zq6 The twelfth Sign PART Ill. to witnefs to it; but yet in his Practice is violent in purfuing the World, and what he gets he keeps dole, is exceeding loth to part with much of it to charitable and pious Ufes, it comes from him al- moft like his Heart's Blood. But there is another profeffing Chrif- tian, that lays not a great deal, yet in his Behaviour appears ready at all Times to forfake the World, whenever it Hands in the Way of his Duty, and is free to part with it at any Time, to promote. Reli- gion and the Good of his Fellow - Creatures ; Reafon teaches that the Latter gives far the molt credible Manifeffation of an Heart weaned from the World. And if a Man appears to walk humbly before God and Men, and to be of a Converfation that favours of a broken Heart, appearing patient and refign'd to God under Affliction, and meek in his Behaviour among{{ Men ; this is a better Evidence of Humilia- tion, than if a Perfon only tells how great a Senfe he had of his own Unworthinefs, how he was brought to lie in the Duff, and was quite emptied of himfelf, and fee himfelf nothing and all over filthy and a- bominable, E.cfc. &c ; but yet aas as if he looked upon himfelf one of the firft and belt of Saints, and by juft Right the Head of all the Chrift.ians in the Town, and is affuming, felf- willed, and impatient of the leali Contradiction or Oppofition ; we may be affured in fuch a Cafe, that a Man's Praaice comes from a lower Place in hisHeart, than his Profeffion. So ( to mention no more Inftances .) if a Pro- feffor of Chriftianity manifefis in his Behaviour a pitiful tender Spirit towards others in Calamity, ready to bear their 13urthens with them, willing to fpend his Subltance for them, and to fuffer many Incon- veniencies in his worldly Intereft to promote the Good of others Souls and Bodies ; is not this a more credible Manifeffation of a Spirit of Love to Men, than only a Man's tellingwhat Love he felt to others at certain Times, how he pitied their Souls, how his Soul was in for 'em, and how he felt a hearty Love and Pity to his Ene- mies ; when in his Behaviour he feems to be of a very felltfh Spirit, dole and niggardly, all for himfelf and none for his Neighbours, and perhaps envious and contentious ? Perfons in a Pang of Affection may think they have a Willingnefs of Heart for great Things, to do much and to fuffer much, and fo may profefs it very earnefily and confidently ; when really their Hearts are far from it. Thus many in their:affeaionate Pangs, have thought themfelves willing to be damned eternally for the Glory of God. Palling Affections eafily produce Words ; and Words are cheap ; and Godlinefs is more eafily feigned in Words than in Actions. Chriftian Praaice is a coli- ly laborious Thing. The Self-denial that is required of Chriftians, and the Narrownefs of the Way that leads to Life, don't confift in Words, but in Practice. Hypocrites may much more eafily be bro't to talk like Saints, than to act like Saints. Thus
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