SERM. fcheme of natural philofophie, teaching the feXII. veral orders and powers of invifible beings: or

the hiden nature, and various properties of material things. It is not a fyftem of civil policie and government. It is not the art of fine speaking and rhetorical discourse. But it teaches men of every rank and condition the duties of their condition, and the feveral branches of piety: what they ought to do, to be faved: how they ought to walk, that they may please God. It affords directions and affiftances for perfevering in virtue: for refifting and over-coming temptations, so as that they may maintain their integrity to the end, and have peace in death, and inherit everlasting life.

4. The Chriftian doctrine is fited to awaken, convince, and reform men of every temper, and every station in life.

We have a proof of it in the converfion of this perfon, who had been employed in an office, which is apt to render men rough and untractable which is, perhaps, more. especially fit for fuch tempers: and is also likely to cherish felf-confidence, fierceneffe and aufterity of behaviour.

Such

Such an one is the convert in the text. SERM. We fee, what he once was: how he was XII. affected, and how he was changed and reformed. Paul and Silas, having been accufed before the rulers of Philippi, were beaten by their order. After which the fame rulers caft them into prifon, charging the goaler to keep them fafely. Who having received fuch a charge, thrust them into the inner prifon, and made their feet faft in flocks. He readily executed a fevere fentence: and, poffibly, added to the rigour of it. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and fang praises to God, and the prifoners heard them. And fuddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediatly all the doors were opened, and every man's bands were loofed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his fleep, and seeing the prifon doors open, drew his fword, and would have killed himself. Here we see the rafhneffe and refolution of a man of strong paffions. But Paul cried with a loud voice, faying: Do thy-felf no harm. For we are all here. Then be called for a light, and Sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out,

A

SERM, and faid: Sirs, what must I do to be faved? XII. Now he is affected to a great degree, and in

good measure humbled and softened. Senfible of his ignorance and guilt, he enquires, how he may be faved. And he is open to conviction. When the truth is proposed to him, he embraceth it, and practises compaffion and tendernesse, to which he had hitherto been a stranger. And they (aid unto him : Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thau fhalt be faxed, and thy house. And they pake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the fame bour of the night, and washed their ftripes: and was baptized, he and all his fraitway. How obedient is he to the heavenly, faving doctrine of the gospel! And when he had brought them into his houfe, he fet meat before them, and rejoyced, believing in God with all his boufe. How great is this change!

Indeed, the doctrine of the gofpel, feting before men the evil of fin, the neceffity of holineffe, the future miferie of the wicked, the glorie of heaven for the righteous, and the grace of God to all that repent: and speaking of these things clearly, and strongly,

XII.

in a manner unknown to reason, and the SERM. law of Mofes, is adapted to make impreffions upon all, who are capable of thought and confideration.

And thus, as Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finers, and to call men to repentance; he does by his doctrine effectually bring them to repentance, and faves them from their fins.

5. The Christian religion, and they who are animated by it's principles, are concerned for the welfare of men of every age, and every condition.

This perfon faid to Paul and Silas: Sirs, what must I do to be faved? Believe on the Lord Jefus fhalt be faved, and thy house.

And they faid:
Chrift: and thou
And they spake

unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his houfe: Some, very probably, in early age, fome of very mean condition, hired fervants, and bondfmen, flaves for a time, or for life: but all rational, accountable beings, capable of falvation, and formed for everlasting life, if they do not render themselves unworthie of it. And Cornelius, of Cefarea, was directed by an angel, to send

Tim. i. Matt. ix. |

15.

13.

SERM.
XII.

A&ts

Acts ii.

for Peter: who would tell him words, whereby he and all his might be faved.

6. We learn from this hiftorie, as well as from divers other things in the book of the Acts, and from other parts of the New Teftament, that the Chriftian doctrine, or the great things of religion, may be taught and understood in a fhort space of time.

It could be only fome general knowledge of the doctrine of Paul, which this perfon had before. But now upon fome short discourfes and arguments of the Apostle, he becomes a believer, and is baptized. So likewife Lydia attended to the things that were Spoken of Paul and fhe and her houshold were baptized forthwith. And upon Peter's first fermon at Jerufalem, after our Lord's afcenfion, they that gladly received his word, were baptized. And the fame day were added to them about three thousand men. AfterActs viii. wards, Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Chrift unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things, which Philip Spake; hearing and feeing the miracles, which he did.... And there was great joy in that city.... And when they believed Philip, preaching the things concern

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