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Perhaps you may imagine, alfo, that a man may be" fenfual," and yet have the Spirit," or that without having the Spirit of Chrift, he may be "one of his." Perhaps you may fuppofe it pof fib'e to be the difciple of Chrift, without "deny ❝ing yourfelf, and taking up your crofs," without forfaking all things for his fake, or, as far as they interfere with constant obedience to his gofpel. Oh! my dear friend, if this be your unhappy cale. it a certain proof, that Satan the God of "this world hath blinded your mind, left the light "of the glorious gofpel of Chrift fhould fhine

into it.". How does the Pfalmift pray, that his foul may be delivered from the men of the world, "which have their portion in this life *!" Obferve well the reproof in the Parable: "Remem"ber that thou, in thy life time, receiveft thy good "things t." Notice likewife the following denunciation by St, James: "Go to now, ye rich "men, weep and howl for your miferies that fhall" come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, " and your garments are moth-eaten.

Your gold

"and filver is cank red; and the ruft of them

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fhall be a witnefs against you, and fhall eat દ your flefh, as it were fire. Ye have lived in "pleasure on the earth, and been wanton " Is it poffible that you can read fuch paffages as thefe, and yet imagine that a hriftian may feek after worldly riches, honours, and pleafures? Open your eyes, my friends, and be willing to fee the

* Pfalm xvii. 13. & 14. See lxxiii. 1. 10.13.
+ Luke, xvi. 25. James v. 1, 2, 3. & 5.

plain

plain truths of the gospel. This fays, "Woe "unto you that are rich! for ye have received 66 your confolation *." She that liveth in "plea"fure is dead while fhe liveth t.". "How can "ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and feek not the honour that cometh from « God only ‡? Are thefe then the words of Chrift, and his apoftle, or not? If they be, you cannot change or model them according to your corrupt views, but must be judged, at the laft day, according to them. "The fafhion of this world, «indeed paffeth away;" but "my words (faid

our bleffed Redeemer) fhall not pafs away." "What would you be profited, if you thould gain "the whole world, and lofe your own foul: or ❝ what can you give in exchange for your foul?". If that be once loft, it can never be redeemed; and if you live, and die, without true faving faith in Chrift, that faith which "overcometh the "world,” it will be loft. It is not because I tell you fo; but because God tells you fo over and over again; and it would be juft the fame whether I told you fo, or not. I merely bring forward a few of the awful declarations of Almighty God on this fubject, that I may warn you to flee "from the wrath to come." If you receive them, and lay them to heart, I fhall indeed have great reafon to rejoice. But, if you even reject them, ftill I have delivered my own foul.' .66 I "am free from your blood: for I have not fhun"ned to declare to you all the counfel of God."

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Luke vi. 24. +1 Tim. v, 6. John v. 44.

Mat. iii. 7.

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But, let me now addrefs myfelf to perfons, whofe faith in Chrift has "overcome the world." Ye are his difciples indeed, "Ye know that ye are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one *.' I may fafely appeal to you, "What pleasure had you in those things, of which you are now afhamed?" Did you find any true delight, when, with the world, you lived in cocovetoufnefs, or pride, or ran to excefs of riot †? You well know that it was all "vanity and vexa

tion of fpirit." You would not, I am perfuadéd, repeat the fhameful drudgery, if there were no eternal punishment anexed to it; no eternal rewards attached to a life of faith and holy obedience. But, ftill my friends, remember that we are all poor frail creatures, and furrounded with temptations. "The fpirit may be willing; but the flesh is weak." "Thou ftandeft by faith. Be not high-minded; but fear §." The very fame faith in Chrift, which has obtained you the victory hitherto, must be your fupport unto the end. Oh! then, continually feek the faith of the operation of God; and continually exercise it, in ftriving against this prefent evil world. Remember the cafe of Demas, who forfook the apoftle," having loved this pre

fent world." Remember: "They that will be "rich fall into temptation, and a fnare, and into many foolish and hurtful lufts, which drown men ❝in deftruction and perdition. For, the love of ❝ money is the root of all evil; which while fome

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have

John v. 19. + 1 Pet. iv. 4. Mat. xxvi. 41.

Rom. xi. 20,

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"have coveted after, they have been feduced "from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many rrows" Remember, and feriously lay to heart, "If, after men have "efcaped the pollutions of the world, through the "knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jefus "Chrift, they are again entangled therein, and "overcome, the latter end is worfe with them than "the beginning t.

May Almighty God give us all this conquering faith, and keep us ftedfalt in it, for the fake of his dear Son, Jefus Chrift, our Lord! Amen!

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PRAYER BEFORE OR AFTER THE SERMON,

Collect for Innocents Day.

O Almighty God, who, out of the mouths of babes and fucklings haft ordained ftrength, and madeft infants to glorify thee by their deaths; mortify and kill all vices in us, and fo ftrengthen us by thy grace, that, by the innocency of our lives, and con'fancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify thy holy name, through Jefus Chrift our Lord! Amen.

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SERMON VI.

ON

2 Cor. XIII. 5,9

Examine yourfelves, whether ye be in the faith.

T has been a great fource of wonder and admi. ration to obferve, in the works of creation, fuch an infinite variety, attended, at the fame time, with the most perfect uniformity. The more accurately naturalifts have confidered thefe, the more this truth has beamed into their mind. Thofe minute. parts, neceffary to the existence and flourishing ftate of plants, which efcape the notice of the cafual obferver, excite in the Botanist the most curious attention and surprise. Thofe ftill more intricate portions in the contexture of the human

body,

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