Ordinary prayed for them, that the Lord would remove their Stupidity, and make them to be more considerative of the Nature of their several Crimes; some having barbarously shed innocent Blood, which crys loud to Heaven for vengeance, and yet lesser sins are not inexcusable, because committed against the frequent Conviction of Conscience, and former sparing Mercy, so that they are become Guilty of great Ingratitude against God, and of and of a contemptious Self-cruelty, against their precious and immortal Souls.

The Ordinary earnestly desired them to prepare their Hearts, for the serious and sincere improvement of the Dutys of the Lords Day, because most who publickly suffer, acknowledge that the Prophanation thereof did provoke the Lord to leave them to such Crimes as bring upon them condign shame and punishment and that in all probability, this Sabbath might be the last, which they had to observe solemny on Earth, that it might be a Pledge of enjoying an Eternal Rest of heavenly Felicity. After this, they were dismist.

On the Lords Day, I Preach?d to them on the 5th. Verse of the 31ft. Psalm, into thy Hand I commit my Spirit, for thou hast Redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth.

1st. The Ordinary, explicated in what Sense our Redeemer on the Cross made use of these Words, and what were the Glorious Benefits which resulted from them, as they were Christs Sacred Assurances of his Fathers Fidelity, in fulfilling the purchased Advantages, merited by his sufferings, for the glorifying of his own humane Nature, and in his, virtually of all his Confederate Saints.

2dly. Why the Soul of the Righteous-man in this place? is most properly called his Spirit, where of three Reasons were assigned.

3dly. That by Virtue of Christs Redemptory Oblation of himself, He Consecrated to his Father the Souls of his Servants. That Christ virtually Recommended their Souls to his Fathers Care and Patronage, in the Resignation and committing of his own Spirit. God the Father hath such an high Estimation of his Sainrsat Death, that they are immediately translated into the beatisick vision, and enjoyment of himself. This, and all other Priviledges in a Glorious State of Blessedness, is meant by Christs Committing the Souls of his Redeemed Saints into his Fathers Hand.

Hence was inferred, that they do not sleep in their Separation from the Body, but are rendred more sprightly, in glorifying God, and are more Happy in a perfect Assimilation to Him, which they account as the transcendent Reward of Blessedness.

2dly. Saints do account their Souls to be so precious, that they dare not intrust them to Patronage of Gods highest Favorites, but Commit them to the Lords immediate Hand, for their Protection from the last Effort of Satans Subtilty and Malice, who cannot pluck them from the inseperable Love of God in Christ.

3dly. The Spirits of Saints departed in the Lord, are immediatly Blessed: And no longer subject to Fear and Hope of Joy and Grief, of Rest and Pain, but in perfect Peace and Happiness: Having shot the Gulph of Death, are perfectly purified in their very Translation into Heaven. This is effected, as they are sealed by the Consummative Impressions of the Spirit of Holiness, and by the gratuitous Application of Christs All-sufficient Merits, joyned with his All-prevailent lntercession for their immediat Admission into Heaven. Otherwise, they would not be Blessed in their Death, as a Rest from all their Labours and Sufferings; if there remained any thing which could interrupt their Peace, or be able to seperate them from the Actual Blessed and Perfect injoyment of God himself. Therefore they rest secure from all possible Fears and Sorrows, as deposited in the Hand and Custody of the Father of their Spirits. This signifies all those kind, tender, and endearing Benefits, which the Attributal perfections of God can bestow upon his Saints, in their Life and at their Death, because they sat at his Feet, as the Supreame Law-giver, To learn and obey his Preceps Deut, 33d. Chap. and the 3d. Verse.

Here was shewed what Arguments are solely in Christs Redeeming Love, to Encourage and oblige his Servants, to Commit their Souls to God at Death: Also what are those Divine Propertys in God, in respect of which, he infinitely excells the most faithful of Humane Trustees.

Also what are the Prerequisite Qualifications, which constitute a sincere Intrustment of the foul with God, so as to accept it, by inflating it, in perfect and Eternal Blessedness.

The Summary Heads of the Afternoon Sermon.

Q. What are the Concomitant Acts of the soul, in the sincere Recommendation of it self, into the Lords Protection and favourable Reception of it, at the point of Death.

Here the wonderful presumption of Hypocrites, was stated in their making use of this Recommendatory Prayer, having no interest in God, nor Conformity to him, but rather remaining false-hearted to him. Also the misery of the disappointment of false Confidences for Admission into Heavan, in many Respects.

Then was presented the Confutation of many false Pleas offered by Hypocrites to God, for his Reception of their fouls under the Agonys of Death. Such who dedicate not themselves to the Lord in Obedience, while they are secure in their prosperity, cannot at Death support themselves with the Consideration of Christs Redeeming Love: It is granted, that all men have this Common Benefit by Christs Death, that it purchased a Reprieve from descending immediatly into Hell, as the demerit of the least sin: Yet, to be kept out of Hell during a short Life, is but a slender Redemption unless the foul be inflated also, by the Spirit of