THE PREFACE. Wand habitual perfuafion of the Di ORTHY conceptions, and a firm vine Benevolence, being of high importance to the credit, pleasure, and practice of religion; it is greatly to be defired that these fhould become univerfal. The writers who have treated this fubject in the most judicious manner, have aimed more at the fatisfaction of the thoughtful and ftudious, than the inftruction and conviction of the main Body of Christians, who yet are equally interested in this important doctrine. They have alfo omitted a distinct and animating reprefentation of the practical Confequences. The Author of the following difcourfes hath therefore endeavoured to set the evidences of this great doctrine in a Light easy to the understandings of the generality, ftill preferving A 2 ing their clearness and ftrength; and to af fift Perfons in regarding the Works of God in a view, proper to raise their apprehenfions of the Divine Goodness, and to warm their hearts with an habitual sense of it, and engage them to live as always furrounded with the presence and kindness of the best of Parents, well affected to their brethren, alike children of the great Father of Spirits, cheerfully refigned amidst the trials of Life, and ferene and full of hope at death. This the Author can fay, that to the firm belief, and frequent meditation of those interesting truths, which are included in the boundless benevolence of our Creator and Governor, he himself has been obliged for the most valuable fatisfactions he hath known in life; and to these he owes it, that he can look forward to a future ftate with the nobleft hopes. And if the publication of the following Discourses fhall make these truths more cordially received, and their beneficial influence more felt, he shall greatly rejoice in the time and thought employed for thefe purposes. Whatever the event be, he he has the Satisfaction of having, according to his abilities, endeavoured to ferve the Honour of his Maker, and the best interest of his fellow creatures; and can therefore humbly commend thefe, with the other Difcourses on like important fubjects, to the Divine Bleffing, and to the candid perusal of the serious and judicious. CON SERMON I. The Divine Goodness explained. PSALM CXlV. 9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Page r SERMON II. Goodness proved to be a Divine Perfection. The fame text. SERMON III. The Goodness of God as Creator illuftrated in various inftances. The fame text. 29. 55 SERMON IV. The creation of mankind a glorious inftance and proof of the Divine Benevolence. PSALM viii. 5. Thou haft made him a little lower than the angels, and haft crowned him with glory and honour. 89 SERMON V. The Creator's goodness illuf trated in various laws of the human conftitution. The fame text. 123 SERMON VI. The goodness of Divine Providence to mankind in particular. MATTH. V. 45. He maketh his fun to rife on the evil and on the good; and fendeth rain on the juft and on the unjust. 153 185 SERMON VII. The goodness of Divine Pro vidence to finners. The fame text. SERMON VIII. The grace of God in the redemption of a finful world by Jefus Chrift. EPHES. ii. 5. By grace are ye faved-215 SERMON IX. The fame fubject. 245 SER |
