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tincture of this grand fountain it is that gives a colour to all our actions,

But neither is it fufficient that we watch our infirmities, our froward tempers, and evil difpofitions, though with a prying eye, as having the bias of nature, if not the facility of habit, always on their fide, and therefore but too apt to elude our moft cautious circumfpection: It is moreover neceffary that we pray against them; that we make it the constant subject of our petitions at the throne of grace, as to be cleansed from fecret faults, faults of daily incurfion; fo likewife to be preferved, as far as may be in the present state, from the commiffion of them: Through the gracious influence and fellowship of the Holy Ghoft; ever ready to be imparted to the prayers of the faithful.

And,

And, laftly, fince it has pleafed our heavenly Father, of his infinite mercy, to provide us with a certain propitiation, in the perfon of his only begotten Son, who died upon the cross for all kinds and degrees of fin repented of and forfaken; let us ever be looking up unto Him, with the most devout acknowledgments of faith and obedience; of whofe merits and mediation alone it is, that we can be juftified in the fight of God.

SERMON

SERMON XXIV.

JEREMIAH, ix. 23, 24.

Thus faith the Lord Let not the wife Man glory in his Wifdom, neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might, let not the rich Man glory in his Riches. But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that be underftandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord.

WE have here delivered by the

Prophet, in the name of the Lord, an exprefs caution against priding ourfelves, and placing our fecurity, in any fuperiority of endowments, whether

VOL. II.

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of

of mind, of body, or of fortune; which in the present ftate particular perfons must have over the generality ; and through which therefore they are apt to be puffed up into a felf-fufficiency and a forgetfulness of God. "Let not the "wife man glory in his wisdom, neither "let the mighty man glory in his might, "let not the rich man glory in his riches." Which caution is made introductory to an exhortation in the following verfe, wherein to put our confidence, and to make our boast, viz. in Religion only. "But let him that glorieth, glory in this, "that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord."

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But though men justly ftand corrected for perverting their abilities of any kind into an occafion of arrogance and impiety; yet is it not to be inferred hence, that wisdom and judgment, health and ftrength, riches and honours, are of little

or

or no estimation; or that fuch advantages do not justify our taking pleasure and rejoicing in them, with humility and thankfulness: Seeing they are certainly the gifts of Providence to excellent purposes; and, if rightly employed, are great bleffings not only to thofe who poffefs them, but to others alfo who are within the reach of their influence.

"The lips of the wife (faith Solomon) difperfe knowledge." It is from this fountain, from the inftructions and admonitions of men of understanding, that is derived what is found neceffary to the accommodation and defence of civil life, and to the maintenance of virtue and religion in the world. It must too be granted, if fo dependant a creature as man had reason to glory in any accomplishment, it might be in his wisdom : Because this is an excellency of a real and permanent nature; and the most fignificant

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