CON ED CHRISTIAN. 507 put their trust in him; but his heart never consented truly to re- duce these words to practice. When it comes to the trial, the praise or dispraise of man, and the prosperity or matters of the world, do signify more with him than the favor or displeasure of God, and cantomore with him. Christ, and riches, and esteem, he could be content with ; but he cannot away with a naked Christ alone., Therefore he is indeed a practical àtheist, even when he seemeth most religious ; for ifhe had ever taken God for his God indeed, he had certainly taken him as his portion, felicity, and all, and therefore as enough for him without the creature ; Luke xviii. 23. XXI. 1. For all this, it followeth, that a Christian indeed hath with himself devoted all that he bath to God, and so all that he hath is 'sanctified: he is only in doubt ofttimes, in particular cases, what God would have him do with himself and his estate ; but never in doubt whether they are to be wholly employed for God, in obedience to his will, as ,far as he can know it, and therefore doth estimate every creature and condition, purely as it relateth unto God and life eternal. " HOLINESS TO THE LORD " is written upon all that he bath and doth : he taketh it as sent from God, and useth it as his Master's goods and talents ; not chiefly for . himself, but. for his Master's ends and will. God appeareth to 'him in the creature, and is the life, and sweetness; and glory of the creature to him. His first question in every business heundertak- eth, or every place or condition that he chooseth, is, how it conduc- eth to the pleasing of God, and to his spiritual ends ; " whether he eateth or drinketh, or whatever he doth, he doth all to the glory of God ;" 1 Cor. x. 31. The posy engraven on his heart is the name of GOD, with" OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM, ARE ALL THINGS : TOHIM BE GLORY FOR EVER, AMEN;" Rom. xi. 36. He liveth as a steward that useth not his own,' though yet he have a sufficient reward for his fidelity; and he keepeth accounts both of receivings and layings out, and reckoneth all to be worse than lost, which he findeth not expended,on his Lord's account. For himself, he asketh not that which is sweetest to the flesh, but that which is fittest to his end and work ; and therefore desireth not riches, (for himself,) but his daily bread, and food convenient for him ; and having food and rai- ment is therewith content, having taken godlinessfor his gain. He asketh not for superfluity, nor for any thing to consume it on his lusts, nor to; become provision for his flesh, to satisfy the wills thereof. But as a runner in his race desireth not any provisions which may hinder him ; andtherefore " forgetting the things which are behind, (the world which he hath turned his back upon,) he reacheth forth to the things which are before, (the crownof glory,)
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