ing their clearness and strength; and to affist Persons in regarding the Works of God in a view, proper to raise their apprehensions of the Divine Goodness, and to warm their hearts with an habitual sense of it, and engage them to live as always surrounded with the presence and kindness of the best of Parents, well affected to their brethren, alike children of the great Father of Spirits, cheerfully resigned amidst the trials of Life, and serene and full of hope at death. This the Author can say, that to the firm belief, and frequent meditation of those interesting truths, which are included in the boundless benevolence of our Creator and Governor, he himself has been obliged for the most valuable satisfactions he hath known in life; and to these he owes it, that he can look forward to a future state with the noblest hopes. And if the publication of the following Discourses shall make these truths more cordially received, and their beneficial influence more felt, he shall greatly rejoice in the time and thought employed for these purposes. Whatever the event be, he he has the Satisfaction of having, according to his abilities, endeavoured to serve the Honour of his Maker, and the best interest of his fellow creatures; and can therefore humbly commend these, with the other Discourses on like important subjects, to the Divine Blessing, and to the candid perusal of the serious and judicious, CON SERMON I. The Divine Goodness explained. PSALM cxlv. 9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Page 1 SERMON II. Goodness proved to be a Di vine PerfeЕtion. The same text. 29. SERMON III. The Goodness of God as Crea tor illustrated in various instances. The same text. 55 SERMON IV. The creation of mankind a glorious instance and proof of the Divine Benevolence. lower than the angels, and haft crowned him with glory and honour. . 89 SERMON V. The Creator's goodness illuj trated in various laws of the human conftitution. The same text. 123 SERMON VI. The goodness of Divine Pro vidence to inankind in particular. MATTH. V. 45. He maketh his fun to rise on the evil and on the good; and fendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 153 SERMON VII. The goodness of Divine Pro vidence to finners. The same text. 185 SERMON VIII. The grace of God in the rea demption of a finful world by Jesus Christ. Ephes. ii. 5. By grace are ye Javed— 215 SERMON IX. The same subject. 245 SERSERMON X. The principal properties of the · PSALM cxxxvi. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endur- SERMON XI. Of Moral Evil, and that the permission of it is consistent with the Di- James i. 13, 14. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither temp- teth be any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his SERMON XII. The Objection of the Abun- dance of Moral Evil farther urged and SERMON XIII. Natural Evil, and the pu- nishments threatened in Scripture, not inconfiftent with the goodness of God. HEB. xii, 10. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own plea- sure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of bis holiness. 351 SERMON XIV. Do&trinal inferences from Matth. vii. 11. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more jhall your Father 381 SE R- SERMON XV. Practical inferences from the Divine Benevolence. The same text. 405 SERMON XVI. The same subject conti- SERMON XVII. The Evidences for a future MARK X. 17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what all I do that I may inherit SERMON XVIII. Farther Evidences fupplied by Reason for a Future State. The same SERMON XIX. Of the Necessity there is that we do the work of God. The same SERMON XX. The Dispositions with which we should inquire the Way to eternal Life. SERMON XXI. Christ the best Guide to John vi. 68, 69. Then Simon Peter an- fwered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. SERMON XXII. The same subject. 536 |