Are we in Priin the midst of Are we amongst Are we in the a Fifh to fet us Nay, He is not

draw it out of a Rock. Do we want Flefh? he can bid the Ravens bring it us. fon? He can feed us. Are we Flames? He can quench them. Lyons? He can tame them. midft of the Sea? He can fend fafe on Shore in its own Belly. only fo ftrong as to deliver us from, but in all Afflictions. He is fo good a Friend that he would not fuffer any Evil to fall upon us, unless he was fo ftrong as to be able to turn it unto good unto us. He can change the very Nature of Afflictions, and turn our feeming Evils into real Goods, our Miseries into Mercies, our Croffes into Crowns, our Troubles into Comforts. He can turn a Prison into a Palace, a Lyon's Den into a fafe Tower; yea, the furious Lyons themselves into harmless Companions, as he did for Daniel. Are we caft into a fiery Furnace? GOD can make use of it to burn our Bonds, and set us at Liberty, as he did for the Three Children.

4. A prefent Friend, a Friend always at hand, Pfal. xlvi. 1. We can be in no Place, in no Company, about no Employment, in no Condition, but ftill this Friend is present with us to guide, help, direct, profper us, Ifai. xli. 10. chap. xliii 2. with Jofeph in the Dungeon, Noah in the Ark, Ifrael in Egypt, David upon the Mountains, Job upon the Dunghil, Daniel in the Lyon's Den, the Three Children in the Fire, and Jonah in the Water. So will this Friend be with us too: Where? In Prifon, in Bondage, in Affliction, in Sickness, in Poverty; with us in Fire, Water, yea, Death itself: With us! how? By his Wif dom to direct us, by his Power to protect us, by his Spirit to comfort us, by his Grace to blefs

us!

us: So with us, as none but himfelf can be with

us.

5. An amiable Friend, one who doth not only love us, but deferves to be loved by us; one who hath all the attractives of Love in himself, being the fupreme, the only chiefeft Good: An Ocean of all Beauty and Loveliness in himself, and the Fountain of all that is in any Creature: His Perfon is amiable, his Son, his Word, his Works, his Ways, all amiable, Pfal. lxxxiv, 1. All other Goodness and Loveliness can fcarce be called a Drop, a Shadow, or Picture of that Infinite Goodness that always flows in him. And if there be any Friend in the World that deferves our Love, for what he is in himself, as well as for what he gives to us, certainly he is a Saint's Friend, into whofe dear Embracements whofoever comes cannot but take his fill of Love.

6. A neceffary Friend. Man's Friendship is not at all neceffary; a Man may not only live, but well and happily without it; but fo cannot we without GOD's: becaufe we can have nothing, we can do nothing, we can enjoy nothing at all without him. There is nothing can ftand us in ftead or help us, unless God be our Friend; Riches cannot help us, Honours, Preferments, Relations, Gifts, Minifters, Ordinances, nothing can help us, unless Gon be pleafed to help us. Without him it is not in Food to nourifh us, in Cloathes to warm us, in Relations to comfort us, in Phyfick to heal us, in StrongHolds to defend us, in Houfes or Gardens to delight us, in Minifters to direct us, in Ordinances to refresh us. Indeed, without him nothing can do us good, with him any thing fhall ferve

the turn.

USES.

1. Inftruction. How little lively Faith! 2. Examine whether your Faith be a dead or living Faith, or no, by your Works.

1. By the Principle.

2. The Manner, by Love, Gal. v. 6.
3. The End of your Works.

3. Exhortations.

1. A& Faith on Chrift.

2. Add Works to your Faith, Tit. ii. 12.
1. Of Piety to GOD.

2. Of Equity to others.
3. Of Sobriety to ourselves.
Confider, A dead Faith

1. Will do you no Good.
2. Much Harm.

1. To increase your Sins more.
2. Incense GOD's Wrath more.
3. Damn your Souls more.
Whereas,

1. Good Works are pleafing to
GOD.

2. Conformable to Christ, A. X, 38.

3. Advantageous to others, 1 S.Pet. iii. 1.

4. Comfortable to yourselves here, S. Fam. ii. 18.

5. Profitable for your Souls hereafter, Rev. xiv. 13.

End of the Third Volume.

EWDIEVET MONDROIT

ANNE R.

W

HEREAS Our Trufty and Well-beloved Richard Smith, of our City of London, Bookfeller, has humbly reprefented unto Us, that he has, with great Labour and Expence, prepared for the Preß, a new Edition of the Sermons and other Works, written in English by the Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. William Beveridge, Bishop of St.Afaph, Deceased; and has therefore humbly befought Us to grant bim Our Royal Privilege and License, for the fole Printing and Publishing thereof for the Term of Fourteen Tears: We being willing to give all due Encouragement to Works of this Nature, tending to the Advancement of Piety and Learning, are graciously pleas'd to condefcend to his Request. And do therefore, by theje Prefents, grant to him, the faid Richard Smith, his Executors, Adminiftrators, and Affigns, Our Royal Licenfe for the fole Printing and Publishing the English Works of the faid late Bishop of St. Asaph, for the Term of Fourteen Tears, from the date hereof; ftri&ly forbidding all our Subjects, within our Kingdoms and Dominions, to reprint the fame, either in whole or in part; or to import, buy, vend, utter, or diftribute any Copies thereof reprinted beyond Seas, during the aforesaid Term of Fourteen Tears, without the Confent and Approbation of the faid Richard Smith, his Heirs, Executors, and Afigns, under his or their Hands and Seals first had and obtained, as they will answer the contrary at their Perils. Whereof the Mafter, Wardens, and Company of Stationers are to take notice, that the fame may be entered in their Register, and that due Obedience be rendred thereunto. Given at our Court at Kensington, the 5th Day of June 1708, in the Seventh Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majefty's Command.

SUNDERLAND