them. For God knows how soon he may call us from our easy speculations, and theories of suffering, to the practical experience of it,-how soon he may draw us forth for persecution and the fiery trial. Only this we may be sure of, that if these things be brought upon us for his honour, it will be for ours too to endure them. And be our distresses never so great, our calamities never so strange, and unusual, yet we have both our Saviour's example to direct, and his promise to support us, who has left it upon record in his everlasting gospel, 'That if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.'

To whom, therefore, be rendered and ascribed, as is most due, all praise, might, majesty, and dominion, both now and for evermore.

Amen.

SERMON XII.

OUR LORD'S OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH.

BY BISHOP BEVERIDGE.,

[WILLIAM BEVERIDGE was born in 1637: in 1704 he was consecrated Bishop of St. Asaph, and died in 1708.]

SERMON XII.

PHILIPPIANS, II. 8.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He that reads and firmly believes what is here written, cannot but fall down and worship God, adoring that infinite wisdom, justice, and mercy that he manifested in the redemption of fallen man; for here we read, that our Redeemer Jesus Christ, being in the form, subsisting in the nature or essence, of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.' He did not think that he robbed

God of any glory, or offered him any injury or affront, by asserting himself to be equal to him, of the same substance, wisdom, power, and all other perfections with him. Yet nevertheless, this glorious, eternal, infinite, almighty Person, subsisting thus in the form of God, made himself of no reputation. He emptied, debased, humbled himself, by taking upon him the form of a servant; being made in the likeness of men, a real and perfect man, like to the rest of mankind in all the integral or essential parts of a man. And being thus found