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66

29.

34-46.

returning it by alms into God's hands, you will not only have a sure pay-master, but one that will return it again to you with extraordinary use and interest for it. An hundred for one is the common rate He gives at present, but ten thousand times ten thousand, yea, infinitely more in the life to come, as Himself assures you. So that nothing less than Matt. 19. eternal life will be freely given to you, if you do but freely give towards the temporal livelihood of others. Which that you might be the better persuaded to do, Christ hath told Matt. 25. you beforehand, how He will proceed at the great day, when your actions must be all strictly scanned and your lives reviewed; assuring you, that He will inquire principally into your performance of this duty, and accordingly pass His final sentence upon you, advancing the kind and liberal to eternal happiness, but condemning the covetous and unmerciful to everlasting torments. And the reason of this His preferring mercy at that day before all other graces or virtues, is, because all that we can expect at that day, is merely of His mercy and bounty; which they are altogether unworthy of, and unfit for, who would shew no mercy unto others, " for Ja. 2. 13. he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy." Consider these things, and then tell me, whether it be not your wisdom and interest, as well as duty, to follow Cornelius's example, in giving much alms to the poor. And do you go and do likewise, otherwise I assure you all your profession of religion will avail you nothing, there is nothing Ja. 1. 27. of true religion in it. Away, therefore, with those lip-services, and outward shows of piety, which cost you nothing! If you would manifest yourselves to be religious in good earnest, to be Christians indeed, let your hearts be always enlarged towards God, begging mercy to yourselves, with your hands continually opened to the poor, shewing mercy unto them. Let prayer be your daily exercise, and alms your constant recreation, solacing yourselves in refreshing and relieving others. This is to be religious to good purpose, and that you will find another day; for when all your other works shall be forgotten, and your labours lost, these will be upon the file in Heaven, where you will find to your endless comfort, that your prayers and your alms are kept as "a memorial before God."

FOUR SERMONS

PREACHED ON

PARTICULAR OCCASIONS,

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR IN HIS LIFETIME.

SERMON I.

THE EXCELLENCY AND USEFULNESS OF THE COMMON PRAYER.

Preached at the opening of the Parish Church of St. Peter's, Cornhill,
the 27th of November, 1681.

1 COR. xiv. 26.

Let all things be done unto edifying.

59.

WHEN Judas Maccabeus had new-built the altar, and Mac. 4. repaired the temple at Jerusalem, after it had been polluted and laid waste for three years together; the Church of God at that time and place rejoiced so much at it, that they kept the dedication of it eight days, and ordered that the same should be observed every year. And so we find it was in John 10. 22. our Saviour's time; for He Himself was pleased to honour that festival, though only of Ecclesiastical institution, with His Own presence. In the like manner, we of this parish have cause to be transported with joy and gladness, and to spend this day in praising and adoring the Most High God, for that our Church, which hath lain waste for above five times three years, is now at last rebuilt and fitted again, for His worship and service. For, what the altar and temple were unto the Jews then, the same will our Church be unto us now. Did they there offer up their sacrifices unto God, as types of the death of Christ? We shall here commemorate the said death of Christ, typified by those sacrifices. Did they come from all parts of Judea to worship God there? So shall we, I hope, come from all parts of this parish, to worship God here. Was the temple

an house of prayer to them? So is this Church to us. Was that the

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