A Seasonable Memento for New Years Day, Sermon · Part 2

A Seasonable Memento for New Years Day · Sermon · Part 2

p. 24[SECOND PART.]

I go on now to another general Head of Diſcourſe: but having under the former indulg'd to Amplification, and by interſpers'd Reflections in ſome Meaſure anticipated this Part of my Subject, I muſt aſk your Candour while I ſtudy to forbear much of thoſe Enlargements here, which yet the Plenty of the Things preſenting would eaſily admit of, and which their Dignity and Importance ſtrongly invite us to, that indeed it's difficult and ſelf-denying to be very brief on ſo copious, ſo weighty & agreable a Theme.

p. 25II. The Year of Redemption is alſo among the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, and eminently challenges our Attention and Remembrance, with a ſupreme Regard to experimental and practical Purpoſes in Religion.

Here the moſt ſurpriſing Scenes open to our View; the richeſt, the ſweeteſt, and moſt neceſſary Themes of Meditation offer to our Thoughts. Iſrael's Redemption out of Egypt, that Work of Wonder, was but a Metaphor and Shadow to this ſpiritual and eternal Redemption, which I now ſpeak of. Nay, on a Variety of Accounts, this ſurpaſſes in Glory the Work of Creation it ſelf. And ſome worthy Divines incline to be of Opinion, that the firſt Production of the Earth, and of Man upon it, was with an ultimate Deſign of glorifying God in the great Salvation, to be accompliſh'd in Time by his eternal Son incarnate in human Nature. But however that was, undoubtedly the Work of Redemption implies in it ſuch aſtoniſhing Events, as ſpeak it a more admirable Work of the Right Hand of the moſt High, than the Creation of the Univerſe. A Work it is, of the nobleſt Kind, and moſt myſterious Nature, of the higheſt Account with God, and the laſt Importance to Man; what Angels deſire to look into, and what demands our moſt attentive Notice, conſtant Inquiry, and cloſeſt Application of Thought, as the main Subject of Divine Revelation, and the grand Baſis of all the Tranſactions of Divine Mercy, the neceſſary Spring of a rational Hope to the fallen Creature, and the primary Source of all our Religion and all our Happineſs. Accordingly the inſpir'd Scriptures frequently celebrate the acceptable Year of the Lord, the Year of his Redeemed, and teach us to regard this as in a tranſcendent Senſe the Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High. Beſure in this bleſſed Year are to be ſeen the moſt illuſtrious Diſcoveries of his eternal Power and Godhead, the brighteſt Characters of Divine Sovereignty, Strength, Wiſdom, Juſtice, Holineſs, and Truth, with an infinite Profuſion of Goodneſs and Mercy.

This wonderful Year, in it's largeſt Conſideration, may be ſaid to know no End nor Beginning of Days. Even from Everlaſting, it's glorious Plan of Operations was concerted in the Council of Peace: and the Execution (I mean with regard to Effects terminating on the Creature) will endure even to Everlaſting. The Redeem'd are repreſented as being from the Beginning choſen to Salvation, as receiving a Kingdom prepared for them from the Foundation of the World, as called according to God's Purpoſe and p. 26Grace, which was given them in Chriſt Jeſus, before the World began; and of Him the Scripture ſaith, He verily was foreordained before the Foundation of the World, but was manifeſt in theſe laſt Times.— Alſo in Point of Futurity, the Salvation which they obtain, is call'd Eternal, and the Kingdom they are appointed to, is call'd Everlaſting. So that this immenſe Year takes into it's Reckoning both an antecedent and a conſequent Eternity. Now all the Wonders of this Year of the Lord, whether the Objects of Reflection or Proſpect, are juſt Objects of our Thought, Belief and Remembrance. Even thoſe primitive Wonders, which reach back to an unknown Diſtance before the World began, ought not to be unregarded by us, but ſolemnly notic'd, and ſtudy'd, and apply'd to their practical Purpoſes in Religion: for theſe belong to the Doctrine which is according to Godlineſs, to the Myſtery of the Faith which we are to hold in a pure Conſcience, and to the Form of ſound Words, which nouriſh the believing Soul to Life eternal. They are not jejune and empty Points of Speculation; nor is the meer Theory, without a Care of practical Uſe in the Divine Life, to be reſted in. — However, under the preſent Head, I have my Eye immediately to the Year of Viſitation; the Aera's of ſpecial Diſcovery and Communication of redeeming Grace, and more particularly the diſtinguiſh'd Diſpenſation of Chriſtianity. Of this Period the Scripture ſaith, It is the laſt Time; and ſpeaks of it in that emphatick Language, Now is the accepted Time, Now is the Day of Salvation. It calls it by way of Eminence, The acceptable Year of the Lord. All the Characters of celebrated Years under the Moſaick Diſpenſation are united here, with a ſurpriſing Glory. 'Tis the Year of Redemption, the Year of Releaſe, the Year of Liberty, the Year of Plenty, the Year of Reſt, the true Sabbatical Year, the Year of Jubilee, to the ſpiritual Iſrael. A happy Year indeed; a truly wonderful Year, and of long Continuance, even in it's moſt limited View, laſting from what the Scripture calls the Fulneſs of the Time, until Time ſhall be no more.

Within this famous Goſpel-Period we meet with very glorious Events, and aſtoniſhing Facts, which proclaim it a moſt memorable Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High. I ſhall now ſingle out ſome cardinal Inſtances, worthy of your perpetual Remembrance, and more eaſily applicable to the beſt practical Purpoſes in Religion.

p. 27[1.] There's that comprehenſive Article of the Impetration or Purchaſe & Procurement of Redemption; including the Incarnation of the Son of God, his Obedience & Sufferings, his Miniſtration on Earth, & following Advancement to Heaven. — Here's a rich Collection of admirable & unparallel'd Events, Divine in their Original, myſterious in their Nature, of the moſt difficult Accompliſhment, & of the laſt Conſequence, both in Reference to God's Glory & Man's Happineſs: which are Conſiderations, that ſufficiently argue the Year of Redemption to be among the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, and powerfully recommend it to our ſolemn Notice and frequent Reflection.

1. The eternal Word, the ſame which in the Beginning was with God, and was God, now ſtoop'd to aſſume the inferiour Nature of Man into moſt intimate and ineffable Union with his Divine Perſon. The Word was made Fleſh, and tabernacled among Men. He who was in the Form of God, took on him the Form of a Servant, empty'd himſelf of his ſuper-angelick Glory, and vail'd it under the Cloud of Humanity. Conceiv'd by the Power of the Holy Ghoſt, he was born of a Virgin, made of the Seed of David according to the Fleſh, and in all Things made like to his Brethren; nevertheleſs without Sin. The Scripture ſaith, How can he be clean, that is born of a Woman? yet here's an Inſtance (but indeed the ſingle one) of a Birth perfectly pure and immaculate▪ Here's a Babe, the holy Child Jeſus, compaſs'd with all our natural Infirmities, yet eſcaping our hereditary moral Diſeaſe, common to all the World beſide! And which gives us the Reaſon of this, here's the Son of God become the Son of Man, by an incomprehenſible Conjunction of Divinity and Humanity, the moſt diſtant and unequal Natures, in one Perſon. Myſterious and marvellous Event! Without Controverſy, great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs, God manifeſt in the Fleſh. This was a Divine Peculiarity; truly a new Thing under the Sun, and without a Precedent in univerſal Nature; the Device of immenſe Wiſdom, and the pleaſing Wonder of heavenly Intelligences, who came down on Earth to be Attendants of the Birth of Jeſus, and uſher'd him into the World with their joyful Acclamations.

2. Yet the Son of Man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and to lay down his Life a Ranſom for many. He paſs'd thro' aſtoniſhing Scenes of Humiliation, from his very Birth to his Burial; by the Meanneſs and Difficulty of his Condition in the World; by the Temptations of Satan; by the Contempts and p. 28Cruelties of Men; and above all by the Agonies of his Soul under the Hidings of his heavenly Father's Face, who ſpared not his own Son, but it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him for our Iniquities, and lay upon him the Chaſtiſement of our Peace, that by his Stripes we might be healed. — Yet all was on Chriſt's Part a voluntary Humiliation, with a View to accompliſhing the Ends of his mediatoral Undertaking. The Lord of Glory, being found in Faſhion as a Man, humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Croſs. Having in Character of the ſecond Man, the laſt Adam, become Surety for his ſpiritual Seed, which God had given him in Promiſe, and having engag'd to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People, to ſatisfy offended Juſtice on their Behalf, and by a valuable Conſideration to purchaſe eternal Redemption for them, it conſequently behov'd him to fulfil the Law, in it's whole Demand, both penal and moral: as alſo it became him for whom are all Things and by whom are all Things, in bringing many Sons unto Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect thro' this active and paſſive Obedience. Nor was the Law ever to that Degree magnify'd and made honourable, as by theſe extraordinary Means; either in it's Precept, which the Man Jeſus compleatly obſerv'd, or in it's Penalty, which he ſuſtain'd the full Weight of, that ſo he might bring in Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, an adequate Price for the whole Good of the Promiſe, and imputable to the chief of Sinners for Juſtification of Life. — Here's the Wiſdom of God in a Myſtery! And Love, that paſſes all Underſtanding! Sure only infinite Wiſdom cou'd project this admirable Expedient for the Redemption of Sinners; which reconciles the different Propenſities of Juſtice and Mercy, in Relation to guilty Man, and renders the Purpoſe of Grace conſiſtent with the Rights and Honours of rectoral Holineſs. And only infinite Love cou'd be the Spring of the Father's ſending his only begotten Son, to be the Propitiation for our Sins! — Nor cou'd it be leſs Love in the Son of the Higheſt, to ſubmit to what he underwent for our ſakes, in being made under the Law and fulfilling all Righteouſneſs, in becoming a Man of Sorrows, in being numbred with the Tranſgreſſors, appearing in the Likeneſs of ſinful Fleſh, and bearing our Sins in his own Body on the Tree. Unparallel'd Humiliation! Myſterious and amazing Grace. He who knew no Sin, was made Sin for us, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him. The Lord from Heaven condeſcended to cloath himſelf in all the Livery of Guilt and Shame, that we might p. 29inherit Glory. He ſtoop'd to ſuffer for Sins (not his own, but ours) the Juſt for the Unjuſt, that he might bring us to God. He abaſed himſelf to be made a Curſe for us, that he might recover the forfeited Bleſſing, and reſtore that which he took not away. So did Chriſt love his Church, as even to give his Life a Ranſom for it, and purchaſe it with his own Blood. An ineſtimable Expence! A plenary Satisfaction! and proclaiming an immenſe Love! — Theſe are ſome of the Wonders of Chriſt's humbled State, reſpecting him in the Office of a Prieſt, or Mediator of Atonement; which indeed principally demands our Attention. His Name was called JESUS (which ſignifies a Saviour) becauſe he ſhould ſave his People from their Sins. This his Name, with the Reaſon of it, was given before his Conception, by an Angel from Heaven ſent to notify it to the Mother of our Lord.

3. There were other Things, very marvellous, in his Miniſtration on Earth in Character of a Prophet and of a King, which alſo claim our Conſideration. In theſe Capacities he perform'd an admirable Part, tho' differing from that he acted in the other, and conſiſting chiefly in the manifeſting forth his Glory. Even during his State of Humiliation, the Sun of Righteouſneſs darted out upon the World ſome bright and benign Rays thro' the interpoſing Vail of his Fleſh. The private Life of Jeſus, his Childhood and Youth particularly, was diſtinguiſh'd by ſome ſurpriſing Specimens of his ſuperiour Wiſdom, and convincing Evidences of his Favour with God, which rais'd great Expectations from him, and preſag'd his future Miniſtry and publick Appearance. And as the Time drew nigh, that he ſhould be made manifeſt unto all Iſrael, an extraordinary Prophet was ſent of God (the predicted Harbinger of the Meſſiah) to go before his Face in the Spirit and Power of Elias, to bear Witneſs of the riſing Light, and to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. Therefore came John baptiſing with Water, propheſying of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the Sin of the World, & pointing him out to the People. At the Baptiſm of Jeſus, when the Heavens were opened, and the Spirit deſcended, like a Dove, and abode upon him, the Baptiſt ſaw the wondrous Appearance, and bare Record that this is the Son of God.— Alſo on that and other Occaſions, a Voice was heard from the excellent Glory, teſtifying of the Son of God, and calling Men to believe in him. — The Works likewiſe which he wro't, bare him Witneſs: nor was he without a Teſtimony in the Conſciences of Multitudes, that flock'd to his Preaching, and were aſtoniſhed at p. 30his Doctrine. For, as contemptible a Character as now it is with many, the humble Jeſus diſdained not to be a Preacher of the Goſpel: but publiſhed the Salvation, which he himſelf is the Author of, with his own ſacred Lips, as well as by the Mouth of his Apoſtles. It at the firſt began to be ſpoken by the LORD; and was confirmed to us by them that heard him. He in Perſon went about doing Good, to the Souls, as well as Bodies of Men, and carrying the glad Tidings of Peace into all Corners of the Land; abundant in Labours, full of Zeal, Courage, and Prudence; the Wonder of the deſpis'd (but often more diſcerning) Populace, tho' ſet at nought by the Rulers. Indeed, worthy of a Teacher come from God, he taught as one having Authority; and not as the impotent Doctors of that degenerate Day, but as a Prophet, yea, and more than a Prophet; confeſſedly, ſpeaking ſo as never Man ſpake, with a ſuper-human Light and Demonſtration, with a Divine Majeſty and Energy, in Sermons, Parables, and Expoſitions; ſilencing all his Adverſaries and putting them to Confuſion; vindicating the Law of Moſes from the corrupt Gloſſes of the Scribes & Phariſees, opening the Scriptures of the Prophets, and ſhewing how they all pointed to him, the Meſſiah, as their common Centre. — He had alſo the Gift of Prophecy, as well as of Interpretation; and foretold very important Events, reſpecting himſelf and others, which that Generation ſaw accompliſh'd.—Beſides the Prophetick Spirit, he ſhin'd in all the Glories of the Spirit of Supplication. As he was a Prophet mighty in Deed and Word before all the People, ſo likewiſe before God; both mighty in the Scriptures, and mighty in Prayers and Tears; often in the Mount with God, and wreſtling with him day and night, as a Prince having Power with God, and prevailing; for him the Father always heard. Even on Earth he exhibited moſt lively Samples of his ſubſequent Interceſſion in Heaven. — He alſo adminiſter'd the Office of King in Zion; diſplaying a Royal Authority and Power on numberleſs Occaſions, and receiving the Honours due to Majeſty. Even before his Conception, Angels foretold his having decreed him the Throne of his Father David, and propheſy'd of his reigning over the Houſe of Jacob for ever: at his Nativity they proclaim'd him Chriſt the Lord; they miniſtred to him during his whole Abode on Earth, and after his Death guarded his Sepulchre, as humble Attendants of the Prince of Life, the King of Glory. He receiv'd Hoſanna's from the Mouths of very Babes and Sucklings, even as they were admirably influenc'd by a Divine Afflatus; Multitudes bow'd the Knee, p. 31and worſhipped him, as the King of Iſrael. — He triumph'd over all the Powers of Darkneſs in his forty Days Temptation in the Wilderneſs; and from time to time ſignally baffled all the Subtilty and Malice of Hell and Earth combin'd in Oppoſition to him. He manifeſted his Glory and Greatneſs in ſcourging the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple; in ſtriking to the Ground (by the Majeſty of his Countenance, or ſome powerful ſecret Influence) thoſe that came to ſelfe him in the Garden of his Agony; & in recovering Peter from his guilty Fall, by a Look of his compaſſionate Eye amidſt the Sorrows of his afflictive Trial. — At his Transfiguration on the Mount, when his Face ſhone as the Sun and his Raiment gliſter'd as the Light, behold, there were with him two extraordinary human Attendants from the inviſible World, Moſes and Elijah, who appeared in Glory, and talked with him of his Deceaſe, which he ſhould accompliſh at Jeruſalem; and the Diſciples preſent ſaw his Glory and the two Men that ſtood with him.— Further, he perform'd ſolemn Acts of Regal Power & Empire, in ſetting up ſacred Ordinances to be obſerv'd in his Church, and preſcribing Rules for conducting the Affairs of his viſible Kingdom; in inſtituting a new Goſpel-Miniſtry, and ſending forth the Apoſtles, inſpir'd with miraculous Gifts, to preach and act in his Name; in calling to him whom he would, and baptiſing them with the Holy Ghoſt, in forgiving Sins, in caſting out Devils, in healing all manner of Diſeaſes, in raiſing the Dead, and doing theſe Things by an abſolute Fiat: the Lord commanded the Bleſſing; He ſpake, and it was done: inſomuch that the People marvelled, ſaying, It was never ſo ſeen in Iſrael. — And from firſt to laſt he powerfully recommended himſelf, in his whole Character, by ſhining before the World in the Light and Beauty of a perfect, unfully'd, and moſt attractive Example. — He confirm'd the Truth of his Divine Miſſion and Doctrine by a Multitude of the moſt illuſtrious and unqueſtionable Miracles (ſome of them now hinted at) to which he conſtantly made his Appeal: and at length even ſeal'd the ſame with his Blood, in dying a voluntary Martyr to the Goſpel, as well as Victim to the Law; for he laid down his Life of himſelf, as he had Power or Right to do; a peculiar Prerogative of the Son of Man, being alſo the Son of God. — Nor was his ſuper-eminent Character unconfeſſed, even while he hung on the accurſed Tree. But his Royalty was own'd by Pilate in the Inſcription ſet over his Head, by the penitent Thief on the Croſs with him, and by the Centurion and his Band that guarded the p. 32tragical Execution; as alſo by Heaven itſelf, in the ſurpriſing Darkneſs and Eclipſe of the Sun, and in the miraculous rending the Veil of the Temple; — Events, that aſtoniſh'd the vaſt Crowd of Spectators, ſo that all the People ſmote their Breaſts, and returned in deep Regret and with a ſolemn Dread upon their Spirits, on account of what had come to paſs.

4. Nor is this all: but as our Lord had Power both to lay down his Life and to take it again, he ſoon burſt the Bands of Death, neither did his Fleſh ſee Corruption. He aroſe and revived, amidſt Miracles and Wonders in Nature, and the Miniſtrations of holy Angels, declaring himſelf the Son of God with Power, in a tranſcendent Manner, beyond all Parallel, and above all Conception. Marvellous the Power of his Reſurrection! Equal to the Merit of his Death, and a Seal to the Validity of his Sacrifice! A noble Conqueſt over the King of Terrors, and a glorious Triumph over the Enemies of his Croſs! An Aſſurance to all Men of his being the Lord both of the Dead and Living, and a happy Earneſt of his conſequent Exaltation! — For the riſen Jeſus, after a few Days Tarry here below, was tranſlated to the World above. When he had given the neceſſary Powers and Inſtructions to his Apoſtles, had ſettled the Affairs of his ſpiritual Family and Kingdom here, and ſufficiently ſhewn himſelf alive after his Paſſion by many infallible Proofs, he no longer delay'd his Aſcenſion; and this was attended with triumphant Circumſtances, as well as follow'd with glorious Conſequences. While he was bidding a ſolemn Farewell and bleſſing his Diſciples, he was parted from them & carry'd up into Heaven, in a Chariot of Glory: They beheld his gradual Aſcent, until a Cloud received him out of their Sight; nor ceaſed the aſtoniſh'd Diſciples gazing towards Heaven, and looking up ſtedfaſtly after their aſcending Maſter, until diverted by Angels appearing and reproving them. — And doubtleſs 'twas amidſt a numerous Hoſt of adoring Angels, as well as with ſignal Triumphs over the Prince of the Power of the Air, that the victorious Saviour exchanged Worlds. God is gone up with a Shout, the Lord with the Sound of a Trumpet. — The Chariots of God are twenty Thouſand, even Thouſands of Angels, and the Lord among them, as in Sinai, in the holy Place. Thou haſt aſcended on high, and led Captivity captive: Thou haſt received Gift, for Men. The aſcended Jeſus was received into Glory, and enter'd into the holy Place, not made with Hands, to appear in the Preſence of God for his People. He is gone before, to prepare a Place for them, to take Poſſeſſion of the glorious Purchaſes p. 33of his Croſs, and by his Advocacy to procure the Beſtowment of thoſe Bleſſings he had bought with his precious Blood. We have a great High Prieſt, that is paſſed into the Heavens, Jeſus the Son of God; who, when he had by himſelf purged our Sins, ſat down on the Right Hand of the Majeſty on high, and ever liveth to make Interceſſion. Here's a Prieſt upon a Throne! The Lamb as it had been ſlain, crowned now with Royal Glory and Honour; having a Name given him, which is above every Name, the Author of eternal Salvation, and Head over all Things to the Church! Shining in all the reſplendent Characters of an accepted and glorify'd Mediator, as well as in the incomparable Beauties of his Divine Perſon; in all the Light of a Prophet, Merit of a Prieſt, and Power of a King; in all the Perfection and Dignity of the only Begotten of the Father, and the Man of his Right Hand, whom he hath made ſtrong for himſelf, whom he hath ſet to be for Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth, and hath appointed Heir of all Things, by whom alſo he made and will one Day judge the Worlds.— This is the Stone, which the Builders refuſed; the ſame is become the Head-ſtone of the Corner. 'Tis the Lord's Doing, and it is marvellous in our Eyes.

Thus I have glanc'd at many of the principal Facts and Events occurring more early in the Year of Redemption. I pretend not to an exact Enumeration, much leſs a perfect Deſcription. After all, how little a Portion is heard! Yet enough to demonſtrate it a wonderful Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, and to juſtify it's Claim to be remembred by us. Verily never did the Perfections of God receive ſuch admirable Illuſtrations, as by theſe great and ſurpriſing Occurrences. His moral Attributes in particular are all diſplay'd here with a high Hand indeed, and ſhine out with a Meridian Splendor. O the immenſe Riches of Glory! The inconceivable Height of Power! And the Depth of Wiſdom, beyond all created Underſtanding! The unexampled Truth and Faithfulneſs! The tranſcendent Holineſs and Righteouſneſs! And which crowns all, the ſtupendous Love and Grace, relucent in Chriſt, and the Redemption by him! Here's inflexible Juſtice, and ſovereign Mercy, in their higheſt and equal Triumphs. Never was the Right Hand of the moſt High more exalted, never more conſpicuous, never exerted to more honourable and happy Purpoſes, in any of his Works, whether of Creation or Providence, than in this wondrous Work of Redemption. The Scriptures every where celebrate this as full of inexpreſſible Glories; p. 34and ſpeak of it in all the Language of Admiration. Hence the Apoſtle calls it, So great Salvation, as if he were at a Loſs for Words to expreſs how great and wonderful it is. — Admirable it is truly, in every View of it, in the Decree, the Contrivance, and the Execution. Admirable in its Nature, it's Properties, and it's Conſequences. Admirable in Regard of the whole ſacred Trinity, their ſuſtaining different Characters, and acting each a glorious Part, in the Oeconomy of Redemption. Admirable particularly in Regard of the prime Agent, Jeſus Chriſt, the glorious God-Man, whether view'd in his State of Humiliation, or Exaltation; and whether conſider'd as purchaſing by his Blood, as procuring by his Interceſſion, or communicating by his Power. This is he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, he is alive for evermore. Truly the Conſolation and the Wonder is, My Redeemer liveth! Ever liveth, the one Mediator between God and Men! His Death not more wondrous, than his Life! The Life of Jeſus, in every Conſideration of it, whether in the preceeding Animal State, in the ſubſequent Reſurrection-State, while here below, or in his preſent Aſcenſion-State above, exhibits to the Eye of Faith a Thouſand Wonders of Grace. His Life, whether in Earth or Heaven, from firſt to laſt, is a Mediatorial Life. As he died, ſo he aroſe, and ever lives, in the Character of Redeemer. He was raiſed again for our Juſtification, after he had been delivered for our Offences: and he aſcended on high to receive Gifts for Men, to proſecute the Ends of his Satisfaction, and carry on his Mediation, tho' in a different Form and Manner: Nor ceaſes he now in Heaven the Exerciſe of any one of his Offices, whether Prophetical, Sacerdotal, or Regal; but only varies the Mode of Adminiſtration. O the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt! — Thanks be to God for his unſpeakable Gift! — Glory to God in the higheſt, on Earth Peace, Good-will towards Men! —

In the Viſions of John, the Throne of Chriſt is repreſented as having Thouſands of Angels ſtanding about it, and ſaying with a loud Voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wiſdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleſſing. And every Creature in Heaven and Earth is bro't in joining their Doxology, ſaying, Bleſſing, and Honour, and Glory, and Power, be unto Him that ſitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. —It is the preſent uninterrupted Imployment of the Bleſſed, and will be ſo in all future Eternity, to commemorate p. 35Redeeming Grace. Nor can we better beſtow Time now, than in beginning the Work of Heaven upon Earth.

Surely if we are to remember the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, the Year of Redemption by our Lord Jeſus is not to be forgotten by us. It's Operations & Occurrences are in themſelves ſuch as deſerve our utmoſt Care to remember them. Theſe Things, if conſider'd in their Nature and Reference, muſt needs appear of Weight and Dignity ſufficient to intitle them juſtly to our moſt ſerious and frequent Contemplation. And the Author of eternal Salvation can't but be worthy to receive this Honour of a conſtant grateful Commemoration. — The Lord promiſed his Apoſtles, to ſend down the Divine Comforter, for this End, to bring all Things to their Remembrance, which he had ſaid and done; Nor were They negligent to put others always in Remembrance of theſe Things, even tho' they knew them, and were eſtabliſhed in the preſent Truth: which Reflections, as they plainly argue the vaſt Importance of the Things of Chriſt, ſo likewiſe our indiſpenſable Obligation to remember the Year of the Lord Jeſus. Accordingly the inſpir'd Writings, wherein theſe Divine Wonders ſtand recorded, and which are the Chriſtian's Rule of Faith and Practice, do recommend theſe Things to our Remembrance, and inculcate the Duty upon us, in all the Language of Precept and Perſuaſive, of Authority and Endearment. Not only is it a Charge to the Miniſter of Chriſt; Meditate on theſe Things, be wholly in them, that thy Profiting may appear unto all: but the Exhortation ſpeaketh to Chriſtians in common, Wherefore holy Brethren, conſider the Apoſtle and High-prieſt of our Profeſſion, Chriſt Jeſus. And again, Looking unto Jeſus the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, &c. Conſider him that endured ſuch Contradiction of Sinners againſt himſelf. — The Scriptures every where repreſent to us the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chriſt, and entertain us with Diſcourſe of the Things concerning Chriſt (either in the Prophecy or the Hiſtory) holding them much in our View, as Things of univerſal Concernment and the vaſteſt Moment, the moſt neceſſary Subjects of Meditation, and worthy to employ our beſt Powers of Underſtanding and Memory. Of them the Apoſtle writes in that Manner (1 Cor. 15.2.) By which alſo ye are ſaved, if ye keep in Memory what I have preached to you, unleſs ye have believed in vain. So (Heb. 2.1.) Therefore we ought to give the more earneſt Heed to the Things which we have heard, leſt at any Time we ſhould let them ſlip; — leſt we ſhould let them run through, or leak out (as the Original ſignifies) either out p. 36of our Memory, out of our Creed, out of our Affection, or out of our practical Regard and Uſe in the chriſtian Life.

It infinitely behoves us, that we endeavour to have theſe Things always in Remembrance, with Faith and Love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus. We ſhould ſtudy to increaſe our Acquaintance with them, familiariſe the Thoughts of them, labour to get and preſerve an habitual Senſe and a lively Impreſſion of them on our Mind and Heart; often calling them to Remembrance, on all Occaſions, nor infrequently employing our devotional Hours in more deliberate and ſolemn Meditation upon them. We ſhould even daily ſeiſe ſome of our flying Moments for this delightful, this profitable, and moſt neceſſary Application of our thinking Powers; while the Men of the World let trifling Amuſements and inferiour Concerns engroſs all their Time and Tho't. But eminently ſhould our Minds be exerciſed in ſuch Meditations on the Sabbath; a Day by divine Appointment ſeparated to the Buſineſs of Contemplation and Devotion, and now under the Goſpel to be ſanctify'd eſpecially in Remembrance of a riſen Jeſus. Yet more particularly the Table of the Lord invites our warmeſt and moſt engaged Meditations of Chriſt, his Croſs, his Kingdom and Concerns. The Lord's Supper is in it's primary Intention a Feaſt of Memorial. In the original Inſtitution, it was one Part of our Lord's ſacramental Speech at the giving of the Bread, This do in Remembrance of Me; and again diſtinctly at the giving of the Cup, This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in Remembrance of Me. — And indeed 'tis the very Motto of univerſal Chriſtianity, the Inſcription upon every Ordinance and every Duty, Do this in Remembrance of Chriſt. For ſo much is included in the juſt Conſtruction of that ſummary Precept, Whatſoever ye do, whether in Word or Deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jeſus. The Remembrance of Chriſt and Redemption by him is a moſt comprehenſive Duty, of the moſt frequent Revolution, of never-ceaſing Obligation, and even running thro' the whole Series of chriſtian Practice. Nor can I ſee how any without this may pretend to live by the Faith of the Son of God, or to exemplify a good Converſation in Chriſt.

We ſurely forget that we call ourſelves Chriſtians, nay, even forget we are Men (rational and accountable, but apoſtate Creatures) if we forget Chriſt, the Mediator; whether in our Schemes of Divinity, in our Acts of Devotion, in our human Converſe, or in Point of practical Regards in our moral Conduct. Nor can we remember God our Creator in any due and acceptable Manner, p. 37ſo long as we don't ſincerely and truly remember God our Saviour. Conſult what the Scripture ſaith to this Purpoſe. Whoſe tranſgreſſeth, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Chriſt, hath not God. — He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father. — He that hateth him, hateth his Father alſo. In vain then do any pretend to venerate the Name of the One, while they ſlight the Memory of the Other, or are eſſentially defective in their Regards to it. However Men may value themſelves on the Religion of Nature, or however they may boaſt themſelves in the Law, yet if they are aſham'd of the Goſpel, and Enemies of the Croſs of Chriſt (whether in Theory, or Practice) we are aſſuredly taught of God, that their End is Deſtruction. The Religion of the Goſpel is the only true Religion, the only poſſible Religion of a fallen Creature: and this originates with Faith in the Blood of Chriſt, the one Mediator between God and Men; yea, the whole Progreſs of it, to it's Perfection, is ſum'd up in that one Word, Looking unto Jeſus, or in that, Coming to God by Him. Without the Knowledge of that Holy One, and having him in Remembrance, tho' a Man lives in a Place of Goſpel-Light and ſeemeth to be religious, his Religion is vain, and he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know; be he the greateſt Maſter in human Science, and the brighteſt Moraliſt in the World, or how incomparably ſoever he may have profited in meer Moſaick Religion. Philoſophy is vain, and Judaiſm is vain. Only the Goſpel, the Religion of Jeſus, is able to make Men wiſe unto Salvation.

Nevertheleſs, be our Regards to Revelation, to Chriſtian Revelation, and our Reverence for the Name and Memory of it's bleſſed Author, ever ſo profound, yet if all terminates in a mere ſpeculative Knowledge, or a mere hiſtorical Credence, and idle formal Remembrance, verily ſtill it will profit us nothing. Says the Apoſtle (Rom. 10.8, 9.) This is the Word of Faith, which we preach: That if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy Mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thine Heart that God raiſed him from the Dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteouſneſs, &c. Therefore while we commemorate the Incarnation of the Son of God, his Humiliation and Exaltation, his Miniſtry and Miracles, his Doctrine and Pattern, his Satisfaction and Interceſſion, his Offices and Benefits, we muſt look to our Hearts, that theſe be really engag'd and rightly affected. It muſt be our unceaſing Care, in all our Commemorations of Chriſt and Redemption, that our Hearts be in the Buſineſs, & that we act from p. 38right Principles, with right Views, and in a right Temper & Manner. If we would remember the Year of Redemption, as we ought, this muſt be done under the Power of unfeigned Faith dwelling in us, actuating every correſpondent Affection within, and producing all agreable Behaviours without; as well ſanctifying our Converſation, yea, purifying our Souls, and transforming us into the Image of the Son of God, as putting us upon ſeeking to be juſtify'd by Chriſt. Elſe we ſhall conſtructively call our Redeemer the Miniſter of Sin, the Patron of Hypocriſy and Wickedneſs. Horrid Blaſphemy! And impious Abſurdity! To profeſs, that we know Chriſt, while in Works we deny him! To pretend, that we remember Chriſt, while we have a Heart not right with him! To pretend, that we remember a crucify'd Jeſus, without a Heart crucify'd to the World and the Fleſh! What Inconſiſtencies are theſe! — Let us realiſe it, a mere mental or intellectual Remembrance will not ſuffice; much leſs a mere labial or verbal. No, it muſt be a cordial and a practical Remembrance; penetrating the Heart, and governing the Life. It muſt be a Remembrance duly qualify'd with all thoſe ſpiritual, vital, and moral Properties preſcribed in the Goſpel, and ſuch as influences our whole Temper and Conduct: Or it is not a good Remembrance, ſuch as the Lord Jeſus expects and demands, nor ſuch as he will accept from us, as a giving him the Glory due to his adorable Name and Memory.— In ſhort, it muſt be a believing and fiducial Remembrance; it muſt be a penitential, a reverential, a loving and admiring, a thankful and prayerful, and an active, obedient, aſſimilating Remembrance, as well as intellective and diſcurſive. All which Properties and Qualifications might profitably be repreſented in their diſtinct Lights: but I muſt not expatiate.

Now, to make ſome Reflections and Inferences very briefly, let it be ſaid, —

1. We ſhould conſider the diſtinguiſhing Obligations we are under, in Point of Gratitude, to the bleſſed God, who has revealed theſe Things to Babes, when they are hid from many Wiſe and Prudent and Great in the Earth; and has given us ſo many precious Helps for the remembring of Chriſt and the Things of Chriſt, while Thouſands in the World are ſitting in the Shadow of Death, ignorant of the Saviour and eternal Salvation. — We ſhould eſteem it a glorious Advantage, a bleſſed Privilege, that we enjoy, in the Word written, where the Things of our Peace are diſcover'd, and p. 39the Memoirs of Jeſus the Redeemer (the moſt excellent, the moſt important whatſoever) are preſerv'd; and which we have in our own Hands, in our own Language, to be our daily Counſeller, and as a Light to our Path, as a Lamp to our Feet, to guide us in the Way of Peace. — It is an additional Privilege we enjoy, in the Word preached; which rehearſes to us the Goſpel-Hiſtory & Doctrine of Chriſt, from time to time, inſtructs us in the Knowledge of the Divine Records, and aſſiſts us in remembring thoſe important Facts and Events, in which the Salvation of the Soul is ſo nearly concern'd. — We have further Helps in the Sabbath, the Sacraments, the Example of Saints, the Counſels and Reproofs of chriſtian Monitors, and other Means (withal likewiſe the concurrent Aids of God's Spirit) conducing to promote our Acquaintance with Chriſt, & Remembrance of him; nor only ſerving to aſſiſt the Underſtanding & Memory, but likewiſe to aſſiſt the Conſcience & Affections in their reſpective Offices, & to aſſiſt us in Point of Devotion & Practice. O how thankful ſhould we be for ſuch ſignal Advantages and Helps in this momentous Caſe? Happy we, if we improve the Talents committed to our Truſt. — But indeed, if we are ſlothful Servants, if we are evil and unthankful, and found finally Strangers to a true Remembrance of the Redeemer, how aggravated will be our Guilt and Condemnation! How excuſeleſs ſhall we be, and of all Men the moſt miſerable!

2. We ſhould therefore ſolemnly and impartially examine into our Caſe, into our Experience, our Temper and Management; and inquire whether we have ever yet been bro't by the Grace of God to remember Chriſt and Redemption, as we ought. — Do we in our deliberate Judgment value the Memory of Chriſt and his redeeming Love; accounting all Things but Loſs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, and looking upon them as comparatively not worth our remembring? Are we firmly perſuaded of the glorious Realities in the Goſpel-Report? And are we labouring for an increaſed Acquaintance with the Theory of Divine Truths referring to Chriſt and Redemption? Do we inure ourſelves to the Contemplation, and delight in the notional Study of theſe Things? Nor acquieſcing in mere Speculation, are we often entertaining ourſelves with proper moral and practical Reflections upon them? And have we ever felt Impreſſions on our Hearts & Conſciences, anſwerable to the Nature and Moment of theſe Divine Subjects? In brief, do we labour to apply what Knowledge and Senſe we have of theſe Things to all their genuine p. 40Uſes and Deſigns in the Chriſtian Life, and find in our Experience the Remembrance of Chriſt and Redemption accompany'd with Faith and Love, Repentance and Obedience? — If ſo, it is a right and acceptable, a holy and happy Remembrance: If it be thus qualify'd and regulated, it is conformable to the Remembrance, which Chriſt himſelf has of the Year of Redemption; and to that which He has of his faithful Followers, which is always practical and benevolent, active and beneficent. — But if our Remembrance be not thus temper'd and conducted, it may rather be compar'd to that which is found in the Powers of Darkneſs and Spirits in Priſon… who, tho' they can never eraſe all Ideas of a crucify'd Jeſus, and extinguiſh the Memory of the Year of Redemption, yet have not the leaſt Complacency in the Remembrance of Chriſt, or of any the Facts and Events concerning him, have not the leaſt true Honour for the Memory of Chriſt, no agreable Affections, no agreable Practice; but are Haters of the Lord Jeſus, Enemies of his Croſs and Crown, and continually abounding in helliſh Indignities to his Name and Memory. Very little or nothing better is the Remembrance we pretend to have of the Redeemer and his Salvation, while we content our ſelves with an idle and empty Profeſſion of Reſpect to the Memory of Jeſus, without ſuitable inward Affections and outward Converſation and Practice. — O let us beware of Self-deluſion in a Caſe of ſuch vaſt Moment and eternal Conſequence: and therefore be much in the Duty of Self-Examination, always jealous over our Hearts, nor ever content our ſelves with any the moſt plauſible Appearances of a Remembrance of Chriſt, unleſs Chriſt be formed in us, unleſs we feel the Efficacy of Faith in his Blood, and find our Faith working by Love.

3. What has been ſaid adminiſters Occaſion to mourn over the preſent State of the Church, from an Apprehenſion, that the Number of ſuch as aright remember the Year of Redemption, is comparatively very ſmall. Alas, are there not Multitudes in the profeſſing World, who neglect the reveal'd Salvation, who refuſe him that ſpeaketh to them from Heaven, who habitually forget Chriſt and the Things of Chriſt; ſeldom or never remembring Jeſus and Redemption, in the contemplative Senſe, and not at all in the practical or devotional? — What ſhall we think of thoſe that live in Chriſtian and Proteſtant Countries, and profeſs a Regard to the Memory of Jeſus and to his Religion, who yet entertain ſuch Sentiments and Opinions in Divinity, as ſeem irreconcilable with the p. 41Goſpel-Report of Chriſt, and with the reveal'd Scheme of Redemption by him, or at leaſt appear inconſiſtent with a due Remembrance of the bleſſed Redeemer? Are there not thoſe who eſpouſe the looſeſt Notions of God's Goodneſs, as if he muſt nceſſarily love his Creatures, tho' apoſtate; or as if he muſt of Courſe forgive, if they relent; or as if he will by no means puniſh temporary Crimes with eternal Torments; and as if accordingly his abſolute Mercy may ſafely be confided in, as a ſufficient Pillar of Hope? Are there not thoſe who have light Thoughts of Adam's Fall, and explode the Doctrine of original Sin? Are there not thoſe who deny Chriſt's Satisfaction, or diſcard the Imputation of his Righteouſneſs, and reproach the Method of Juſtification by Grace through Faith in him? Are there not thoſe who aſſert the moral Freedom of the human Will, and the Sufficiency of the Powers of Nature to the Ends of Holineſs and Happineſs, without the Aids of ſupernatural Grace; or at leaſt deny the uncontroulable Efficacy of the Grace of Chriſt in Converſion? Are there not thoſe who are for dividing Chriſt, either ſetting up one Nature in Excluſion of the other, or one Office, or one Benefit, in Oppoſition to another? Are there not thoſe who pervert the Goſpel of Chriſt, who abuſe the Doctrine of electing and redeeming Love, of imputed Righteouſneſs, of juſtifying Faith, and of efficacious Grace, to the voluntary Neglect of Goſpel-Means, to a Rejection of Chriſt's Government, to a Denial of the Neceſſity of Sanctification, and to a Contempt of the moral Law, as ceaſing to be an obliging Rule &c? — But how contradictory are theſe Opinions to the Tenor of Goſpel-Revelation? How ſubverſive of the Faith of Chriſt? And what dark Symptoms are they upon ſuch as wilfully harbour them, of their being criminally deficient in the Duty of remembring Chriſt and his Redemption? Such are guilty of a doctrinal Forgetting of him. And however they may multiply their Thoughts of Chriſt, yet ſince they err thus in their Conceptions of the Object, their Thoughts are ſo far vain, and amount not to true Remembrance of him, in the Scripture Senſe. — And among others, more orthodox in their Belief, are there not many who indulge ſuch unhappy Tempers and Diſpoſitions of Mind, either a Legal Spirit, and Phariſaical Pride, or a Diſreliſh to the Sabbath and Ordinances of Chriſt, Formality in his Service, Wearineſs of his ſpiritual Yoke, Coldneſs in his Cauſe, and Unconcernedneſs for his ſuffering Honour, or unreaſonable Prejudices againſt his faithful People and Servants, if not Complacency in his known Enemies, p. 42or too cloſe an Attachment to worldly Things, or the Prevalence of ſome ſenſual Luſts, &c. which are palpable Evidences of their not living in the due Remembrance of Chriſt & Redemption? Theſe do in Heart depart from him, and virtually forget him. — Nay, is not the viſible Practice, the Converſe, and the Behaviour of many nominal Chriſtians, whether in point of Religion or Morality, ſuch as loudly proclaims them Deſpiſers of Salvation, trampling under Foot the Son of God; and therefore Strangers to all true Remembrance of Jeſus and Redemption? — In a Word, what Multitudes are there among them that name the Name of Chriſt, who yet do not in Heart and Life depart from Iniquity; never effectually falling out with themſelves for their Sins, or never humbling themſelves to any Purpoſe, never feeling the Weight of Guilt and Miſery lying upon them, under no affecting Senſe of their Need of a Saviour, having no prevalent Deſires after him, no Diligence in ſeeking him, no Zeal towards the appointed Means of Grace and Memorials of Chriſt, but either neglecting them, or elſe attending them only from Cuſtom, and with a frozen Heart, ever deſtitute of thoſe Graces that are fundamental to a due Remembrance of Chriſt? — Now, if all theſe be ſtruck off the Liſt of ſuch as remember the Saviour and his Salvation, how few comparatively will there be left in the profeſſing World, who may juſtly be ſaid to remember the Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High in Redemption! — This is for a Lamentation, and ſhall be for a Lamentation. We ſhould mourn the degenerate State of the Chriſtian Church, and be trembling for the Ark of God. Such as are the Friends of Chriſt, and Lovers of Zion, will be found thus doing.

4. Let Sinners, that are ſecurely unmindful of Chriſt and his Salvation, receive Conviction and Reproof, from what has been ſaid; and live no longer habitual and contented Strangers to Chriſt, and to the Remembrance of him. Alas, are there not many that call themſelves Friends to the Memory of Jeſus, who do not remember him in his Ways, and yet under all their Guilt are in deep Security, faſt aſleep in their Unbelief, and like the Men of Moab ſettled on their Lees! — Surely upon what has been ſaid, Conſcience (if at all awakened now) muſt have Leſſons of Reproof and Terror to read to you: hearken to its Voice, and admit of Conviction. Oh how juſtly may you bluſh and tremble, to think of your ungrateful Treatment of the Memory of a crucify'd Saviour! And think, I beſeech you, of this your tranſcendent Guilt. Think p. 43how helliſh a Part you are acting, while God is not in all your Thoughts, while you lightly eſteem the Rock of Salvation, and practically pour Contempt on the Name and Remembrance of Jeſus the Redeemer; neither with the Heart believing on him, nor with the Mind remembring, as you ought, the Wonders of his redeeming Love. Art thou a Stranger in Jeruſalem, that thou knoweſt not theſe Things? or art thou an Enemy of the Croſs of Chriſt, that thou mindeſt earthly Things, and careſt not for the Things of Chriſt, the once-humbled, but now exalted Saviour! Ah, how ſhall you eſcape, if you neglect ſo great Salvation? Know it, I beſeech you, that now is the acceptable Time, and if you finally receive the Grace of God in vain, you will mourn at the laſt, when you find no Method of Eſcape from the Damnation of Hell. Verily if you now reject the Prince of Life, if you now (in Theory or Practice) diſown the Author of eternal Salvation, and obſtinately put from you the Word of Reconciliation, you do judge your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting Life, you forfeit the Goſpel-Bleſſing, you expoſe your ſelves to the awful Wrath of God, and there remains nothing for you but a fiery Law from his right Hand, to be executed upon you with untemper'd Severity. Indeed, ſhould you die without Chriſt, as you muſt die without Mercy, ſo you ſhall have Judgment without Mercy. And how will you be able to lift up your Faces before the Face of Him that ſitteth on the Throne, or where will you be able to hide your guilty Heads from the Wrath of the Lamb, when the great Day of his Wrath is come! Verily, the Wrath of the Lamb on the Throne will be a Wrath unto the uttermoſt, ſuch as you cannot avoid, nor will be able to abide. And realiſe it, I intreat you, the awful Day of Judgment, that great and terrible Day of the Lord, is at Hand. Beſure, the no leſs awful Day of Death is haſtning on you apace, and may overtake you ere you are aware. Depend upon it, the Lord Jeſus, that juſt One, obſerves and reſents all your Indignities to his Name and Religion, nor will ſuffer himſelf always to be deſpis'd, always neglected and forgotten by you. No, but He will ſooner or later quicken your Memory, either by the Terrors of an accuſing Conſcience here, or by the Terrors of the deciſive Sentence hereafter. It's true, in Death (i. e. ſo far as concerns the Body rotting in the Grave) there's no Remembrance of Him: but yet the Spirit in Priſon will have a keen Remembrance of a Redeemer and his Salvation, and of the horrid Affronts put upon him, which will be the very Accent of Hell-Torments in the Caſe of Goſpel-Impenitents. Abraham's p. 44upbraiding Language to Dives in the Parable, Son, Remember,—was a dreadful Sound in his guilty Ears; and this tormenting Peal will be always ringing in Hell, to the unſpeakable Aggravation of the, Sinner's uninterrupted Miſery. O conſider this, ye that forget God and deſpiſe Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt, leſt He tear you in Pieces, and there be none to deliver. — Bring it again to Mind, O ye Tranſgreſſors; remember this now, and ſhew your ſelves Men.

5. Let it be a brief Addreſs to awaken'd Sinners, whoſe Conſcience is already touch'd, & their Mind become ſomething flexible & attentive to theſe momentous Affairs. — I warn you to take Heed, that you neither relapſe into your old Indolence, & ſecure Forgetfulneſs, nor run into the contrary Extream of a deſponding Anxiety, nor reſt in any Thing ſhort of a true evangelical and ſaving Remembrance of Chriſt, animated with Faith and Love unfeign'd, radicated in a vital Principle, and carrying you into real Newneſs of Life. You may attain to much of outward Reformation & moral Virtue, may practiſe much of religious Duty, and have your Affections many times not a little mov'd, yea, may be bro't to weep in the Conſciouſneſs of your Guilt & Miſery, and ſeem to have Repentance toward God: but know it, all your Repentance is Legal, all your Affections falſe, and none of your Works found perfect before God, until there be Faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, until there be a Looking unto Him whom you have pierced, and a Mourning with Self-abhorrence for Sin, in the believing Remembrance of Chriſt our Paſſover ſacrificed for us. — Be not deceived; you are no Examples of a true Remembrance of the Redeemer, until you have been bro't to receive the Atonement, and live by the Faith of the Son of God.

6. Let it be a Word of Exhortation to Believers, that I may ſtir up your pure Minds by Way of Remembrance. — Alas, have not even you abundant Reaſon to be aſham'd, that you are no brighter Patterns of a lively Remembrance of Chriſt & Redemption! Be humbled in the Reflection, that you have been ſo infrequent and unaffected, ſo cold & lifeleſs in your Eſſays from time to time at the Remembring of a once crucify'd & now glorify'd Redeemer. Conſider what aggravated Guilt and Stupidity it is in you, the Saved of the Lord, to ſtudy ſo little theſe great Goſpel-Myſteries; to think ſo ſeldom and ſo triflingly of thoſe important Subjects, the Love of Chriſt, the Excellencies of Chriſt, the Wonders of his Perſon, Natures, Offices, and States, and the Benefits of his Redemption. O awake up your Glory, to ſing and give Praiſe. p. 45Call upon your Souls & all within you, to bleſs the Lord, & not forget all his Benefits. Regret it, and be aſham'd, that your Minds, pure as they be, yet want ſo much to be ſtir'd up by way of Remembrance, and that it's ſo needful for as, on that Account, to write unto you, as well as ſpeak to you often, of the common Salvation. Lay to Heart the mournful Remains of Unbelief, and of a carnal Mind, which is Enmity againſt God, the unhappy Source of all that ſpeculative and practical Forgetfulneſs of God your Saviour, which the very beſt of you are too chargeable with. Beg of the Lord (as the Apoſtles did) to increaſe your Faith; to accompliſh in you the Work of Faith with Power, and excite it to it's proper Actings in Remembrance of Chriſt and his Salvation; that the Eyes of your Underſtanding being more enlighten'd, your Heart warm'd and powerfully attracted by clearer and more impreſſive Views of his infinite Lovelineſs and Love, and the Greatneſs and Glory of his Salvation, your Eyes may be ever towards the Lord, your whole Deſire & Delight centring in Him, and enlivening the Memory of him, that you may glory in the Croſs of Chriſt, and remember his Love more than Wine. — Unto Prayer add the Uſe of all proper Means, to ſtir up the Gift of God that is in you. Be very converſant with the appointed Memorials of Chriſt; I mean his Word and Worſhip, one ſpecial End of which is to teſtify of him, to record his Works, to declare his Righteouſneſs, and to keep his Name in Remembrance. — Call the Sabbath a Delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and the more ſo, as the Day is appointed unto you for a Memorial of the riſen Saviour: In the Faith of the Son of God, Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it holy. He that regardeth the Day, as he ought, regardeth it unto the Lord.—And ſince the Lord's Supper is eminently a commemorating, as well as a covenanting Ordinance, dare not to live in the habitual Neglect of this, as the Manner of too many is. — Be frequently ſearching the Scriptures, and meditating in the Divine Records Day and Night. — Be alſo ſwift to hear; and to that End be much in the Place where the Lord doth record his Name; where the Miniſters of the Sanctuary, who are appointed to bear his Name before the People, read the Scripture-Records of him every Sabbath-Day, and bear Record of him in their Sermons and Adminiſtrations, in Seaſon, out of Seaſon, preaching the Word of the Lord Jeſus, diſplaying the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt, uttering the Memory of his great Goodneſs, and bringing you into Remembrance of the Ways which be in Chriſt. — Be much likewiſe in the more private Communion of Saints in Chriſt Jeſus; of whom p. 46he expects, that they will be his Remembrancers, Monitors to one another, and Witneſſes for him in the World; who are wont often to ſpeak one to another, as well as to think on his Name, and who like the Diſciples travelling to Emmaus, do talk together of all theſe Things. By ſuch Communications you may happily find your Memory help'd, as well in the ſpiritual, as in the natural Senſe. — Be you alſo Examples to others, and Promoters of this vocal and diſcurſive Remembrance of the Year of Redemption: but always under the neceſſary Guards of Humility & Diſcretion, never ſuffering your Zeal to out-run your Knowledge, or to ſavour of Oſtentation, but always ſeaſoning your Speech with Salt, and converſing in a Manner expreſſive of a devotional, and ſubſervient to a practical Remembrance of Chriſt and the Things concerning him. — Let Parents in particular be daily Inſtructors and Monitors in theſe Things to their Children, and Maſters and Miſtreſſes to thoſe under their Charge. It was a Law in Iſrael, Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children (i. e. the Words of the Law, the Doctrine of the Paſſover and the Types of Chriſt) and ſhalt talk of them, when thou ſitteſt in thine Houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the Way, when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up. So in the New Teſtament, it is an Injunction, Bring up your Children in the Nurture & Admonition of the Lord. Did not Abraham pleaſe God in commanding his Houſhold to keep the Way of the Lord? And will not God be well-pleaſed with this in you? Will not the Honour of Chriſt be advanc'd hereby? Is not this given you in Charge as your indiſpenſable Duty? Is not a pious Education one of the greateſt Felicities of Youth? Mayn'd their future eternal Happineſs depend on a right Improvement of their preſent uncertain Opportunity; as they are liable to die in Youth, and muſt be miſerable beyond all Remedy, if they ſhould die in their Sins? Or if they ſhould live long, will they not by early Piety be form'd for ſignal Bleſſings in the World, and Comforts to you? And what better Method can you take to promote their Uſefulneſs in this World, or ſecure their Happineſs in the next, than to bring them acquainted with Chriſt betimes; firſt begging of God, that He would give them a Heart to know him, and then taking ſuitable Pains for their Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs?—Concern'd therefore that they may (as it infinitely behoves them) now in their young Days know the Things of their Peace, do you ſpeak often to them of the Redeemer, recount the Wonders of his Grace, p. 47and tell over the Story of the Redemption-Year, with pertinent Advices and Applications, enforced with earneſt Prayers of Faith; labouring to inſtill into their Minds the Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, and to get their Memories ſtored betimes, not (as is all the Aim of too many in the Education of Youth) with the Traſh of fabulous Amuſements, nor with the comparatively trifling Entertainments of human Hiſtory and Science, but with the glorious and important Diſcoveries of the inſpir'd Records, eſpecially in Relation to the great Tranſactions and vaſt Events of the Year of Redemption. Be ſolicitous to initiate them early in an Acquaintance with the holy Scriptures, particularly thoſe of the New Teſtament, to get their Underſtanding enlighten'd in the Knowledge of Chriſt, and the grand Affair of Salvation by him: but herewith alſo to get their Heart ſuitably affected, their Conſcience deeply impreſs'd, and their Judgment rightly and firmly perſuaded, their whole Soul renewed, that they may hold faſt the Form of ſound Words in Faith and Love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus. Therefore, for an inſtructive and winning Example to them, let the Word of Chriſt dwell in you richly in all Wiſdom; let the Name of Chriſt dwell on your Lips, and the Things of Chriſt be much the Theme of your daily Diſcourſe, while at the ſame time the Grace of Chriſt reigns in your Hearts, and governs your Lives. — Nor ſatisfy your ſelves indeed at any Time with remembring of Him meerly in Word and Tongue, or in Mind and Speculation only; but always aim at inward Devotion of the Soul, and Reduction to Practice in the outward Life. Let every Duty of Religion be conſecrated to the Memory of a dear Redeemer, and done with the moſt explicit Regards to the Name of Jeſus, with a believing Reference to his whole Name, Character, and Office, to his Merits, his Authority, his Pattern, his Spirit, &c. Yea, as it becometh Saints, let even the Actions of common Life be done after a godly Sort, by your doing them in the Name of the Lord Jeſus; and this not only in Conformity to the Precepts of his Religion, not only in Imitation of his Example, nor yet only with a general View to his declarative Glory, but alſo with an Eye to his Righteouſneſs and Strength, depending on Him for Ability to do the Duty of every Day in its Day, and expecting only to be made accepted in the Beloved. This will be to order your Converſation aright, as it becometh the Goſpel; This will be to glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit, which are his, being bought with a Price: and this is the moſt ſubſtantial, the moſt ſignificant Remembrance of your bleſſed Lord p. 48and Saviour. I will only add here, the Remembrance of Jeſus that was crucify'd, ſhould ever have this Effect, to embitter Sin to you, but withal to reconcile you to Suffering, even for Righteouſneſs ſake; and to endear to you his Cauſe and Intereſt, his Truths and Ways, and his People for whom he died: And the Remembrance of Jeſus glorify'd ſhould make you prize his Favour, and rejoyce in his gracious mediate Preſence now, and in the Hope of his glorious immediate Preſence hereafter; longing to be with Him, where he is, to ſee the King in his Beauty, to partake of his Glory, and dwell in his Joy. With the earneſt Expectation and Deſire of this you ſhould be ſolacing your own Souls, and comforting one another, under all the Troubles of Life, and the Apprehenſions of Death and Judgment. For none of us liveth to himſelf, or dieth to himſelf. But whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: Living therefore, and dying, we are the Lord's. — The Love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. — Wherefore we labour, that whether preſent or abſent we may be accepted of Him.—Theſe were the Apoſtle's good Profeſſions. Let us herein be Followers of him, particularly in the Year now commencing; ſo ſhall it be the acceptable Year of the Lord, and whether we live or die, we ſhall be the Lord's.

But thus much for the firſt great and comprehenſive Article of Wonder in the Year of Redemption. —And the ſecond is like unto it; which yet I muſt more briefly conſider.

[2.] Another great and memorable Wonder in the Redemption-Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, is the Application or actual Beſtowment of the Salvation which is by Chriſt Jeſus; comprehending the Miſſion of the Holy Spirit, the Light of Chriſtian Revelation, and Privileges of the Evangelical Church-State, the Succeſs of Goſpel-Means, and the Communication of all ſpiritual Bleſſings in this World, follow'd with compleat eternal Happineſs in the World to come.

1. By the Application of Redemption is to be underſtood, in general, according to the Repreſentation of it in Scripture, our being made Partakers of Chriſt, and brought into the Fellowſhip of the Son of God. It implies our having the vital Principle of Faith planted in us, and being thereby united to Chriſt, in effectual Calling: wherein the Spirit of God, convincing us of our Sin and Miſery, enlightning our Minds in the Knowledge of Chriſt, and renewing our Wills, doth perſuade and enable us to embrace Jeſus Chriſt, as he is exhibited to us in the Goſpel. — Particularly we thro' p. 49Faith receive the Atonement, and have God imputing to us Righteouſneſs without Works, juſtifying us freely by his Grace; at the ſame Time alſo purifying our Hearts by Faith: And to as many as receive Chriſt, to them He giveth Power to become the Children of God; and if Children then Heirs, Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Jeſus Chriſt. God becometh their God in Chriſt, and takes them for his People. So the Bleſſing of Abraham comes upon them thro' Jeſus Chriſt. They receive the End of their Faith, the Salvation of their Souls. They ſhare in the Purchaſes of the meritorious Croſs of Chriſt, the Acquiſitions of his victorious Reſurrection and triumphant Aſcenſion, the Procurements of his ever-prevalent Interceſſion, and the Donations of his Royal Power and Grace. God crowneth them with Loving-kindneſs, in the Life which now is, but moſt eminently in the Life which is to come. For the Work of Application, tho' begun and carry'd on here, is not perfected till hereafter.

2. A Work this is of equal Neceſſity, as that of Impetration. Our Lord Jeſus deſign'd his Humiliation and Exaltation to be ſubſervient to this ultimate End of his Mediation. This is a neceſſary Evidence of the Validity of his Sacrifice, and the Efficacy of his Interceſſion. Indeed without this, the Grace of God would be fruſtrated, and Chriſt dead in vain. The Purchaſe of Redemption would become of none Effect to us, without the Application of it. The Glory of God and the Lamb is connected with this, and the whole Happineſs of his People is immediately founded in it. It is therefore a Work of the laſt Importance.

3. It's a Work full of Difficulty, inſuperable to all meer created Power and Skill: Nothing ſhort of a Divine Agent is equal to this arduous Affair. The eſpouſing of a Sinner unto Chriſt, the forming of Chriſt in him, & begetting him to a lively Hope, inveſting him with the Righteouſneſs which is of God by Faith, turning him from the Power of Satan to God, crucifying the Fleſh with its Affections and Luſts, ſanctifying the Spirit Soul & Body, transforming him into the Image of the Son of God, and tranſlating him from his native State of Sin and Miſery, to a State of Holineſs & Happineſs, from Unbelief to Faith, from Guilt and Condemnation to Pardon and Juſtification, from the Bondage of Corruption to the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, from loathſome Filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit to Sanctification and Honour, from Impotence to Strength, from Death to Life, and from Earth to Heaven; theſe are ſome of the Effects wro't in the Application of Redemption. p. 50But who is ſufficient for theſe Things! What Man or Angel is capable of producing ſo vaſt a Change in the fallen Creature! Means and Inſtruments indeed are employ'd in this bleſſed Work: but ſtill they contribute nothing to the Effect meerly by any inherent Virtue of their own. Neither he that planteth, nor he that watereth, is any Thing: but God that giveth the Increaſe. Here neither the Word written, nor the Word preached, nor Ordinances, nor Providences, are adequate Cauſes in themſelves: but intirely depend on the Action of a ſuperior Cauſe, for all their Succeſs and Efficacy. Of every Step in this great Affair it muſt be ſaid, With Men it is impoſſible: but all Things are poſſible with God. And the Scriptures every where attribute the whole Work to a Divine Efficiency. If any Man be in Chriſt, he is a new Creature; Old Things are paſſed away, behold, all Things are become new: and all Things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himſelf by Jeſus Chriſt, & is in Chriſt reconciling the World unto Himſelf.— The Three which bear Record in Heaven, do all concur in this Work: The Father exerciſing the Prerogatives of Divine Sovereignty; the Son performing the Office of Mediator; and the Holy Ghoſt miniſtring in the ſubordinate Character of the Comforter. The Application of Redemption is of the Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit. The Spirit is the immediate Operator in this Affair: but the Son is ſaid to ſend Him from the Father, and the Father to ſend Him in his Name. Thus the whole Trinity have a joint Cauſality in the Work.

4. A Work it is every way worthy of it's Divine Original; full of Myſtery, and full of Glory, containing a great Part of the Wonders of Redemption; and is juſtly the Admiration of Heaven and Earth, as it is the Envy and the Aſtoniſhment of Hell! It is truly admirable for the Excellency of its Nature, for the Luſtre it reflects on the Wiſdom, Power, Holineſs, Grace, and every Perfection of God, and for the Variety, Plenty, and Value of it's Benefits to Man, for the Method of Operation, the Dignity of the Agent, the Aptitude of the Means, the Compleatneſs of the Work in the Iſſue, the Unworthineſs of all and the peculiar Unlikelineſs of many of the Subjects wro't on, the Diſtinction between Perſons, Places, and Times as to the Experience of this Work, and the vaſt Multitude that will be found at laſt to have paſſed under it, however ſmall a Remnant they comparatively appear in one Generation and another. — Truly the Miſſion of the Spirit is a moſt wonderful Event, as well as the Incarnation of the Son; and p. 51the Application of Redemption a moſt wonderful Event, as well as the Impetration of it: and in Regard of the one, as much as the other, the Year of the Redeemed may fitly be characteriz'd the Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High. The Promiſe of Chriſt was eminently the Promiſe in the Old Teſtament: but now in the New, it is the Promiſe of the Spirit. This virtually contains in it all the great and precious Promiſes of the Goſpel, and is comprehenſive of all deſirable Gifts, Graces, Comforts, yea, of Heaven itſelf. This is call'd emphatically the Promiſe of the Father: and every known Inſtance of the Fulfilment of this invaluable Promiſe affords Matter of Thankſgiving to God, nor ought to be overlook'd or forgotten by us.

5. Remarkable Seaſons of an extenſive Out pouring of the Spirit, eſpecially claim our grateful and pleaſing Remembrance. Such Seaſons undoubtedly there were among the People of God in the Patriarchal Ages, and in the Time of the Levitical Law: but the Miniſtration of the Spirit, in it's moſt notable Meaſure and Manner, was reſerv'd till the Time of the Meſſiah, and is the peculiar Glory of the Chriſtian Diſpenſation. The Law came by Moſes: but Grace and Truth by Jeſus Chriſt. John propheſy'd of Chriſt, that He ſhould baptiſe with the Holy Ghoſt: and this was fulfil'd in Part during his perſonal Miniſtry on Earth, among the Jews, but much more admirably among the Gentiles, as well as Jews, after his going to his Father, that he might ſend down the Comforter.

Sure I am, 'tis a wondrous and memorable Year of Viſitation, this, wherein God hath viſited the Gentiles, to take out of them a People for his Name; hath viſited a dark and benighted World, that lay in Wickedneſs, with the Day-ſpring from on high, with the Light of the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God, the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, diffuſing the Knowledge of Salvation thro' his Name far and wide, and ſetting up his viſible Kingdom among Men, even among all Nations: nor only ſending forth his Miniſters, to preach unto every Creature under Heaven, and diſpenſe the Ordinances, which He had appointed for Means of Grace, but alſo ſending forth the Spirit of Grace, to accompany his Word and Inſtitutions with enlightning and quickning Influences, to put Power into them, and give them Succeſs; and thus to win Souls to Chriſt, place them in Poſſeſſion of purchaſed Salvation, and bring them to Life everlaſting. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael; for He hath viſited and redeemed his People. He hath redeemed them in the Way of Application, as well as Purchaſe; and to that End, hath viſited them p. 52by his Spirit, as well as by his Son. He hath viſited them by the Goſpel, and the Miniſtry of the Word, which reports the Saviour, and ſhews Men the Way of Salvation: but that were to little Purpoſe, had He not alſo viſited them by the Holy Ghoſt, ſent down from Heaven, in the Capacities of a Teacher, Sanctifier, and Comforter, to preſide over the Church, the Miniſtry and Means of Salvation, and as ſupreme Agent for the Son of God to impart the Benefits of Redemption to his People. And with a ſovereign Liberty He communicates the ſame; dividing to every Man ſeverally as He will: Yet proportioning and timing his Diſtributions with an unſpotted Rectitude and unerring Wiſdom; ever adjuſting the whole Adminiſtration of his bleſſed Office to the Plan of Redemption, and Scheme of the Goſpel, and by Conſequence in a Subſerviency to the Ends of the Redeemer's Honour and Intereſt, and the Redeemed's Safety and Happineſs. O if we knew the Gift of God, and knew our ſelves, we ſhould at once ſee the Neceſſity, the Excellency, and Advantage of the Spirit's Miniſtration! He is an omnipreſent, omniſcient, infinitely wiſe and powerful Agent, and perfectly benign, and faithful, holy, and true. His gracious Preſence is the moſt neceſſary, vital, and fundamental Good. The richeſt and happieſt Effects reſult from it, in Proportion to the Degree of it's Enjoyment. Where He ſuſpends the Activity and Influence of his Preſence, there is all Weakneſs, and Darkneſs, and Deadneſs, in the Souls of Men, and in the beſt of Means and Inſtruments: But where He divinely exerts the Powers of his Office and the Perfections of his Nature, there is a proportionable Strength, Light, and Life. He can ſurmount the ſtrongeſt Oppoſition from Men or Devils; He can do all his Pleaſure without Controul. But in the Adminiſtration of his Office He exerciſes an ordinate Power, regulated and limited by the Counſel of his own Will: hence, when harden'd Rebels do always reſiſt and grieve the Holy Spirit, He righteouſly withdraws his forfeited Preſence, and gives them up into the Hand of their own Counſel. — However, he abides with the Church of God for ever; and has been always preſent with his faithful Miniſters & People, with his own Word & Ordinances, from Age to Age, tho' in divers Manners and in various Meaſures. — As the grand Deſign of his Miſſion is to glorify Chriſt, ſo ſince the Aſcenſion of our Lord Jeſus, the Manifeſtation of the Spriit has been afforded more extenſively and more abundantly. Under the Chriſtian Diſpenſation, the Holy Ghoſt has ſignally diſplay'd his p. 53Power and Goodneſs, in Honour to the Son of God; has granted more eminent Tokens of his gracious Preſence, been diſtinguiſhingly liberal in his Diſtributions of Light and Grace and Peace, and more frequently repeated the glorious Operations of his Hand.

In this Regard, it was emphatically the Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, in the Beginning of this laſt and moſt perfect Diſpenſation, in the Times eſpecially of the Apoſtles of our Lord. They were themſelves burning and ſhining Lights, and in a ſingular Manner endued with Power from on High; the Spirit of Glory and of God reſting upon them in the largeſt Meaſures: and they had a ſurpriſing Succeſs attending their Labours in the Goſpel, thro' the Power of the Holy Ghoſt, which went with their Word. Inſomuch that the Apoſtle writes in that Language, 2 Cor. 2.14. Now Thanks be unto God, who always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt, and maketh manifeſt the Savour of his Knowledge by us in every Place. In that Day the Labourers were numerous, and the Harveſt plenteous. A great Door and effectual was opened, tho' there were many Adverſaries. Then the Kingdom of God came, not in Word only, but in Power, and in the Holy Ghoſt. It was a moſt remarkable Time of general Awaknings; and tho' there were Counterfeit Profeſſors then, as in every Age, and not a few Inſtances of Apoſtacy, yet ſound Converſions were uncommonly multiply'd, and the Souls of the Diſciples eminently confirmed, and built up on their moſt holy Faith. The Word of the Lord Jeſus prevailed, & grew mightily. Multitudes of the Jews, and even of their Prieſts, became obedient to the Faith. Thouſands were added to the Lord in one Day: and the Partition-Wall being broken down, which had ſo long ſubſiſted between Jew and Gentile, the Word of Salvation was carry'd into the Heathen World; Idols were ſeen falling every where before the preached Goſpel, their Temples quickly demoliſh'd, the Empire of Satan in a Manner deſtroy'd, & the Kingdom of God our Saviour ſet up, on the Ruins of the Devil's Kingdom. Then was Chriſt juſtified in the Spirit, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the World; the Religion of Jeſus triumphant over all Oppoſition, the Churches multiply'd and in a flouriſhing State, the Miniſtry magnify'd and had in Reputation, adorn'd with eminent Gifts and Graces, and honour'd with glorious Tokens of our Lord's promis'd Preſence. The Holy Ghoſt was ſhed forth abundantly on that Generation, thro' Jeſus Chriſt.— This is but an imperfect Account of the Apoſtolick Age, agreable to the Current of the ſacred Story. Now theſe Things were written p. 54for our Learning, upon whom the Ends of the World are come; that thro' Comfort of the Scriptures we might have Hope towards God, and might pray in Faith for the Return of primitive and vital Chriſtianity, for renew'd Triumphs and an univerſal Spread of the glorious Goſpel. With this View, theſe ancient Things are to be recollected by us: and thoſe Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High often to be reflected on, that we may give God the Glory due to his great Name, for the Wonders of his Power and Grace in the Days of old.

Nor were the ſucceding Ages of the primitive Church left without the Fruit of the Spirit, and ſome ſignal Tokens of the Power of the Higheſt preſent with the Miniſters of the Word, and with the Churches of Chriſt, in one Place and another. — But indeed (the Reflection is melancholy) there was a gradual Dying of Religion, and a partial Withdraw of the Spirit of Grace; until at length, in Place of the Temple of the living God, Satan obtained to have his Seat, Iniquity no longer hid it's Head, but regain'd much of it's old Empire, and the Man of Sin, that Son of Perdition, for Ages uſurp'd the Throne of Chriſt in the viſible Church; ſaving among a Few: for ſtill all along God reſerv'd to himſelf a Remnant of ſuch as bow'd not the Knee to Baal.

But there has been a glorious Return and evident Preſence of the Spirit of Chriſt in theſe later Generations of his People. A ſignal Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High it was, when the Man of Sin began to fall before the Sword of the Spirit; I mean, when the Papal Intereſt about two Centuries ſince receiv'd a fatal Shock, by the Reſurrection of a long-bury'd Goſpel, in ſundry Parts of the World, and ſo many Nations, at the Reformation from Popery, were ſprinkled from on high by the Baptiſm of the Holy Ghoſt, yea, Floods ſeem'd poured on the dry Ground; at a Time while ſome few righteous Souls, that had been groaning under the Tyranny of Antichriſt and lamenting after the Lord, were ready to ſay, Now behold, if the Lord would open Windows in Heaven, might ſuch a Thing be! Yet the marvellous Event was ſeen, to the Glory of ſovereign Grace in Chriſt. Here was now a ſurpriſing Revival of primitive Chriſtanity. This was a bleſſed Reſtoration indeed, worthy of an annual & perpetual Remembrance. And the Memory of this happy Year of the Lord ſhould, under the preſent awful Decline of the Reformed Religion, encourage our Faith in God for the Revival of this languiſhing Intereſt among the Nations.

p. 55And ſince that remarkable Day a gracious God has at ſundry Times and in divers Manners ſpoken to our Proteſtant and Britiſh Fathers, in their ſucceſſive Generations; has ſhewn Mercy to his People, and viſited them with his Salvation, in ſeveral Parts of the Chriſtian World, and particularly in thoſe from whence we derive our Original; granting the Goſpel to be preached with the Holy Ghoſt ſent down from Heaven, whereby the Souls of the Diſciples have been confirmed, and their Number ſometimes gloriouſly increas'd, by a wonderful Progreſs of converting Grace. — Theſe are Things to be much thought upon, and frequently recollected by us, to animate our Hopes and Wiſhes for Great Britain and Ireland, and for the Proteſtant World in general, reſpecting the Revival of decay'd Religion at this Day. A remarkable Seaſon of Converſion and effectual Calling, which is the ſpecial Work of the Spirit of Grace, ſpeaks ſuch a Year to to be among the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, worthy to be remembred by us. Converſion is a vaſt Event, greater than the Conqueſt of a City in War; yea, is myſterious and glorious even above the Reſurrection of the Dead, or the Creation of the World. Be it the Converſion but of one Sinner, there's Joy in Heaven on the Occaſion: much more, when Converſions are wro't in repeated and numerous Inſtances. This ſpeaks it the Day of the Mediator's Power, the Year of the Lord, to be notic'd and remembred by us. — Nay, be it but an unuſual Seaſon of Conviction and Awakning of Sinners, which is the Work of the Spirit, and above the Power of Men and Means, this ſpeaks the Year wherein it occurs, to be among the Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, which claim our Notice and Remembrance. We ſhould obſerve and reflect on ſuch Seaſons, to raiſe our Ideas of the Power of the Higheſt, who is ſtronger than the ſtrong Man armed, able to bind Satan at his Pleaſure, and to rouſe the ſecureſt Conſcience of Man. And the Reflection on what has been ſeen and heard of at ſuch remarkable Times, may ſerve to quicken our Prayers, and ſtrengthen our Faith and Hope in God, for renewed Out-pourings of his Spirit, to awaken Sinners that are at Eaſe in Zion; whoſe Caſe we ſhould lay to Heart, and carry to the Throne of Grace, and whoſe Conviction, as it is a neceſſary Preparative to their Converſion, ſo (however it ſhould terminate) would be a Witneſs of the Power of the Holy Ghoſt, would give ſome Teſtimony to the Word of his Grace, and would turn for a Teſtimony to the Miniſters of the Word, that God is with them of p. 56a Truth. For (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) We are unto God a ſweet Savour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh: To the former the Savour of Life unto Life, tho' to the latter the Savour of Death unto Death.

I can't but think (to come nigher home) that there was an uncommon Preſence of God by his Holy Spirit, as well as Providence, with our excellent Progenitors, the original Settlers of New-England. We have Reaſon to believe, a great Part (if not the Generality) of the firſt Planters of theſe Colonies were happy Inſtances of the Application of Redemption in effectual Calling, and experienc'd much of the Spirit of Grace, in his ſanctifying, teaching, quickning, and comforting Influences. In that Day, the Word had free Courſe and was glorify'd among them: God was very remarkably ſeen in his Power and Glory in the Sanctuary: His Bleſſing was upon his People: His Work appear'd unto his Servants, and his Glory unto their Children. There were many evident Tokens and are ſome remaining Monuments of a ſignal Preſence of the Spirit with that Generation. It ſeems to be the Language of Heaven to our Iſrael, Thus ſaith the Lord, I remember thee, the Kindneſs of thy Youth, the Love of thine Eſpouſals, when thou wenteſt after Me in the Wilderneſs, in a Land that was not ſown. Iſrael was Holineſs to the Lord. — We alſo ſhould remember this, and not forget the former Things from the Beginning. We ſhould recollect and realiſe theſe Things, to give God the Glory of his former Loving-kindneſſes, and to enliven our Faith and Hope in the God of our Fathers, to remind us from whence we are fallen, and to humble us in that we have ſo left our firſt Love; being riſen up in our Fathers ſtead, an Increaſe of ſinful Men, expoſed by our Apoſtacy to the fierce Anger of the Lord, except we repent. — Yet it mayn't be thought, that the following Generations have been altogether without Chriſt, not having the Spirit, and ſo none of his, but the Generations of his Wrath, whom He hath utterly forſaken. No, the God of all Patience hath not caſt away his People, which He foreknew: but hath been with them, in ſome Meaſure, as He was with their Fathers. And that's ſtill the compaſſionate Voice of his Diſpenſations, even until now, towards this Vine, which his own Right Hand hath planted, Deſtroy it not, for a Bleſſing is in it: — The End is not yet. — My Spirit remaineth among you, fear ye not. — Indeed I am not inobſervant of ſundry threatning and humbling Aſpects of the preſent Juncture, on religious Accounts, tho' I pretend not to any peculiar p. 57Skill in diſcerning the Signs of the Times: Yet nevertheleſs, upon an impartial Review of the Times which have paſt over us, I am not able to form any other Judgment, than that ſome of theſe later Years claim, in ſpiritual Reſpects, to be rank'd among the memorable Years of the Right Hand of the moſt High, ev… Years of merciful Viſitation to this People (as well as to ſome other Parts of the Church of God) by a more than common Energy of the Holy Spirit, accompanying the Word of the Lord Jeſus unto Numbers of Souls, through the Land, in a Way of Conviction, Converſion, and Edification. — But it's confeſs'd, while the Huſbandman has been ſowing his Wheat, the Enemy has been buſy in ſowing his Tares: & this Mixture of Mercy & Judgment calls us to temper our Thankſgivings on this Occaſion with becoming Humiliations; to rejoice with Trembling, and to be cautious that we don't aſcribe any Effects or Appearances to the Spirit of Holineſs, which it would be his Diſhonour to be the Author of; while yet we are equally cautious not to deny Him the Glory of his real Operations & genuine Fruits, of whatever Kind.

Upon the whole, the Work of the Spirit in the Application of Redemption to the Souls of Men, whether in former or latter Examples, and whether extending to a greater or leſs Number of Inſtances, is ſurely ſuch a Wonder of Divine Wiſdom, Power and Grace, as deſerves our ſolemn Recognition and Remembrance. — And it is moſt worthy of our Contemplation, whether view'd in it's Commencement, it's Continuance, it's Progreſs, or it's Perfection. For in the Upſhot it will be and appear a perfect Work. Indeed it is ſo, in various Reſpects, from it's Beginning. For at the very firſt there's an abſolute, final, univerſal Change of the ſpiritual State. The relative Change is compleated at once: it implies a perfect Union and Eſpouſal to Chriſt, a plenary Pardon and Adoption, a conſummate everlaſting Righteouſneſs imputed, and in Virtue of this a Fulneſs of ſpiritual Relations and Rights, an unfailing Title to Heaven and Happineſs: For there is no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt. And the moral Change, in Converſion, may be call'd perfect, as it extends to the whole Nature of Man in all it's Powers, and to the whole Image of God in all it's Parts. Yet it's confeſs'd, for wiſe Reaſons, the Work of the Spirit in the Application of Redemption is, with Regard to ſome of it's Benefits, at preſent imperfect in the Degree of Communication, and admits of Progreſs, as to all, in Point of Evidence and ſenſible Enjoyment. However, the holy p. 58Spirit will not leave his Work, in the End, ſo much as gradually defective: but will perform it to the Day of Jeſus Chriſt. He will perfect the Believer's Sanctification, in the Hour of Death: and will perfect his Glorification, in the Day of Judgment. In that Day the Spirit of Chriſt, as Agent for the Son of God in the Adminiſtration of his Kingdom of Grace, will preſent to Him his Church a glorious Church, without Spot, or Wrinkle, or Defect, without Mark or Memorial of Sin and Death. Nor ſhall there ſo much as One, of the whole Number committed to his Truſt, be miſſing in the Day when He ſhall bind up his Jewels. When the Names written in the Lamb's Book of Life ſhall be call'd over, not a ſingle Individual ſhall be wanting. But there will be a full Appearance of all the Elect of God, gathered from the four Winds. There will then be a general Aſſembly, an univerſal Manifeſtation of the Sons of God. And from that illuſtrious Day, their Joy ſhall be full for ever, their Glory compleat, and their Triumph perfect. O the unſearchable Riches of the Saints future State of Retribution! The Perfection of this ſpeaks the Dignity of the Spirit's Office, and the Excellency of his Work of Application; in the Courſe of which He brings many Sons to Glory, and is always peopling the Kingdom of Heaven, with the Spirits of juſt Men, tho' in various Proportions, from one Generation to another.

Nor may we deſpiſe the preſent Day of ſmall Things with the Saints, in this their militant State (imperfect as indeed it is, in a comparative View) but looking forward to the laſt Reſult of Things, when all their Gifts, Graces, Bleſſings, and Conſolations ſhall be advanc'd to their intended Perfection, the Proſpect of this ſhould exalt our Idea's of the Glory of the Spirit's Miniſtration, & ſtrongly commend his Work in the Application of Redemption to our frequent and devout Remembrance. — In the mean time let the Spirite in Paradiſe ſpeak the Praiſes of this Divine Agent, and magnify his Work, tell the Joy of God's Salvation, and declare what is the Hope of his Calling, what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints: and let their noble Pattern, who are perpetually chanting forth their joyful Anthems in Celebration of the Sanctifier, equally as of the Redeemer, attract our Imitation. — Or, as Contraries plac'd in a comparative Light, ſerve to illuſtrate one another, let the Horrors of Hell demonſtrate to us the Happineſs of Heaven; let the Spirits in Priſon, by the Anguiſhes of Deſpair, proclaim the infinite Value of Chriſt in us the Hope of Glory. — Nay, let the Spirits in Fleſh, that have felt p. 59the Burden of Sin and taſted the Bitterneſs of Death, in the Agonies of a wounded Conſcience, ſpeak the Worth of a Divine Pardon and apply'd Redemption. — Or let the Saints in the Earth, conſcious of their diſtinguiſhing Experience, tell the Benefit of a ſaving Change, and ſay how great is the Happineſs of an Intereſt in Chriſt, of Conformity to God, and the Fellowſhip of the Holy Ghoſt. — Or let the Holy Ghoſt himſelf ſpeak by his inſpir'd Panmen in the ſacred Scriptures; who every where celebrate the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt, as well as the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the Love of God; and appear as ſolicitous to record the Wonders of the New Creation, as of the Old, and the Operations of the Comforter, as of the Mediator. We ſhould obſerve theſe Things, in reading the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts; and often review the ſacred Story, to entertain and affect our ſelves with the glorious Memoirs they have left us of the Miniſtration of the Spirit, which were written for our Information and Uſe. And if in other Writings, tho' but of meer human Original, or if in credible Report, we meet with Accounts of the like Aſpect, theſe alſo (in Proportion to the Motives of Credibility accompanying them) we ſhould readily receive, and think ſuch valuable Hiſtory deſerving our Notice and Remembrance. Or indeed if Inſtances of the Work of the spirit fall within our own Obſervation (much more if we our ſelves are happy Examples of it) we ſhould regard the Works of his Hands, treaſure up in our Memory ſuch wonderful Events, and often employ our Mind in ſuitable Reflections upon them.

But here, as in the Caſe of other the Works of the Right Hand of the moſt High, we muſt take Heed, that we don't content our ſelves with a mere hiſtorical, and ſuperficial, heartleſs Commemoration: but ever look that our Remembrance of theſe high and ſacred Events be attemper'd to the Nature & Importance of them, and apply'd to experimental, devotional, and practical Purpoſes in Religion. I might now diſtinctly ſtate the Qualifications of a due Remembrance in this Caſe, and ſay, it ſhou'd be —

1. With Aſſent and Perſuaſion. — None may ſuppoſe it a Fable, a Fancy, or Fiction, but it ſhould be admitted for unqueſtionable Fact and Reality, that there is a Holy Ghoſt. His Exiſtence and Perſonality, as one of the Three that bear Record in Heaven; his Character and Office as the Paraclete, the Comforter or Advocate; his actual Miſſion, and divine Operations, as reported to us in the Scripture-Records; theſe are infallible Truths, to be p. 60aſſented to on the Teſtimony of God in his Word. And as there are Aſſurances given by our Lord, that the Comforter ſhall abide with his People for ever; this affords ſufficient Ground for a rational Belief of the Spirit's unceaſing Preſence with the Churches of the Saints. Why then ſhould it be tho't incredible, that God has been wont to pour the Spirit from on High, tho' in varying Degrees, from Age to Age? Or why ſhould we be ſlow of Heart to believe the Diſplays of his Grace in our own Times?

2. With Study and Meditation. — Not only the Dignity of the Agent, but the Weight and Excellency of the Work, as it is moſt honorary to God and beneficial to Man, and the Depth of Wiſdom and Myſtery in the Nature, Manner and Method, as well as Foundation of it, are Conſiderations, that conſpire to ſhew it equally deſerving and requiring our cloſeſt Attention and deliberate ſolemn Contemplation. How vain the Mortals, that deem this a Subject beneath their ſublime Genius; when Angels themſelves deſire to look into theſe Things, and ſince they are the Things of the Spirit of God!

3. With Approbation and Wonder. — The Office of the … is glorious in the Eyes of God and the Lamb: and his Performances therein moſt pleaſing to Heaven. The Work of the Sanctifier, even as that of the Redeemer, is the Admiration of inquiring Angels and reflecting Saints. In the ſacred Writers we have eminently a Pattern of our Duty, who every where celebrate the Holy Spirit, his Perſon, Office, and Work, in Terms of the higheſt Applauſe and Wonderment. Ours, like theirs, ſhould be an approving and admiring, as well as a believing and contemplative Remembrance. We ſhould be pleas'd with and admire the Work of Redemption, as in it's Purchaſe, ſo in it's Application. We ſhould admire this, as for it's divine Efficient, ſo for it's myſterious and excellent Nature, and it's bleſſed Fruits, for the Honour redounding therefrom to God and the Mediator, and the Good accruing to Man; for the dignifying & enriching Change wro't on it's happy Subjects, even in the Commencement of this Work, much more in it's final Completion. Surely the Spirit of Glory will at laſt be admir'd in his Temple, when he has put his finiſhing Hand to it.

4. With Humility and Reverence. — When we contemplate the Things of the Spirit, we muſt always be mindful that theſe are among the deep Things of God, which it becomes us ever to think and ſpeak of with a religious Awe and Solemnity on our Mind. p. 61The Spirit's Breathings are liken'd to the Wind. (Joh. 3.8.) He works When, Where, in Whom, in what Way, & to what Degree he pleaſeth; unconducted and uncontroul'd by Man, nor accountable or comprehenſible to us. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord; or being his Counſeller, hath taught Him? Neither knoweſt thou the Way of the Spirit. Canſt thou by ſearching find Him out to Perfection! Yet where we cannot comprehend, it becomes Worms of the Duſt to revere and adore; always humble in our Inquiries, and ever ready with our Submiſſions, whether reſpecting the unſearchable Myſteries of his Revelation or thoſe of his Adminiſtration. Here Angels are but Students; and they ſet us an Example of the profoundeſt Veneration.

5. With Contrition and Penitence. —It ſhould deeply abaſe us, to think how little the Spirit of Grace is receiv'd and honour'd in the World; and what Contempts are pour'd on his bleſſed Agency by Multitudes. — We ſhould eſpecially call to Remembrance our own Faults; and mourn, that we have ſo little acknowledged Him in his Office, ſo little regarded his Works, ſo much ſlighted his Motions within us, ſo often rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit, and taken ſuch unhappy Methods to quench the Spirit, both in our ſelves and others.

6. With Affection and Complacence. —The Scriptures mention the Love of the Spirit, as the Duty and Property of the Believer; and recommend Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, as one of the Fruits of the Kingdom of God. Our Commemorations of the Spirit and the Wonders of his Adminiſtration ſhould be animated with Love, to his Divine Perſon, to his ſacred Office, to the Subjects of his bleſſed Work, and to the Means and Inſtruments He employs. And our Love muſt operate by Deſire towards Him, by Delight in Him. We ſhould be pleas'd with the Honours done Him by Others, and ſolicitous that He may alſo be glorify'd in us. We ſhould lament his Abſence and rejoice in any Tokens of his Preſence with us; long for the perfect Communion of the Holy Ghoſt in the heavenly World, and the Proſpect of this ſhould be a preſent Refreſhment to us under all the Darkneſſes & Grievances of our imperfect State on Earth.

7. With Thankſgiving and Praiſe.— We ſhould be thankful for the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt, whether in former or later Times, and whether to our ſelves or others. Every ſuch Occaſion merits our grateful Acknowledgements, to the Father, to the Son, & to the Holy Spirit. Angels now ſing Hallelujahs; & we ſhould bring p. 62our Tribute of Praiſe. The primitive Chriſtians, and particularly the Apoſtle Paul in his Epiſtles, have left us an Example, worthy of our Imitation.

8. With Faith and Hope. — The Remembrance of what the Spirit of Holineſs hath been and done in his Office, ſhould engage us to an Affiance in his Power and Grace for further Benefits to our ſelves and others. And viewing Him as the Spirit of Promiſe, we ſhould look to Him for the Fulfilment of the Promiſes, both reſpecting particular Believers, & referring to the Church in general, it's flouriſhing State in the laſt Days. Former Experiences ſhould encourage future Expectations. Is the Spirit of the Lord ſtraitned? Or are we ſtraitned in Him? No, but in our ſelves.

9. With Prayer and Interceſſion.— It muſt be a prayerful Remembrance. Even Believers need to pray for the Spirit. Our Lord directs to and encourages the Prayer of Faith, in thoſe Words to his Diſciples (Luk. 11.13.) If ye, being evil, know how to give good Gifts to your Children, how much more ſhall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that aſk Him? The Remains of moral Evil in God's Children argue their continual Neceſſity of a freſh supply of the Spirit: and the Compaſſion of their heavenly Father, with whom is the Reſidue of the Spirit, ſhould prompt them to aſk Him. Nor ſhould we only be Suppliants for our ſelves, but Interceſſors for others alſo; eſpecially bearing upon our Heart the Caſe of the Church of God, pleading his Wonders of old, and putting in Suit at the Throne of Grace his precious Promiſes; begging that He would appear in his Glory, and build up Zion; that He would haſten the expected Times of Reformation and Enlargement of the Church, when the Arm of the Lord being reveal'd in a very powerful and extenſive Manner, it ſhall no longer be the Prophets Complaint, Who hath believed our Report! But a Nation ſhall be born in one Day, and the Voice of Admiration be heard, Who are theſe that fly as a Cloud, and as the Doves to their Windows!

10. With Frequency and Perſeverance. — In Proportion to the Dignity and Importance of the Subject, we ſhould abound in our ſerious Thoughts upon it: and as the Meditation is of conſtant Uſe, we ſhould be conſtant in the Duty; Not only in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, but ſo in ſome Degree every Day. How can we, as we are required, be praying always in the Holy Ghoſt, and walking in the Spirit, unleſs we keep in Memory, and habitually p. 63keep up in out Mind a lively Senſe of the holy Spirit, his Exiſtence, his Office, and Influence?

Laſtly, With a correſpondent Life and Courſe of Action, reſpecting both the inner and outer Man. — Our Remembrance of the bleſſed Spirit, his Office and Agency, which participates in the Holineſs of his Perſon, is never genuine and effectual, unleſs we are bro't to reſemble Him in the moral Complexion of our whole Man, unleſs we are conform'd to Him in the Temperature of our Hearts and in the Tenor of our Lives. But if having begun in the Spirit, we are walking after the Spirit, ſowing to the Spirit, living according to God in the Spirit, thro' the Spirit mortifying the Deeds of the Body, purifying our Souls in obeying the Truth thro' the Spirit, in the Current of our Diſpoſitions and Deportments led by the Spirit, and exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit, in all Goodneſs, Righteouſneſs, and Truth; This is a true vital and practical remembring of the holy Spirit; this is to be our ſelves the Monuments of his Office and Specimens of his Work, this is to repreſent Him in his moral Perfections by the Image thereof in our ſelves, and to honour Him in his Adminiſtration by an active Homage and Conformity, which demonſtrates our Faith a living Principle, and ſhews our Religion to be of a Divine Texture. Theſe practical Regards are a neceſſary Evidence, that we are of thoſe to whom that noble Characteriſtick belongs (Rom. 8.5.) They that are after the Spirit, do mind the Things of the Spirit. The very Nature of theſe Things, and their Place in the Scheme of Redemption, ſpeaks their nearly concerning us, and their directly tending to influence our whole Temper & Conduct: ſo that it's abſurd to ſuppoſe, they ſhould be minded at all truly, if they be not minded practically. Where there are no Impreſſions and Effects correſponding to the Nature and Moment of the Things of the Spirit, Men do not properly mind them, but rather treat them as Things of Indifference and Impertinency to them.

Now by Way of Uſe (omitting many Inferences) I ſhall only offer the following Hints.

1. It's Matter of ſorrowful Reflection, that the holy Spirit, his Office and Agency in the Application of Redemption, are ſo much forgotten (either doctrinally and ſpeculatively, or virtually and practically) in the profeſſing World: and when we conſider the Impieties but of one Year, it may well make us wonder, that He hath not utterly forſaken this evil Generation. — An abſolute, total, and final Dereliction would be but a juſt Puniſhment upon an p. 64unbelieving and unthankful, a reſiſting and rebelling World. Surely then under the preſent melancholy Appearance of a partial Deſertion, we ſhould aſcribe Righteouſneſs to our Maker; and admire his Patience, in ſparing Sinners from one Year to another, notwithſtanding the Guilt they are contracting, by multiply'd and aggravated Indignities to the Spirit of Chriſt.

2. Let it be a Word of Reproof and Warning to Sinners, that amidſt all their Guilt are yet ſecure, and at Eaſe. — Are there any here preſent, that to this Day are (both in the ſpeculative and practical Senſe) forgetting the Spirit of Grace, and his Agency in the Buſineſs of Salvation? May Conſcience now awake to it's Office, and reduce you to Conſideration, before it be too late! As ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, To Day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. Dread that awful Charge lying againſt you, Ye ſtiffnecked, and uncircumciſed in Heart and Ears, ye do always reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt. Be not deceived: It is a fearful Thing, to fall into the Hands of the living God. Nor can you expect any other End, unleſs you ſhould be chang'd and born of the Spirit: for if any Man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his; and without Chriſt, no Salvation. Enter now, I beſeech you, upon this new annual Revolution of Time with affecting and humbling Thoughts of your Need of a new Heart; which only the Spirit of God can put within you, and without which you are but ſpending your Years as a Tale that is told. Conſider, for ought you know, that awful Word may be fulfilled in you, This Year thou ſhalt die. Yea, begin the Year with fearful Apprehenſions, leſt while you are vainly dreaming of many Years to come, and ſaying to your ſelf, Soul, take thine Eaſe, a righteous God ſhould ſay to you, as to him in the Parable, Thou Fool, this Night ſhall thy Soul be required of thee! Therefore boaſt not thy ſelf of to Morrow; for thou knoweſt not what a Day may bring forth. Let me perſuade you to entertain theſe ſtartling Reflections, and no longer doze on in fooliſh Security: but let the Terrors of the Lord rouſe a ſtupify'd Conſcience within you. — And let Fearfulneſs ſurpriſe the Hypocrites in Heart; who, under the Power of a flattering Conſcience, are thinking your ſelves Something, while you are Nothing. Verily if the Hand of God has not been ſtrong upon you, to pluck out the Right-Eye-Luſt and to cut off the Right-Hand-Sin, to write his Laws on your Heart, to put his Spirit into you, and to form Chriſt within you; then is your Faith vain, and your Hope but Preſumption, you are yet in your Sins; and whatever Pretenſions p. 65you may make of a Regard to the Spirit, and an Experience of his Work, you but delude your ſelves; and remaining in your preſent Caſe, you may read your Doom in thoſe tremendous Words, God ſhall ſmite thee, thou whited Wall! — Let theſe Reflections excite us all to examine into the Condition of our Souls, without Partiality and without Delay. Let it be our ſolicitous Inquiry, Have we ever yet in any Year of our Life experienc'd the Power of the Holy Ghoſt? Has there a Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High paſſed over us, wherein we have had the Spirit of Grace applying Salvation to our Souls, working Faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Chriſt, in effectual Calling?—But let no Man deceive himſelf. If you do not walk in the Spirit, & mind the Things of the Spirit, if you are Strangers to all true devotional & practical Remembrance of him, you have evident Tokens upon you of your not being among them that ſhall be Heirs of Salvation.

3. Are there any awaken'd Sinners among you? Such, I mean, with whom the Spirit is now ſtriving, and whoſe Conſcience is ſomething alarm'd & affected with a Senſe of Guilt & Fear of Wrath; O be thankful to God, who has not given you a Spirit of Slumber, nor ſuffers you to ſleep as do others. And cheriſh your Convictions, as of infinite Moment to you. Do nothing to ſilence a reproving Conſcience, and to ſhake off troubleſome Fears, as the Manner of ſome is. Beware of ſtupifying Senſuality, of ſtupifying Company and Converſation; and guard againſt every ſtupifying Opinion, looſe Thoughts in Religion, light Thoughts of Sin, Entanglements in the World, &c. Quench not the Spirit. —Nor reſt in any common Work of the Spirit: but be anxiouſly concern'd to have the vital Principle planted in you, whereby you may believe to the ſaving of the Soul; And let Nothing ſatisfy you ſhort of Chriſt, made of God unto you Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption.— Don't give way to Delays in an Affair of ſuch vaſt and eternal Conſequence; Nor let any Diſcouragements drive you to deſponding Concluſions; let no Impediments ſtay your earneſt Inquiries after Chriſt and Salvation, by the Spirit's Application thereof to your Soul. Seek the Lord … be found. The Good of the Attainment will abundantly compenſate for the Pains and Trouble of the longeſt Purſuit. And peradventure this Year may be the acceptable Year of the Lord, the happy finding Time. This, my Friends, is what I heartily wiſh you. Then it will be a happy Year indeed; a Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, to be for ever remembred by you.

p. 664. Let Believers recollect their ſpiritual Experiences in the Year paſt, to give God the Glory: and begin this new Year with all ſuitable Tempers & Behaviours. — Seriouſly review the Dealings of the Spirit with you in Time paſt, and particularly in the Year now concluded, that you may glorify God by all due Acknowledgements. Has it been the happy Year of your Converſion? Or of your Edification in Chriſt? Has it been a Year of Growth in Grace? Or of Joy and Peace in believing? Have you had any profitable and pleaſant Sabbaths, Sermons, Sacraments, Family-Duties, Cloſet-Devotions, and pious Converſations? Have you had merciful Reſtraints from Sin, Aſſiſtances in the Chriſtian Life, Anſwers of Prayer, Supports and Conſolations under Troubles, or a Senſe of Covenant-Kindneſs ſweetning temporal Enjoyments, &c.? Now think theſe Things over, ſing the Praiſes of ſovereign Grace, and give the Spirit of Chriſt the Glory of his bleſſed Agency in & for you. But be humbled in the Reflection upon all your ſinful Neglects and Diſhonours to his Name. — And be ſolicitous, that this new Year may open with new Diſcoveries of the Things of the Spirit, with new Experiences of his Power and Grace, and new Evidences of his dwelling in you. Begin the Year with lamenting the ſad Remains of Darkneſs and Corruption in you, and with an earneſt Care of Improvement in vital Piety, with ſolemn Self-Dedication to God, with renewed Vows of a more cloſe Walk with God; and to that End, with pathetick and believing Supplications for the Renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, without whom you are Nothing and can do Nothing. Be importunate with God, that the Year now beginning may be very remarkably a Year of the Right Hand of the moſt High, in a general Reviving of his Work among his People; and in ſpecial, that you may be filled with the Spirit. Pray for the Spirit, to fill every Ordinance and every Providence, to fill the Miniſtry of the Word, to fill the Houſe of God, and to fill your Cloſet, &c. that you may make happy Advances in Soul-Proſperity & holy Fruitfulneſs. — Nor content your ſelves in the Abſence of the Comforter at any Time, but aſpire after the Joy of the Holy Ghoſt, that you may in this and every remaining Year ſerve the Lord with Gladneſs of Heart. — Be you after the Spirit, in point of Conformity to Him and Purſuit of Him; and both contemplatively and practically mind the Things of the Spirit. So you will be prepared for all the Events of the Year; and may be chearful Expectants of Sufferings, and of Death and Judgment. — In fine, p. 67you that are Parents, what can you better wiſh for your Children, than that God would make this a happy Year to them by pouring out his Spirit upon them, ſo bringing them to mind the Things of the Spirit; which will form them to be Bleſſings in this World, and prepare them for eternal Bleſſedneſs in the next?

But I ſhall add no more on this Subject. Another Head of Diſcourſe remains, which I muſt diſpatch with an unwilling Haſte and Brevity.‖‖Being deſir'd to enlarge this Diſcourſe in ſome of its Parts, I have (though at the ſame Time ſtudying Brevity) made conſiderable Additions in the foregoing Pages; which obliges me to be the more conciſe in the following, where yet the Subject would admit of very uſeful Amplifications, with the greateſt Eaſe.