laERM.-XXa1 t8RT5TIAN. MOaALiTY, óCC. j$g proaches theycan upon the doctrine of the cross, .may not be ,able to find any flaw in your conversation, or any ground to slander the doctrine which you profess. The, rule is this, whatsoever the light of nature,. and the better sort of heathens, esteem true and honest, or decent, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good re- port, let these things be your meditation, let these, be your constant aim and design, let these be the business of your lives, and your perpetual practice ; Think of these things, says the apostle, and think of them .so as to per form them. . In a day wherein .the professors of christianity, and of the glorious doctrines of the gospel, grow degenerate and loose in their lives, and fall sometimes..into vices, which the better sort of the heathens have utterly condemned, I think it may not be amiss to stir you up together with myself to all holy watchfulness and caution ; that Christ- ianity in our profession and:in, our practice may appear and .shine in its own bright raiment : that the doctrine of God our Saviour may be adorned in all things, and that it may look, as it is indeed . in itself; a..doctrine according to godliness.. Without any further preface, or division of the words, I shall take these several sentences, in the text, as so ma- ny distinct characters of morality, or virtue, which the apostle recommends ; and in discoursing ofeach ofthem, I shall follownearly the same method, viz. . I. Shew the sense, latitude, and extent of the duty. IL Make it .appear, that these duties are required by the law of nature. III. Discover what additional influence the gospel should have upon our consciences to the meditation and performance ofsuch duties ; and sometimes, IV. I shall give directions toward the performance of them, and guard against the 'contrary sins. Whatsoever things are true, The first thing that the apostle mentions is this, what- soever things are true, let these be our meditation, and our practice. First, let me shew the sense, latitude, and extent of this advice. Truth in general lies in a conformity of one thing to 60me other which is made the standard or rule of it. So ,
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