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156
THE HIDI)E14
LIFE
OP
A
CHRISTIAN.
(SERM.
IL
The
christian
life
is
no
fantastic and
visionary matter,
that
consists
in
warm
imaginations, and
pretences
to in-
ward
light
and
rapture
;
it
is
a real
change
of
heart
and
practice,
from
sin
to
holiness,
and
a
turn
of
soul
from
earth
toward
heaven.
It
has been dressed up, indeed,
like
enthusiastic
foolery,
by
the impious
wits
of
men,
and
.painted for
a
subject
of
ridicule and
reproach.
Thus
the saints
and
holy
martyrs
have been clad in a
fool's
-
coat,
or
a
bear's
-skin, but they
are
still men,
and
wise
men
too
;
they
have
been dressed
up like
devils,
but
they
are
still
the
sons
of
God.
So
secret piety has
solid
rea-
son
and scripture
still on its side,
whatsoever
silly
scan-
dals
have
been cast upon
it
;
there
is
no cause, therefore,
to
be
ashamed
of
professing
it.
There
is
nothing
in all
the christian
life,
that
a man
needs to blush at. We
have
renounced
the hidden things
of
dishonesty,
knavery,
and
uncleanness, when
we
began
to
be
christians,
2
Cor.
iv.
2.
It
is
our
glory
that
we
are
alive
to
God, and
we
should
be
ashamed
of
nothing
that either
exercises
or
maintains
this
life.
None of
the
duties
of
worship,
none
of
the practices
of
godliness,
that render
religion ho-
nourable
among
men,
and
make
God
our
Saviour
ap-
pear
glorious
in
the
world, should be
neglected
by
us,
whenever
we
are
called
to
practise
or
profess them.
The
effects
of
this
hidden
life
should
not
all
be
secret,
though the springs
of
it are
so;
for christians
are
com-
manded
to
make their light
shine
before
men,
that
others
may glorify
their Father
which
is in
heaven,
v.
14,
15, 16.
The
lights
of
the
world' must not place
them-
selves
under
a
bushel,
and
be
contented
to shine there
useless
and alone
;
we
must
give
honour to God
in
pub-
lic.
And
though
we
are commanded
to
practise'such
secrecy and
self
-
denial
in
our
deeds
of
charity,
as
may
secure
us from
all
ostentation and
pride,
yet
we
must
sometimes.
make it
appear
too,
that
we do good
to
men,
that
christianity- may have
the
glory
of
it.
We
must
feed
the
hungry,
we
must clothe the naked,
we
must
love
all
nien,
even
our
enemies,
and
discover to
the
world
that
we
are
christians,
by
-
noble
and
sublime
practices of
every
virtue
and
every duty, as
far
as
it
is
possible,
even
by
the best works,
to
discover inward religion.
[This sermon.may be divided here,