ment, and the delay of it fo infinitely

Vol. VII. dangerous, that one would think no wise Man could entertain a thought of deferring it. What greater folly and stupidity can there be, than for Men to venture their immortal Souls, and to run an apparent hazard in mat: ters of everlasting consequence ?

This day of God's Patience is the great opportunity of our Salvation, and if we let it slip, it is never to be recovered : If we mis-improve this time of our life, we shall not be permitted to live it over again to improve it better. Our state of tryal ends with this life, after that God will prove us no more ; then we shall wish, O that I had known in that my day, the things which belonged to my peace, but now they are hid from mine eyes ; therefore to day, whilst it is called to day, har den not your hearts, make 80 tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day, for suddenly. Shall the wrath of the Lord break forth, and in thy security thou sbalt be destroyed; exercise repentance in the time of health, and defer not till death to

be justified.

Vol. VII

SERMON X.

The Power of God.

PSA L. LXII. 11.

God hath spoken once ; twice have I heard

this, that power belongeth unto God.

N treating of the Attributes of

God, I have consider'd those

which relate to the Divine Un. derstanding , to which I referr'd his Knowledge and Wisdom ; those also which relate to the Divine Will; viz. God's Justice, Truth, Holiness, and Goodness; I come now to consider his Power of atting, which is his Omripotency ; this I shall speak to from these words.

In the beginning of this Psalm, D4vid declares that God was the great Qbject of his trust and confidegce,

and

usand that all his hopes and expectation Vol.VII.of safety and deliverance were from

him,v. 1,2. And this makes him chal-
lenge his Enemies for all their mischie-
vous qualities and devices against him,
as vain attempts, v. 3, 4. Hereupon
he chargeth himself to continue his
trust and confidence in God, from
whom was all his expectation, and
who was able to save and deliver
him ; v. 5, 6, 7. And from his Ex-
ample and Experience, he encourageth
and exhorts all others to trust in God,
v. 8. and that from two Arguments.

1. Because all other Objects of
our trust and confidence are vain and
insufficient, and will fail those that
rely upon them. If we will rely up-
on any thing in this World, it must
either be Perfons or Things; but we
cannot safely repose our trust in ei-
ther of thefe. Not in Persons : They
may

be reduced to one of these two Heads, either high or low: Those that are of a mean condition, it would be in vain to trust them; they that cannot secure themselves from meanness, cannot secure others from mif chief, Men of low degree are vanity: But great ones of the World, they

seem

seem to promise something of assi

Vol. VII, ítance and security to us; but if we depend uporthem, they will frustrate us, Men of high degree are a lie. As for the Things of the World; that which Men usually place their confidence in, is Riches; these are either got by unlawful, or lawful means ; if they be ill gotten, by Oppression or Robbery, they will be so far from securing us from Evil, that they will bring it upon us ; if they be well

gotten, they are of an uncertain nature, that we have little reason to place our hopes in them; If riches increase, set not your hearts upon them, that is, your hope ; for heart in Scripture sig. nifies any

of the Affections. 2. Because God is the proper Object of our trust and confidence. We may fafely rely upon any one, in whom these two things concur, a Power to help us, and Goodness to incline him fo to do. Now David tells us,

that both these are eminently in God, and do in a peculiar manner belong to him; Power, v. 11. and Goodnej, v. 12.

.