Bates - BT775 B274 1675

in e®ttttíbíng tictrV .Cb tiHptiott> W 197 di&ion of the Magiftrate. But the Law ofChrift re- Chap, 16. forms thepowers of the Soul,and all the molt fecret and L/-v---NJ inward motions that depend upon them. It forbids the firft irregular impreflions of the carnal appetite. We mutt hate fin in all its degrees, ftrangle it in the birth, deftroy it in the conception. We are enjoyned to fly the appearances and acceffes of evil ; what-ever is of a fufpicious nature, and not fully co_ nfiftent with the pu- rityofthe Gofpel, and what-ever invites to fin and ex- pofes us to the power of it, becomes vicious and mull be avoided. That glorious purity; that thall adorn the Churchwhen our Redeemer prefents it without fpot or hf s 17 wrinkle, or any fuch thing, every Chriftian mutt afpire to in this Life. In fhort, the , Gofpel commands us to be Holyas God isHoly,who,is infinitely diftant from the lull I Pet. I. T%' conceivable pollution. a. The Precepts of Chrift contain all folid fubftan- tial goodnefs,that is efI'entiall.ynecefi'ary in order toour fupreme Happinefs,and prepares us for theLife of Hea- ven.' In his Sermon on the Mount,He commends to us Humility, Meeknefs, and Mercy, Peaceablenefs and Patience, and doing good for evil, which are fo many beams ofGods Image, the reflections of his Goodnefs upon intelligent Creatures. Andthat camprehenfrve precept ofthe Apoftledefcribesthe Duties of all Chri- stians : whatfoever things are true Truth is the princi- Phil. 4. s. pal character ofour profeílion, and is to be expreft in our Words and Anions : whatfoever thing are hone(t, or venerable ; that is, anfwer the dignity ofour High-cal- ling, and agree with thegravity and comelinefs of the Chriftianprofeflion : whatfoever things arejuft,according to Divine and Humane Laws : wh tfoever things are pure; we mutt preferve the Heart,the Hand,the Tongue, the Eye,from impurity : whatfoevcr things are lovely and ofgood report; fome Graces arc amiable and attraolive in Q(1 the

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