The office of the holy angels in reference to good men ; being appointed by God as the ministers of his special Prescribed forms of prayer in the public worship of God, practised from the very beginning of Christianity, and I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that That the doctrine of the recompense of reward, to be be- stowed on the righteous after this life, was understood and believed by the people of God before the law was wherein we not only may, but ought to rejoice, since it In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of ad- versity consider: God also hath set the one over against Adversity the proper season of serious consideration; and so contrived by the providence of God that it should be intermixed with prosperity; and this mixture of good and evil so proportioned by the same providence, that it obviates all discontent and murmuring against God. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of ad- versity consider: God also hath set the one over against That it is a very sinful and vain thing for any man so to glory in his own wisdom, strength, or wealth, as to place his trust and confidence in either or all of them. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wis- dom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wis- dom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and That it is matter of great use and concernment, much con- ducing to the purposes of religion, seriously to consider the shortness and uncertainty of life; and that such due consideration of our short and uncertain abode in this world is the gift of God, and the effect of his grace, SERMON I. THE NECESSITY OF WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO SALVATION; THOUGH THE REWARD OF THEM IS ONLY TO BE EXPECTED FROM THE FREE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD ASSERTED AGAINST THE ANTINOMIANS AND PAPISTS. HOSEA X. 12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. N the preceding verses of the chapter, God sharp IN ly reproves and severely threatens Israel for their wickedness, especially their idolatry. But the good God always in judgment remembering mercy, to those reprehensions and menaces subjoins here in my text an exhortation to repentance and amendment of life, enforced with a gracious promise of mercy upon such repentance. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. Which words (not to spend time needlessly in any farther preface) I shall first briefly explain, and then raise such plain, practical, and useful observations from them, as they naturally and without straining afford. First for the explanation of the text. It is obvious to observe in general, that the verse, out of which my text is taken, contains an exhortation to repentance and a good life, expressed under the metaphors of ploughing and sowing; and also a promise of mercy under answerable metaphors of rain upon the seed sown, and of reaping a joyful harvest. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy : break up the fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. But I am concerned at present to explain only the beginning of the verse, which I have pitched on for the subject of my discourse at this time. Sow to yourselves in righteousness. The sowing of seed is a metaphor used in Scripture to signify the doing of those moral exercises and works, by which (according as the quality of them is, as they are good or bad) men are to expect from God either reward or punishment. To sow in righteousness therefore is nothing else but to live righteously, to do righteous actions, that is, works of piety towards God, and of justice and charity towards our neighbour. For righteousness here is not only just and righteous dealing towards men, but it is virtus universalis, "an universal virtue," containing in it all other virtues. In this comprehensive sense it is often taken in Scripture; as for example, Psalm xi. 7: The righteous Lord loveth righteousness. Proverbs xi. 5, 6: The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. Dan. xii. 3: They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Matt. v. 20: Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. And that in this large sense it is to be understood here, is evident, because the exhortation, Sow in, or unto, |