So 43err/rum a. iulius, yea a Tully, or the molt eloquent orator in the world, could have ufed for him. Thefe words hold out a compend and fum of a Chri- rian walk, and an excellent pattern for believers ; Herein do I exercife myfelf, &c. where we have thefe three things Conti dcrable ; .Erfll The apofile's great defign and aim, viz. To have a Confcience void of offence; that he might fo walk as never to offend his Confcience, nor to give it an ill report to make of him. Secondly, The extent of this defign and aim, and that in a twofold refpeE ; i. In refpe& of the Obje &, toward God and toward men, i. e, He would do duty to both, and be found without offence to either. 2. In refped of all a&ions, companies, 'places and times ; he was fo exerci- fed always; not after a fermon or communion only, not under fame heavy crofs, or after fame notable outgate and delivery only ; but he aimed, definged, and endea, voured to be fo confrantly and equally. Thirdly, The manner of his going about this, Herein (faith he) do I exercife myfelf, i. e. it was a bufinefs that took him up, and held him ferioufly at work He was as a man,' who, fighting for his life in a Barras, or at a tingle combat,carefully handles his Arms; even fo, did he carry and behave himfelfin all things as if his life had ftood on every a&ion or word. fluff at once, and together, propofe fever al doEtrines clearly deducible from the text, the profecution where- of will help to clear both the words and the matter con- tained in them. The pit whereof its, There are many forts of offences, both toward God and toward men,that we am fábjeet and liable to. The fecond is, There is within every man a Confcience that takes noticf. of every piece of his carriage, and is ac- cordingly affected with it, and aflè &s the man for it. The third is, Whatever things are offences toward God or men, are allo attentive to the conscience ; whatever fin lirikes againui his law, wòunds the Confcience. The fourth is, It is a very good, choice and excellent thing for a believer to walk fog as to keep a Confcience al-
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