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The believer seeks a better country, that is an heavenly. He knows that if the earthly boufe of this tabernacle were diffolved, he has a building of God, an houfe not made with bands, eternal in the heavens.-What though difficulties befet him on every fide? It is the promise of a gracious God, that all things shall work together for bis good. The prefent afflictions are light and momentary, compared to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. What though he is now immured in frail flesh and blood? Before long this mortal shall put on immortality, and he fhall be made inconceivably happy in the pure manfions of heavenly glory. He may be stripped of every earthly comfort, but there is a joy which no man can take from him. Amidst the vain and shifting scenes of life, he has an immoveable rock to lean upon, Jefus Chrift, the fame yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Perfecutors may kill the body, but the foul is incapable of injury. This heavenly fpark fhall furvive the rage of men and the malice of devils; afcend to the God of all confolation; be re-united to the body; fashioned like unto the glorious body of Chrift, and be ever with him.

Faith presenting these things, and affording a fure expectation of them, influences the Chriftian to live above this world, and to raise his views to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven for him.

Let us now turn our attention to fome improvement of this fubject.

First, Learn, my brethren, that the leads to ftrict holiness of heart and life.

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If any tell you,

that the doctrine of falvation, through the imputed righte

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oufnefs of Chrift, encourages fin, believe them not; for fcripture and experience contradict it. Who live the beft?-Those who contend for free grace, or those who rest upon their works? It too often happens, that those who boaft of their works, have the least to show; and there is reafon to believe, that they have never fufficiently feen the depravity of their own hearts, and the spirituality and extent of the Divine law.

While we are justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ, including both his active and paffive obedience, there is the powerful operation of grace to form the heart. Shall it be faid, if Chrift obeyed the preceptive part of the law in our room, what obedience is left for us? This very objection, in fubflance, has been anfwered long ago by an infpired pen. Shall we continue in fin, that grace may abound? God forbid: how shall we that are dead to fin, live any longer therein? A dependence upon the active obedience of Chrift for a title to eternal life, and obedience in our own perfons, are not inconfiftent either in fentiment or practice. For be that is dead is freed from fin. Now if we be dead with Chrift, we believe that we shall alfo live with him. It is impoffible that believers fhould live in fin; because it is weakened on their first union with Christ, and afterwards gradually deftroyed. Grace is communicated for this purpofe, and their obligations to obedience are infinite. The love of Chrift constrains them. It certainly affords a most encouraging reflection, that in the Lord is not only righteousness but ftrength. This is a fource of joy and comfort. This quickens and animates in the ways of

holiness.

Secondly, This fubject ought to be faithfully improved for the trial of ourselves. As far as we hear with appli

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cation, so far we hear properly. When we hear the state of a believer defcribed, ought we not to ask ourselves, Have we experienced any thing like it? or, is it new, strange and unintelligible to us?-These things concern. us all, and require our attention now as much as when they were first written; for it ever will remain true; that the believer is crucified with Chrift; that Christ lives in him; and that he lives by faith in the manner which has been explained. Know ye then what these mean? Have you reafon to believe that you are interested in the merits of Chrift? Is the power of fin broken in your fouls? Do you defire the death of it, root and branch? Do you know what it is to live by faith? Have you ever had fuch an affecting view of the Son of God fuffering in the room of finners, that your hearts were melted to genuine forrow for fin, and you made willing to furrender yourfelves without referve to him? And have you been frequently used to fuch exercifes?

Perhaps fome are faying, "We have never been able to answer these questions fatisfactorily to ourselves. At times, we have had ground of hope, but presently we are in darkness again. We find the principle of fin fo ftrong within us, that we fear it has never been crucified. Evil thoughts in multitudes break in upon us: our affections are fo earthly; we feel such coldness and wandering in duty; nay, sometimes fin appears to have the entire fway; and therefore, we are ready to conclude, that we are not the children of God." If you are fenfible of these things; if you strive against them; and if you spread them as matter of complaint before God, they do not make against you. It is not expected that fin fhould be fully dead. Live and stir it will, elfe there would be no occafion of a warfare. If there were no pain and

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Aruggle, and groaning, where would be the propriety of calling it a crucifixion? The question is, Do you truly hate all fin, and defire deliverance from it more than from any thing befides? Is the way of falvation precious to you on this very account, because it has provided for the death of fin? Have you often an affecting sense of the holy nature of God, and your great disconformity to him? Can you adopt the language of the Pfalmift, I bave feen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad? The more you have of this exercise, the more it evinces the truth of your religion. It is a bad fign, when we find in ourselves no cause of complaint.

Some, it may be, have blafphemous thoughts fuggested to their minds; are tempted to doubt the very existence of a God, and the reality of all religion. Neither is this an evidence of the want of grace; but that Satan defires to fift them as wheat. A perfon is not accountable for these thoughts, unless they are harboured and encouraged in his breast.

Examine, then, and try yourselves.-Beware of prefumption on the one hand, and of tempting God on the other, by defpifing the day of small things. If you defire above all the favour of God; if you would not willingly indulge yourselves in any known fin; if you are endeavouring to have your hearts right with God, and are fincerely engaged in the way of duty: though iniquities prevail against you, and though you walk in darknefs and have no light, yet there is reason to expect that God will, in due time, lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and put gladness in your hearts. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say on the Lord.

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But do not fome of you, my hearers, know upon reflection, that you are ftrangers to the exercises which have been defcribed? The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can be know them, because they are Spiritually dif cerned. Crucified and yet live! Not live, but Chrift lives in them! Live a natural life, and yet by faith a spiritual one! On earth, and yet the affections and conversation in heaven! What paradoxes are these! How mysterious and difficult a thing to be a Christian!-O beftir yourselves and fet about the great work. Dream not of happiness while you are fecure and unconcerned. While fin reigns in you, and while you neglect the means of grace, on what foundation can you hope for eternal life? By nature you are opposed to good, and wholly inclined to evil; and unless changed by grace, you can never inherit the kingdom of God. You must be crucified to your own righteoufnefs, to your lufts, and to the world, if ever you arrive there. It is no matter what any man profeffes, that is, it will not avail for his falvation, unless it influence the practice; unless the Son of God cover the foul with his perfect righteousness, and impress on it the Divine image. To this I would bring you my hearers, and unless you are brought to this, though your fouls were worth ten thousand worlds, they must fall under the juftice of the great and terrible God.

Suffer the word of exhortation, to turn and live. Those fins you fo dearly love will be your ruin. Be perfuaded to part with them. Your carnal joys and pleafures will lead you down to the region of forrow. Be entreated to difmifs them. You walk on a dreadful flippery precipice, and beneath you are everlafting burnings. Proceed not a step further. While there is hope, turn. Be

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