SERMON I

3 Epift. of John, vèrs. 2.

Αγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων ευχομαι σε ευοδίας ὑγιαίνειν, καθώς ευοδεται σε ἡ ψυχή,

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayeft profper, and be in health, even as thy Soul profpereth.

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Here are two things, among many others, both which are infallibly certain, and exceeding comfortable to all those that live by Faith, and fear before the Lord. The one is, That the Lord knows them every one by name. The o ther is, That he hath a perfect knowledge of all their concernments; How it is with them, both in respect of their Souls, and in respect of their Bodies; and what they stand in need of, for the wellfare both of the one, and of the other.

We have both thefe exemplified in this Epiftle, written to one fingle perfon, Gaius B

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by name. Who this Gaius was, whether it was Gaius of Macedonia, fpoken of A&t. 19. Or Gaius of Derbe, fpoken of A. 20. Or Gaius of Corinth, fpoken of 1 Cor. 1.14. cannot, I think, be abfolutely determined. However, 'tis certain, The Lord knew well, which of them it was. And the Lord did know, that this Gaius to whom this Epistle was written, was an eminent godly perfon, one that had a gracious, vigorous, active Soul for God, in a weak and confumptive Body. And upon that account, he directs his Servant John to write this Epiftle to him; that he might know, how much he did live in his Care, and what obfervation he made of him, and his Condition.

This is a very great matter, that an entire portion of Canonical Scripture (as this Epiftle is) fhould be written for the inftruction, and confolation of one good man. But we may wonder the lefs at it, if we look a little backward, we fhall find fuch a portion written to one good woman; but The was, befides her eminent godliness, a perfon of honour in the World; fhe was a Lady, That's the fecond Epiftle of John. And that we may know, that in these matters, God is no refpecter of perfons, we have a third instance of this, in the Epifle to Philemon, witten in the behalf of Onefimus, a mean perfon, comparatively. A fer

vant he had been, and one that mifcarried in his service, and ran away from his Mafter. But now having a faving work of God begun in him, whereof Paul had good experience, he writes that Epistle to Phile mon, on his behalf, that he might receive him, not only into Service, but into Favour; not only as a Servant, but as a beloved Brother in the Lord. ver. 16.. It was a great priviledge, that God vouchsafed these three Perfons, above others. It's true, we find more Epiftles written to particular Perfons, as two to Timothy, and one to Titus; but they were written on a more publick, and general account. And the fubstance of thofe three Epistles, may be found in that to 7mothy, where Paul faith, He wrote, that he might know, how to behave himself in the Church of God, the House of the living God. However, though this was fuch a great matter, with respect to these three Perfons; yet we know very well, that God had not respect to them alone; for Rom. 15. 4. the Apostle tells us, Whatever is written, is written for our learning: what is written to Gażs in this Epiftle, and what is in this fingle verse, is written for our learning: The Lord give us to learn, what may be learnt by it, In thefe words we have obfervable three parts.

1. Something expreffed. It was exceed

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ing well with Gaius, in respect of his fpiritual condition. He was like to have a very comfortable journey to Heaven: His Soul profpered.

2. We have something implied, fc. That it was not altogether fo well with Gaius in his outward condition, especially in respect of his health. Though he was a very godly man, he was none of the strongest men. He was weak, and fickly.

3. We have fomething defired.

(1.) In general. That he might profper; indefinitely spoken; that he might profper in all his concernments, within doors and without.

(2.) That he might be in health. He prays that he might have a healthy conftitution.

And both thefe, as defired, are amplified. 1. By the manner thereof, very heartily. I wish above all things.

2. By the measure, or degree, or pattern, according to which he defires this profperity might be proportioned, and that is, according to the degree, and measure of his Soulprofperity. [That thou mayeft profper, as thy Soul profpereth.]

It is not unfit to give you an account, in a word or two, of the choice of this Text. Ye may remember that the fubjects of fome foregoing Exercises were these two things. 1. Con

1. Concerning a dead Religion. Many Profeffors of the true Religion, as 'tis profef fed by them, it is a dead Religion; and their works, in, and about it, are dead works.

2. We came to speak of a dying, withering, languifhing Religion. The observation was this.

A living Chriftian, yet alive to God (and that's all may, in respect of his Christianity, be in a dying, withering languishing condi

tion.

Because what follows in that Epiftle, in Revel. 3. did not give fo fair a foundation, to build that upon, which I am now to speak of, concerning a thriving, and profpering Religion, I have made choice of thefe words. And the observation which I fhall, as the Lord shall enable me, insist most upon, will be this.

Doct. That of all profperity, Soul-profperi ty is the most defireable profperity.

But before I come to fpeak of that Point, it will be requifite, not only to fhew how the Text bears it, but it may be convenient to point out fome few Obfervations, which the words afford, which I fhall, as briefly as may be, pass through; and the first is this.

1. Obf. Concerning the perfon of this Gaius, who he was. I told you it could not be absolutely determined; but it seems to be very probable, that it was Gaius of Corinth, B. 3

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