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DISC. men particularly addicted to the fciences XII. of philofophy and aftronomy. They con

templated the heavens, and at length were favoured with the fight of a star, which led them to him who made the heavens, and who was then defcended from on high, to perform a work ftill more wonderful. Man was formed with an understanding, for the attainment of knowlege; and happy is he, who is employed in the pursuit of it. Ignorance is in it's nature unprofitable; but every kind of knowlege may be turned to use. Diligence is generally rewarded with the discovery of that which it feeks after; fometimes, of that which is much more valuable. Human learning, with the bleffing of God upon it, introduces us to divine wisdom; and while we study the works of nature, the God of nature will manifeft himself to us; fince, to a well tutored mind, "The heavens," without ́ a miracle, "declare his glory, and the firma"ment fheweth his handy work."

Thirdly, from the example of the Magi, let us learn to be very watchful and obfervant

XII.

fervant of those lights, which at fundry DISC. times and in divers manners are vouchfafed to us. At the last day, when the fecrets of all hearts fhall be disclosed, and the circumftances of our lives fhall pass in review, it will then be feen, that God did not leave himself without witness." It will appear, that the finner had

many calls, both from within, and from without, to which he might have hearkened; and to which if he had hearkened, they had been the means of correcting, inftructing, and faving him. Above all things, how attentive should we be to the Scriptures, wherein are contained the words that must finally decide the fate of those who have them in their hands, and are capable of perufing them! In them fhines, with pure and ever-increasing luftre, the fure word of prophecy, pointing always from the beginning to the Saviour of mankind, and at last marking out the very place of his birth; like the ftar in the east, moving onward in it's sphere, "till it came and "stood over where the young child was.'

DISC. If we are not led by the one to seek after

XII.

the Redeemer, furely they who set out for Judea, upon the evidence of the other, must rise up in the judgment against us,

and condemn us.

Lastly, When we reflect upon the difficulties and dangers that lay in the way of thefe eaftern fages, and the unremitting perfeverance which vanquished them all, we shall blush at the remembrance of those trifling obstructions in our Christian course, which we have fo often been tempted to deem infuperable. Our faith, once fixed on the basis of it's proper evidence, should never be shaken by the cavils of sceptical and licentious men. For when there is great strength of argument fet before us, if we refufe to do what appears most fit to be done, till every little objection is removed that metaphyfical refinement can invent, we shall never take one wife refolution, as long as we live. Let faith, therefore, have it's perfect work; let it go on, conquering, and to conquer, till we have thereby completely

completely overcome the world.

Though DISC.

Herod should be moved, and all Jerufalem XII. with him, let us follow our heavenly conductor, and, rejoicing with exceeding great joy, proceed directly to Bethlehem. There, through meannefs, poverty, and obfcurity, let us difcern the king of the Jews, give him the honour due unto his name, acknowlege and adore him, as our Lord, and our God. And fince we are commanded not to appear before the Lord empty, let us bring prefents, when we come into his courts. Let us offer to him of our fubftance, and the firft fruits of our increase; let us offer to him of the true riches, with which he has bleffed us; faith, tried, precious, refplendent, as gold; devotion, afcending from fervent affections, like the smoke of frankincenfe from the holy altar; love, peace, joy, and the other graces of fanctification, fragrant, cheering, and diffusive, like " myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief

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fpices, and powders of the merchant." Let us offer to him our strength, our time, and our talents, our fouls and bodies, all we have, and all we are, to worship and

VOL. I.

B b

obey

DISC. obey him this day, and every day which XII. it fhall please him to add to our lives.

With these difpofitions and refolutions if we now come to his light, and hafte to the brightness of his rifing, we fhall hereafter behold him in his meridian exaltation, when heaven and earth fhall be full of the majefty of his glory; when, the last enemy being deftroyed, he fhall appear, as the "Prince of Peace," in a city that hath foundations; when all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him ; when he shall reign for ever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords; when he shall receive as his juft and rightful tribute (the only tribute which can then be paid) the praises of his redeemed fubjects, and the everlasting Hallelujahs of the celeftial choir, afcribing, as we now do, to him, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, all bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power, might, majefty, and dominion, for ever and ever. And let all the people fay, AMEN.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

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