55i I'IIE RIGHT IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE. tiau's house far 'Joseph'ssale; andthe blessing of the Lord was upon allthat he had in the houseand ii the field. A number of saints in a pity, or a nation, are many times like Noah, Daniel, and Job, in the midst of them. They guard the public by their prayers from mighty ruin and wide desola- tion. .Sodom itself had been saved, if there had been ten right- coos souls in it. And I ampetsiiaded, Great-Britain had been a. - kingdom of idolaters and slavery, or a heap of confusion and slaughter, and a field of blood long ago, because of the provok- ing wickedness in the midst of it, had it not been for the few righteous that have always stood in the gap : There have been always some powerful pleaders at the mercy -seat, when the wrath of God and the destroying angels have been breaking in like a flood upon us, some Moses and Samuel to withholdthe desola- tion, when popery and tyranny have been just at our gates, and ready to overwhelm us. O how many unknown blessingsdo these sinful nations en- joy, because of the lives and the prayers of the saints that are in it 1 Holy souls, who though they are divided into diflereilt par- , ties, and practise, their different forms, yet worship the same God, through the same Mediator, ami by the same Spirit, who are ever welcome to the throne of grace, who are all saints in the esteem of God, and in the language of scripture. Strange, that the name of a saint should be used as a term of reproach amongst us, and cast upon one party in a ,way of scorn, when these are the persons of every party who are the most excellent in the earth; these are the guards and 'walls of defence to the nation, the ehariots'of our Israel, and the horsemen thereof; 2 Kings ii. 12. xiii. 14. V. Life is yours ; for it affords means for brightening yònr evidence for heaven, and improving your own preparation for glory. Surely you are not willing to, depart from this world, till . you have good hope of an interest in a better state, and 'a com- fortable expectation that it shall'be well with you for ever. Does Godprolong your clays on earth ? See then, that the principles of piety and goodness be well rooted in your hearts, and that your _graces grow up under the influences of heaven: See'that they bud and blossom with fair flowers, to the honour of your profession, and to the joy of your' own consciences. Let the sacred fruits of your love and zeal break out upon all just occa- sions : Shine brighter in holiness every day of your mortal life, and bring forth fruits meet for life everlasting', that ye may know and be assured that the seeds of glory are sown within you, such divine seeds as willbear a rich and blessed harvest in the great day. He that has this hope will purify himself' as Christ is pure;
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