we do not fuffer our Affections to SERM. cleave too closely to them, and our VI. Minds to be in any Degree elated, and fwelled by a Reflection upon them. They may be a Part, a small Part of our Happiness in this tranfitory Scene of Life, provided we always retain in our Minds the Apoftles Directions concerning them, That they, who have, Cor. vii. these Things, be as though they had them 30, 31. not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they poffeffed not; and they that use this World, as not abufing it; for the Fashion of this World paffeth away; these worldly Advantages, thefe Honours, Profits, Pleasures, whatever they be, are of uncertain Continuance, and may in a little Time flip away from us; to be fure, we fhall in a little Time flip away from them, and leave them behind us: And therefore, why fhould we reft in them? why fhould we boast of them? why should we feed and raise, not our Appetites and Lufts only, but M 4

Our

SERM.Our Vanity and Pride alfo, by the VI. Means of them?

26.

The Chriftian Religion, by the Tendency of all its Doctrines (particularly that of Christ crucified) by the Manner of its Progress, and the mean Characters of those who first promulged and embraced it, feems to have been fo throughout contrived, as effectually to mortifie, and beat down any undue Complacence we may have in our 1 Ccr. i. felves on fuch Occafions. Te fee your Calling, Brethren, (fays St. Paul with that appoiα, that becoming Freedom of Speech, in which he excels) how that not many wife Men after the Flesh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called; but God hath chofen the foolish Things of the World to confound the Wife; and God hath chofen the weak Things of the World, to confound the Things which are mighty; and the bafe Things of the World, and the Things which are despised hath be chofen, yea, and the Things which are not, to --bring to nought the Things that are. And

to what End did he thus order Mat

ters

VI.

ters in the Propagation of his Gofpel? SER M. Even to this, (as it follows) that no Flefh fhould glory in his Prefence, but that he who glorieth might glory in the Lord, might value himself upon being a serious fincere Chriftian, and upon nothing befides it.

Indeed it is enough to disparage all the fine Shews and Appearances of this Life, and to render us indifferent to all the Charms of it, if we do but attentively confider that compleat Instance of fuffering Greatness and Goodness, on which our Faith and Devotion ought this Day to be employed. For on this Day they all were, together with the Handwriting of Ordinances (the ceremo-Col. ii. 14nious Obfervances of the Law) blotted out, fullied, and defaced, and nailed by Chrift to his Cross, as the Scripture fpeaks; on which when he was lifted up, he did there crucify the World, and the Things of it, eclipse the Luftre, and destroy the Power of all its empty Vanities. Behold then our High-priest, offering up the great Sacrifice required

for

SERM. for the Redemption of Souls! pouring VI. out his own Blood on the Altar of his

Crofs, and thereby making an Atonement for the Sins of the whole World! Behold him, I fay, by the Eye of Faith, and you will acknowledge, that though there was never any Spectacle so sad, yet neither was there ever any fo glorious, or fo worthy of being contemplated and admired by Men and Angels. Stript indeed he was of all outward Comforts and Supports, furrounded he was with every Thing that to human Nature was grievous: And yet, even in this Depth of his Humiliation, if we confider the mighty Work he was accomplishing, we cannot but despise all the vain Pomps of Life, in Comparifon of the Splendor of his Sufferings. For then, even then, while he hung on the Cross, was the great Captain of our Salvation fighting our Battles, and subduing our Enemies; then was he Eph. iv. 8. leading Captivity captive, fpoiling PrinciCol. ii. 15.palities and Powers, making a Shew of them openly, and triumphing over them in

bimfelf:

himself: Then was he vanquishing SE RM. Death by his Death, and opening for VI. us a Gate to Life and Immortality: Then was he difarming Sin of its Sting, and Hell of its Terrors, and procuring for us thofe Supplies of Grace, which might enable us to withstand the Temptations of Sense, and the Wiles of the Devil.

Surely the vain Glories of this World, when compared with thefe real Triumphs of the Cross of Chrift, must lose all their Force and Influence, and grow flat and infignificant in the Eyes of a good Christian. Can we look up to him that was pierced, see him ftretched on his Crofs, enduring the Pain, defpifing the Shame of it, and not look down with Neglect and Contempt on that Scene of Sin and Vanity which occafioned those Sufferings? Is it poffible for us to love the John i World, and the Things that are in the15. World, while our Eyes are fixed on him, who gave himself for our Sins, that Gal. i. 4he might deliver us from this prefent evil

World,