8Oi CHRISTIAN MORALITr. honest zeal for God and religion, faking it into their head, that every doctrine besides their own is damnable heresy, and all forms of worship different from their own, are superstitious or schismatical, and abominable in the sight of God; they have, under theinfluence of these principles, kindled their passions tò a flame : and to secure the reputation of their ownparty, or vindi- cate all their principles and practices, they have made shameful inroads upon truth, even in relating matters of fact : and as Dr. Tillotson well expresses it, that the zealots of all parties have got a scurvy trick of lying for the truth ; though he confesses he has never observed any that would be so very fond of a. false report, or hug and caress a lie as the papists have done. And I wish no protestant had ever followed their example. I should proceed now to lay down rules how persons may best preserve their faithfulness to vows or engagements of any kind. But thismay be reserved to the next discourse. HyMN FOR SERMONS XX AND XXI. Christian Morality, viz. Truth, Sincerity, &c. LET those who bear the christian name Their holy vows fulfil i The saints, the followers of the Lamb, Are men of hoepur still. True to the solemn oaths they take, Though to their hurt they swear ; Constant and just to all they speak, For God and angels hear. Still with their lips their hearts agree, Nor flatteringwords devise; They know the God of truth can see Through every false disguise. They hate th' appearance of a lie, In all the shapes it wears; Firm to the truth : andwhen they die, Eternal life is theirs. Lo ! from afar the Lord descends, And brings the judgment down ; He bids his saints, his faithful friends, Rise and possess their crown. While Satan trembles at the sight, And devils wish to die, Where will the faithless hypocrite, And guilty liar fly?
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