SERM. XXvI.' TEMPERANCE, &C. 443 that flow from God, and from his covenant; and there- fore should not be over-solicitous about pleasing their meaner appetites. Those that indulge themselves in carnal delicacies, and make enquiry for the pleasures of the flesh, as the main business of life, what shall I eat, and what shall I drink? Those that, live in a round of sensuality, they debase their souls, make themselvesunfit for the duties and pleasures of a Christian, unfit for di- vine communications, for holy fellowship, heavenly me- ditation, and lively exercises of faith, upon unseen things ; they damp their zeal for God, blunt their relish for religious delights, and are perpetually defiling their own consciences. These are they that make their God their belly, while they profess to be Christians. But the apostle, in Phil. iii. 18, 19, tells us, whatsoever they profess, " they are enemies of the cross of Christ, and I cannot speak of it, says he, without weeping." Now if there be any such sinners amongst us, such sla'ves;to a paltry appetite, that make it a business of too solemn and solicitous enquiry, " howwe shall regale the palate, and gratify the taste :" If there are any of us that know not how to forbid ourselves a savoury or luscious dish, even though we know or expect it will discom- pose the flesh or the mind: If we have not temperance enough to deny the superfluous or excessive glass, when it comes to our turn, nor virtue and courage enough to re- fufe it, let us take our share in the reproofs of this dis- course; and let us remember that we have had fair warn- ing this day from the word of God, that we may not drown our souls in sensual indulgences, and make our- selves unfit for the duties of life, , or for the business or thejoy of heaven. HYMN FOR SERMON XXVI. CHRISTIAN MORALITY, viz. TEMPERANCE. LONG METRE'. IS it a man's divinest good, To make his soul a slave to food ? Vile as the beast whose spirit dies, And has rio hope above the skies? Can meats or choicest wines procure Delights that ever shall endure, Was I not born''above the swine, And shall I make their pleasures mine?
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