SERMON XXXIX. 561 " Is this mortal life continued to me that I may spread a savour of piety amongst my fellow-creatures, and set a religious example-to men ? Lord, suffer me to do nothing that may lead sinners astray from thee. Pardon all the evil examples I have ever given, and let my future conduct shine in holiness, as a pat- tern to those that are round about me. Methinks, I would con-' vince the world that religion has somethnig excellent and divine in it, and encourage them to the practice of strict godliness. " Is lifeprolonged that I may be profitable to mankind, and have I lived thus long already to so little purpose ? Though my goodness extends not Unto thee, O Lord, yet I entreat that my fellow-creatures maybe the better for mewhile I continue amongst them. O may the God of Abraham bestow on me that rich favour which Abraham received in those divine words of pro- mise, I will bless thee, and I will make thee a blessing; Gen. xii. 2. I would fain lice useful and beloved, that I may die desired and lamented. What ashameful thing is it when I go out of the world, that my acquaintance should say, " He is gone, but there is no loss of him." " Have my days been prolonged thus far that my hopes of heaven might be daily increasing, that my evidences of adoption might grow stronger daily, and my soul be more prepared for heaven : Look inward then, Omy soul : Hast thou acquired a more divine and heavenly temper than in years past ? Art thou wrought up to a greater meetness for the inheritance on high ? Are thy desires, thy appetites, and all thy powers more fitted for the business of heaven, and attempered to the blessedness of the upper world ? Art thou growing fitter still for the sight of God, for conversewith Christ, for the company of saints and holy an- gels ? How are thy days and months, and years runout to waste, if thou art so much nearer death, and yet art not so much riper for heaven ? " And is it possiblethat a length of life should be so impro- ved, as that my crown of glory, and my portion of happiness may be enlarged hereafter ? Let my holy ambition awake at such a hint as this, and let me aspire to a superior rank among the blessed, by employing every part of life to the most noble and excellent purposes for which life is granted. Let me ever abound in the work of the Lord, since I am assured that no part of my labours shall be in vain in the Lord, or want its proper re- compence. Though it is the blood of my Redeemer that has pur- chased all the prizes and crowns in heaven ; yet if I am a swift runner in thechristian race, and the race itself be long, I am fit- ted to receive the fairer prize : And if I am an active and victo- rious soldier in the army of Christ, and have served faithfully o o 2
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