The PREFACE.

HE kind reception the following excellent difcourfes have met with, and the good they have already done, and are ftill likely to do, have encouraged this edition of them; which, though fmall, are taken from fuch weighty texts which 'tis hop'd, will meet with the like fuccefs, and with equal readines be entertain'd.

THESE Sermons, as well as the other works of the right reverend author, fufficiently fpeak their own praise; and nothing that can poffibly be laid of them, will fomuch recommend them. as the ferious and impartial perutal of them: yet thus much we fay of them, that the true fpirit of primitive piety runs through them all, that the main doctrines of our holy religion,

are

therein follidly and judiciously explain'd, and the precepts of it with all due arguments and motives enforc'd; and at the fame time with fuch plainnefs as to render them ufeful to chriftians of the meaneft capacities, and with fuch unaffected fimplicity as manifeftly favours of the primitive and apoftolick fpirit: and tho' the very name of the author to those who have heard of him (as who has not?) fufficiently recommends the perufal of them; yet fince many testimonies have been given to them by fome valuable

hands

hands, in juftice I cannot but mention fome of

them.

THE Judicious and learned Mr Nelson, in his life of bifhop Bull, having taken notice of our pious and excellent author, fays, "And now "I have nam'd this great and good man, I can"not forbear acknowledging the favourable difpenfotion of providence to the age in which we live, in bleffing it with fo many of thofe pious difcourfes which this truly primitive. prelate deliver'd from the pulpit.

THE learned Dr. Lupton, in a letter to Mr, Nellon, occafioned by the publication of bifhop Bull's fermons, difcourfing with great judgment concerning the most proper and useful manner of preaching; in the clofe, ranks our venerable prelate with St Chryfoftom himfelf, in thefe words: "Thofe therefore who are fo cenforious "to reflect with feverity upon the pious ftrains "which are to be found in St. Chryfoftom, bishop BEVERIDGE, or bishop Bull, may poffibly be good judges of an ode or an effay, but do not feem to criticize juftly upon fèrmons, or to exprefs a juft value for ipititu"al things. "

THUS We fee that, notwithstanding the flight that fome men put on this great man's works, they have met with the higheft approbation from fome of the beft Judges both for learning and piety.

THIS great and good bishop had very early addicted

addicted himself to piety, and a religious courfe of life; of which his PRIVATE THOUGHTS upon RELIGION will be a lasting evidence. They were written in his yonger years; and he muft, a confiderable time before this, have devoted himself to fuch practices, otherwife he could never have drawn up fo judicious and found a declaration of his faith, nor have formed fuch excellent refolutions, so agreeable to the Christian life in all its parts. These things fhew him to be acquainted with the life and power of religion long before, and that even from a child he knew the holy fcriptures.

As his whole life was spent in acts of piety and charity, fo he gave remarkable inftances of both at his death. He left the main of his eftate, at his deceafe, for the propagation of the gofpel, and promotion of Chriftian knowledge at home as well as abroad. He was fo highly efteem'd among all learned and good men, that when he was dying, one of the chief of his order defervedly faid of him, There goes one of the greatest and one of the best men that ever England bred. So let us feriously and impartially perufe his excellent difcourfes which are here prefented to us. And God grant that as much good as was done by them when preach'd, and has been done by them fince their publication, much more may ftill be done by them for Gods glory and the falvation of fouls.

1

SERMON I.

Page 1.

Chrift's Life a Pattern of Holiness to Chriftians I PET. i. 15

But as he which has called you is holy, fo be ye boly, in all manner of Converfation.

SERMON

II.

27

The Holiness of Chriftians ought to be eminent. MATT. V. 20.

For I fay unto you. That except your Righte oufness exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye shall in no cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaved.

The Wisdom of being Holy

PSAL Cxi. 10.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of Wisdom.

SERMON IV.

57

87

Repentance the end of Chrift's coming into the

World.

LUKE. V. 32.

I came not to call the Righteous, but finners to Repentance.

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