SERMON XXII. 307 But we though we are wretchedly unfaithful ourselves, yet are slow and backward to forgive. We have been guilty of many failures in thy covenant, and our everlasting hopes had been utterly lost, if thy covenanthad not stood firmer on thy side than it has on ours. Blessed be the name of Jesus, our glorious ,Surety, our Advocate at thy right-hand, to whom thy promises were first given ! I-Ie has fulfilled all his sacred engagements : Thy faithfulness to him can never fail : in him are all our hopes established; by his grace we are kept from an utter renouncing of thy covenant, thoughwe have so often wretchedly failedin the performance of it. Glory, honour, and praise be given to a faith- MI God, to a kind and faithful Mediator." I come now to propose a rule or two for the preservation of our constancy, which is the third part of truth or integrity ; and to give some directions how we may keep the whole course of our life consistent with itself, and agreeable to our profession. L Fix your great and general end, your chief and ever- lasting design, and keep it ever in your eye : then you will cer- tainly be more regular and uniform in all your particular practi- ces. Set your face towards heaven betimes. Let it be the most solemn and unalterable business of your lives to please God on earth, in order to enjoy him in heaven, and then you will not be easily tempted'aside by the flatteries or the terrors of this world, to go astray and wander in the paths that lead to hell. Give yourselves up to Christ both in secret and in public. Devote yourselves to him, to his fear, and love, and service, in your pri- vate retirements, and solemnize your obligations to him among the churches of his saints. See that you are an inward christian, and declare to the world, that you are a follower. of Christ. Mix with the sheep of his flock, and you will find many advantages thereby to secure your truth and constancy. When a tempta- tion comes tomake you act like the sinners of this world, tell the world, and tell your own heart, that you are a christian, and you must pursue heaven. II. Get above the fear of the world, and the shame of pro- fessing strict godliness. It is sinful shame, or sinful fear, that has a thousand times tempted theprofessors of the name of Christ, to be false to their"profession, to act unbecoming their character, and inconsistent with christianity. It is from acertain feeblenes's and cowardice of soul that they desire, at anycost, to keep well svith all men, and areafraid, sorelyafraid, to be out of the fashion, or unconformable to this world : therefore they venture upon some practice in company,that their hearts would abhor, if they were alone i Therefore they indulge many sinful compliances; sometimes they countenance the lewd and the profane, they join in
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=