:

furrection of our bleffed SAVIOUR from the dead, SERM. and his visible afcenfion into heaven. This is a fen- CXCVI. fible argument, and levelled to the capacities of all mankind. The reafonings of the philofophers concerning the immortality of mens fouls, and a future ftate after this life, befides the uncertainty of them, have also this disadvantage, that they are only calculated for the more refined and fpeculative part of mankind but every man is capable of the force of this argument, that he who declared to the world another life after this, and the happy condition of good men in another world, was himself raised from the dead, and visibly taken up into heaven. And now it is no difficult matter for us to believe that GOD will raise us, and advance us to glory and happinefs, when we confider what an earneft he hath given us of this, by "the working of that mighty power which he wrought in CHRIST, when he " raised him from the dead, and fet him at his own " right hand in heavenly places."

If then we believe that "CHRIST is afcended "into heaven, and fits at the right hand of GoD," let this raise our minds above the vain delights and perishing enjoyments of this world, to the confideration of thofe better and more glorious things that are above; let us often afcend thither in our thoughts, whither our SAVIOUR is gone before us, to prepare a place for us ;" and from whence he hath promised "to come again" at the end of the world แ to receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be alfo."

་

But then we must endeavour to live as he did; if

we hope to go to him, when we die.

Every man " that hath this hope in him, purifies himself, even

as

SERM. as he is pure." Let us then "have our converfa

CXCVI.

tion in heaven, from whence alfo we look for a "SAVIOUR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST; "who fhall change our vile body, that it may be "fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to "the working of that mighty power, whereby he is "able to fubdue all things to himself."

To conclude; let us heartily thank GOD for the whole difpenfation of our falvation, by the incarnation and doctrine, by the holy life and meritorious death of our bleffed SAVIOUR, and by that demonftration of "GoD's mighty power and good

nefs, which he wrought in CHRIST, when he "raifed him from the dead, and fet him at his own “right hand in heavenly places, far above all prin "cipalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, "and every name that is named, not only in this "world, but also in that which is to come; having put all things under his feet, and given him to "be the head over all things to the church, which is "his body."

The confideration whereof is (as you have heard) a mighty confolation to us, under all the troubles and dangers to which the church of CHRIST is expofed in this world. He who hath "all power com"mitted to him" by GoD, and is made "head "over all things for the benefit and advantage of "the church," we may be fure, will have a particular care of it, and tender it as "his own body :" and as he is able, he is ready upon all occafions to protect and defend his own religion, and the true' profeffors of it, againft all the fury and malice of men and devils, fo that "the gates of hell," the ftrongest combinations and deepeft confpiracies of all

the

the powers of darkness, "fhall not finally prevail SER M. against it." Here is the foundation of our hopes CXCVI. and confidence, that our redeemer is ftrong, and that GOD hath given him a kingdom and power, that is paramount and fuperior to all earthly kingdoms and powers; and though they fhould confpire together, and be of one mind, unite all their force, and "give "their power and strength unto the beast, to make "war with the lamb and his company," that is, the true church and faithful fervants of CHRIST; yet "the lamb fhall overcome them, becaufe he is lord "of lords, and king of kings."

And let us likewife blefs GoD for the wonderful reftoration of his majefty to the government of these kingdoms, who under CHRIST is the great defender of our faith and religion; and let us pay that duty and obedience, which becomes us, to a prince whom God hath fo miraculously preferved and reftored; and pour out our moft fervent prayers to GOD, that he would long preferve him, and protect his person from all dangers, who is the great fecurity of our religion, and the life of all our hopes, and as truly as any prince ever was to any people, the light of our eyes, and the breath of our noftrils; and that GOD would make him "wife as an angel "of GoD, to go in and out before this great people;" and grant to him, and all the people of this land, "to know in this our day the things that belong to our peace, before they be hid from our 66 eyes."

Preached towards the conclufion of the reign of king Charles II.

SER

SERM.

CXCVII.

Of the gift of tongues conferred on the apostles.

ACTS ii. 1, 2, 3, 4.

And when the day of pentecoft was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And fuddenly there came a found from heaven, as of a mighty rubing wind, and it filled all the house where they were fitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it fat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the SPIRIT gave them utterance.

NE of the chief designs of the difpenfation of GOD towards the Jews, and of the giving of the law to them by Mofes, was to be a type of the chriftian church, and of the difpenfation of the gospel by the Son of GOD; and therefore no wonder, if there be a great correfpondence between them, and that the divine providence should fo order the event of things, that the seasons of dif penfing the great evangelical bleffings, fhould happen at the fame times, when the great bleffings of the law, which were the types of them, were dispensed and commemorated. Thus our SAVIOUR, who was "the lamb of GoD," was flain and offered up at the fame time that the paffover was kept, and the pafchal lamb was flain and offered up among the Jews; and the redemption of the world from the

flavery

flavery of fin and fatan, is celebrated by chriftians, SERM. at the very fame feafon of the year, when the de- cxcvII. liverance of the Ifraelites from the Egyptian flavery

was comemorated by them: and as at the time of pentecoft (which was fifty days after) the Jews were appointed to rejoice before the LORD, and to offer their first-fruits by way of grateful acknowledgment to GOD for the fruits of the earth, then newly gather'd in; fo did GOD likewife at the fame time impart the first-fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT to the apostles, who where to be the first and chief labourers in that spiritual harvest, to which they were appointed by "the LORD of the harvest:" and which is yet more remarkable, at the same season that the law was delivered to the Jews from mount Sinai, and the first covenant establish'd, namely, at the time of pentecoft, as is commonly fupposed by the Jewish doctors, and as may probably be collected from the text, Exod. xix. 1. I fay, at that very time, the gofpel, which contains the terms of the new covenant, began to be publish'd from mount Sion, in as wonderful, though not fo terrible a manner, as the law was given from mount Sinai. And thus it was foretold by the ancient prophets, Ifaiah ii. 3. and Micah iv. 2. that "out of Sion fhould go forth the law, and the "word of the LORD from Jerufalem."

I fhall briefly explain the words, and as I pafs along make some short obfervations upon them, and then fix upon that which is mainly intended in them, viz. this first and most miraculous gift of the HOLY GHOST; which was conferred upon the apostles

when they were affembled together at Jerusalem upon the day of pentecost.

Preach'd on Whitsunday.

"When