Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

204 Of Believing in 7efus Chr. S R R M. ing mixed with faith in them that heard it; VII. and at the i ith verfe, we are exhorted to `'`v"--) labour that we may enter into his re, ft, le any man fall after the Jame example of unbelief. And, in general, the apof}le giveth this direc- tion, chap. iii. 12. Take heed, brethren, left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbe- lief, in departing from the living God ; which lheweth the malignity of that fin, and how comprehenfive it is, for it taketh in all the ways of departing from God, and they are very various. It remaineth now, my brethren, that we make an application of all this to ourfelves, and indeed' there is nothing which concerneth us more. To us the word of falvation is fent, and we have received this commandment, that we believe on the name of the fon of God; let us try what obedience we have given to it. It confifteth chiefly, not in the exercife of the underftanding any farther than as we are obliged to ufe diligence that we may know the truth ; but in the affections and difpofitions pf the heart, in a fincere love of the truth, and that univerfal purity to which it tendeth to form the tempers and the converfations of men. Let us examine whether thefe are the prevailing difpofitions of our minds, and ufe proper endeavours to get our defec`fs in them amended ;

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