefence?
How will their countenances be appal'd, and their ſouls filled with terror, when they ſhall ſee their almighty Judge, whoſe authority they have deſpiſed, whoſe laws they have diſobey'd, and whoſe merits they have blaſphem'd, deſcending in the clouds of heaven, attended with the dreadful artillery of his wrath, to vindicate the authority of his laws, and puniſh the contempt of his government!— What confuſion and horror will ſurprize them, when they meet with their ſinful and defiled bodies, the ancient partners of their wickedneſs, which have been the deteſtable inſtruments of their profaneneſs and impiety, their oppreſſion and cruelty, their riot and debauchery!— With what weeping eyes, aſtoniſh'd countenances, and trembling hearts, will they ſtand before the tribunal of Chriſt, when their ſecret impurities, their hypocritical diſguiſes, their lewd and wicked intentions, ſhall be publickly detected and expoſed, to the contempt and abhorrence of the congregation of the righteous!—What diſtreſſing agonies and convulſions muſt ſeize them, when they ſhall be condemn'd in the day of trial, and their incenſed Lord ſhall paſs that unalterable ſentence upon them, Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!— If the ſentence of an earthly judge is ſo much to be dreaded, and excites in a condemn'd criminal ſuch bitter lamentations, how inconceivably more terrible will be the final determination of our eternal Judge, which condemns the wicked to endleſs and intolerable miſery!— With what vehemence and importunity will they lift up their cries for that mercy, which now they affront and deſpiſe! But alas! their righteous Judge will then be deaf to their loudeſt intreaties. Once he compaſſionately called upon them to flee from the wrath to come, and ſent his embaſſadors to invite them to accept of eternal happineſs; but they inſolently rejected his invaluable offers, and ungratefully abuſed the methods of his grace, they deſpiſed his wiſe counſels, and diſregarded his awful reproofs: therefore he will mock at their calamity, and laugh when their fear cometh.— Not all the ſurpriſing miracles of his love, not all the bitter agonies and ſorrows of his death, not the ſacred ſtreams of his blood, which was ſhed for the redemption of a guilty world, could perſwade them to forſake their ſins, and devote themſelves to his ſervice; but they obſtinately retain'd their beloved luſts, and prefer'd their ſins before their Saviour: His abuſed goodneſs will therefore be converted into fury, and the door of mercy be bolted againſt them forever.— But I turn to a bright ſcene, and proceed to ſay,
4. To thoſe that are found in a ſtate of favour and acceptance with Chriſt, the day of Judgment will be a time of unſpeakable joy and refreſhment. With what ſatisfaction and pleaſure may they, who live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godlily in the world, look for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearance of the great God their Saviour, who has loved them with an everlaſting Love, choſen them from among the degenerate maſs of mankind, waſh'd them from their ſins in the fountain of his blood, and is coming to receive them to his arms and embraces for ever!
With what extaſies of joy and triumph will they ſalute the happy day, when their glorified Redeemer ſhall deſcend to this lower world, in the pomp and character of an incarnate God, clothed with majeſty and ſtrength, and attended with all the honours of his exalted ſtate!— How will they rejoice, with joy unſpeakable, to behold Him, that for their ſakes made himſelf of no reputation, became poor, and paſs'd through an amazing ſcene of the moſt diſmal ſufferings, even the Man Jeſus Chriſt, ſeated upon a triumphant throne of glory, and ſurrounded with a ſhining croud of Angels, Archangels, and the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect!
How agreable a meeting will they have with their ancient Bodies; the companions of their meekneſs, humility and ſelf-denial, which have for ſo many years been confin'd to the dark and ſilent grave, and covered with deformity and corruption; but are now rais'd from the duſt of death, clothed with immortal youth and beauty, and fitted for a ſtate of perfect innocence and happineſs!— How tranſporting a ſight will it be, to behold the goodly Company of the Prophets, Patriarchs, and Apoſtles, and all thoſe brave and generous Souls, who in all ages of the church have ſacrificed their lives for the teſtimony of Jeſus, and have follow'd their Lord and Maſter in ſuffering and patience, in purity and heavenly-mindedneſs, all united in one vaſt aſſembly, and ſhouting forth the praiſes of their exalted Redeemer!— How will it refreſh them to have their injured innocence publickly vindicated, their ſecret piety and charity applauded, and their holy thoughts and intentions proclaim'd, to their immortal honour!—But what heart can conceive, what tongue can utter the mighty tranſports that will poſſeſs the Saints, when their God and Saviour ſhall openly acknowledge them as his friends and favourites, and declare them heirs of eternal Glory!— With what raptures of Joy will they hear that happy ſentence pronounc'd upon them; Come, ye Bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! after which they ſhall immediately enter into the heavenly paradiſe, and be for ever with the Lord.
And now upon the whole, ſince preparation for a future Judgment is a work of ſo much difficulty and pains, —Since this life is the only time allotted for this great work, —Since the conſequences of an unprepar'd ſtate are ſo infinitely terrible, and the advantages of the contrary ſo inconceivably joyful; ſurely it behoves every Chriſtian to make it his great ſtudy and endeavor, that he may be accepted of the Lord in the day of Judgment.
EXHORTATION.
Wherefore (in the Apoſtle's words, 2 Pet. 3.14.) Beloved, be diligent that ye may be found of your Judge in peace, without ſpot and blameleſs. This is the natural and neceſſary Counſel, upon what has now been deliver'd unto you: and what more important, than a ſpeedy and unfeign'd compliance with it? Eſpecially if we conſider, that the time of this great event is reſerv'd among the Secrets of heaven, and wiſely concealed from the moſt ſagacious and inquiſitive minds: So that, for ought we know, the Judge may be now ſtanding at the door; and before the dawn of another day the laſt trumpet may ſound, and ſummon us to the bar of Chriſt. And conſidering the infidelity and profaneneſs, the corrupt principles, and diſſolute manners of the preſent age; we have uncommon reaſon to believe, that day haſtens upon us apace: for when the Son of Man cometh, ſhall he find faith upon the earth? Luk. 18.8.
Theſe things may now be received with ſcorn and banter, and the awful warnings of heaven may be treated as the melancholy dreams of a gloomy and ſuperſtitious mind; the Scoffers of the preſent day may break their impious jeſts upon Religion, and triumph in their preſent peace and ſecurity:— But we are aſſur'd from the unerring oracles of God, that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat, the earth alſo, and the works that are therein, ſhall be burnt up. 2. Pet. 3.10.— It is therefore our wiſdom and duty to attend to the advice of our Lord (with which I conclude) Matth. 24.42, —46. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Be ye ready; for in ſuch an bour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh: and Bleſſed is that Servant, whom his Lord when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing.
AMEN.
Preach'd March 12, 1737, 8