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"fus;" vèr. 4. who did (as you have heard) in every instance, what you are exhorted to do; and by fo doing, "left us an example, that we "fhould follow his fteps!" Let us look up to him, not only as the Author and Finifber of our faith, but as the perfect rule and meafure of our obedience; remembring and applying those few, but emphatical words, with which he concludes the parable of the good Samaritan, from whence my text is taken; Go thou and do likewife. Which God of his infinite mercy grant, &c.

A SER.

SERMON

Preached before the

Sons of the Clergy

AT

Their Aniverfary-Meeting,

IN THE

Church of St. PAUL.

December 6, 1709.

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GENTLEMEN,

You

OU defired me to preach, and print this fermon: I complied with you in both these requests; though I had juft objections to both of them. Permit me now, in my turn, to ask one thing of you; againft which, I think, there lies no objection: That, as you have, with fome trouble and expence, fupported our anniversarymeeting; fo you would continue always to countenance it by your prefence, and heartily to favour

the

the honest and pious defign of it. There are, I believe, two hundred perfons now living, who have gone before you in the ftewardship. If all these be as earneft and follicitous to promote this charity, when out of that office, as they were, when in it, we need not doubt but that it will spread and enlarge itself every year, more and more; as, God be thanked, it hath lately done, notwithstanding the great discouragements under which it labours, by reafon of the public taxes; and its many new rivals in the fame labour of love, but chiefly, by reafon of the growing wickednefs of thofe, who, being enemies to the clergy, and to the religion of Chrift, muft needs be enemies to this particular charity.

In compofing this difcourfe, I purposely declined all offenfive and difpleafing truths, as unfeafonable at a time peculiarly dedicated to the exer cife of charity; not as in themselves misbecoming the preachers of the gofpel: For I have learnt from one, who well knew and practifed every art of fpiritual prudence, fo as to become all things to all men, in order to fave fome; that there are alfo times, when we muft " be inftant in preaching the word," though "out of feafon ;" and when they, who "please men are no longer the fervants of Chrift;" Times, when that holy Happia, so much spoken of in fcripture, is neceffary; even that undaunted firmnefs of mind and freedom of fpeech, by which the doctrine of the gospel was diffeminated at firft, and muft ftill be maintained. When fuch opportunities offer themselves, God, I hope, will enable all thofe, who wait at his al

tar,

tar, to difcharge a good confcience, with equal wisdom and courage.

I have added, here and there, in the margins of the following fheets, fome paffages from St. Chryfoftome, becaufe they are not only very appofite, but expreffed alfo with great life and beauty: and I had hopes, by the means of them, to excite thofe of my brethren, who are newly entered into the ministry, carefully to perufe that excellent treatife, from which there are taken; a treatife, which next to the facred pages themselves, and the offices of ordination prefcribed by our church, is, I am perfuaded, of the greatest ufe to give us true impreffions of the dignity and duties of the priesthood, and to warn us into refolutions of acting in every cafe, as becomes our facred character. I cannot but exprefs my fatisfaction, that a learned hand hath lately taken this ufeful piece out of St. Chryfoftom's works, and publifhed it in a separate volume.

Excufe me, gentlemen, for mixing things of this nature in an address to you; which was defigned only to acquaint the world, who are anfwerable for the publication of this fermon; and to affure you, after the moft proper manner, that I am

Your very affectionate

And most humble fervant,

Dec. 23, 1709.

FR. ATTERBURY.

Mr. Hughes of Jefus College, Cambridge.

ROMANS

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