Men, brethren, fathers, as many of you, whether inhabitants or strangers, who have honoured this day with your presence, give us the additional blessings of your prayers. And O that _Bethesda_’s GOD may make this day, though but a day of small things, productive of great things to the souls of all amongst whom I have been now preaching the kingdom of GOD. A great and good day will it be indeed, if JESUS CHRIST, our great _Zerubbabel_, should, by the power of the eternal Spirit, bless any thing that hath now been said, to cause every mountain of difficulty, that lies in the way of your conversion, to become a plain. And what art thou, O great mountain, whether the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, sin, or self-righteousness? Before our _Bethesda_’s GOD, thou shalt become a plain.
Brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you: it is written, blessed be GOD that it is written, “In the name of JESUS every knee shall bow, whether things in heaven, or things in earth, or things under the earth.” O that we may be made a willing people in the day of his power! Look, look unto him, all ye that are placed in these ends of the earth. This house hath often been an house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to some of your fathers. May it be a house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to the children also! Come unto him, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, he will give you rest; rest from the guilt, rest from the power, rest from the punishment of sin; rest from the fear of divine judgments here, rest with himself eternally hereafter. Fear not, though the beginnings are but small, CHRIST will not despise the day of small things. A bruised reed will he not break, and the smoaking flax will he not quench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory. His hands that laid the foundation, also shall finish it: yet a little while and the top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting, and men and angels join in crying “Grace! Grace! unto it.” That all present may be in this happy number, may GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS our LORD.