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But let us turn our Thoughts the other SERM. Way, even to that Exercise of Charity, XI. which, I doubt not, the Difcourfe of this Violation of it hath already fuggefted to you; to direct the ignorant, and animate the weak; to remove every Stumbling-block, and break every Snare; to confirm the Faithful, and invite back the Wanderers into the Paths of Righteousnefs and Peace. I need not fet forth at this Time the Dignity and Serviceableness of fuch a Beneficence: All that has been faid of the Unworthinefs, Cruelty, and Mifchief of the oppofite Conduct, will affift you to comprehend it. If it has appear'd, that thereby the Methods of Divine Goodnefs, for Man's Salvation, are impiously thwarted, it will be as plain, that this contrary Virtue employs Men fo bleffedly, that they are qualified, as Fellow-workers, with the Grace of God. And if the Commination against the Offenders carries a Sound of Terror, and intolerable Apprehenfion of a Penalty indefinite; we may be affured the Divine Bounty, which ever shines above the Severity, has provided for thefe Rewards, yet more furpaffing

all

SERM. all Imagination. These shall indeed be XI. the greatest, if not in the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, yet in that of the Glory of his Father in Heaven. Doubtless, when the Day appointed for Retribution fhall arrive, They that be thus wife, shall fbine as the Brightness of the Firmament; and they that turn many to Righteousness, as the Stars, for Ever and Ever.

SERM. XII.

SERMON XII.

Of TAKING Scandal.

MARK ix. 43,-48.

And if thy Hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into Life maimed, than having two Hands to go into Hell, into the Fire that never shall be quenched.

Where their Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched. And if thy Foot offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter balt into Life, than having two Feet to be caft into Hell, into

the

SERM.

XII.

the Fire that never shall be quenched :

Where their Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched.

And if thine Eye offend thee, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one Eye, than having two Eyes to be caft into Hell Fire: Where their Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched.

N reading thefe Words, I believe, every Man is ftop'd at the Form of them. They proceed with that deliberate Fulnefs and Majesty, which

cannot fail to ftrike the Heart with Awe, and awaken in it a moft attent Confideration of the Subject. When Jofeph interpreted that famous Dream of the King of Egypt, he laid great Weight upon the various repeating of his Vifion: For that the Dream was doubled unto Pharaoh

twice, it is becaufe the Thing is established SER M. by God, Genef. xli. 32. And without XII. Question this Oracle of the Text was not delivered by our Lord with a threefold Ingemination, but to oblige us with the utmost Reverence to receive and regard it as highly important and altogether indifpenfable. To which Purpose, all that Solemnity may appear the more needful, when it shall be shew'd, in explaining the Words, that the Choice of the greatest and most induring Happiness or Mifery is (as they warn us) imply'd in the Performance or Neglect of a Condition, which many Perfons find very hard to be comply'd with, and befides are apt to believe of no abfolute Neceffity.

Now what that Condition is, the dif membring exprefs'd in these Sentences, (which are manifeftly figurative) may be judg'd; firft, by confidering how they are introduced here; and, fecondly, by examining the Difference found in the Place parallel to this, in the xviiith Chapter of St. Matthew.

For the first; the Verfe immediately before the Text fays, whofoever shall of

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