Tillotson - BX5037 T451 1712 v2

52 The prefent and futureAdvantáoe Voi. II. Didmen verily and in good earneft believe but half of that to be true, which bath now been declared to you, concerning the miferable (fate of impenitent Sin- ners in another World, (and I am very fare, that the one half of that which is true concerning that (late bath not been toldyou) I fay, did we in any meafure believe what hath been fo imperfe&ly reprefented, What manner of perforas (hou!cl we all be, in all holy converfationandgodlinefr, waiting far and haflening unto (that is, making hafte to make thebell preparation we could for) the comingofthe day of God ! I will conclude all with our Saviour's Exhortation to his Difcipfes, and to all others; Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to efcape all there things, and tofland before the Son of Man : To whom, with the Father and and the Holy Ghrfl, be all honour andglory, world with out end. Amen. S I-4;RMON CXII- Theprefent and future Advantage ofan Holy and Virtuous Life. R o M. VI. 2I, 22. The Fourth What fruit hadye then in thofe things, whereof ye are non, afhamed? Srrm'n an For the end of thofe things is Death. But now being made free from this Text. Sin, and become Servants to God, ye have your fruit unto Holinefs, and the end Everlafting Life. THave feveral times told you, that the Apo(ile in thefe words makes a Compari- fon between an Holy and Virtuous, anda Sinful and vicious Courfe of Life, and fets before us the manifelt Inconveniences of the one, and the manifold Ad- vantages of the other. I have finifh'd my Difcourfe upon the Firfl Part ofthe Comparifon; the mani- feft Inconveniencesof a finful and vicious Courfe. I proceed now to the other Part of the Comparifon, which was the Second Thing I propounded to fpeak to from thefe words, via. the manifold Benefits and Advantages of an Holy and Virtuous Courfe; and that upon thefe Two accounts. Firfi, of the prefent Benefit and Advantage of it, which the Apoftle here calls Fruit, Te have your fruit unto holinefs. Secondly, In reaped of the future reward of it, and the End ever!afling Lift. So that here is a confiderable Earneft in hand, befides a mighty Recompence after- wards, infinitely beyond the proportion of our belt A&ions and Services, both in regard of the greatnefs and duration of it, everlafling Life; that is, for a few tranfient a&s of Obedience, a perfe& and immutable and endlefs (late of Happi- nefs. And thefe Two the Apoftle mentions in oppofition to the Inconveniences and Evil Confequences of a wicked and vicious Courfe; What fruit bad you then in thofe things ? &c. But before I come to fpeak to thefe Two particulars, I {hall take notice of the defcription which the Apoltle here makes, of the change from a (late of inand Vice to a hate of Holine{s and Virtue. But now being made free from fin, and be- come the fervants of God ; intimating that the (late of Sin is a flare of Servitude and Slavery, from which Repertence and the change which is thereby made does fet

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