SEWN'''. VIII.] CHRISTIAN DILIGENCE, &C. 111 Exhortation V. " Be very watchful to answer all the engagements of your christian baptism, to guard your- selves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and to grow up into greater degrees of holiness and purity." It was a happy and successful defence, against temptations in the primitive days, when the christian could say, " I ambaptized." Let this also be the constant language of our souls ; " I am washed in the sacred laver of regene- ration, how shall I defile myself again ? I am devoted and consecrated to Christ, how shall I estrange myself from him? Forgive, O Lord, all my shameful pollutions, since I have been washed in the christian baptism, . and guard me, O blessed- Spirit, against every new de- filement, that I may be presented at last before my God and my Saviour without spot or blemish in the day of his public glory and of my complete joy. Now to him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever." Amen. SERMON VIII. CHRISTIAN DILIGENCE, WITH THE BLESSINGS THAT ATTEND IT, IN OPPOSITION TO SLOTH, SECURITY, BACI{SLIDING, &c. PROV. xiii. 4. The soul of the sluggard desireth and bath nothing ; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. SHOULD we apply these words to' labour or learning, to trade or religion, to the concerns of this life, or that which is to corne, still we shall find this sentence of So- lomon true and useful ; it is a remark well worthy ofour attention and our best improvement. The son of dili- gence considered either as a man or a christian, is in a fair way to obtain the good things he seeks : His desire shall be satisfied, his soul shall be made fat, or filled with them, he shall increase in earthly possessions, he skull
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