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ple, in a firm Affurance of Chrift's Ability to heal us, and faying from the Heart, Lord, thou canst make me clean. Which, fo far as relates to the matter now in Hand, is relying entirely upon his meritorious Sufferings; acknowledging, that he hath made ample Satiffaction to the Divine Juftice on our behalf; and believing the Efficacy of his Sacrifice, to as many as shall put themfelves under the Conditions, appointed for being purged and abfolved by it. For this Truft is the proper Foundation of all our Prayers. He, that confeffes himself a Sinner, does, in that very Act, proclaim his Mifery, difavow all Defert, all that can incline God to love or favour him, for his own fake. He ftands condemned out of his own Mouth, as one, to whom the Extremity of Vengeance is juftly due; and declares, that, if Salvation be attained, this must be owing to fome other Hand. And, fince God hath given no other name in heaven, or earth, by which man must be faved, but only the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift; He, who repofes not his Confidence in Him alone, can have no reasonable Encouragement, to ask, or expect Remiffion of Sins.

Acts iv. 12.

Church Catechifm.

4. But, in regard we have been taught by the first Elements of our Religion, that the Sacraments are ordained by Christ himself, as means generally neceffary to Salvation; and, that One neceffary Predifpofition to the worthy partaking of these Sacraments, is a lively Faith in God's Mercy through Chrift; there may perhaps feem fome ground for queftioning, whether we ought, whether it be allowed us indeed, to imitate this Leper's Petition, in the Laft Thing obferved, or exprefs our felves in terms fo full of Doubt and Diffidence, as Lord, if thou wilt, thou canft make me clean. My Meaning is, whether the Faith in God's Mercy, required from us, do not imply a full Affurance, not only that he can, but that he most certainly will, hear, and forgive, and cleanfe us.

Now,

Chriftians, though he be, without Occafion for fuch a Check from within, fuch an Opinion of his own Unworthiness? Which of us can look back, I do not fay upon his Faults, (thofe are a black and ghaftly fight indeed) but even upon his Acts of Devotion, and Penitence, and Turning to God, without a fecret Shame, and fenfible Regret? How many fad Relapfes into Sin, How many feeble Refolutions, How many broken Sacramental Vows, does even this beft, and most comfortable, Profpect of our Lives prefently alarm us with? And how are we fecure, that those of this, or any other Day, fhall be more firm, and more fuccessful, than the Paft? And if fo, How can we forbid them, who fo oft have been deceived in themselves, still to go on, in fearing and fufpecting themselves? In truth, How can we answer it, fhould we forbear exhorting, and conjuring them fo to do? For fuch a holy Jealousy may awaken their Care, and the Remembrance of their former Failings will render them more watchful over their own treacherous Hearts; more prudent in the midft of Snares and Temptations, more ftrictly confcientious to strengthen, to recollect, to charge themselves home with their Promises of better Obedience, for the time to come? Efpecially, a becoming Diffidence in their own very poor Performances will most effectually conduce to their Humiliation, and clip the Wings of that Security and Spiritual Pride, which, of all other Vices, moft obftructs our Improvement in Virtue, and our Acceptance with God. For the Humble are his Delight; and These will never think their Piety difparaged, by praying, in the modest Words and Meaning of this bafhful Leper, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

III. And those that pray with the fame Difpofition, he not only can, but will make clean. For my Third and laft Head confifts of the Succefs this Petitioner

found,

found, and the Methods of his Recovery, in those Words, Jefus put forth his hand, and touched him, faying, I will be thou clean. And immediately his Leprofy was cleanfed. From whence I only beg you to observe, the Readiness of our Dear Redeemer to fhew Mercy, The Efficacy of fuch fervent Prayers to procure it, The Suddenness, and the Perfection, of the Cure. And as easy, as powerful, as speedy, will Our Spiritual Recoveries be; provided we prepare our Hearts, and be equally fitted for that Mercy, which only waits a Difpofition in Us, proper to receive it. Once more, I cannot but take notice of our Bleffed Lord's marvellous and most amazing Condefcenfion. He, though able to have healed with speaking the Word only, yet difdained not to touch the poor polluted Wretch. Even so, scorn not our polluted Hearts, O meek and gracious Saviour, but touch them in much Mercy and Power, though deformed with the Leprofy of Sin, and defiled with long and manifold Uncleannefs. Put forth, not thy Hand only, but the renewing Graces of thy Holy Spirit. Oh enter into us, dwell with us, and reign in and over us, that we may alfo live, and reign with, Thee for ever! And fince, till that bleffed time come, we must be content to continue. liable to many Weakneffes, and great Temptations; Hear, we befeeeh thee, the Petition proper to this Day, That thou would't deal with Us, as with this happy Leper, by Mercifully looking upon our Infirmities, and, in all our Dangers and Neceffities, ftretching forth thy right hand to help and defend us, O Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

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The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Matth. viii. 24, 25.
Pfal. xciv. 17, 18.

PARAPHRAS E.

1, 2. Let every Chriftian of what Rank or Profeffion foever, know that the Gospel fets none of its Profeffors loofe, from Obedience to the Supreme Magi

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The COLLECT.

God, who knoweft us to be fet in the midft of fo many and great Dangers, that by reafon of the frailty of our Nature we cannot always ftand upright. Grant to us fuch Strength and Protection, as may fupport us in all Dangers, and carry us through all Temptations, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen.

I.

L

The EPISTLE.

Rom. xiii. 1.

ET every foul be fubject unto the bigber Powers: for there is no Power but of God. The Powers that be are ordained of God.

2. Whosoever therefore refifteth the Power, refifteth the Ordinance of God: and they that refift, fhall receive to themselves damnation.

ftrate, and to those that are in Authority under him but 1 Pet. ii. 13. quite contrary, teaches them all to acknowledge the Authority of fuch to be derived from God. Confequently, whoever fhall refift this Power, refifts God the Author and Appointer of it; and muft expect feverely to be punished for fuch Impiety; if not by courfe of Law, and the Governor fo difobeyed; yet by fome method which God will find for the revenging such Affronts, to his own Ordinance.

3. For the Defign of all Government is to reftrain Vice, and to encourage and Support Virtue.

So that Men,

3. For Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt bave praife of the fame.

who behave themfelves orderly and well, have no ill to dread, but very Confequences to expect, from the Inftitution and Exercise of it.

beneficial

4. For the Magiftrate is appointed by God for thy Security and Defence; fo that, if thou fuffer any harm by him, this is (generally) thy own fault; when thou, by breach of Duty, provokeft him to use that Power which God, who hath put Life and Death into his Hands, gave him, for the neceffary Correction and exemplary Punishment, of wicked and diforderly Men.

4. For he is the Minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid: For be beareth not the Sword in vain, for he is the Minifter of God, a Revenger to execute wrath on him that dotb evil.

5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath,

5. This proves Men under an Engagement but also for confcience fake.

to

to Submiffion, not purely from a Principle of Self-prefervation, to escape the Civil Sword; but to avoid Sin and Guilt, in obedience to that God whofe Commiffion he hath, and in gratitude for the Benefits, that fuch a Conftitution procures to them.

6. For, for this caufe pay you tribute alfo: for they are God's Minifters, attending continually upon this very thing.

6. This is the ground of Governors and their Dignity being supported at the Publick Expence.

And a very reasonable one it is, fince they are the Officers of God, who hath a right to all we have, and make the Protection and Ease of their Subjects, who pay it, the whole care and business of their Lives.

7. Render therefore unto all their Dues; Tribute to whom Tribute is due; Cuftom to whom Custom; Fear to whom Fear; Honour to whom Honour.

7. And therefore let it be Your Care too, to pay them justly all thofe Aids and Impofi

tions, all that Subjection and Reverence, which the Laws of God or Man have given them a right to.

F

COMMENT.

Rom the feveral Duties obliging all Chriftians in their Personal Capacity, (which are contained in the Twelfth of this Epiftle, and have been spoken to at large, upon the Three Sundays next before) S. Paul does here proceed to fuch as are Political, and oblige us, as Members of a Civil Body. A Subject, no lefs neceffary than the Former, and particularly fo, at the time of his writing to thefe Romans. As will eafily be made appear, by taking a very fhort view of the Church's Circumstances, at that Juncture.

It had been, for fome time, an Opinion too prevalent, among the Jews, that They, as the peculiar People of God, could not be bound in Confcience to obey any foreign Jurifdiction, exercifed' by Heathens and Idolaters: fuch as the Romans, their then Conquerors, were. The greater part of the Perfons, as yet gained over to the Faith of the Gospel, were fuch as had been trained up in the Jewish Perfuafion. Men, who ftill retained fo profound a Veneration for their former Principles, that the Apostles found great difficulty, in bringing them off clear from fuch

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Notions,

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