of T tnporal PeelR s. 335 oppofed, not to honey on the part of the S E R M. poffeffor, but to the true riches. The corn- XII. parifon is between the goods of fortune, as ''.0 they are called, riches, honour, power, health, ftrength, and all other temporal advantages and conveniencies of the prefent life, which are given promifcuoufly to men of whatever characters, good or bad ; between thefe, I fay, and the fpecial bleffings which are pro - mifed to the fincere, the gifts of grace, the forgivenefs of fins, the illumination, the affifl- once and joy of the holy ghoff, and eternal life, all fummed up in the favour of God and the privileges of his kingdom : and the former are declared to be lea (t, the other, much ; the former, the deceitful mammon, the other, true riches. Now this judgement given by our Saviour, muff be fuppofed to be affented to by all the children cf light, that is, all truly religious perfons ; it is with them a fundamental principle, amounting to no more than this, that there is a reality and a gain in godlinefs, that the concerns of the foul are infinitely preferable to thofe of the body, and the happinefs of an immortal (tale much more to be valued than prefent enjoy- ment. If it be not fo, religion is to be given up as mere -vanity and an empty dream, the in(truCtion of wifer atheifm is to be heard and
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