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offer God the service of each day; by 1 studying, in short, to please him in his whole conduct.a

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Can we doubt, my brethren, what will be the end of these things?

They who " forget God," will have their portion only in this life. They may, by toil and care, heap up to themselves possessions, and, in the judgment of the thoughtless, who look only to outward circumstances, may be fortunate and happy : but what will be their condition in the next world? not only the wicked-the worst of sinners-shall be turned into hell, but all the people also that forget God: while they who "set God always before them," looking up to their Saviour as their master, and studying to please him in the ordinary business of their daily calling, will hear this welcome sentence pronounced upon them, "Well done, good. and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"."

• Matt. xxv. 23.

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SERMON IX.

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT THE EVIDENCE OF

OUR DWELLING IN GOD.

1 John iv. 13.

Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

IT is a natural and a reasonable wish, to be desirous of knowing whether we partake of the blessings promised by Christ to his servants; for this is, in other words, to be desirous of knowing whether we are sincere in the profession of our religion; whether we are Christians in spirit and in truth, as well as in name.

Now Christ has plainly and distinctly promised, that the assistance of the Holy Spirit shall be given to all who pray for it earnestly, and use their best endeavours to do their duty faithfully in the state of life,

to which they have been called by Al

mighty God.

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It becomes therefore an object well worthy of a Christian's care and attention, to enquire, in lowliness of heart, whether he possesses this proof of his Saviour's approbation; whether he may take to himself the comfort of believing that the Holy Spirit dwelleth with him.

The only rule of judging is that given by our Redeemer, "A tree is known by its fruits." What fruits then What fruits then may be ex

pected from those who are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? St. John points out one of these fruits in the verse which goes immediately before the text; "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us."

And when we consider how liable those are to selfishness, who look not beyond the present moment, and turn a deaf ear to the instructions which the Bible offers, we may be readily led to believe, that a contrary disposition will proceed from a contrary course of acting.

But love towards our fellow-creatures,

a Matt. vii. 16-20.

when guided by the rules of the Gospel, has something so generous and noble in its aim and object, that it may, on this account, be justly reckoned among "those good and perfect gifts which are from above, and come down from the Father of lights."

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Let us then consider, how this disposition will shew itself in our daily behaviour. We cannot pursue this enquiry more profitably, than by looking to the different relations mankind bear to each other, as members of the society to which they belong.

I. The first relation is that which subsists between husbands and wives.

Now what can point out more forcibly the duty of loving each other, than the very words which, doubtless under the instruction of Almighty God, were uttered by Adam, and which the Lord Jesus has mentioned with approbation; "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.'

↳ James i. 17.

• Gen. ii. 24. Matt. xix. 15.

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