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XI.

SERM. and fufferings, and death of our bleffed Redeemer are displayed; or useful instructions regarding the regulation of life, and the proper discharge of our feveral duties, are the fubjects brought into view; it is not then the human speaker, but the divine authority that is to be regarded.

In the speaker, many imperfections and infirmities may be discovered. The difcoveries of the gospel are reprefented in fcripture, as a hidden treasure brought to light; but, by the appointment of God, we have this treafure in earthen vesels*. It is not the fpirit of curiofity that ought to bring us to church. Too often, it is to be feared, we assemble there merely as critics on the preacher; critics on his fentiments, his language, and his delivery. But, such are not the difpofitions which become us on fo ferious an occafion. It is with humility, with fairness, and candour, with an intention to improve ourfelves in piety and virtue, with a view to make perfonal application to our own character, that we ought to hear the word of God.-When we

2 Corinth. iv. 7.

enter

XI.

enter the facred temple, let us ever confider SERM. ourselves as creatures surrounded with darkness, seeking illumination from Heaven; as guilty creatures, imploring forgiveness from our judge; as frail and mortal creatures, preparing for that eternal habitation into which we know not how foon we are to pafs.

Ir with fuch fentiments and impreffions we join in the worship of God, and the ordinances of religion, we may justly hope that they shall be accompanied to us with the divine bleffing. It is the exprefs precept of God, not to forfake the affembling of ourfelves together. Gather together the people, men, women, and children, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and obferve to do all the words of this law †. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praife. Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name.— Thus hath God commanded, and he never commanded his people to feek his name in vain. For, where two or three are gathered

Heb. x. 25.

+ Deut. xxxi. 12.

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together

XI.

SERM. together in his name, our Lord hath told us that he is in the midst of them*. God hath faid that he loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob †. The prayer of the upright is his delight. Both in their temporal and spiritual concerns, they may be moft expected to profper, who can fay with the Pfalmift in the text, Lord I have loved the habitation of thy houfe, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

* Matth. xviii. 20.

+ Pf. lxxxvii. 2.

SERMON XII.

On the FASHION of the WORLD
paffing away.

I COR. vii. 31.

The fashion of this world passeth away.

To use this world to as not to abuse it, SERM.

is one of the most important, and at XII.

the fame time one of the most difficult leffons which religion teaches. By so many defires and paffions we are connected with the objects around us, that our attachment to them is always in hazard of becoming exceffive and finful. Hence religion is often employed in moderating this attachment, by rectifying our erroneous opinions, and inftructing us in the

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proper

SERM. proper value we ought to fet on worldly XII. things. Such was particularly the scope of the Apofile in this context. He is putting the Corinthians in mind that their time is fhort; that every thing here is tranfitory; and therefore, that in all the different occupations of human life, in weeping and rejoicing, and buying, and possessing, they were ever to keep in view this confideration, that the fashion of this world paffeth away. The original expreffion imports the figure or form under which the world prefents itfelf to us. The meaning is, All that belongs to this vifible ftate is continually changing. Nothing in human affairs is fixed or ftable. All is in motion and fluctuation; altering its appearance every moment, and paffing into fome new form. Let us medirate for a little on the ferious view which is here given us of the world, in order that we may attend to the improvements which it fuggefts.

1. The fashion of the world paffeth away, as the opinions, ideas, and manners of men are always changing. We look in

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