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All these Graces must be attender Chap. 14.

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Christ (m); whom if you truly love, you will also love all those, whom you have Reason to believe to be His Disciples and Servants.

21. If you be yourselves indeed of that Number, you will also put on Bowels of Mercy (n). The Mer cies of GoD, and those of the blessed Redeemer, will work on your Heart, to mould it to Sentiments of Compassion and Generosity, so that you will feel the Wants and Sorrows of others; you will desire to believe their Necessities, and as you have an Opportunity, you will do Good, both to their Bodies and their Souls: expressing your kind Affections in suitable Actions, which may both evidence their Sincerity, and render them effectual.

§. 22. As a Christian, "you will also maintain Truth inviolable, not only in your solemn Testimonies, when confirmed by an Oath, but likewise in common Conversation. You will remember too, that your Pro mises bring an Obligation upon you, which you are by no Means at Liberty to break through. On the whole, you will be careful to keep a strict Correspondence be tween your Words and your Actions, in such a manner as becomes a Servant of the God of Truth.

§. 23. Once more, As amidst the strictest Care to observe all the Divine Precepts, you will still find many Imperfections on Account of which you will be obliged to pray, that GOD would not enter into strict Judgment with you, as well knowing that in His Sight you cannot be justified (o); you will be careful not to judge others in such a Manner as should awaken the Severity of His Judgment against yourself (p). You will not, therefore, judge them pragmatically, that is, when you have nothing to do with their Actions; nor rashly, without enquiring into Circumstances; nor partially, without weighing them attentively and fairly; nor uncharitably, putting the worst Construction upon Things in their own. Nature dubious, deciding upon Intentions as Evil farther than they certainly appear to be so; pronouncing on the State of Men, or on the whole of their Character from any particular Action, and involving the Innocent with the Guilty. There is a Moderation con. trary to all these Extremes, which the Gospel recom. mends;

(m) 1 Cor. i. 2.

(n) Col. iii. 12. (p) Psal. cxliii, 2. (p) Matt. vii. 1, 2.

Chap. 14.

with other general Qualifications.

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mends; and if you receive the Gospel in good Earnest into your Heart, it will lay the Ax to the Root of such Evils as these.

§. 24. Having thus briefly illustrated the principal Branches of the Christian Temper and Character, I shall conclude the Representation, with reminding you of 66 some general Qualifications, which must be mingled "with all, and give a Tincture to each of them; such as, "Sincerity, Tenderness, Zeal, and Prudence??

§. 25. Always remember, "that Sincerity is the very "Soul of true Religion." A single Intention to please GOD, and to approve ourselves to Him, must animate and govern all that we do in it. Under the Influence of this Principle you will impartially enquire into every Intimation of Duty, and apply to the Practice of it so far as it is known to you, Your Heart will be engaged in all you do. Your Conduct in private and in secret, will be agreeable to your most public Behaviour. A Sense of the Divine Authority will teach you, to esteem all GOD's Precepts concerning all Things to be right, and to hate every false Way (q).

§. 26. Thus are you in Simplicity and godly Sincerity to have your Conversation in the World (r). And “you 66 are also to charge it upon your Soul, to be stedfast "and immoveable, always abounding in the Work of the "Lord (s)." There must not only be some sudden Fits and Starts of Devotion, or of something which looks like it, but Religion must be an habitual and permanent Thing. There must be a Purpose to adhere to it at all Times. It must be made the stated and ordinary Busi ness of Life. Deliberate and presumptuous Sins must be carefully avoided; a Guard must be maintained against the common Infirmities of Life; and Falls of one Kind or of another, must be Matter of proportionable Humi. liation before Gop, and must occasion renewed Reso. lution for His Service. And thus you are to go on to the End of your Life, not discouraged by the Length and Difficulty of the Way, nor allured on the one Hand, or terrified on the other, by all the various Temptations which may surround and assault you. Your Soul must be fixed on this Basis, and you are still to behave your self

(9) Psal, çxix. 198. (r) 2 Cor... 12. (s) 1 Cor. xv. 58.

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The Qualification of this Temper.

Chap. 14 self as one who knows he serves an unchangeable God, and who expects from Him a Kingdom which cannot be moved (t).

§. 27. Again, So far as the Gospel prevails in your Heart, your Spirit will be tender, and the Stone will be "transformed into Flesh." You will desire, that your Apprehension of Divine Things may be quick, your Affections ready to take proper Impressions, your Con science always easily touched, and on the Whole, your Resolutions pliant to the Divine Authority, and cordially willing to be, and to do, whatever God shall appoint. You will have a tender Regard to the Word of God, a tender Caution against Sin, a tender Guard against the Snares of Prosperity, a tender Submission to Gon's afflicting Hand: In a word, you will be tender wherever the Divine Honour is concerned; and careful, neither to do any Thing yourself, nor to allow any Thing in another, so far as you can influence, by which GoD should be offended, or Religion reproached.

ance.

1. 28. Nay more than all this, you will, so far as true Christianity governs in your Mind," exert an holy Zeal ❝in the Service of your Redeemer and your Father." You will be zealously affected in every good Thing (u), in Proportion to its apprehended Goodness and ImportYou will be zealous, especially, to correct what is irregular in yourselves, and to act to the uttermost of your Ability for the Cause of God. Nor will you be able to look with an indifferent Eye on the Conduct of others in this View; but so far as Charity, Meekness, and Prudence will admit, you will testify your Disapprobation of every Thing in it, which is dishonourable to GoD, and injurious to Men. And you will labour, not only to reclaim Men from such Courses, but to engage them to Religion, and to quicken them in it.

§. 29. And once more, You will desire to use the Prudence which God hath given you," in judging what is, in the present Circumstances, your Duty to GoD, your Neighbour, and yourself; what will be, on the whole, the most acceptable Manner of discharging it, and how far it may be most advantageously pursued; as remembering, that he is indeed the wisest and the (u) Gal, iv. 18.

(1) Heb. xii. 28.

Chap. 14. A Review of all in a Scriptural Prayer. 139

the happiest Man, who by constant Attention of Thought discovers the greatest Opportunity of doing Good, and with ardent and animated Resolution breaks through every Opposition, that he may improve those Opportunities.

§. 30. This is such a View of the Christian Temper, as could conveniently be thrown within such narrow Limits! and I hope, it may assist many in the great and important Work of Self-Examination. Let your own Conscience answer, how far you have already attained it, and how far you desire it; and let the principal Topics here touched upon be fixed in your Memory and in your Heart, that you may be mentioning them before GoD in your daily Addresses to the Throne of Grace, in order to receive from Him all necessary Assistances for bringing them into Practice.

A PRAYER, chiefly in Scripture Language, in which the several Branches of the Christian Temper are more briefly enumerated in the Order laid down above.

B LESSED GOD, I humbly adore Thee, as the (6 great Father of Lights, and the Giver of every E0% good and every perfect Gift (x). From Thee therefore "I seek every Blessing, and especially those which lead 66 me to Thyself, and prepare me for the eternal En "joyment of Thee. I adore Thee, as the GOD, who "searches the Hearts, and tries the Reins of the Children "of Men (y). Search me, O GOD, and know my Heart; "try me and know my Thoughts: See if there be any "wicked Way in me, and lead me in the Way everlast“ing (z). May I know what Manner of Spirit I am "of (a), and be preserved from mistaking, where the "Error might be infinitely fatal!

"May I, O Lord, be renewed in the Spirit of my "Mind (b)! A new Heart do Thou give me, and a new Spirit do Thou put within me (c)! Make me "Partaker of a Divine Nature (d); and as He who "hath called me is Holy, may I be Holy in all Manner

(x) Jam. i. 17.

(y) Jer. xvii. 10.

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(z) Psal. cxxxix. 23, 24. (b) Eph. iv. 23.
(a) Luke ix. 55.
(c) Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

(d) 2 Pet. i. 4.

140 A Prayer in Scripture Language,

Chap. 14. "of Conversation (e). May the same Mind be in me, "which was also in Christ Jesus (f); may I so walk even as He walked (g)! Deliver me from being carnally "minded, which is Death; and make me spiritually minded, since that is Life and Peace (h)! And may I, " while I pass through this World of Sense, walk by "Faith, and not by Sight (i), and be strong in Faith, "giving Glory to GOD (k).

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"May Thy Grace, O Lord, which hath appeared "unto all Men, and appeared to me, with such glorious Evidence and Lustre, effectually teach me to deny "Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly (1)! Work in my Heart that "Godliness, which is profitable unto all Things (m); and "teach me, by the Influence of Thy blessed Spirit, to "love Thee, the Lord my GOD, with all my Heart, "and with all my Soul, and with all my Mind, and "with all my Strength (n). May I yield myself unto "Thee, as alive from the Dead (0); and present my Body "a living Sacrifice, holy, and acceptable in Thy Sight, which is my most reasonable Service (p)! May I en"tertain the most faithful and affectionate Regards to the blessed Jesus, Thine incarnate Son, the Bright"ness of Thy Glory, and the express Image of Thy Person (q)! Though I have not seen Him, may I love Him: and in Him, though now I see Him not, yet believing, may I rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory “(r): And may the Life which I live in the Flesh, "be daily by the Faith of the Son of GOD (s)! May I "be filled with the Spirit (t); and may I be led by it(u); and so may it be evident to others, and especially to Soul, that I am a Child of GOD, and an "Heir of Glory! May I not receive the Spirit of Bondage unto Fear, but the Spirit of Adoption, whereby I "may be enabled to cry Abba, Father (x)! May He "work in me, as the Spirit of Love, and of Power,

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(e) 1Pet. i. 15.
(f) Phil. ii. 5.
(g) 1 John ii. 6.
(h) Rom. viii. 6.
(i) 2 Cor. v. 7.

(u) Rom.

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