SERMON I. The plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures. 2 PET. i, 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the ISA. v, 20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil; Ex. xxxiii, 18, 19. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me ACTs xxiv, 16. And herein do I exercise myself to have Man's Activity and Dependence illustrated and reconciled. Work out your own salvation with fear Love the Essence of Obedience. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 191 ROM. vii, 7. 8. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed The divine Conduct, in the Reprobation of incorrigible Sinners, both illustrated and justified. Ex. ix, 16. In very deed, for this cause have I raised thee up. 289 SERMON I. ON THE BEING AND PERFECTIONS OF GOD. HEBREWS III, 4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.· IT is not the intention of the apostle, in these words, to prove the existence of the Deity; but only to suggest the most easy and proper way of attaining the certain knowledge, of this great and fundamental truth. And taking his words in this view, they naturally introduce the object of the following discourse, which is to exhibit the evidence of the being and perfections of God. Agreeably, therefore, to the spirit of the text, and the design proposed, it may be proper to proceed gradually, and observe, I. This world might have had a beginning. There is nothing absurd in this supposition. We can easily conceive, that there was a time when the heavens and earth did not exist; and of consequence, that there was a time when they first came into existence. The fashion of this world passes away, and mutability is stamped upon every object with which we are acquainted. The winds, and clouds, and seas, and the whole material system are in continual motion. The varying seasons are constantly varying the face of the earth, and giving new forms and appearances to all the objects around us. One generation of mankind follows another; and whilst one is coming on, another is going off the stage of life. The numerous species of animals come and go, in a manner equally regular and rapid. The fruits of the earth spontaneously and successively spring up, come to II. If this world might have begun to exist, then it SERMON I. ON THE BEING AND PERFECTIONS OF GOD. HEBREWS III, 4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. IT is not the intention of the apostle, in these words, to prove the existence of the Deity; but only to suggest the most easy and proper way of attaining the certain knowledge, of this great and fundamental truth. And taking his words in this view, they naturally introduce the object of the following discourse, which is to exhibit the evidence of the being and perfections of God. Agreeably, therefore, to the spirit of the text, and the design proposed, it may be proper to proceed gradually, and observe, I. This world might have had a beginning. There is nothing absurd in this supposition. We can easily conceive, that there was a time when the heavens and earth did not exist; and of consequence, that there was a time when they first came into existence.The fashion of this world passes away, and mutability is stamped upon every object with which we are acquainted. The winds, and clouds, and seas, and the whole material system are in continual motion. The varying seasons are constantly varying the face of the earth, and giving new forms and appearances to all the objects around us. One generation of mankind follows another; and whilst one is coming on, another is going off the stage of life. The numerous species of animals come and go, in a manner equally regular and rapid. The fruits of the earth |