Yawn in. SERMON III. 43, look backuponour lives, and ask, "What testimonies have we given to the glory of this gospel, and to the truth of the religion of Christ ? Have we not sometimes rather been scandals to Christianity ? Have not our practices been blots instead of evi- dences, and discouragements to the unbeliever, intead of allure- ments ? Have we not sometimes laid stumbling-blocks in the way of those that have had the lookof aneye, and some tendency of heart towards it ?" This will bean awakening thought, and painful to conscience in the review. Have we not much reason to mourn that there are some among us who walkas enemies ofthe cross of Christ °L Phil. iii. 17. I would have you, says the apostle, befollowers of nie, walk as 1 walk, as you have mefbr an example.. I would haveyou walk as those who have eternal life begun in them, that you may be - honours to thegospel. But there are many who walk, ofwhom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, they are ene- mies ofthe cross, and dishonours tothe gospel, instead ofevidences of the truth of it ; their end is destruction, their god is their belly, andtheir glory is in their shame ; whereas our conversation is in heaven, whence we expect Jesus theSaviour; 18, 19, 20. We who are here upon earth, and have believed thegospel of Christ, we should live as thoughwe had part of ourselves in heaven al- ready, our conversation should be sòholy and divine. Eternal lifebegun in our hearts, should breakout, anddisclose itself, and shine bright among the persons we converse with. O ! how much is the propagation of the gospelobstructed, how much the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ obscured, and howmuch the good of souls prevented and hindered by those that discover not this eter- nal life, this sacred witness, inthe holiness of heart and practice ! But, beloved, we hope better things ofyou, and things that accom- pany salvation, thoughwe thus speak; lieb. vi. 9. and yet wemust speak thus, with a sacred jealousy for the glory and evidenceof this gospel, with a warm concern for thepeace and welfare of your souls, and with holy zeal for the conversion of the unbelieving. worldto the,faith ofGod our Saviour.
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