i ;¡a 202 Diligence in Peeking Windom S E R M. eth in, it, thofe difpofitions of mind, and . VIII. that pra lice with which we mini fuppofe `"''the fupreme Being, infinitely good, and a perfe± lover of virtue, fo pleafed, that he will bellow whatever is necefiáry on his part in order to mens poffef ling that bleffed quality and endowment with the happy fruits of it. It is the greateft evidence we can give of a prevailing love to wifdom, which furely God approveth above all things, and of a readinefs to thwart and deny for its fake the love of cafe and averfion to labour, and all felfifh affe lions, which might hinder our progrefs ; the greateft evidence of a fpirit prepared to undergo all the difficulty and pains which may arife from the indolence and depravity, which every man may find in himfelf. The great qualifications which the fcriptures require (and they are all imported in diligence) for our making progrefs in religious wifdom, are, hearing, or a careful unprejudiced at- tention to divine inftru &ion, meeknefs, hu- mility, and obedience ; on thefe conditions God will give his holy fpirit, whofe good offices for our attaining wifdom and advancing even to confummate virtue, are largely ex- plained in the gofpel. Our Saviour bath a1Tared us, that his heavenly Father will give 3 his .
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