SERMON XXV. `351 teousness and trueholiness. Therefore are we purchased with the bloodof Christ, that we might be a peculiar peeple, zealousof good works ; Tit. ii. 14. It is a shame and scandal to the christian name, when one who wears it is unrighteous or dishonest. An unjust christian, what a contradiction is it in itself, and how it disgraces the pro- fessionof the gospel ! Hear how the great apostle treats his Corinthian disciples when such sort ofsins were found amongst. them ; 1 Cpr. vi. 1 -8. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust man and the infidel. Dare anyofyou injure your neighbour, yourfellow-christian? I speak this to your shame. Brother goes to lawwith brother, and ye injure one another. Why do not you rather safer wrong? nay, you do wrong, and defraud, and that your own brethren. But what is the consequence? Such wretches as these are, shall never inherit the kingdomof God. Thegrace of God that bringeth salvation ; Tit. ii.. 9, 10. teachethus to deny ungodliness andworldly lusts, and to livesoberly and righteously, and religiously, in this present evil world. It teacheth us righteousness towards men, as well as sobriety among'ourselves, and godliness towards the King of heaven. But how hath this divine religion been scandalized for want of justice in the professorsof it ! Scandalized among heathen king- doms, among Turks and unbelievers ! and christianity in our own land, how bath it been dishonoured by the practices of those that pretend to that holy name ! How bath the conversion of wild heathens in theIndian nations been hindered by the injustice and fraud of christian merchants and traders there, or by mer- chants who call themselves christians. I have heard it said by persons whom I could fully credit, that a Turkwhen he is sus- pected of fraud and cheating, will reply, " What, doyou think I am a christian ?" O howhath the gospel of the lovely Jesus been rendered odious by the abominable practices of those that pretend to honour him ! What falsehood, what lying, what perjury, and cheating, and deceit, and violence have beenprac- tised by our traders in foreign lands ! Thus therehas been an ill savour of our holy christianity carriedbeyond the seas, by those, perhaps, who have pretended to convert the infidels. And many in ourown nation, who have begun to set their faces towards heaven, have been sorely disgusted at the knavish practices ofprofessors, and' been tempted to think that all religion is ajest, and to abandonthe ordinances of the gospel. Butwhen souls stumble, and fall, and perish by such discouragements, woe to hint that gave the offence, and laid this stumbling-block of ini- quity in their way. Howheavy must the blood ofsouls lay upon such sinners ! Vol s. A
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