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we cannot without our own fault depart from them: Ignorance of the Letter cannot be pleaded, where fo many ways to Knowledge are open, so many Afifances ever at hand: Nor can we poffibly excufe our felves under a want of Refolution, when every one Thou'd be ftrong in the Faitb. Befides, the giving up of any one Gospel-Truth, certainly undermines the Foundation of the whole; and every different Sect of Men may claim the like Conceffion from us. Therefore St. Paul, in his Epiftle to Timothy, fets forth with plainnefs of Speech what the found Doctrine is; and then tells him with great Authority, Thefe things command and teach.

If Preachers might fwerve from the Doctrines of the Gospel, the Gospel it felf wou'd foon have dwindled into Interpretation, and Men wou'd no longer have preach'd Chrift, but themselves. Our Saviour Chrift was fo fenfible of the neceffity of adhering to thofe Doctrines which he taught, that he made it the Mark of the true Disciples; and therefore faid to fome of his Followers, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my Difciples indeed. Therefore let us not depart from the Doctrines of Christ, but hold faft the Profeffion of our Faith without wavering. And let us beware, left being led away by the error of the wicked, we fall from our own fedfaftness. For we are only made Partakers of Chrift, if we hold the beginning of our confidence unto the end. This Stedfaftnefs, this Continuance in Practice and Doctrine, is the Mark of a conftant Love of Christ, and will be rewarded with nothing lefs than eternal Salvation Therefore, in St. Matthew we are well affured from the gracious Lips of our Bleffed Saviour, that the love of many fhall wax cold; but he that shall endure unto the end, the fame fhall be faved.

Which leads me, in the Laft place, to confider the Reward of Continuing in them; which is, that by doing this, we shall fave our felves, and them that hear us.

There

There is nothing which excites Industry fo much as the Greatness of the Reward, and the Certainty of it; and no Reward can be more certain, nor more great, than that propofed to us in the Text. It is faving our felves, it is faving others; which is anfwering the great Goodness of God, the great End propofed in the Gospel, and the great Labours undertaken by Chrift; it is making our felves Fellow-labourers with Christ in the glorious Salvation of Mankind. This gives us fome Share in that great and de-, lightful Work. Chrift gave us the New Covenant of Grace, and the Lips of his Priefts difperfe the wholfome Knowledge of it. Chrift died for us, and his Minifters fhew forth the Merits of his precious Bloodfhedding. Chrift faveth us, by interceding for us at the Throne of Grace; and the Preachers contribute their Part, by purifying the Minds of the People from wicked Defires, and by teaching them how to pray to Chrift with an upright Heart, and in fuch a manner as they may be heard. Chrift gave us the Seal of his Covenant in the Holy Baptifm, and feemed to give his very Self in the Bleffed Sacrament; and these are adminiftred by the Hands of the Prieft; and when received with fit and proper Difpofitions of Mind, they are Joy, and Life, and Immortality. This is faving them that bear us; and the doing of it, is the greateft Honour to our own felves; for we are never more glorious, never more useful, than when we are made the Inftruments of God for working out the Salvation of others.

And as faving others, is the greatest Honour to our felves, fo it is likewife conferring the greateft Happinefs on those that are faved. It is conducting them to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and fuch as never fadeth away; it is beftowing on them eternal glory, everlafting life, immortal pleasure, and joy and peace and Love unspeakable. It is delivering those that were appointed

pointed to wrath, and fetting them in heavenly places, making them beirs of God, and joint-heirs with Chrift; which is the great Salvation, and the fulness of the bleffing of the Gospel of Chrift.

As this is a great Happiness to others, fo, in a great meafure, it communicates it felf to thofe who are the Authors of it: For to a good Mind it is no fmall degree of Happiness to fee others in a happy state; and much more fo, to behold thofe Perfons whom we our felves have made Happy. We feel a fecret Pleasure in protecting a Flower from a Wind or a Froft, or faving the Life of a poor irrational Creature. There is a Compaffion, which perceives an inward Joy and Satisfaction in helping the Weak, and raifing up the Sick from the Bed of Death. What inward Pleasure and Contentment of Mind did Pharaoh's Daughter feel, when the faved the Child Mofes from the Dangers of the River? The very Pleafure of having faved him, engaged her Affections, and made her love him as her own Son. And if faving a fingle Child was a great Satisfaction, altho' it were referved to all the Miferies of this World, where Tribulation and Diftrefs, where Famine or the Sword might render Life wretched and uncomfortable; How much greater Pleafure muft it be, to confer on Multitudes all the Joys of an everlasting Happiness, which can never be interrupted by any future Grief or Anguish. This muft certainly very much encrease our own Blifs.. For what Joy muft it be to us to appear in Heaven before a kind and gracious Judge, and to lead forth those whom we have faved, and to fay to Chrift, in his own Words, Thefe are they whom thou haft given me, and not one of them is perished!

This must be a State of endless Joy and Glory; therefore if we are Prudent, let us take Heed unto our felves; if we are Learned, let us take Heed unto our Doctrine; if we are Steady, let us continue in

them;

them; and if we wou'd be happy now and hereafter, let us endeavour to fave ourselves, and them that hear us : So that in the Great Day of Retribution Chrift may reward both us and thofe that have often heard us, in these most gracious and comfortable Words, Come ye good and faithful fervants, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World.

THE

His GRACE the

ARCH-BISHOP

OF

YORK's

LETTER

To the Right Reverend

The Lords BISHOPS. of his Province :

Westminster, March 9th, 1726.

BAKE BARE BARE BARE BAREBARE BARE

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