ly it is faithfully done. All I fall add is, that as I had no ill Defign in preaching the Difcourfe, fo neither have I in publifhing it; and hope by the Bleffing of God it will be ferviceable to the End for which it was intended, even the Promoting Purity, Peace, and Love.

TIT

TIT. ii. 11, 12. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men; teaching us, that denying Ungodliness, and worldly Lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent World.

T has been my great Endeavour, in the general Courfe of my Miniftry, to promote practical Chriftianity. I am fenfible, if I fecure this, I fecure every Thing, the Glory of God, the Credit of Religion, the eternal Happiness of my People, my own Comfort: But if I mifs of this, I do nothing. And whoever has a juft Senfe of Things, if he has no Profpect of doing Good this way, he will be for any Employment, rather than that of a Minifter, especially in the Diffenting Way.

B

Ás

As for Controverfy, I will not fay I have never dealt in it; but I will very freely own, then have I been warmeft when I knew leaft; which I take to be a common Cafe. The more I have ftudied, and read, and been acquainted with the World, the more fenfible have I been, that the Path to Heaven lies not here; for if fo, the common People can never hope to go thither; and, indeed, but few of the Learned, efpecially if they are to be judged according to their Judgment one of another. I have been convinced, that the Differences among Chriftians are not fo great, as commonly reprefented; that fome of them are about Matters circumftantial; others, if rightly understood, and traced up to their proper Head, are really in Points metaphyfical, and are fuch Things, as Men, however warm they may be, know little of, and in which Perfons may differ, and be equally fin

cere.

I am fatisfied, that were there more Humility, more impartial Searches after Truth, more Love to God and Men, more of a truly Christian Zeal, there would be lefs Controverfy; and that which is, would be managed with Meeknefs and Peace. But Ignorance, Lazinefs, Pride, Envy, Bigottry, Uncharitableness, too ufually come in the room of the excellent Things before mentioned; and fo the Church has been the Stage of War, and the Seat of Divifion.

I

I am fully perfuaded, that Difputes, as they are commonly handled, are a Scandal to Christianity, and the greatest Hindrance to Perfons being converted to it. As it was a fpecial Command of Jefus, that his Difciples hould love one another, fo certainly he knew how much their practifing it would recommend his Religion, and of what fatal Confequence it would be to have them biting and devouring one another. And, indeed, there never was, and, I fear, never will be, an Age of difputing, but vital Godliness has vifibly declin'd, and been even loft in the Scuffle.

May all of us, my Brethren, who are Minifters of the Gofpel, avoid this Rock, and it will be moft for our Comfort, and give us the most rational Hope of a Crown of Life. May we, when our great Lord and Master calls for us, be found turning Men from the Evil of their Ways, promoting Purity, Peace, and Love, and not be found beating our Fellow Servants, or fetting Chriftians at Variance one with another.

fee

By the Words of the Text, you may eafily

my Difcourfe will be of a practical Nature, to fet before you the great Design of Christianity, that we may anfwer it our felves, and promote it in others, according to our Abilities and Opportunities, and the Relations of Life we are in.

The Grace of God teacheth us.

That by the Grace of God is meant the

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Gofpet

Gofpel Difpenfation, is very evident from the Context. Titus isexhorted to put Perfons in Mind of feveral Duties, that they might adorn the Doctrine of God their Saviour in all Things; it follows, For the Grace of God that brought Salvation, &c.

The Gospel Difpenfation is the Grace of God, as 'tis the Fruit of divine Goodness, a Revelation the World much wanted; as 'tis a Discovery of God's great Love in Jefus Chrift to a loft World. This Grace has appeared to all Men, Men of all Ranks and Degrees, Men of all Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues; and what it most clearly taught was, that Men fhould deny Ungodli ness, &c.

1 fhall difcourfe from the Words in the following Method.

I. Explain what is meant by denying Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, living foberly, righteously, and godly.

II. Shew how evidently the Gospel Difpenfation teaches all Men fo to do; and then make Application.

I. I am to explain what is meant by denying Ungodliness and worldly Lufts, living foberly, righteously, and godly.

By denying Ungodliness: Ungodliness has Regard to Worship, and the common ConverJation. As to Worship, Ungodliness, in the

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