1ISCOU1tSE V. 570 pear to the world with a natural and becoming aspect ; and in a deceptdress to invite, and not forbid those who behold us. Let, us take care that we donot disguiseour holy christianity, nor make it look like an irrational thing, by unmanly or unbecoming sounds or gestures; lest we thereby expose, ourselves to the charge of hypocrisy, and give up our holy prófession to the ridicule and contempt of the profane world. V. It is an irregular management in the affairs of religion; or an abuse of devout passions, " when we content ourselves . with the exercise of these inward and affectionate sensations of the mind, while they have no influence on the holiness of our conversation." Consider, my friends, what were the passions made for i, Not merely for the sensible pleasure of human na- ture, but to give it vigourand power for useful actions. I have but a poor pretence to bea sincere lover of Christ, if I rejoice to hear his name repeatedoften in a sermon, and say never so many affectionate things of him, in the language of the book of Can- ticles, and 'yet take no care to keephis commandments : Whereas this is the appointed way wherein Christ has requiredhis disci- ples to manifest their love to him; John xiv. 15. Ifye love me keep my commandments ; chapter xv. 14. Then are ye myfriends, If ye do whatsoever I command you. .In vain do I pretend to pious sorrows, in vain do I mourn for some great and grievous sin, in my secret retirements, or in public worship, if my life be spent among the gay follies and vanities of the World; if I run into new temptations whensoever the world beckons to me, and follow every son Of mirth that waves the hand of invitation. True christianity, where it reigns in the heart, will make itself appear in the purity of life. We should always suspect those flatteries of affection, those sudden inward sensations of sorrow or delight, which have no power to produde the fruits of holiness in our daily conversation. The fruits of thé spirit, are föund in the life and the heart together, as they are described ; Gal. v: 22. Love to God and man, joy in holy things, peace of conscience, and peace with all men, as far as possible, long-suffer- ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, that is; faithfulness, meekness, tem- perance, and particularly a crucifixion of all sinful affections. Let us never content ourselves with anyexercise of lively devo- tion, unless we feel our corrupt affections-in some measure sub- dued thereby. O how shameful a sight is it, and what a reproach to the profession of the gospel, to see a christian just come from church and holyordinances, where his devout affections havebeen raised, and immediately to find him breaking out into vain, earthly mer- riment, and carried away with idle and sensual discourse! What a scandal is it to our religion, to see some zealous professors coming down from their closet, where they fancy they have been o 2 ii
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