310 Talking with Wife Men, S E R M. fions ? What pretence can there be for our XII. defedts ? they had as exquifite a fenfe of pleafure, of pain, of profit, and lofs, of ho- nour and diíhonour, as we ; yet have over- come their molt violent corrupt inclinations, and overcome the world by their faith, and through the influence of the gofpel motives. Had they the afliftance of divine grace ? the fame affiftance is offered us. Did they know how to be abated, and how to abound; and were injlrucled to be full, and to be hungry; to abound, and to ter need; in every fiate to be content, as St. Paul fpeaketh of him - felf, Phil. iv. 12. who faith expreflly, at the I 3th verfe, he could do all this through ChriJl flrengthening him? The fame Lord is able and willing to ftrengthen other of his fer- vants ; he is rich unto all who call upon him, his grace is fujicient for them, and his /lrength made perfect in their weaknefs. It is farther to be obferved, to the pur- pofe of the text, that íälí the nearer the ex- ample is, the greater force it bath. The diftant report of confeffors and martyrs, their heroic atchievements and fufferings, the molt grievous perfecutions for the caufe of pure religion ; and rather than make íhipwreck of faith and a good confcience, though they are much more illuftrious, yet may
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