and other Duties, recommended. 285 would Phew them his glory, and teach them S E R M. his way. The apoftle reprefenteth to us XI. the genuine fpirit of a chriftian, in the ac- `'`° count he giveth of himfelf, molt worthy of our imitation, Phil. iii. 52, &c. Not as tho' I had already attained, or were already per - feJl ; but I follow after, that I may appre- hend that for which I am alfo apprehended of Chrift 7efus. Brethren, I count not myfelf to have apprehended ; but this one thing I do, forgetting thofe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrilf yefus. If this be the temper of our minds, it will incline us to a daily attendance at the gates of wifdom, that is, a daily ufe of the appointed means for our increafe in know- ledge and virtue. There is a rich treafure of important truth in the facred oracles, which, by fearching and a regular diligence in the ufe of appointed means, may be found out, and ufefully applied for our advancing to perfection in religious virtue ; and the di- vine Spirit, who prefideth over means, and gives them efficacy, interpófeth by his gra- cious influence, co-operating with the facred inftitutions, whereby they become effectual ; which being the earneft expetation and hope of
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