2. EXHORTATION. Wherefore, follow Chrift, Judg. vii. 17. 1. Unless you follow Chrift, you are out of the way to Heaven. 2. If you do follow Chrift, you are fure to go right; He is an unerring Guide to follow. 3. Do you but follow after Christ, and then Chrift will be fure to look after you, as He did after those who follow'd Him literally, S. Matt. XV. 32. 4. What Contentment and Satisfaction you will have, both all your Life and at your Death, if you follow Him, Ifa. xxxviii. 3. 5. Make Chrift your Pattern and Guide here, and He will be your Portion hereafter. S. MATT. S. MATT. xvi. 25. For whosoever will fave his Life Shall lofe it, and whosoever will lofe bis Life for my Sake, Shall find it. I. DOCTRINE. WH THAT a Man gets or faves by Sin, he 1. How many ways may a Man get or fave any thing by Sin? 1. By Theft. Diffimulation and Lying, At. v. 1, 2. Over-reaching and Cozenage. Covetoufnefs. Hard-heartedness and Uncharitable nefs. not laying it out for God's Glory. Prophanation of the Sabbath, Numb. XV. 32. 2. How may a Man be faid to lose what he gets by Sin? 1. He lofeth the Blessing of GOD upon it, Prov. X. 22. 2. lofeth the real Comfort he might have in it. 3.- lofeth his Right to it. 3. How doth that appear? 1. Because all Right proceedeth from GOD, and fo none from Sin. 2. A Man that gets or faves any thing by Sin, runs himself more into Debt by the USES. the Sin he commits, than he can pay with that which he gets. 1. See the Folly of Oppreffion, Lying, Overreaching, Covetoufnefs, Uncharitableness, &c. Men think to get, and they really lofe thereby. 2. See the Odioufnefs of Sin that brings a Curfe upon every thing that comes by it. 3. Hence alfo we may fee, that every Man that hath an Estate, is not a rich Man; but the more he hath, the poorer he is, if he got it by Sin. Wherefore, 4. Endeavour not to get or fave any thing by Sin. Confidering, 1. The more you get or fave by it, the more. you lose by it. 2. You do not only lose what you get by Sin, but what you get finfully will bring a Curfe upon what you get honestly, 1 King. xxi..22. 3. What you get by Sin nom, you must give Account to GOD for hereafter. 4. What you get or fave by Sin now, will be a Torment to your Soul for ever. II. DOCTRINE. What a Man lofes for Chrift, he faveth. 2. For performing his Duty to Christ, Dan. vi. 10. 3. And for refifting Sin, in Obedience to the Commands of Chrift, Gen. xxxix. 8, 9. and oppofing the Commiffion of Sin in others, S. Matt. xiv. 4. Act. vii. 51. 2. What 2. What are the Things we may lofe for Chrift? Hebr. xi. 36. 1. Our Honour, Hebr. xi. 24. ・2. Eftate, Phil. iii. 8. 3. Friends, S. Matt. X. 22: 4. Liberty; S. Peter in Prifón: 5. Eafe, by Tortures inflicted on our Perfons, Hebr. xi. 37. Act. xvi. 23. 6. Life itself, S. Luk. xxi. 16. S. Joh. xvi. 2. 3. How do those who lofe any thing for Chrift, fave it? 1. They enjoy the Comfort of it, in lofing it for the fake of Christ, Act. xvi. 25. 2. They turn their Loffes into greater Gains 3. What they lofe here, is laid up for the INFERENCE S The Chriftian Religion is a great Mystery. 2. Many get much, I Cor. xii. 10. but nonë of any thing by Chrift. 3. Chrift is a good Mafter. Wherefore we fhould be willing to lofe any. Thing for His fake. Confidering, 1. Whatever we lofe for Him, fhall be sup ply'd in Him, S. Joh. xvi. 33. V70 2. What we lofe for Him, we do but lend to Him, Prov. xix. 17. and therefore, 3. What we lofe for Chrift here, we fhall S. MATT. xxii. 21. Render therefore unto Cefar the Things which are Cefar's, and unto God the Things that are God's. I N thefe Words we may confider, 1. The Pharifees Device or Plot to enfnare Our Saviour. 1. They take Counsel, ver. 15. 2. They fend their Difciples and the He rodians. The Herodians were thought to be, 1. Such as, "Hednu ng evlo Reisov Xvelor; Epiph. Compare S. Matt. xvi. 6. with S. Mar. 3. They being come; 1. Extol Him, ver. xvi. and then, fon, |