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EX

5133

C765

1757

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SERMON I.

The Aggravations of Sin under the Gofpel.

HEBREWS X. 29.

Of how much forer Punishment, fuppofe ye, feall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under Foot the Son of God; and bath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy Thing; and bath done Defpite unto the Spirit of Grace?

T

HE Words now read refer to the Cafe of Apoftacy from the Profeffion of the Chriftian Faith: A Crime to which Chriftians, in the more early Ages, were particularly exposed from the unhappy Circumftances of the Times.

VOL. II.

B

It

It is not to be wondered that Persons just converted to the Chriftian Faith, however affected by its general Evidence, fhould yet be imperfectly acquainted either with the Doctrines which it taught, or the Privileges which it bestowed, or the Duties which it impofed; and therefore liable to be seduced by the cunning Craftiness of those who lay in wait to deceive.

As little is it to be wondered that Perfons, not yet established in the Faith, by the full Poffeffion of thofe Principles which that Faith proposes, should be open to the Influences of Terror,---and driven, by the heavy Perfecutions which were raised against them, from that Profeffion they had formerly embraced.

And, accordingly, this proved the Cafe, that, whilst some were feduced by the Craftinefs of false Teachers, ---others were terrified by the Apprehenfion of those Miseries they reckoned themselves unable to bear.

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In this infant and weak State of the Church our Apoftle comes in to their Affiftance; and in the Epiftle (of which my Text is a Part) he addreffes them with Two Kinds of Arguments.

The Firft is drawn from the fupreme Ex

cellency

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