That thofe Miracles were no other than IIlufions, that their Senfes deceived them, or were imposed on by Tricks and Impoftures.

Particularly, that fort of Method, which the rich Man in the Text defired might be employed for the Conversion of his Brethren, would be of all others the most exceptionable; I mean the Apparition of the Spirits of deceased Men, affuring the living of the reality of another Life. It would be impoffible to form Rules whereby to diftinguish True from Imaginary Apparitions, the Appearance of human Souls from the Illufion of evil Spirits. Or if fuch Rules could be formed, Men could never be affured of the Truth of what they should reveal; fince the Souls of Men put not off their Vices with the Body, and may ftill retain fuch Sins, as may be exercised without the affistance of corporeal Organs, such as Envy, Malice, Lying and Fraud. Or if all these Difficulties were removed, the Terror and Affrightment attending fuch Apparitions would infallibly hinder all clear Perception either of the Reality of the Apparition, or of the Matters revealed

in it.

If then, there be any here, as it is a Prejudice common to many Chriftians, who imagines, that if he had lived in the time of Chrift and his Apoftles, and had seen with his own Eyes the miraculous Works per

formed

formed by them; or if God fhould please to admonish him by the Admonition of fome departed Soul, he should then carefully obferve the Precepts of Religion, and live up to the Rules of it; let him be affured, That he deceiveth his own Soul; that if the prefent Arguments of Christianity, afforded to him in the ordinary Rule, cannot induce him to the Belief or Practice of his Duty; neither would that extraordinary Method which he fo much defireth. He hath already fufficient Motives of Conviction and Inftruction in the Scripture, in the Exhortations of those who are appointed by God for this very Office; and if he rejecteth these, neither would he be any more moved, altho' God should speak to him from Heaven. The fame Lufts and Vices, which hinder the Ef ficacy of the one, would defeat the Success of the other; and even if he fhould be fatisfied in his fond Defires, he would still fly off, and feek fome other Cloak for his Impiety.

Let us rather be thankful to God for thefe ordinary Means of Inftruction and Admonition which he hath afforded us. Let us by a right use of them approve our felves worthy of them; and then that Satisfaction and Conviction, which others may pretend they can receive alone from Miracles, Infpirations and Apparitions, we fhall infallibly find in Mofes and the Prophets; in the com mon Methods of Salvation, in the Writings VOL. II.

of

of the Holy Penmen, and in the constant Inftructions of the Church. This Knowledge will be raised and actuated by a careful discharge of the Duties enjoyned by it; by a frequent converfing with those Means, whereby it is communicated; by a diligent ufe of all thofe Religious Offices, and Participation of Holy Rites, whereby it may be improved. So fhall what we know now certainly indeed, but not demonftratively, be at last advanced into an abfolute and perfect Demonftration, when we fhall fee our Lord Face to Face, and fenfibly enjoy, what we now affuredly hope. To the Fruition of this Joy, and Completion of this Hope, God of his infinite Mercy bring us all for the fake of Jefus Chrift. Amen.

漢

SER

SERMON X.

Preach'd on the 22d of December, 1689. at Lambeth Chapel.

St. JOHN VIII, 12.

He that

I am the Light of the World. followeth me, shall not walk in darknefs, but shall have the Light of Life

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MONG all the Metaphorical Expreffions, wherewith Chrift is either prefigured in the Old Teftament, or denoted in the New, none is more expreffive of the Excellency of his Perfon, and the Nature and Defign of his Office, than this of Light, which he applieth to himself in the Text. Nothing is more neceffary and defirable to Men; nothing of more univerfal Influence and Benefit to the whole World, than Light. Upon which account the most glorious defcriptions of God, and his Effects and Benefits, are in Holy Scripture generally reprefented by the Denomination or Compariton Light, Himself is called by that Name,

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God is Light, faith St. John, I Epift. i. 5. and in him is no darkness at all. He is termed the Father of Lights, by St. James i. 17. His Habitation, becaufe nothing more glorious than Light can be conceived, is defcribed to be in the Light. And the Light dwelleth with him, Dan. ii. 22. Who only bath immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto, 1 Tim. vi. 16. The Magnificence and the Joys of Heaven are amplified by the exceed ing Light of it, in Apoc. xxi. And in innumerable Places of the Old Testament, the Joy and Comfort of Men is expressed by the conferring of Light upon them, or the Springing up of Light to them.

Among the Heathens, who knew little of Divine Matters, and followed the Dictates of their natural Inclinations, the Benefits of Light were always esteemed fo far to exceed all other Advantages of Nature, that in chufing to themselves a Deity, they all betook themselves in the first place to the Sun, that great Fountain of Light; and paid their Adoration to it, as to the most beneficial of all vifible Beings.

Now what the Sun is to thé vifible World, to the Eyes of Men, and to all corporeal Objects, which receive his Influences; the fame is Chrift to the Soul of Man; difpenfing the fameBenefits to it; producing the fame Effects in it; dispelling the Darkness of it, animating, quickning and enlivening it, enlightning