And how amazing is it, that we fhould profefs the name of CHRIST, and yet fo little converfe about him; furely, this name whereby we are called, fhould be the theme of our difcourfe here, and of our eternal Hallelujahs in a world to come. But is it not more amazing, to confider, that instead of the name of JESUS, whereby we are to have falvation, we are taught to look for it in ourselves, and that there must be a fitness in us before God beftows his grace and favour upon us. But what doctrine is this? Not the doctrine of the fcripture, not the doctrine of JESUS, not that of the primitive chriftians, not that of the reformation, nor that of the articles of the church of England: No, it is the doctrine of the devil: this is making CHRIST but half a Saviour, and driving man into an error of the greatest confequence, in making him go to JESUS in his own ftrength, and not in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: But, my brethren, unless you go in the strength of JESUS CHRIST; unless you depend only upon him for falvation; unless he is your wisdom, righteousness and fanctification, he will never be your redemption. Our falvation is the free gift of God; it is owing to his free love, and the free grace of JESUS CHRIST, that ever you are faved.

Do not flatter yourfelves of being good enough, becaufe you are morally fo; because you go to church, fay the prayers, and take the facrament, therefore you think no more is required: alas, you are deceiving your own fouls; and if GOD; in his free grace and mercy, does not fhew you your error, it will only be leading you a fofter way to your eternal ruin ; but God forbid that any of you, to whom I am now fpeaking, fhould imagine this; no, you must be abased, and GoD must be exalted, or you will never begin at the right end, you will never fee JESUS with comfort or fatisfaction, unless go to him only on the account of what he has done and fuffered.

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Is it not plain to a demonftration, that we are acting the part of the Gergefenes, who came and defired JESUS to depart from them: Let us confider the words, and then we fhall fe how exactly we are performing the part of these men over again.

And when he was entered into a fhip his difciples followed him.

CHRIST had been working of many miracles, as we may read a few verses before; and as he continually went about doing good, fo now he was going to the country of the Gergefenes to difpoffefs two, who were poffeffed with devils; and his difciples followed him: No doubt they were reproached and pointed at, for following fuch a babbler, as the Scribes and Pharifees esteemed the LORD JESUS CHRIST: Doubtless they were pointed at, jeered, fcoffed, and efteemed madinen, enthusiasts, and a parcel of rabble; but ftill they followed the LORD JESUS CHRIST, they did not mind a little reproach; no, they loved their Mafter too well to forbear following him for the fake of a little perfecution. And if you do but love the LORD JESUS CHRIST, love him above all, you will follow him in fpight of the malice of all the Scribes and Pharifees of this generation.

And behold there arofe a great tempeft on the fta.

The prefence of CHRIST in the fhip, did not preferve the difciples from fears and troubles; they were filled with uneafinefs, although CHRIST was with them: this was only for a trial of their faith, to fee if they would stand faft for the LORD in a perfecuting time. My dear brethren, if the LORD is trying of you, do not give out; no, ftand faft in all that the LORD may call you to fuffer: It is eafy to follow CHRIST, when all things are fafe: but your love to JESUS CHRIST would be feen more, if you must lofe your lives, or deny your JESUS, it would be a trial of your love, when fire and faggot was before you, if you would rufh into that, rather than flie from the truth as it is in JESUS. Though all things are calm now, the ftorm is gathering, and by and by it will break; it is at prefent no bigger than a man's hand; but when it is full it will break, and then you will fee whether you are found chriftians or not. Perfecution would fcatter the hypocrites, and make nominal chriftians afraid to worship GoD; they would then foon turn unto the world and the things of it.

And his difciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, fave us, we perish. And he faith unto them, Why are ye fearful, Oye of little faith? Then he arofe and rebuked the winds and the fea, and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, faying,

VOL. V.

X

What

What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the fea obey

him!

Here we may fee the great compaffion of the LORD JESUS "CHRIST; no fooner had the difciples awakened him, and he faw their danger, but he rebuked the winds and feas, and all things were calm: Thus it was in a natural way, and will be fo in a spiritual one; for no fooner does JESUS CHRIST fpeak peace to a troubled foul, but all is calm and quiet: Now none but GOD could have performed this great miracle, and 'therefore it is no wonder that his difciples and the men of the fhip were amazed to fee the wonders he performed; and they could not forbear to express their fenfe thereof, by inquiring, “ What manner of man is this!”

And when the LORD has brought you out of trouble, you will be amazed at the gracious dealings of the LORD with you, and wonder that he would so easily remove your troubles from you, when you have deferved nothing but wrath and deftruction, and to be punifhed to all eternity.

And when he was come to the other fide into the country of the Gergefenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, faying, What have we to do with thee, JESUS, theu Son of GOD? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Two men, who were poffeffed bodily with that evil one who is going about feeking whom he may devour, met JESUS; as foon as they faw him they were afraid, and creid out: though they made every one afraid of them, yet they no fooner faw CHRIST, but their power left them, and they cried out, "What have we to do with thee, JESUS, thou Son of GOD?" We know that thou art GOD; we do not want thee, we have no power over thee, but thou hast over us, and we fear thou art come to torment us before our time; we know that we are to be brought to judgment, and therefore we would not be tormented until that time come.

And there was, a good way off from them, a herd of many swine feeding. So the devils befought him, faying, If thou caft us out, fuffer us to go into the herd of fwine.

The

The evil fpirits were fenfible that CHRIST was come to difpoffefs them, and that their time was now come, when they muft leave the bodies of these two men; for when CHRIST comes, who is stronger than the ftrong man armed, all must fall before him; they could not stand against the power of CHRIST: And here we may obferve, that though the devil is an enemy, yet he is a chained one; he cannot hurt a poor fwine until he has power given him from above: and we may likewife fee the malice of the devil, that he would hurt a poor fwine rather than do no mischief; and the devil would, if in his power, deftroy each of your fouls, but CHRIST, by his mighty power, prevents him.

And he faid unto them, Go: And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine; and behold, the whole herd of wine ran violently down a steep place into the fea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the poffefed of the devils. And behold, the whole city came out to meet JESUS, and when they saw him, they befought him that he would depart out of their coafts.

Here obferve, that no fooner had CHRIST given the devils permiffion to enter the fwine, but they did, and their malice was fo great, that the fwine ran violently down a steep place into the fea, and were drowned.

What poor fpite was here, that the devil should difturb poor fwine! And the city, therefore, was fo grieved for the lofs of a little wealth, that they came and befought CHRIST to depart; they did not want his company; they preferred a few poor fwine before the company of CHRIST; a few worldly goods, a little pleasure, or any thing rather than CHRIST, part with CHRIST before any thing; but one, who is fenfible of the love of CHRIST, will part with all, rather than with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Thus far the letter of the story goes; perhaps you think there is nothing to be learned herefrom, and that this is all you are to understand by it; but if fo, my brethren, you are much mistaken; for here is an excellent leffon to be learned, and that you will fee, by confidering the words again, in a fpiritual fenfe.

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And

And behold, there arofe a great tempeft in the fea, infomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was afleep.

And do not you frequently experience great tempefts in this world? does not the fea of temptation beat over your fouls? you are afraid left you fhould be overcome by them; you can

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fee no way to escape, for your fouls are covered with waves, and you expect to be fwallowed up in the tempeft; you are afraid left fhould fall into the hands of the evil one. O do not fear, for JESUS CHRIST, though he may be afleep to your thinking, yet will keep you, he will preferve you from the raging of the men, of the Pharifees of this world; they may rage and fpit forth all their venom against you, ftill CHRIST will deliver, preferve and protect you; if you but feek unto him in a fenfe of your own helplessness and unworthiness, you will foon find he is a GOD ready to pardon and forgive. O that all that hear me would be perfuaded to bow their knee, and their hearts, as foon as they go home: but alas, how many of our chriftians go to GOD, day by day, and call him, Father, which is but mocking of GOD, when the devil is their father: None have a right to call him father, but thofe who have received the fpirit of adoption, whereby they have a right to call him, " Abba, Father." Could the brute beafts fpeak, they might call GOD father as well as fome of you; for he is their Creator to whom they owe their being; but this will not entitle you to call Gop father, in a spiritual fenfe; no, you must be born again of GOD; however you may flatter yourselves, you must have an inward principle wrought in your hearts by faith. This you must experience, this, this you muft feel before you are chriftians indeed.

The LORD JESUS CHRIST takes notice of each of you: you may think the LORD does not take notice of us, because, we are in a field, and out of church walls; but he does obferve with what view you came this evening to hear his word; he knows whether it was to fatisfy your curiofity, or to find out wherewith you might ridicule the preacher. The thoughts and intentions of all your hearts are not hidden from JESUS CHRIST; though he may feem to be asleep, because you are, at prefent, infenfible of his workings upon your heart, and he may not seem to take notice of you, and regard you, no more than he did the Syrophoenician woman; yet he will turn to

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