SERMON XXX. 415 principles and the patterns with which the gospel of Christ has furnished us ; whether we look to Jesus, the founder ofour re- ligion, the Son of God in our nature, or to his apostles, or to the primitivemartyrs, among whom some of the weaker sex and the weaker age, have outshone the glory, and darkened the lustre of all the great menof heathenism. What blessed viewsbath the gospel given us of heaven and future happiness, to animate our zeal, and to engage us to the boldest efforts of goodness ! What promises of almighty power to assist us in our sacred attempts, and to bear up our spirits ! What rich and infallible assurances have we in the word of God to support our highest expectations, that if we are faithful to the, death, we shall receive a crown of life h Rev. ii. 10. And Jesus our forerunner hath already taken possession of all these prizes and glories toreward the conquerors, Shall we sink and despond at any dark appearances ? Shall our spirits fail us in the midst of duty, when we have so many divine motives to valour and holy fortitude ? Methinks there should be nothing too hard for a christian to undertake or suffer, when God and providencecall him to it. I confess that fleshand blood are frail and -feeble : Animal nature overwhelms the soul with its shudderings, and forbidsthe execution of the bravest pur- poses. It is only grace, divine grace, that can strengthen the trembling christian, and make him venture through dangers and death in the way to the heavenly crown. It is this gives power to the promises, and makes the saint believe the performance. It is this sets heaven before his eyes, and gives it such an attrac- tive influence, such a sovereign conquest over all his fears ; it even braces the sinews of nature, and exalts the spirits to despise dan- ger and pain. What wonders of holy fortitude might a chris- tian perform, if the eye of his faith were kept always open, and firmly fixed on those bright and everlasting invisibles? But I shall enlarge no farther on this argument of christiau courage, and I am the more inclines' to dismiss this subject at present,having reservedsome discourseson it for another season*. I proceed therefore to the last exhortation in my text, If there be anypraise, any actions that deserve honour amongst men, think on these things, engage yourselves in the practice, and ob. tain the honour. Thepraise whichthe apostlehere recommends, may be described as Cicero, the famousRoman orator, describes glory ; it is, " The concurrent and unanimous commendation of good men, or the general voice of wise and uncorrupted judges, concerning any eminent practice of virtue." # Seethe two following sermons. VOL. T. E e
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