let us ftrive, by repeating our Endeavours, to fix fuch SERM. an Habit of Virtue in our Hearts, out of the Abun- VII. dance of which the Mouth Speaketh, that we may never be tempted to speak contrary to our Duty by any evil Suggestions from within; but be ready upon all proper Occafions, to exprefs fuch a decent Regard for God's Honour, and fuch a laudable Zeal for the Interefts of Religion, as will naturally flow from a Heart warm with the Love of God, and the Hopes of a Reward in Heaven. Which that we may all receive at the Hands of our righteous Judge, may God of great Mercy grant, through the Merits of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.

The

SERM.
VIII.

And what I fay unto you, I say unto all,

watch.

UR Saviour, in the Verfes which go before my Text, had taken Occafion from a Queftion put to him by his Disciples, concerning the Time when the Destruction of Jerufalem, foretold by him, should happen, to give them a strict Charge to be always ready against the Coming of the Son of Man; meaning, as appears from many Circumftances there mentioned, not only his first Coming to take Vengeance of the Jews, by deftroying their City, their Temple, and their Government, and by cutting them off from that vifible Relation, which they had hitherto borne to God; but likewife his laft

Com

Coming at the End of the World, to dispense his Re-SERM.
wards, and inflict his Punishments, pursuant to that VIII.
Doctrine, which those who asked this Question,
when they came to be enlightened by the Influence
of the Holy Ghoft, were appointed to make known
unto the World. At the End of the Direction, which
he gives them to this Purpose, he subjoins the Ad-
monition in my Text: And what I fay unto you, I fay
unto all, watch, i. e. the Advice, which I have now
given you to be careful, that ye be not surprised
when the Son of Man cometh, but may be ready to
meet him, and without Fear or Shame give account
of your
Behaviour to him, I do not confine to the
Perfons of thofe Men, whom I have chosen to my-
felf, as my Inftruments or Agents to fpread abroad
my Doctrine in the World, and whom therefore it
behoves to be more vigilant and careful, for the
fake of others, as well as of themselves; But I
would have it understood as a general Precept, di-
rected to all Perfons, that either hear it now, or

may
hear it at any Time hereafter, that they may
live in Expectation of that dreadful Day, and be
prepared at all Times to meet it.

This being fuppofed to be the Meaning of the Words, the particular Care which our Saviour here takes, to extend his Precept to all Perfons in the World, that might think it worth while to be directed by him, fhould dispose us to be the more attentive to what he fays; the more willing to enquire, what the Duty is, and for what Reasons it is so carefully recommended.

Concerning the Coming of the Son of Man, against which we are here bid to watch, there being, as appears, fuch a Latitude of Interpretation, I fhall here suppose, that by thefe Words we are to under

ftand,

SERM. ftand, both his Coming to take Vengeance of the VIII. disobedient Jews, by the utter Excifion of that

Church and People, and also his second Coming to judge the World, which, however it may exceed and furpafs the former, as being a much greater and more general Concern, will nevertheless, in fome Circumstances, refemble it fo nearly, that our Saviour might defign, as it is plain he does elsewhere, to exprefs both together in fuch Words and Phrafes, as might properly be applied to either. And if this was fo, it may not be improper to confider the Words, fo intended by our Saviour, with a View to both Senfes in their Order.

First then, as thefe Words were spoken to the Jews, in answer to a Question, that had been put to our Saviour, concerning the precife Time, when that dreadful Judgment, which hung over their Heads, fhould be accomplished; an Event which is now past, and which cannot concern us, any further than it is a Proof of God's Wrath against Sinners, and an Inftance of that Vengeance, which he may be pleased to execute on any other disobedient and unthankful People, who continue, like them, to defpife his Laws, notwithstanding his Goodness to them; I fay, the Words in this View are no Rule to us, nor in this Sense are they directed to us. But because it often happens, that even temporal Calamities are inflicted on us by God's Juftice for our Sins; and no People can be fure, however profperous they are now, that this may not be their Cafe hereafter; it is therefore no more than common Prudence in us, to make use of all Cautions and Admonitions of this Kind, that can any way be fuggefted to us; first, to convince us of the Uncertainty and Inftability of every thing, that can be called Happiness among

Men;

Men; and, fecondly, to teach us the best Means to SER M. escape, or else the best Spirit to bear up with Pa- VIII. tience against every Kind of Evil that may befall us. Such was the Rule which our Saviour gave the Jews, to prepare them against the worst and forest Evil, that ever happened to any People upon Earth; an utter Subverfion of their Government and Religion, attended with the Lofs of their Country, or their Liberty, and (what is more) of that Favour and Protection from above, which, how much foever they had flighted it in Profperity, had always been their fure Refuge in Diftrefs. The Precept which our Saviour thought fit to give them, for the Benefit of those few, who might be difpos'd to use it, was comprised in one Word, to watch, i. e. to preserve and keep up within them such a lively Apprehenfion of those dreadful Judgments, which God's Prophets had denounced against them, that they might do all in their Power to avert them from them felves, and to be exempted from the common Suffer ings of their Country: not by looking out and enquiring, as they did, into the Time when these Things fhould happen (the Knowledge of which, instead of quickening their Care, might probably have caused them to be more diffolute and remiss, as thinking it Time enough to reform their Lives, when the Day of Wrath should draw nearer to them) but by using their Endeavours to prepare their Hearts, by watching over them, by taking heed to their Ways, and by furnishing themselves with fuch Virtues and Graces as might ftand them in fome Stead, and prove a Blessing to them, whenever that Day should come. Bleffed be God! we are not threatened with Destruction, in like manner as that People was: But we ought not, therefore, to be lefs upon our Guard,