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SERMON I.

Of the Goodness of God.

PSALM CXlV. 9.

The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.

THE goodness of God is a frequented theme; to SER M. many perhaps it may feem vulgar and trite; fo I. that difcourfe thereon, like a ftory often told, may be naufeous to their ears: but in truth neither can we speak too much upon this moft excellent fubject, nor ought we ever to be weary in hearing about it; for it is a fign that the palate of our mind is dif tempered, if we do not with delight and affection relifh any mention of divine goodness. Yea, the obfervation of men's common practice would induce us to think, that either this point is not fo well known, or but little believed, or at leaft not well confidered and applied. For how could we be fo void of love to God, of gratitude toward him, of faith and hope in him, were we throughly perfuaded, did we seriously confider, that he is fo exceedingly good toward us? How can we be so infenfible of the benefits we enjoy, fo diftrustful of finding fuccours

VOL. I.

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and

I.

SER M. and fupplies in our need, so diffatisfied and difcontented with what befalls us, if we conceive and weigh, that all things do proceed from, are guided and governed by immenfe goodnefs? How alfo, if men have fuch an opinion of God impreffed on their minds, comes it to pafs that they are fo little careful to resemble and imitate him in kindnefs, bounty, and mercy to one another? How is it, in fine, that the most powerful argument to all manner of good practice, and the mightieft aggravation of fin, if well known and pondered, hath fo little force and efficacy upon us? From experience therefore this argument may seem scarce fufficiently inculcated. We may add, that difcourfe upon this attribute (which above all other attributes doth render God peculiarly admirable and amiable) hath this special advantage beyond other difcourfes, that it doth, if our hearts confpire therewith, approach moft nearly to the formal exercise of the moft high and heavenly parts of devotion, praise and thanksgiving; that it more immediately conduces to the breeding, the nourishing, the augmenting in us the best and nobleft of pious affections, love and reverence to God; truft and hope in him; willing refolutions to please and serve him; whence it is confequent, that we cannot too much employ our thoughts, our words, or our attention upon this point. Befides fo much reafon, we have alfo good example to countenance us in fo doing we have the precedent of the holy Pfalmift refolving to make it his conftant and continual employment: I will fing (faith he) of the mercies of the Ixxxix. 1. Lord; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulPfal. cxlv. nefs to all generations. And, Every day will I bless thee, and I will praife thy name for ever; (that bleffing and praifing God, the context fhews to have confifted efpecially in the declaration of God's great goodness:)

Pfal.

2.

2 — Θεός, οὗ πολλῶν ὄντων, ἐφ ̓ οἷς θαυμάζεται, ἐδὲν ὅτως ὡς τὸ πάντας εὐεργέτειν ἰδιωταῖόν. Naz. Orat. 26.

and,

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