Mr.Lyesfecond ..sermtm, Aug. 17. 29 all the Philiftings come, what cares he, he is able to conquer them all. 'Tis thefilefi condition. A man that delerts his principles, is a /lave to every condition, afraid of every humour, of every Af. pine leaf in the world, thinks all thofe are informers that converfe with him, is aft aid of fomepromooter or other. But he that ftands fart, where the fpirit ofGod is,there is liberty and freedom: (itch a man in chains, as 'Paul at Rome is in a far ft eer condition then other s not in that reftraint. Well then, 'tis rational that you ftan4, but it may be your lufts and interelts can hardly fwallow there things : if we fiand we (hall not fall, 113 Sr, if you do not ftand, be Pure you than fall a: lair. The next thing I would do, is to apply this tri,th. Is it the most important duty of all fincere profeffors, in the mote fhakin lea ons, to fond fteadiaft in the Lord. Then Firft, by way ofLamentation, and that i.. Over our own Souls. 2. Over hundreds ofCongregations. Lord, mull, dowe fayhundreds, nay thoulands ofCongrega tions, that al e this day, though they do not accompanyus in per fon,yet mingling tears with us, and efpecialiy as I hear, one the Weft of England. a. Over our hearts. We muff frand5.that'sourduty. Oh ! how. (hould it cattle us to lie low, by reafon of the inftability of our hearts, and their curled declining from the true foundation eve- ry day. Alas belo.ed, this is that,that God complainsof, They are gene,rationWhofi fpirit is not fledfaft, with God ; and therefore we have very muckrealon to complain of it Oh ! that this fin might be forgiven : Oh ! what an unfetled eople have we been, to day we have been apt to cry Holanna, Hofanna to the Sonof David ; to morrow our note is changed, crucifie him crucifie him, give te Brra® b41., to day the Lord is God, to morrow Baal ? any thing is God, provided we may keep our Eitates. Oh Lord! what wilt thou dowith filch a pewle as this ? certainly it is a lementation and ought-to be a lamentation. Believe it beloved / can now count feven years, ifnot fornething more, wherein I have molt clel.rly expated thedayes I now fee : no way, but the fevereft wayes to be taken with fuelt a falfepeople as we have been. Judge in your own thoughts, whether we have been true to God or Man, to Saints or Sinners, to the Church of Godat home, or abroad whether or no thisbe not matter of Lamentation. 2. With refi: ett to your Congregations. Cris not a ga,inft the Law
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