Morgan, Rev. Dr. Fisherwick wich Meredith, John, Enfield N Noble, Rev. Mr. F.A.S. Norton, Chas. Birmingham Priestley, J. LL.D. F.R.S. Pattefon, Rev. Mr. fen. Smeth Palmer, Rev. Mr. Coleshill wick Parfons, Wm. Wenlock Patten, Richard, do. Pearce, Edw. Efq. Crefage Phillips, Henry, Wenlock SERMON S. SERMON I. ON THE NATIVITY. I TIM. iii. 16. (former Part.) AND WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS; WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. W COD HEN the Fulness of Time was come, the Time determined beforehand in the Counfel and Fore-knowledge of God, for the Redemption of fallen Man, God fent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, the Law of Sin and Death, to which we were B all all made fubject by the Fault of our first unhappy Parents. God had created Man in the utmoft Perfection that the human Nature was capable of receiving; had placed him in Paradise, to enjoy a State of uninterrupted Felicity, until God had thought fit to tranflate him into Heaven; had not a fond Defire of knowing Good and Evil, tempted him to difobey the Command of his Maker. Had Man continued ftedfaft in his Obedience, he would never have tafted of Death; Death was to have had no Dominion over him. For, as the wife Man obferveth, God made not Death, but the Wickedness and Folly of Men brought it into the World. But when, in Compliance with the Temptations of Satan, Man broke the divine Command, and eat of the Tree, of which it was faid unto him, Thou shalt not eat thereof; that mortal Tafte brought Death into the World: Not only that Death which we are all now fubject to by the Law of our Natures but that eternal Death, which wicked Men, are doomed to in the World to come; ever |