the Chara5ler of his. true Difciiles. 207 felf, purfued through all its juft confequences, S E R M. will lead us up through all the degrees of IX. religious perfefti.on : And to ad the part ``'1"'"" that is neceffiry for obtaining the crown of martyrdom itfelf, there needs no more than to apply that general rule to a particular cafe fairly comprehended in it. Thus you fee what a continency and conneEtion there is in the whole frame of religion. And to rife to the greateft heights which can be at- tained in it, no more is required than a firm adherence to its eafieft and plaineft rudiments, and to build regularly on the firft principles we have learned. If it be fo, we had need to fee that the foundation be well laid ; that is, that we rightly underfland the terms upon which we enter into the chriftian prbfeflion, and dedi- cate ourfelves to the fervice of our Lord. One effential condition is contained in the text, that is, love to Chrift above all others, and a deliberate preference of him to our neareft earthly friends ; and, by parity of reafon, to whatever elfe in this world may come in competition with him for our affection and efteem. None of us can be ignorant, that this is what our Saviour indif- penfably requires. It is yet more ftrongly exprefs'd
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