III. and lastly, That our faithful Discharge both of this Negative and Positive Duty enjoyn'd in the Text, viz. our abstaining from Evil, and doing Good, will mightily conduce to our present and future Happiness, which by our Sins we have justly forfeited, but may (through Mercy) upon true Repentance and CHRIST's Merits, comfortably regain.

On the Lord's Day, the 24th of July last , I again preach'd to the Condemn'd, and others there present, who were many, both in the Forenoon and Afternoon, taking my Text out of the First Lesson for that Morning-Service, viz. 2 Sam. chap. xii. verse xiii. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also has put away thy Sin: Thou shalt not die.

In which Words are contain'd these two principal Things most worthy of our Observation, and laid before us for our Encouragement to, and Improvement in the great Duty of REPENTANCE.

I. David's ingenuous Confession, who cry'd out here, I have sinned against the Lord.

II. The comfortable Absolution given him by the Prophet in the Name of GOD, immediately upon that Confession, imply'd in these Words. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also has put away thy Sin: Thou shalt not die.

Now what was this Sin of David, I shew'd to be the complicate Crime of Adultery and Murder, the former of which, viz. Adultery, he endeavouring to hide, was (as most Criminals in this Case commonly are) driven to the Commission of the latter, i. e. Murder. The heinousness of which irreparable Injury I represented to my Auditory; and then laid before them the just Character of a true Penitent, both in the Person and Actions of David, after he was brought to a sense and abhorrence of his Crimes; proposing him as a fit Pattern for them to imitate in their Repentance, who had imitated him in his Sins, or committed any other whatsoever.

Again, on the last Lord's Day the 31st of July , and on Monday the 1st of this instant August , the Day of Publick Thanksgiving to GOD for His Majesty, Our most Gracious Sovereign KING GEORGE's Happy Accession to the Throne, I preach'd to them, and took my Text out of the Second Morning-Lesson for that joyful Solemnity; the Place and Words of which Text being these, Rom. 13. 5. Wherefore Ye must needs be subject, not only for Wrath, but also for Conscience sake.

From this Text (which afforded me Matter for four Sermons on these two Days) after I had explain'd both it and the Context in general, I shew'd in particular,

I. The Duty of Subjection to the King as Supream, and unto Those appointed by Him to extcute Justice, in punishing and restraining the Evil-doers, and protecting and encouraging them that do well, according to the Apostle's Precept, 1 Pet. 2. 13.