SECTION L_ 5B9 christians, that you may have your heart and soul more entirely employed in things that relate to the life to come. Your daily dutyt calls you to be more conversant with the word of God, with the rules of piety and the gospelof salvation theprecepts which require universal godliness, and the promises that encourage it, are better known to you, and your mind is better furnishedwith them, or at least it should be so. You are obliged to copy out the life of Christ more exactly, that you may he an example to the flock in every thing that is holy. Your temptations to a vain and worldly spirit, and a sensual temper of mind are much fewer than those of many other men, whose hearts and hands are necessarily busied in the affairs of the world, and who are more frequently constrained into the com- pany of sinners. Now sinceyour helps in the'way to heaven, both as to the knowledge and practice of duty, are much greater than what others enjoy, and your obstacles and impediments are in some instances less than theirs, it will be a shameful thing in you, as it is a matter of shame to any of us, to sink below the character of other christians in the practice of our holy religion; or even if we do not excel the most of them, since our obligations to it, as well as our advantages for it, are so much greater than others. Take heed therefore to your own practical and vital religion, as to the truth, reality, and evidence of it, as to the liveliness and power of it, as to the growth and increase of it. I. Take heed to your own practical religion, to the truth and reality of it, and the clear and undoubted evidence of it in your own conscience. Give double diligence tomake' your calling and election sure. See to it with earnest solicitude, that you be not mistaken in so necessary and important a concern ; for a+ minister who preaches up the religion of Christ, yet has no evidence of it in his Own heart, will lie under vast discourage= meats in his work ; and if lie be not a real christian himself, he will justly fall under double damnation. Keep a constant holy jealousy over your own soul, lest while you preach to the eternal salvation of others, yourself become a cast-away, or disapproved of God, and for ever banished from his presence ; 1 Cor. ix. 27. Call your own soul often to.account : examine the temper, the frame, and the motions of your heart with all holy severity, so . that the evidences of your faith in Jesus, and your repentance for sin, and your conversion to God, be many and fair, be strong and unquestionable ; that you may walk on with courage and joyful hope toward heaven, and lead on the flock of Christ thi- ther with holy assurance and joy. Il. Take heed to your own religion, as to the liveliness and power of it. Let it not be a sleepy thing in your bosom, but sprightly and active, and always awake. Keep your own soul
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