IV. The Opposition we meet within our selves, and the many Temptations and Assaults we have from without, whenever we are endeavouring to prepare our Souls, and bring them to a just Conformity and due Obedience to the Divine Law.

V. The many Miscarriages of our past Lives, notwithstanding our Knowledge of the indispensable Duty of our obeying that Law.

VI. ult. The miserable Toil and Slavery of a Life of Sin; and by what means we may be releas'd out of it, and admitted into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God.

The 21st of the same Month my Text was this, Luke 15. 1, 2. Then drew near unto Him all the Publicans and Sinners, for to hear Him: And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This Man receiveth Sinners, and eateth with them.

From which Words, first explain'd at large, I then shew'd,

I. What was this Coming of the Publicans and Sinners to Christ; their good and pious Intent, and the blessed Effect thereof, viz. their receiving Divine Instruction and Spiritual Comfort to their Souls.

II. The Pharisees Pride and Arrogancy, which made them murmur at Christ, and envy those poor Sinners who desir'd to repent and become Good Men, and therefore resorted to Christ, to hear and learn of Him the Heavenly and Saving Doctrine he taught.

The 28th of the aforesaid Month of September last I took these Words for my Text, Matt. 11. 29, 30. Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart: And ye shall find Rest unto your Souls. For my Yoke is easie, and my Burden is light.

After a general Explanation of the Text, I divided it into, and distinctly discours'd upon, these four Parts; shewing,

I. Who He is that invites in the Text.

II. Who They are that we find invited.

III. What sort of Invitation this is.

IV. and lastly, What great Arguments are used to perswade Men to accept of it.

The 5th of this instant October , upon 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise (as some Men count slackness) but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance.

From this Text and Context I observ'd,

I. That CHRIST, who had promis'd, That He will one Day come to judge the World; and, That He will then receive the Good and Penitent to Himself, and destroy the Wicked and Impenitent, is able to perform his Promise to the uttermost.

II. That He who has made this Promise and Declaration, is yet longsuffering to us-ward; being so Merciful as to bear with us for a time, and not bring us to speedy Judgment

III. That one great Reason of that his transcendent Mercy to us, is, That none of us should perish.