the Character of his true Difciples. 223 for nothing, according to St. yames's ac- S E R M. count, chap. ii. io. IX. Thus it appears, that a fuperior love to `'vim Chrift, loving him more than father, or mother, brethren or lifters, any worldly intereft, and even life itfelf ; that this, I fay, is abfolutely neceffary to our being worthy of Chrift, or his fincere and accepted difciples. It remains now that we make force ap- plication of this fubjet : Which may be the better done, becaufe our Saviour him - feif has gone before us, in applying it, to one of the higheft and molt difficult points, in the practice of religion, that is, to the cafe of fuffering perfecution. It rnuft be acknowledged a very fevere trial to be in a Rate of enmity with one's neareft relations, and for a man to have his foes, th f of his own houfe, continually treating him ill, and ready to betray him, and deliver him up to the molt grievous fufferings. This is the cafe fuppofed : And how fhall a chrifl.ian fupport himfelf in it ? There is no principle that will bear him out,' but a fuperior affec- tion to Chrift : And this, if it be ftrong enough, will do it eff dually. It is true, the friendfhip of relations is very def-.rable ; as
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