block and Offence of the Jews and Gentiles; which they made Use of as an Evidence and certain Teftimony that he was not God: The Evidence of the one feems to give in Evidence to the other. But let us confider this, for it is a sweet and pleafant Subject, if our Hearts were fuitably framed to delight in it, that there was as much Evidence to the Conviction of all Mens Senfes, of his Divine Maje

Flesh, by fenfible Effects, no lefs, than the Spirit of Man which is invisible, ma nifefts its Prefence in the Body, by fuch Operations fenfible, as can proceed from no other Principle: And therefore, this faithful Witness adds, Woich we have look ed upon; which relates not only to the outward Attention of the Eyes, but points at the inward Intention, and Af fection of the Heart. Our Senfes did bring in fuch strange and marvellous Ob-fty, as of his Humane Infirmity: And jects to our Minds, that we stood gazing, that there are two concurring Evidences, and beheld it over and over again, look-which enlightens one another; which we ed upon it with Reafon, concluding what fhall fhew, partly from his own Works it might be; we gave Intertainment-to and Miracles, and partly from the more our Minds, to confider it wifely and de- than miraculous Succefs and Progrefs of liberately, and faftned our Eyes, that we the Gofpel after him. might detain our Hearts, in the Confideration of fuch a glorious Perfon. From this then ye have two Things clear; one is, that our Lord Jefus Chrift was a true Man, and that his Difciples had all poffible Evidence of it, which the History more abundantly fhews; he converfed with them familiarly, he eat and drank with them, yea, his Converfation in the World, was very much condefcending in outward Behaviour, to the Customs of the World; he eat with Pharifees, when they invited him, he refused not; but he was more bold with Publicans and Sinners, to converse with them; as being their greatest Friend: He was uncivil to none; would deter none through a rigid auftere Conversation; and indeed, to teftify the Truth of his human Nature, he came fo low to partake of all humane In-Hour be cured many. Before he spoke firmities without Sin, and to be fubject to in anfwer, he answered them by his extraordinary Afflictions and Croffes, as Deeds; he gave a visible Demonftration to the Eyes of the World it did quite ex- of that they doubted of; for they could created Anguish his Divine Glory, and bury it not but fee a Power above in Misbelief. This which we fpeak of, Power in thefe Works, which furpass as a Teftimony and Evidence that he Nature and Art. So many wonderful was Man, was the very grand ftumbling-Works done, fo often repeated, before

For the first, John teftifies, that not only they faw the Baseness of his outward Shape, but the Glory of the only begotten Son of God, full of Grace and Truth, Joh. i. 14. John the Baptift fent fome of his Difciples, because of their own Un belief, to enquire at Jefus, Art thou be, or look we for another? And what Answer gave he them? What Reason to convince them? Go (faith he) and tell what ye have seen and beard, that the Blind fee, the Lame walk, and the Lepers are cleanfed, the Deaf hear, the Dead are raised, and the Poor receive the Gospel: And blessed is he who ever fhall not for my outward Unfeemliness and Baseness offend, but go by that, into the Glory that fhines out in fuch Works. is faid in Luke vii. 21.

It

That the Same

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all this must needs be infallibly true; for it is not fuppofible to agree with the Wif dom and Goodness of God, to manifeft fo much of his infinite Power and Glory, in fo extraordinary a Manner, to bear Teftimony to an Impoftor or Deceiver. Therefore, though no more could be at first extorted from an Enemy of Christ's Doctrine, but that fuch mighty Works did fhew forth themfelves, which could not be done, but by the Divine Affiftance and extraordinary Help of God: Yet, even from that Confeffion it may be strongly concluded, that feeing there was no other End imaginable of such extraor dinary Affiftance, but the Confirmation of his new Doctrine, and that of his di vine Nature, being one of the chief Points of it, it must needs inforce, that he was not only helped by God, as Mofes, but that he was God, and did these Things by his own Power. By this then it appears,

fo many Thousands, even many of his watchful and obfervant Enemies; and all done to easily, by a Word, infinite Cures for Number and Quality wrought, which paffed the Skill of all Physicians; Devils difpoffeffed, Life reftored, Water converted into excellent Wine, without the Maturation of the Sun, or Help of the Vine Tree: A little Bread fo ftrangely enlarged to the Satisfaction of many Thousands, and more remaining than was laid down: The Winds and Seas obeying his very Word, and compofing themselves to Silence at his Rebuke, and infinite more of this Kind. Are they not in the common Apprehension of Men, of a Degree fuperior to that of Nature? Who could reftore Life, but he that gave it? Whom would the Devils obey, but him at whom they tremble? Who could tranfubftantiate Water into Wine, but he that created both these Subftances; and every Year by a long Circuit of the Ope-that though after fo many Prophefies of rations of Nature, turns it into Wine? Who could feed Seven Thousand with that which a few Perfons would exhauft, but he that can create it of nothing, and by whofe Word all this vifible World ftarted out of nothing? Nay, let us fup. pose these Things to be done only by divine Affiftance, by fome peculiar divine Influence; then certainly, if we confider the very End of this miraculous Affiftance of a Creature, that it was to confirm the Doctrine delivered by him, and make Such a deep Impreffion of the Truth of it in the Hearts of all, that it cannot be rooted out. This being the very genuine End of the Wisdom of God in fuch Works, it must needs follow, that all that which Chrift revealed, both of himfelf and the Father, of his own being with him from the Beginning, of his being one with him, and being his eternal Son;

him, and Expectations from the Begin ning, we fee but a Man, in outward Appearance defpifable, and without Comlinefs and Form; yet if we could open the Eyes of our Souls, and fix them upoB him, we behold, as through some small Crainies, Majefty fhining in his Mifery, Power difcovering it felf in his Weaknefs, even that Power that made the World, and Man too. He was born indeed, yet of a Virgin, he was weak and infirm himfelf, yet he healed all others Infirmities, even by his Word: He was often an hungred, yet he could feed Five Thoufand at one Time, and Seven Thousand at another, upon that which would not have ferved his Difciples, or but fer ved them: He was wearied with Travels, yet he gave Reft to wearied Souls, At length himself died, and that an ignominious Death, notwithstanding he raifed

the

SERMON V.

1 John i. 3. That which we have feen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alfo may have Fellowship with us,

takes to declare, as the chief Subject of his Writing, which must needs be, if fuch Things have Place. Therefore I choise rather with the Apostle to declare this unto you, which I can always do with a like Certainty, and certainly might always be done to an infinite greater Advantage. There are these two peculiar Excellencies in the Gospel or Word of Life, that it is never unprofitable, nor unfeasonable; but doth contain in it at all Times, the greatest Advantage to the Souls of Men, of infinite more Concern.

ment and Urgency, than any other Thing can afford, they might be the more conI can be fuppofed to be. And then we fident and able to convince and perfuade have no doubtful Difputations about it; it others. But yet there is fomething that varies not by Times and Circumftances, it holds by good Proportion, that he that may be declared with the fame full Affu- declares this eternal Life to others, should rance at all Times, which certainly can be well acquainted with it himself. He not be attained in other Things. I would that preaches Jefus Chrift, should first be gladly know what Paul ineant, when he converfant with him, and become his faid, He determined to know nothing but Disciple and Follower, before they can Jefus Chrift, and bim crucified, 1 Cor. with any Fruit become Teachers of oii. 2. and that be counted all Drofs and thers. Therefore the Apoftles, Acts i. Dung to the Super-excellent Knowledge choofeth out one that had been with them of Jefus Chrift, Phil. iii. 8. Sure it muft from the Beginning, gone in and out amount to fo much at least, that this with them, feen and beard all. O! how should be the ordinary Subject of the Mi incongruous is it for many of us, to take nifters of the Gospel, fince they are the upon us to declare this unto others, which Ambaffadors of Jefus Chrift, not the Ora- I fear, few can fay they have heard and tors of the State. Should not all other feen in a fpiritual Manner, and handled by Things be thought impertinent and tri- Experience? No Question, it prevails u vial in respect of this, the Salvation of fually moft with the Heart, that comes Sinners? And what hath a Connexion from the Heart. Affection is the Fire with that, but Jesus Christ, and the that is moft suitable to set Affection on Word of Life? Flame. It is a great Addition to a Man's Power and Virtue of perfuading others, to have a full Perfuafion fettled in his own Heart concerning these Things. Now it is much to be lamented, that there is fo little of this, and fo few carries the Evidence on their Hearts and Ways, that they have been with Jefus, converfant in his Company. I cannot fay, but the Ordinances, that carry their Worth and Dignity from God, and not from Men, fhould be notwithstanding precious to your Hearts; and that Word of Life, however, and by whomsoever fent, to you it be spoken, it should be suitably received with Gladness of Heart. But I confefs, there is much of the Succefs difappointed, by the unfuitable Carriage and Difpofition of Inftruments, which ought to be mourned under, as the greatest Judg ment of this Nation..

But though this be the most pleasant and profitable subject, yet I fear, that few of them who pretend a Calling to this Embaffage, are thus qualified and difpofed to speak and declare it, as the Apoftle imports, That which we have beard and feen, &c. It is true, there was fomething extraordinary in this, because they were to be firft Publishers of this Doctrine, and to wrestle against the Rebellion of Mens Hearts, and the Idolatry and Superftition of the World: Yea, to undertake fuch a Work, as to fubdue all Nations by the preaching of a crucified Man to them, which feemed to Reason, the most defperate and impoffible Employment ever given or taken. Therefore it behoved them to be the Eye and Ear Witnesses of his Doctrine, Life, Miracles, and all; that being themfelves perfuaded beyond all the Degrees of Certainty that Reason

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