PART II1, of gracious Afe5Iions., 303, Profeffor of Chriftianity is what is commonly called an honeft Man, and a moral Man; (i. e. we have no fpecial TranfgrefEton or Iniquity to charge hiia with, that might bring a Blot on his Chara&er) is no great Evidence of the Sincerity of his Profefon. This is not making his Light Thine before Men. This is not that Work and Labour of Love 'hewed towards ohm's Frame, which gave the Apoffle fuch Perfwafion of the Sincerity of the profefing Hebrews, Heb. 6. q, 1U. It may be fo, that we may fee nothing in a Man, but that he may be a good Man, there may appear nothing in his Life and Converfation 'incon fiftent with his being godly, and yet neither may there be any great' pofitive Evidence that he is fo. But there may be great pofitive Ap- pearances of Holinefs in Men's vifible Behaviour : Their Life may appear to be a Life of the Service of God : They may appear to follow the Example of Jefus Chrift, and come up in a great Mea- fore to thofe excellent Rules in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Chapters of ,Matthew, and 12th of Romans, and many other Parts of the New- Teftament : There may be a great Appearance of their being univer- fal in their Obedience to Chrir's Commands and the Rules of the Gofpel. They may appear to be univerfal in the Performance of the Duties of the firft Table, manifefting the Fear and Loveof God : and alfo univerfal in fulfilling Rules of Love to Men, Love to Saints, and Love to Enemies ; Rules of Meeknefs andForgivenefs, Rules of Mer- cy and. Charity," and looking not only at our own Things, but allo a't the Things of others ; Rules of doing Good to Men's Souls and Bo- dies, to particular Perfons and to the Publick ; Rules of Temperance and Mortification, and of an humble Converfation ; Rules of bridling the Tongue, and improving it to glorify God and biers Men, (hewing that in their Tongues is the Law of Kindnefs. They may appear to walk as Chriftians in all Places, and at all Seafons, in the Houfe òf, God, and in their Families, and among their Neighbours, on Sab- bath Days, and every Day, in Bufinefs and in Converfation, towards Friends and Enemies, towards Superiours, Inferiours and Equals. Perfons in their vifible Walk may appear to be' very earneftly engaged in theService of God andMankind;much to labour and lay out them- felves in this Work of a Chriftian, and to be very conftant and fled- gaff in it, under all Circumttances and Temptations. There may be great Manifeftations of a Spirit to deny themfelves, and fuffer for God and Chrift, and the Intereft of Religion, and the Benefit of their. Brethren. There may be great Appearances in a Man's Walk,. ofa,., .Difpofition to forfake any Thing, rather than to forfake Chrift,and to every Thing give Place to his Honour, There may' he great. Manifeftations in a Man's Behaviour of loch Religion: as this being his Element, and of his placing the Lelight and Happinefs of his Life in it : And his Converfation mays' loch, that he may carry--with him a fweet Odour of chriftian Graces and heavenly Difpoftionf where.' ever he goes. And when it is thus in the ?rofeffors of Chriftianity, here
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