EXPLAINED AND DEFENDED, IN A SERIES OF SERMONS; BY TIMOTHY DWIGHT, S. T. D. LL. D LATE PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE. WITH A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. IN FOUR VOLUMES. NINTH EDITION. VOL. III. NEW HAVEN: PUBLISHED BY T. DWIGHT & SON, AND SOLD BY LEAVITT, LORD & CO. 180 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 1836. CONTENTS OF THE THIRD VOLUME. Page ERMON LXXXVII. Regeneration. Its Consequences: Perseverance.- SERMON LXXXVIII. Regeneration. Its Evidences: What are not Evi- SERMON LXXXIX. Regeneration. Its Evidences: What are real Evi- SERMON XCIV. The Law of God. The First Great Commandment: Hu- 150 163 - 174 186 SERMON XCV. The Law of God. The First Great Commandment: Re- The Second Great Commandment: SERMON CI. The Law of God. The Second Commandment.-Ex. xx. SERMON CVI. The Fourth Commandment. The Perpetuity and Change SERMON CVII. The Fourth Commandment. Objections answered.-Heb. 292 233 245 SERMON CVIII. The Fourth Commandment. The Manner in which the Page SERMON CIX. The Fourth Commandment. Reflections on the Sabbath.- JERMON CX. The Fifth Commandment. The Duty of Children.-Ex. · SERMON CXVI. The Sixth Commandment. Duelling.-Ex. xx. 13. SERMON CXX. The Seventh Commandment. Lewdness.-Ex. xx. 14. SERMON CXXII. The Eighth Commandment. Idleness. Prodigality.- SERMON CXXIII. The Eighth Commandment. Fraud.-Ex. xx. 15. 435 SERMON CXXVII, The Ninth Commandment. The Mischiefs and Pre- SERMON LXXXVII. CONSEQUENCES OF REGENERATION. PERSEVERANCE. PROVERBS IV. 18.-The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. IN the preceding discourse I observed that the text naturally teaches us the following doctrines : I. That the holiness of the Christian is a beautiful object; III. That it continues to the end. The two first of these doctrines I have already examined. I will now proceed to a consideration of the third. As this doctrine has been, and still is, vigorously disputed; it will be necessary to make it the subject of a particular examination. In doing this I shall first adduce several arguments as a direct proof of the doctrine; and shall then answer the principal objections. 1st. It is irrational to suppose, that God would leave a work, towards which so much has been done, unaccomplished. To effectuate the salvation of such as believe in Christ, God has sent him, to become incarnate, to live a life of humiliation and suffering, and to die upon the cross. He has raised him from the dead, exalted him at his own right hand, and constituted him, at once, an Intercessor for his children, and the Head over all things unto the Church. He has also sent the Spirit of grace, to complete, by his almighty energy, this work of infinite mercy, in sanctifying, enlightening, and quickening, the soul, and conducting it to heaven. Now, let me ask, Is it not in the nature of the case incredible, that JEHOVAH should commence, and carry on, this work, with such an amazing apparatus of labour and splendour, and leave it unfinished? Is it not incredible, that an Omniscient and Omnipotent Being should form a purpose of this nature; should discover in this wonderful manner, that he had it so much at heart; and should yet suffer himself to be frustrated in the end? Who can reconcile this supposition with the perfections of God? 2dly. The continuance of saints in holiness follows irresistibly from their Election. It is unnecessary for the purposes of this discourse, that I should inquire into the metaphysical nature of Election. It is sufficient for my design, that saints are declared, abundantly throughout the Scriptures, to be chosen of God. Thus, Rev. xvii. 14, the Angel declares to John concerning the followers of the Lamb, that they |