PACT II. - SERMON XVI. 237 2. Defile not your christian conversation with sinful prac- tices. Indulge not a conformity to this present evil world in any of the corrupt and unlawful customsand courses of it. Mingle not your practice of the lovely duties which this gospel enjoins, with lying, and slandering, and railing ; do not interline your lives with religion and sin, with devotion and shameful lusts. It it gospel that forbids all iniquity, it requires that you mortify sinand cleanse yourselvesfrom every defilement offleshand spirit, and that you go on to perfect holiness in thefear of the Lord; 2 Cor. vii. 1. The very design and end of it in God's eternal counsels and contrivance, is, that you might be holy, and eithoht blame before him in love; Eph. i. 4. If you pursue this advice, then shall others, who behold you, confess that there is some- thing divine in christianity, when you thus adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour. Thus yougive the gospel its due honour by believing all it reveals, by worshipping according to the me- thods of its appointment, and by that purity of conversation whichit enjoins. 3. Make notthe lessercircumstancesand appendages of your religion the matter of loud contest, and a party -strife. We are called to contend earnestly for the great and necessary doctrines offaith, which were once delivered to the saints: But we are commanded also toreceive those that are weak in thefaith, with- out involving them in doubtful disputations about matters of less moment. Give no occasion to the infidel to blaspheme the gospel by your factions and quarrels, and the rage of a bitter and un- sanctified zeal. Oh that the time were come, when the wolf and lamb shall lie down together, and there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain! But surely, it is very hard if the lambs themselves, who belong to the flock of Christ, cannot live without hurting and destroying one another.; that christians cannot live without exposing their divine and heavenly religion to the blasphemies of sinful men. Happy were the christian world, ifwe could all behave ourselves so as never to give occasion to the adversary to reproach the professors of the christian faith, nor throw shame and dishonour upon the gospel of Christ! May the blessed Spirit of God teach us this lesson effectually, and let it be copied out in our lives daily, till we arrive at the regions of perfectholinessand love ! Amen.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=