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refolve, for the Credit of their Underftand- SERM. ing (but really at the Expence of it) to retain and defend that Error against all the Evidence of Senfe, Fact and Reafon.

Now this not only exposes a Man's Understanding, but renders him a very unfociable Creature; an uncharitable Chriftian, if a Chriftian; or an obftinate Infidel, if not, And where Paffion and Prejudice both unite their Influence, they make a Man unfufferably arrogant, dogmatical and affuming.

To cultivate Peace and Love then, we must be equally on our Guard against unruly Passions and unreasonable Prejudices: And the more, because they are both apt to steal into our Tempers infenfibly, Let us freely examine, before we judge, whatever is proposed to our Faith, by the plain and obvious Principles of Scripture and Reason, and refolve to adhere to that Teft only. But let us always remember to maintain the Truth. in love, because the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of GOD.

To what has been faid I might add the Expediency of avoiding all known Occafions of Strife; the Importance of Self-acquaintance, in order to know our own Spirits;

SERM. and the Neceffity of Prayer, that God would

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affift us in the Government of them; these Things (I fay) might properly be urged as more general Directions to promote a Spirit of Chriftian Concord. But not to infift on these at present, I fhall conclude all with heartily recommending to you the Advice of the Apostle Paul, fo fuitable to the Exhortation that hath now been given us. Finally, Brethren, be perfect, be of good Comfort, be of one Mind, live in Peace, and the GOD of Love and Peace fhall be with you (n).

(n) 2 Cor. xiii. 11.

SER

j

II.

SERMON

The Death of Chrift confidered as a
Propitiation for Sin.

ISAI. liii. 4, 5, 6.

Surely he hath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows: yet we did efteem him ftricken, fmitten of GOD, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our Iniquities: the Chafifement of our Peace was upon him, and with his Stripes we are bealed. All we like Sheep have. gone aftray: we have turned every one to his own Way: and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all.

PON reading this memorable PafU fage of Scripture, it is natural to put the Question, which the Ethiopian Eunuch did upon reading the same, Of whom Speaketh the Prophet this? Of himself,

or

SERM. or of fome other Man? To which the AnII. fwer is obvious; not of himself, but of fome

other, more than Man: viz. our Lord Jefus Chrift, the great Meffiah promised to the Jews, in whom alone this Prophecy had its Accomplishment. This is evident from the Reply which we are told Philip made to that Question; Then Philip opened his Mouth, and began at the SAME SCRIPTURE, and preached unto him JESUS (a).

In thefe Words the Prophet fo plainly and particularly declares the great End of Christ's Death and Sufferings, and that in fuch an amplitude and variety of Phrase; that it is not a little furprizing to me, that any who believe that Jesus Christ is the only Subject of this Prophecy, fhould after all deny the great Doctrine of his Propitiation and Sacrifice, which is here fo expressly afferted.

Before I enter upon what I chiefly propose from the Words, I would obferve, that the first Verse of the Text is quoted by St. Matthew thus, That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Ifaiah the Prophet, faying, Himfelf took our Infirmities, and

bore

(a) Acts viii. 34.

bore our Sicknesses (b). Upon this I would SERM. obferve,

That these Words in Matthew are certainly cited from this Paffage in Ifaiah's Prophecy, and applied to Chrift: which shews that it was generally taken then to be a Prophecy of him.

Again, let it be observed, that what we tranflate in the Prophecy Griefs and Sorrows, the Evangelift renders Infirmities and Sickneffes: because the latter are the Cause of the former, and the original Words in the Hebrew will admit of either of those Tranflations (c). And,

That the Evangelift applies them to a Senfe different from that wherein the Prophet explains them. The Prophet explains them with regard to Chrift's bearing the Punishment due to our Sins, in the Words immediately following, For he was wounded for our Tranfgreffions the Chaftifement of our Peace was upon him. But the Evangelist applies them to his healing all Manner of Difcafes and Sickneffes among the People. For fo it appears from the preceding Verse; When

(B) Matt. viii. 17.

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