r6 Gofpel-Gonverfaiion. where you live ; Well, whatfoever you would fain be accoun- ted of, let it be your only care, that your Converfationbe as becomes the Gofpel ofCh_rift. Oh ! this point fpeaks bitter things, and fharply rebukes the careiefnefs of the profeffors of the Gofpel in pointof their Converfation. OhLord, how have we caute to bewail the loofneffeof the profeffors of the Gofpel at this day I and I fear, that fome may be prefent whofe confciences may tell them that they are very loofe in the point of their Converfations. Thou profeffefl thou knoweft Jefus Chrifl, that the Lord hath madeknown the glorious Myf}eries of the Gofpel to thee; What is thy life ? Canft thou fay as in theprefence of God, that thy Converfation is anfwerable ? Ibefeech you as in the prefenceofGod, examin but this, fee whether thou art able to fay, Lord, thou knowefl according to what light thou haftgivenme in the Gofpel, it bath been my care to look to my Converfation, Oh that I might live to thy honor, and be a witneffe to thy truth ; that I might hold forth thy image and further thy defigns , and make up the difhonor that thou haft from others in the world ; and that I might convince wicked men, and flop the mouthes of thofe that are oppofite ; and that I might be a means to con- vert thofe that I live with, or otherwìfe to judge them ; Oh that I might rejoyce the hearts of the Saints, that they might lift up their heads with boldnefs becaufe ofme, that theymay, and fo I mightbe flablifhed and edified I Go along in the reft of the heads. Can thy confcience tell thee that thou haftdone fo ? No,but its quite contrary in fome. The Lord fpeaks now to the confciences of thofe that this point concerns, that have been negligent in the point of their Converfation, thou art the man or woman that God hath as great difhonor from, as from moll in the world, yea certainly, there is no men upon the face ofthe earth that darkens the glory of the bleffed God fo much as profeffors of Religion,who live loofly, al the prophane ones, all your drunkards that reel up and down in the ftreets, and your blafphemers,yea name what finners youwill, there is none that do darken the glorie of God fo much as thou doefl, who art loofe in thy Couverfation, and yet a profeffor of the Go- fpel,thou cafteíl dirt upon the bleffed imageof God,thou doefl as 1
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