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cause there is no change in God, and there shall be
none in his people.
VIII. The love of God and the sufferings of Christ are the
causes of bestowing this rest. In what sense it is a re-
ward. The saints can claim no merit because God has
an absolute right to our services; our spiritual powers
are restored by free grace; our best actions are imper-
fect; they are of no advantage to God; and they bear
no proportion to heaven.
IX. Proofs that this rest is reserved for the people of God
from his immutability, justice, special love, and power.
It is given after a life of service because that is most
honourable to God, and most advantageous to the
christian,
X. APPLICATION of the subject. The first use.
How
dreadful will be the future state of God's enemies.
Causes of their present carnal security. They will be
deprived of this rest. They will be in a state of posi-
tive misery. That misery will be eternal,
XI. The second use. Learn the vanity of this world. It
cannot afford true content. It will not be of perma-
nent continuance,
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XII. The third use. The hope of this rest should fortify us
against present afflictions, whether they be chastise-
ments, or persecutions,
XIII. The fourth use. This rest affords consolation to the
saints in their conflict with death. Why they must
undergo this change. With what spirit they should
meet death. The unwillingness of saints to die argues
a defect in grace, and an inordinate attachment to the
world,
XIV. The fifth use. The subject affords comfort in the
death of holy friends,
XV. The sixth use. Exhortation to prepare for this rest.
General rules. To purify ourselves; and to perfect
holiness. Special rules. Choose this rest supremely;
meditate upon it seriously; cherish earnest desires after
it; strictly observe the sabbath,
II. ON DIVINE MEDITATION.
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Psalm 119. 97. O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all
the day.
1. The nature of meditation. It is speculative or practi
cal; occasional or deliberate,
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CHAP.
II. The necessity of meditation. Disability, business, la-
ziness, and sensual pleasures are hinderances to this
duty,
III. The time for meditation. How frequent? How long
should it continue? Morning, night, and the sabbath,
proper seasons,
IV. The advantages of meditation. It improves the facul-
ties of the soul, gives efficacy to ordinances, increases
V. Rules for mat comfort, and promotes holiness,
brings
managing meditation to advantage,
managing
VI. Use first of trial. The thoughts of a man indicate his
character. The difference between voluntary and in-
jected thoughts,
VII. Use second of reproof. To carnal men for neglecting
this duty. To regenerate men for omission, and re-
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150
VIII. Use third of exhortation.
rious arguments,
The duty enforced by va-
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IX. The foregoing rules exemplified in a meditation on the
157
III. ON THE FEAR OF GOD.
Job 28. 28. And unto man he said, behold the fear of the Lord,
that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.
I.
The nature of the fear of God,
168.
II. The objects of the fear of God,
IV. The effects of filial fear,
III. The difference between servile and filial fear,
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179
V. The consistency between the fear of God and other
graces,
XI. The folly of worldly wise men in their pursuits,
XII. Human knowledge insufficient to make a man wise,
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210
XIII. Mere speculation of divine truths also insufficient,
XIV. Warning against hardness of heart, and presumption,
IV. THE FOUR LAST THINGS.
Dedication to Lady Russell.
ON DEATH.
Heb. 2. 15. And deliver them, who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage.
СНАР.
Proofs of Christ's deity. How the devil is said to have
the power of death. An account of death's entrance
into the world,
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244
II. What the fear of death includes. The passion of fear
in general. The special causes that make death so
fearful. The bondage of men from the fear of death.
Reasons why men do not always feel this fear,
III. How the death of Christ frees us from the tormenting
fear of death. It redeems us from the curse, makes
death a blessed advantage, frees the saints from afflic-
tions, and obtains for them the highest positive good, 256
IV. Why believers are subject to death since the sting of it
is taken away. They die that sinful frailties may be
abolished, that their graces may be exercised, and be-
cause the natural body is incapable of a celestial di-
vine life. Their resurrection is delayed till the coming
of Christ. Proofs of the certainty of their re-
surrection,
V. The qualifications of those who have a right to this
privilege. Union with Christ is absolutely requisite.
The Spirit is the bond of this union. He illuminates
the understanding, inspires love to God, and commu-
nicates power to do the divine will,
VI. Application of the subject. How great are our obliga-
tions to the Redeemer. It should be our great busi-
ness to overcome the fear of death. Necessity of re-
conciliation with God. The danger of delaying re-
pentance,
VII. Application continued. The desperate hazard of trust-
ing to sick-bed and death-bed repentances. Such in-
stances very few, and extremely uncertain,
VIII. Application concluded. Rules how death may be ren-
dered comfortable. The duties of dying saints.
ON ETERNAL JUDGMENT.
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296
Acts 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness, by that man' whom
he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance · unto
all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
I. The coherence of the text, Divine prerogative to judge
the world. Qualifications of Christ for that office.'
Why the day of Judgment is called the great day, 309
II. The equity of the divine law which will be the rule of
judgment,
III. The wisdom and justice of God in ordaining eternal
death to be the punishment of sin,
IV. The evidence of facts produced as the reason of judg-
ment. The books will be opened, divine omniscience
will give evidence, conscience will bear testimony, and
numerous witnesses will appear. The impartiality of
the sentence,
V. Application of the subject. The certainty of a future
judgment. It is a vindication of the proceedings of
providence, a comfort to the saints under persecution,
a restraint from secret sins, a remedy for sensual temp-
tations, and a motive of terror to the wicked,
VI. Application concluded. Preparatives for the last judg- Faith in Christ. Sincere obedience. Self-
examination. Improvement of talents. Zeal for the
cause of Christ. Love to the saints,
ON HEAVEN.
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Psalm 16. 11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy pre-
sence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore.
The divine presence is the felicity of the saints. The
glory of the place described. The happiness of hea-
ven illustrated by sensible representations,
II. In heaven there is an exemption from all evils, and the
enjoyment of all blessings,
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374
III. The vision of God in heaven. His works and word,
his decrees and counsels will be revealed to the blessed, 378
IV. Effects of the vision of God. A glorious likeness.
Humble veneration of His excellencies, Ardent love
to Him,
384
V. Union with God and its effects. Perfect knowledge.
Pure love. Supreme joy,
389
VI. Communion with saints and angels. The felicity of
heaven is everlasting,
395
Page,
The ap
VII. The felicity of heaven is not diminished by the num-
ber of its possessors. It continues for ever.
plication. The woful folly of sinners in refusing this
happiness. It originates in the mercy of God, and is
obtained by the obedience of Christ,
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VIII. The qualifications of those who shall obtain heaven.
The nature and necessity of regeneration, and sanc-
tification.
IX. The necessity of faith in Christ. We must choose hea-
ven as our supreme happiness. This choice must be
sincere,
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413
422
X. Our choice of heaven must be lasting. The proper-
ties of saving perseverance,
435
XI. Directions how to fix our choice aright upon the felicity
of heaven,
446
XII. On the steadfast] belief, and serious consideration of
eternal realities,
454
XIII, Objects which give vigour to the serious considera-
tions of the soul, and determine it to choose heaven, 464
XIV. Additional motives to encourage us to seek the king-
dom of heaven,
ON HELL.
470
Mark 9. 48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
I. Exposition of the text. The dreadful nature of future
punishment,
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3
II. The eternal duration of future punishment,
III. Practical inferences. The mercy of God in salvation.
The depravity of sinners. The wages of sin. Our in-
finite obligations to Jesus Christ.
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