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SERM-.
II.j
INWARD WITNESS
TO
CHRISTIANITY.
Ig
and
changes
the
whole
nature
into
holiness.
Christianity
refines
the soul in all
the powers
of
it,
and
inclines
us
to
the duties both
of
the
first
and second
table;
it
writes
the
law
of God
'in
the
heart, and
brings the soul
to
a
sweet
compliance therewith.
All
the affections
are
re-
newed;
all old things
are done
away
and
all
things
are
become new
;
he
that
is
in
Christ
is a
new
creature
;
he
has crucified the
flesh,
with its affections
and
lusts,
2
Cor.
v. 17.
Gal.
v.
24.
Surely
there
is
a
spirit and
power
that
accompanies
the religion
of our Lord
Jesus,
such
as
other
religions
know
not;
and
this
was
manifest
abundantly
in
the
pri-
mitive christians, when those wretches were
converted,
whose
names were
once.
written
in
that
black
catalogue
that the
apostle speaks
of,
1
Cor.
vi.
9. when they, by
the light
of
the
gospel, were
purified, were
purged
from
their
defilements,
and were
made new
creatures.
The
apostle could
appeal
to
the
Corinthian church,
and
say,
so vile
and
filthy
were some
of
you,
but
ye
are
washed;
but
ye
are
sanctified,
but
ye
are
justified,
in
the name
of
the
Lord Jesus, and
by
the Spirit
of
our,
God,
1
Cor.
11.
Not
in.,the
names
of
other
gods,
and
other reli-
gions,
but
in
the name
of
the
Lord Jesus, and
by
the
Spirit
of
our
God. Philosophy
was
raised
to
a 'great
height
in
the
city
of.
Corinth;
it
was
almost enough
for
a
man
to
be
accounted learned, to
have been
in'
that
city, and to have known a
little
of
the
customs
of
it
yet
all
their' learning
was
not
sufficient to :reform
them,
for
they were a profligate
and
lewd
people
still.
But
the religion
of
our Lord Jesus Christ breaking
in
upon
their
souls,
purified, refined them,
and made
such
an
alteration
in
them,
that
the world beheld,
and were
amazed
at
the surprizing
change.
They thought
it
strange
that
the
christians
would
not
run
with them
to
the same excess
of
riot,
1
Pet.
iv.
4.
They
were
asto-
nished
to see
a
drunkard at
once
turn sober and tempe-
rate;
a
lewd
unclean wretch,
by
hearing
the gospel,
be-
come a
professor and
an example
of chastity;
a cruel
and passionate
temper
made
calm,
and
kind,
and for-
giving;
a swine
forsake the
mire,
and
put
on the
nature
of
a
cleanly animal
;
a
dog
or a
lion
changed'into
a
lamb.
This
wrought conviction with power
:
This
was
miracle
c2