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can believe, indeed, that his soul is redeemed from death, the same will shew his love to his Redeemer by his obedience. He will endeavour to walk in uprightness, and to maintain purity of heart. His robe will be "washed white." And it will be his ardent prayer that he may henceforth live,

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not unto himself," not for the pleasure or ambition of this life; but "unto him which "died for him, and rose again;" even, "our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave him"self for us, that he might redeem us from "all iniquity, and purify to himself a pecu"liar people, zealous of good works.”*

*Titus ii. 14.

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION.

HAVING established the important doctrine which is suggested by the contemplation of the scene of the Heavenly Jubilee, we shall now deduce from the general subject some instructions for the regulation of our practice. And, for this purpose, we shall make an application of it to the existing state of a large body of professing Christians, and particularly of the superior and more cultivated classes, in this country. Our observations shall refer chiefly to facts and circumstances which are obvious and distinctly visible. This part of the discourse will detain us longer than usual; but we think you will acknowledge the importance of the subjects which shall be noticed. They are the following. We shall antici

pate the heads at some length, to impress them more fully upon the mind.

1. We shall begin with delivering to you a solemn warning, to prepare for " those things which must shortly come to pass ;" and to believe the testimony of Christ respecting that future inheritance, of which he speaks in these words; "inherit the

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kingdom prepared for you from the begin

ning of the world." It will be shewn,

2. That we must be "made meet to "become partakers" of this inheritance; and that this meetness or fitness must be acquired in this life; it being the great purpose of our present existence, to attain to this aptitude for the enjoyment of the heavenly kingdom. For, it is manifest from holy scripture, that, in whatever state we die, in that state the soul will remain after we have entered into the invi

sible world; it being declared by our Saviour, that, without this meetness, we "cannot enter into the kingdom of God;" that, without it, we cannot see the kingdom of God."

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3. That some persons have not acquired this fitness may be presumed, from this, that there is no worship, no recognition of the Deity in their houses. That others again, endeavour to attain to such a disposition, appears from their attention to religious exercises. The voice of prayer and praise is heard daily in their families. They visit the house of God with gladness of heart, and seem to anticipate the songs and employment of the Heavenly Jubilee.

4. We shall next notice the responsibility of men, who possess means of directing not families alone, but communi

ties and nations; and whose example ought to be such as the youth of a Christian nation should be emulous to follow. It will be here shewn, that the chief danger of young persons in the higher classes at this day, lies in their proposing for their imitation, characters which are rather specious for their talents, than estimable for their morals and piety. Whereas no man, of whatever eminence, ought to be proposed as an EXAMPLE, who doth not appear to be fulfilling the great purpose for which he was sent into the world; which is, to acquire a title, through Christ, to the heavenly inheritance, and a fitness to be a partaker of it.

5. The most important part of these observations will be to state the cause of that indifference to religion and disregard to the divine worship which pervades some families. It was the same cause which brought destruction on the city of Jerusalem.

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