TWENTY Sermons preached before and after the Celebration of the LORD's Supper, by fundry Minifters of the Church of Scotland, via. The reverend Mr. William Wifeheart Principal in the Univerfity of Edinburgh; Mr. Walter Douglass, Minister aty Lintoun; Mr. Thomas Halyburton, late Profeffor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews; Mr. John Kak lifon, Minifter at Dundee.

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الروق

Treatife concerning the Sanctifying the LORD'S Day; wherein the Morality of the Sabbath, and the Neceffity of its strict and religious Obfervation under the New Teftament OEconomy is proven, and maintained against the Adverfaries thereof; and many fpecial Advices and Directions given, for promoting the great and comprehenfive Duty of Sabbath Sanctification, neceffary for all Families.

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Sacramental Catechism Or, A familiar Inftructor for young Communicants; plainly unfolding the Nature of the Covenant of Grace, with the Two Seals thereof, Baptifm and the LORD's Supper; wherein efpecially the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper is fully and diftinctly handled, both in a doctrinal and practical Manner; with many Cafes of Confcience relative thereto intermixed and refolved, for the Relief and Support of those who are exercised to Godlinefs. With an Appendix, containing fuitable Materials for Meditation and Prayer, both before and after Partaking. The last Two by Mr. John Willifon, Minifter at Dundee,

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PRACTICAL ESSAY

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

SACRAMENT

O F

BAPTISM.

The Introduction.

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S the Works of Creation declare JEHOVAH's eternal Power and Godhead (a); fo his Providences drop Marrow and Fatnefs on the Sons of Men (b): But efpecially, the Inftitutions of his Worfhip and Ordinances proclaim his manifold Wifdom, his aftonishing Condefcenfion, his fovereign, rich and free Grace, his irrefiftible Power,

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(a) Rom. 1. 20. (b) Acts 14, 17. Acts 17. 28,

Man's

Nature.

Power, the unchangeable Purposes of his Love, and the unfearchable Riches of Jesus Christ (c). And as God fully and clearly revealeth thefe by his Words fo he, in the most confpicuous and Heart-engaging Manner, manifefts them by his Sacraments (d); not only by that of his Supper, but alfe by this of Baptifm: Of which, before I fay any Thing particularly, it is neceffary that we understand the following Truths, by which we may have a more diftinct Apprehenfion of what be faid on this divine and awful Ordi

may nance.

First, That all Adam's Pofterity, defcending State by from him by ordinary Generation, are, by Nature, in a State of Guilt, and unfpeakable Mifery (e) being, together with him, as their fo deral Head and Representative, guilty of the Vi olation of the Covenant of Works (f); and confequently Sinners before God, fallen from their original Finacle and Height of Happiness, deprived of original Righteoufnefs and Holinefs, of the image and Favour of God, of Accefs to him, and Communion with him (g); now corrupted as to the whole Man (b), dark and ignorant (¿), dead (k), obftinate (7), alienated from God and all that is truly and fpiritually good (m), wholly inclined to Evil (2), going on in a Course of Sin (e), and running headlong to everlafting Damnation (1) poor and deftitute (9), under the Wrath and Curfe of God (), the Dominion of Sin, the Tyranny of Satan, liable to all the Mi feries

(c) Mark 6.12. Luke 9.60. Luke 24. 47, Acts 17. 18. Rom. 10.8. Eph. 2. 17. Eph. 3. 8. (d) 1 Cor. 11. V. 23, 28. Gal. 3. 27. Ezek. 6, (f) Rom. 23: Rom. 5. 12; 13: 77) Gen. 324.1(6) Gen. 6. Eph? 22. () Eph. 4. 181 Con, 2, 14. (k) Eph 2. 1. 2 Cor. 5.14 (2) Jo. 5. 40. Pfalm 81. 10. (m) Zech. 7. 11. Job 21. 24. Col. 1. 21. (n) Jer. 17.9. Eccl 8. 11. (0) Eph. 2. 1, 2. Col. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 4.3. (p) Rom. 6. 23. (9). Eph. 2. 12. Rev. 3. 17. () Eph. 2. 3. Gal. 3. 9, 10.

feries of this Life, to Death itfelf, and to the Pains of Hell for ever (S)

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help him

2dly, As all Men, by Nature, are thus wretch His Inaed, and in the moft deplorable Condition; fo bility to they are altogether unable to fave or help them felf. felves For, they can never fatisfy the infinite Juftice that they have offended; they cannot now give that perfect Obedience, required by the Law Covenant which they have tranfgreffeds they cannot recover the Image of God, nor that Friendfhip and Communion with him, and Ac cefs to him, which they are now deprived of they cannot redeem nor repair the precious Soul they have ruined and loft, they cannot free them felves from the Tyranny of Satan, under which they now are Brought; nor from the Power and Dominion that their indwelling Lufts now have over them; and fo can never, in their own Perfons, have a Righteousness answering the Law, on which they might found a Title to Life. And much lefs can they, or any meer Creature in their Room, fo undergo the Wrath and Curfe of the Great Judge, as to attone his Juftice, and free themselves from everlafting Damination (t). Yea, Men are now, by Nature, fo alienated from God, and every Thing fpiritually good, fo fixed and peremptory in a Courfe of Rebellion against Heaven, that as they want the Power to comply with any Propofal made for their Relief, fo they have an utter Averfion therefrom, and are flated Enemies hereto (u).

And in a Suitablenefs to the Purpose in View, we may, from what hath been faid, obferve, what great. Objects of Pity and Compaffion our poor Infants are, they being conceived in Sin,

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and

(S) Rom. 8. 7. Rom. 6. 17. Rom. 2. 25. Eph. 2. 2, 3. Rom. 5. 17, 18, 25 (4) Micah 6. 6, 7. Hof. 13, 9. Rom. 3. 20. Rom. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 3. 2 Cor. 3. 5. (u) Rom: 8.7. John 1. 11. Jer. 2. 25. Zech. 7. 1ig Luke 19. 14. Acts 13.45.

Man's Re

and brought forth in Iniquity; deftitute of every Thing that is truly and spiritually good; by Nature Children of Wrath. Expofed to Thousands of Miseries in this World, and in the World to come, to the eternal Vengeance of a holy and juft God. O then! How ought Parents and all others concerned in them, to be fo deeply affected and afflicted with the miferable Condition of their dear Infants, as to fhew all imaginable Compaffion towards them, by bringing them early to the Blood of Sprinkling, and that Redeemer who alone can fave them; to that God, and his well-ordered Covenant, who, as he has promifed us to be a God to Believers, fo alfo to their Seed after them: And to that holy Spirit, who alone can fanctify and cleanfe them. How quickly fhould they prefent them before the Lord, and with the greatest Chearfulness devote them to him! And, how fervently and frequently fhould they pray for them, and, as foon as decently may be, have the Seal of the Covenant of Grace adminiftrated unto them!

3dly, All Mankind, defcending from Adam covery. by ordinary Generation, being now Sinners, loft and undone, incapable to help themselves, and no Eye to pity them; the Sovereign Jehovah difplays infinite Wisdom, matchlefs Grace, and boundless Love, by laying Help upon one that is mighty, even upon his own eternally begotten Son; who from Eternity was true God, coeffential and coequal with his Father (w), and yet became true Man, and fo was, and ftill is both God and Man in one Perfon (x); who, in the Fulnefs of Time, as the only Saviour, Head, Surety, Reprefentative and Redeemer of Elect Sinners, fulfilled

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(∞) Pfalm 89. 19. Isaiah 42. 1.to V. 21. Isaiah 53. 6: 1 John 4. 9, 10. John 3. 16. John 1. 1. Acts 20. 28. Juhn 10. 30. Heb: 1. 2, 3, 6. 1 John 3. 16. Zech. 13.7.1 John 5. 20. (*) John 1. 14. Luke 24. 39. Gal. 4. 4, 5.