SERM. reason, no Prophecy of the Scripture is (as St Peter tells us) of any private In

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2 Pet. i. terpretation; that is, it relates not to things within the Prophet's own [idías] perfonal Knowledge; For the Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of Man, but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. So that even the Prophets themselves could do nothing ■ Pet. i. more, but enquire and fearch diligently; as the fame Apoftle expreffes it: Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Chrift which was in them did fignify, when it teftified beforehand the Sufferings of Chrift, and the glory that Should follow ------Which things, not only the Prophets, but even the Angels (fays he) defire to look into. All that was poffible, and all that was intended, and all that was needful to be understood by Those who lived in the Ages before our Saviour, was, that God defigned by his Prophets to keep up in the world a perpetual Expectation and Reliance upon his Promises in general, that his True Worshippers should be fure finally to meet

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with an everlasting Deliverance; and a SER M. Saviour, of whofe Kingdom there should be no End. This is what Abraham faw afar off, and rejoiced and was glad. And This is what All the Prophecies in the Old Testament moft evidently end in, whatever intermediate Events fometimes they may occafionally begin with. That Prophecy particularly, cited here by the Evangelist in my Text, has at least thus much in it; what conftruction foever be put upon the Words. Whatever can be imagined to have been in this Prediction promised personally to Ahaz, was fulfilled in its Seafon: But that the words in the Text had principally, if not folely, a Reference to fome far greater and more lafting Event; cannot (I think) be doubted by any rational person, who confiders the Solemn Apoftrophe from Abaz to the whole Houfe of Judah, wherewith they are introduced: Hear ye now, O Houfe . vii. 13. of David;------the Lord himself shall give you a Sign, (that is, not a Sign to That generation then prefent; but to Them a Promife of what should finally be a Sign VOL. V. C

or

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SER M.Or Evidence of God's everlasting Care of his People,) Behold, a Virgin fhall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his Name Immanuel. And This is ftill the more reasonable to be fo understood, if it be compared with what the fame Prophet fays concerning the fame perfon in a chapIf. ix. 6. ter nearly following: Unto Us a Child is

born, unto Us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder : ----Of the Increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no End,------from henceforth even for ever.

THE Application of what has been faid, is; that We who are perfwaded of the Truth of Chrift's Miffion, and confequently of his Doctrine, muft endeavour to live fuitably to That Holy Religion, of which We make Profeffion: Always remembring, that the End and Defign of the Gospel is to Teach us, that denying Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent World; looking for that bleffed Hope, and the glorious appearance of the Great God, and of our Saviour Jefus

Chrift.

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Christ. And particularly that at This SER M. time when we commemorate his Birth, we keep the Feaft, not with the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness, or of Rioting and Debauchery; but with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity, Sobernefs, and Truth.

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