246 ,,Ì. ireEtions forgetting and keeping 4be1i facrifice was of the belt, and it was accepted : And God faith to Cain, If thoudoweIl, fhalt not thou beaccepted ? Seenng this is fo, let meadvife you ; Take it not for a c, .mity, but for a precious advantage, whenGod calls thee to hazardous coftly fervice, which is like to coil thee much of thy eftate, to colt thee the lofs of thy chiefeil friends, the lofs of thy credit, the in- dignation of Great ones, or the painfulleft dili- gence and trouble ofbody : Shift it not off, but take this opportunity thankfully,left thou never have fuch another for the clearing of thy fincerity, and the obtaining of more then ordinary .Confolations from God : Thouhaft now a prize in thy hand for fpiricual riches, if thou have but a heart to improve it. I knowall this is a paradox to the unbelievingworld : But here is the very excellencyof the ChriftianRe- ligion, and the Glory ofFaith. It looks for its great- e l fpoyls, and richeft prizes from its Conquefts of flefhly Intere[is : It is not only able to do it, but it expeeteth its advancement and confolations by this w)y. It is engaged in a war with theworld and flefh; and in this war it plays not the vapouring fencer,that feems todomuch, but never.ftrikes home, as Hypo- critesand carnal worldly Profeffors do: but he laysit home and fpares not , as one that knows, That the flefhes ruine mull behis riling, & the flefhes thriving would behis Ruine.In thefe things the true Chriftian alone is ingood fadnefs, andall the ref/ of the world but in jell. The Lord pity poor deluded fouls ! You may fee by this one thing,/how rare a thing true Chriftianity is among the Multitude that take them - felves for Chriians ! and how certain therefore it is
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