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and fervices is only to be expected for his fake. And we are to rely upon his grace, as our head, for conftant fupplies.

Another neceffary exhortation from our prefent fubject remains.

3. Let us perfevere in walking by faith, till we arrive at fight. Believing to the faving of the foul, ftands opposed to drawing back, which is declared to be unto perdition, Heb. x. 39 Faith comes fhort of fight: but if we are governed by it, it brings us every day nearer to fight. And by how much the nearer we fee the day approaching, fo much the more fhould faith take wing, entering into that which is within the veil. If our hands hang down, when the fhadows of the evening come upon us, our hope muft fink too: and if we have any faith left, it must reproach us, that, when we are in a nearer view of Canaan than formerly, we flag, and fuffer ourfelves more to be carried away by fenfe. Let us not abate or decline in the life, which is animated by faith: but "knowing the time, let us awake out of fleep," if we have fuffered meaner principles to gain the afcendant over us : and if we are yet preffing forward with full fails towards the haven, let it be our care that we do not relax our zeal and application; but live as faith dictates, till the rewards of faith are obtained, To inforce all this, it may be proper to confider, that

A life of faith is highly reasonable. It is to govern ourselves by matters which are at once of the highest importance and reality; the greatest concern we can have in view;

with the teftimony of God, to fupport and warrant our concern about them.

It is at prefent the most fatisfactory and comfortable life. To have no view beyond fenfe, muft ever make this world a howling wilderness and we cannot have any fatisfactory view of a future reft, by any other light than that of faith. This therefore alone can minifter to us the great folace of life.

And besides that, to live by rule is a rest to the mind; which we fhall moft fecurely do, by living under the conduct of faith. And in all turns the divine perfections, providence and promises, are a fountain of peace and ferenity, which cannot be equalled either by the moit agreeable prefent enjoyments, or by the beit profpects we can form on the measures of human policy.

To walk by faith, bears the nearest resemblance to the life of heaven, of any thing we can attain while we are probationers. A believer lives upon the fame objects, as thofe above live upon in full happinefs; the fame God and Redeemer : only these objects are very differently perceived above and here. "Now we fee them through a glafs darkly, but then face to face; now we know in part, but then fhall we know, even as we are known, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. The Chriftian's portion is the fame in both worlds; but now he hath it in title, and there will have it in poffeffion; now he fees it afar off; then he will have it at hand, and in full enjoyment.

Whatever imperfection attends this life now, will foon be over and at an end. Tho'

faith is not fight, yet it will very quickly be turned into fight. It is as fure a prefage of the perfect light of heaven, as the morninglight is of the clear fhining of noon-day.

And this walk upon the foundation of believing, has been the walk of the excellent of the earth in every age of the world.

As many

of them as fucceffively have arrived at glory, have through faith and patience inherited the promifes," Heb. vi. 12. It is the defign of the apoftle in the whole eleventh chapter to the Hebrews, to fhew that faith conducted the principal worthies of the Old Teftament to all their commendable actions in life, and to the heavenly rewards at the end of it. And the apoftle in the text, declares, that this was the animating principle of himfelf and other fervants of God, under the New Testament; fo he had before obferved, chap. iv. 13. that. we have the fame fpirit of faith" with good men under the Mofaical difpenfation. We have the fame principle of faith to rule in us, which infpired them with all their excellencies but we have fuller difcoveries, to employ and fupport our faith; and therefore hould be ftronger in it, and perform greater things under its influence.

66

SERMON

VIII.

SERMON

Godliness; or the Chriftian Temper towards God.

2 PET. i. 6. latter part of the verse.
And to patience, godliness.

THE
Tie feveral general reprefentations:
HE chriftian fpirit has been confide red

I

would now enter upon the particular branches which constitute it; and this of godliness naturally comes firft to be treated of, or the religious regard we owe to the bleffed God. The mention of this is fo introduced in the words before us, that it will directly fuit my defign, which is to recommend it as a moft important part of that temper, to which we are called by chriftianity.

The apostle had obferved, ver. 3. what great and good things are conferred upon us by the divine power, even " all things that pertain unto life and godlinefs;" meaning probably all things pertaining to a godly life and then in ver. 4. that we have "exceeding great and precious promifes given us;" for this very end, "that by them we might be partakers of a divine (or godlike) nature." In the following verfes he preffes thofe who profeffed christianity, to purfue this end; to exercise and cultivate the various graces of the chriftain life, ver 5. &c. naí autò T8To, and befides

this; or rather, as fuch benefits, fuch promifes are given you for fuch an end; fo do ye alfo for this reafon, or in like manner, giving all diligence on your part, add, or join together as in a choir, the following excellencies, Add to your faith, to your inward perfuafion of thefe good tidings of the Gofpel, virtue, or boldnefs and refolution in maintaining faith. and a good confcience. And to virtue, knowledge; a gradual advance in the knowledge of the truths and duties of chriftianity, with which you are in fome measure already acquainted. And to knowledge, temperance; in the moderate use of the good things of this life. And to temperance, patience; in bearing chearfully the evils of life. And to patience, godliness; fuch a regard to God, as will carry you through the whole of your courfe. Here we are now to ftop, in the account which the apoftle gives of this chain of graces.

EbréCeia, which in this place, as well as in many others, is tranflated godlinefs, most strictly fignifies right worship or devotion: and on, the other hand, in. fome places it is taken fo largely, as to import the whole of practical religion, or a difpofition to univerfal goodnefs, But here I apprehend it is to be understood in a middle fenfe; neither to be confined to mere acts of worship; nor to be extended to the whole compafs of our duty; but plainly to fignify fuch a temper and behaviour towards God, as becomes his excellencies, and our relations to him; or more briefly, a difpofition to pay all proper regards to God.

It is often ufed in the fame fenfe

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