t©t SERMONS upon Serm.2 3. Do not you at leaft let fall the Majefty of your ConverCation ? A Child of God may find external Favour, as the three Children did in Babylon, by God's over - ruling Power on Men's Spirits : Prov. 16.7. When a Man's ways pleafe the Lord, he maketh his Enemies to be at peace with him. The World may doit in defign ; as Hannibal abftained from Fabian his Fields, to render him fufpelted ; or elfe to oblige by Courtefies, and gain them to their Fa&ion and Party. However, you have saute to look to your felves, it is ill to be follicited ; as a shaft Matron is troubled to be follicited to Luft. Have not you given them Come advantage ? Do not you (hare with them in their Wickednefs ? When the World's Refpe &s run out fo fairly and fmoothly towards you, you have caufe to fufpe& your felves. At leaft, take the more heed, that you do not Peek tri make your Converfation more pleating, by felting your fell to the Cuftoms and finful Courtes of Carnal Men. Vfe 2. To prefs all to avoid this Sin and Snare of Death, efpecially in thefe Times of Diffention. Oh take heed, whatever you do, whatever Differences you cherish, or whatever Party you flick to, that you be not guilty of Hatred against the Power of Godlinefs. Let not the Saints ad the Wickeds part. The fpirit of Enmity feeketh other Pretences. Hold not Communion with the wicked World, is their malignity and fpight againft God's Children. 1. It is a mark of a Child of the Devil, the exprefs Image of Satan. Thereby our Saviour convinced the Jews to be of their Father the Devil, becaufe they hated him that came from God. John 8. 40, 41. But now ye feels to kill me, a Man that have told Jon the truth, which I bave heard of God : this did not Abraham. Ye do the Deeds of your Father. And, Verf 44. re are of your Father the Devil, and the Lulls of your Father ye will do : he was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth, becanfe there is no Truth in him. And, St. john, 1 Epift. 3. so. In this the Children of God are ma- nifefï, and the Children of the Devil : whofoever doth not Righteoufnefr, is not of God, nei- ther he that loveth not his Brother. This manifefts Men to be the Children of Satan, be- caufe they love not their Brethren, as Cain loved not Abel. You exprefs the Image of Satan to the Life, when this is the ground of your hatred. a. Iris a very provoking Sin ; and it is the more provoking, becaufe we enjoy fo many Benefits by them. It is fad to hate Men for their Godlinefs, for Christ's Names fake. Look, as it is a commendation of Kindnefs on the one fide, fo it is an aggrava- fon of Injury on the other. Mat. ro. 42. Whofoever fball give to drink unto one of theft little Ones a Cup of cold Water only, in the name of a Difciple, verily I fay unto you, he fbball in no wife loft his «eward. The height of this Sin, is the Sin againft the Holy Ghost, the wilful perfecuting of the known Truth; therefore take heed, that you be notguilty of any fpice and degree of it. 3. It is- poffible for them that profefs Religion, to hate one another for their ttri&- rìefsinthat Religion. Pfeudo-Chriftians may be hot and violent; the Beast putheth with the Lamb's Horns, Rev. 53. Ifa. 66. g. Tour Brethren that hated you, that cafi you out for my Names fake, Paid, Let The Lord be glorified. Men that are Brethren, that had great pretences of Zeal, hate you for my Name's fake. Nay, the People of God may have afpice of Carnal Envy, and be guilty of Come unkindnefs, if not hatred to. their GodlBrethren. job was deeply cenfured by his Godly Friends ; and Paul by his own Hearers. r Cor. 4. l o. We are Fools for Chry's fake ; that is, in their account. Tho there be not in them that defperate hatred against the Power of Godlinefs, yet there is offence too often taken, and carried on with too great heat and animofity : Some Godly Men are too favourable to their own Interefts. 4. When there is a feeret riling of Heart againft the purity and ftri&nefs of others, Natural Malignity beginneth to Work, you had need fupprefs it betimes ; exulcerated Lulls will'.grow more tumultuous. One godly Man, may reprove another that is lea godly, reprove his Confcience by his Life, they cannot look upon themwithout shame. Let it be. an Holy Emulation, not a Carnal Envy. q. In oppofing thofe that are godly, wehad need be tender. Tale care what than doff, for this Man is a Roman, Ads 22..26. A Man that medleth with any that profefs Religion in ftri&nefs, had need go upon Cure grounds. Mat. 18.6. Whof (hall offend one of theft little Dales which believe in me, it were better for him that a Mi yione were hanged about'his Neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. Men that know the dan- ger, will not rally kick againft the Pricks. At feast, do not join with the Oppofrre eat and drink with the Drunken, and finite your fellow Servants; for the Lord of that Servant
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