384 Walking by Faith, not by Sight, S E R M. mind itfelf. But when religion is made little XV, more than a pretence, and the heart is con= fcious to itfelf that the other ufes of world- ly emoluments are principal in its view, and the ruling motives to its defigns, and its di- ligence are taken from them, fuch a walk may be juftly faid, to be by fight, and not by faith; and this is the true character of all our defigns and endeavours, whether for ourfelves or others, which ultimately termi- nate in the prefent Rate. I come now, in the fecond place, to con- fider the ditetly oppofite principle, that is, faith, which giveth a quite different turn to the temper and converfation of men, and which- the apoftle reprefenteth as the ani- mating and governing principle of his own life, and the lives of all fincere chriftians ; we walk by faith, not by fight. No one that readeth the New Teflament can be ignorant of its laying great ftrefs on believ- ing as abfolutely neceffary to our accep- tance with God, and as the great principle of religion. Chriftianity itfelf, or the gofpel fcheme, as in oppofition to the law of Mops, is called faith, by the obedience of which men are juftified ; plainly intimating, that not the "performance of external rites and cerc-
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