Love for Mankind was of the moft. tender Nature, for nothing but fuch a Love could have induced him to have borne our fins and carried our forrows. * We have not an high Prieft which cannot be touched with a feeling of our Infirmities; but one who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. ‡ This is an Example, level to all your capacities: an Example that fpeaks moft feelingly to your hearts, when you confider, that the most righteous perfon the world ever saw was wounded for the world's tranf greffions, that he who did no fin, either was guile found in his mouth was yet reviled, perfecuted, tormented, imprifoned, by thofe he came to fave. And when I repeat, that he was carried from prifon unto death, can I ufe a ftronger Argument to induce you to be refigned under your afflictions, fince he was If. liii. 4. Heo. iv. 15. Pet. ii. 22. was without fault, and you suffer justly the punishment of your Sins ? When you confider, likewise, that this Saviour, 'whom you are here made acquainted with, was not only a facrifice for your Offences, but is now an Advocate at the Throne of Grace for you; it is plain that you are not deferted in your dungeons, but have it ftill within your powers to lay hold on eternal Life. The motives, too, that fhould encourage every fon and daughter of Affliction to run with patience the race that is fet before them, well deferve their ferious confideration; and these are, the rewards of Virtue. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of Life. * Look unto Jefus, fays the Apostle, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who, Rev. ii. 10. who, for the Joy that was fet before him, endured the Crofs, defpifing the fhame, and is fet down at the right hand of God. † Labor, then, my friends, that your Sufferings may terminate more happily than you had any reafon to expect. Look unto the End of Afflictions, and if you difcover your prefent ca lamities to be the confequences of your faults, if you are now fhut up within this place of Security, because you oppreffed, injured, deftroyed your Neighbour's perfon, property, or peace, repent before it be too late, that you may avoid the punishment, the everlasting punilhment of the wicked, and receive the eternal rewards of the returning Sinner. Such Affliction will be light and eafy if it produce thefe good Effects; it will be only a momentary Affliction, and will work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. + Heb. xii. 2. 2 Cor. iv. 17. Thefe These reflections cannot but make a fenfible Impreffion on the greatest part of this Audience, fince, for whatever reasons you have been brought hither, you must all confi-. der your present Situation as a grievous Affliction. I need not then, in this place, make that distinction, which the various circumstances of Mankind in open life render neceffary. There was a time when, in preaching to you, I fhould have prefumed, that many of you, in fome degree at least, had efcaped the greater pollutions of the world, the enormous crimes which only fome commit, the private fnares which few, I hope, are capable of contriving. But now, how different are the thoughts which arife in my heart! how very different the Argumemts I am obliged to ufe to teach you refignation! I mean not by too much calmnefs to lull you into a falfe fecurity, neither would I by unneceffary feverity drive you to desperation. desperation. But Oh! how gladly would I reclaim you from your Errors! and how greatly rejoice, to find you once more walking in the Truth. Rivers of waters run down mine Eyes, because men keep not thy law. Oh! that my head were waters, and mine Eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep, day and night, for the flain of the daughter of my people; for every Brother will utterly fupplant, and every neighbour will walk with flanders. They deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to fpeak lies, and weary themfelves to commit Iniquity. I The firft ftep which, in your Situations, it is proper to purfue, that you may poffefs your Souls in patience and Chriftian refignation, is, not to drive from your minds the faults * 2 Juniv. Pf. cxix. 136 ‡ Jer. ix. 1, &c. |