77. SERMONS Preach'd on Several Occafions. By RICHARD DUKE, M. A. late Prebendary of Gloucester, Rector of Witney in Oxfordshire, and Chaplain in Ordinary to her Majesty. Publish'd from the Author's Original Copies. CA-BOD The Third Edition E OXFORD, LE TA Printed by Leon. Lichfield, for Anth. Peifley Bookseller, And are to be Sold by J.and J. Knapton, W. and J. Innys, W. Meadorus J.Wyat, R. Knaplock, B. and C. Motte, and T. Combes, Booksellers in LONDON, 1730. 100. bb. 5. SERMON IX. Page 209. A&sXIX. 2,3. He Said unto them, have ye receiv'd the Holy Ghost fince ye believ'd? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he Jaid unto Them, unto what then were ye Baptiz'd? and they Jaid, unto John's Baptifm. SERMON X. Page 229. Ephef. II. 8, 9, 10. For by Grace are ye Sav'd, through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of Works, lest any Man should boaft: For we are his Workmanship, created in Chrift Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordain'd that we should walk in them. SERMON XI. Page 25 1. Ephef. II. 8, 9, 10. For by Grace are ye Sav'd, through Faith; and that not of yourselves : it is the Gift of God: Not of Works, left any Man should boast: For we are his Workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God hath before ordain'd that we should walk in them. SERMON XII. Page 279. Rom. Χ. 15. How shall They Preach, except They be Sent? SERMON XIII. Page 317. Prov. X. 9. He that walketh Uprightly, walketh Surely. SERMON XIV. Page 345. Prov. X. 24. The Fear of the Wicked, it shall come upon him: but the Defire of the Righteous shall be granted. SERMON XV. Page 371. 1 John II. 4, 5. He that faith, I know Him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in Him. But whoso keepeth his Word, in Him verily is the Love of God perfected. [I] SERMON I. ECCLESIASTES XI. I. Cast thy Bread upon the Waters, for Thou shalt find it after many days. I N these Words we have an Exhortation from the Royal Preacher to a generous, a diffusive, and disinterested Charity. And for an Encouragement to the performance of so noble, and withall fo indispensable a Duty, there is a Promise annex'd to it of a Certain, tho' not always a speedy Reward; an Afsurance that That Bread, which in the wretched Worldling's Eye seem'd to be lavishly squander'd away, and quite loft, and which the frank bestower himself gave without the least profpect or hopes of Return, yet shall certainly, tho after A ) after many days be found again, shall surely at last come back into his own bosom with Interest and Encrease, either in this World or a better. In the Text therefore there are plainly these two things to be consider'd, 1st, The Duty Enjoyn'd. I. The Duty, in These Words, Cast thy Bread upon the Waters, which Expreffion being Figurative and very Comprehensive, has afforded room to the several Commentators upon the place, to give several Expositions of it, yet all of 'em very agreeable to the Truth, and very confiftent with each Other. Which I shall therefore briefly offer, because from them we may form a right Understanding of the Nature and Qualifications of this Duty, and the manner in which it ought to be perform'd. And their several Interpretations put together amount to this, that these Words import a Command that our Charity should be, 1st, Plentifull and Liberal. 3dly, Universal and without Exception. ン A, Plenti |