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if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glafs: For as this man beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straitway forgetteth what manner of perfon he was; in like manner the inconfiderate hearer acknowledges for the prefent the truth and equity of God's law, and diftinguishes his own vices reflected upon his confcience from the Holy Scriptures as from a mirror; but having no fettled defign of applying the doctrine, and amending his life, he goeth his way too, and thinks no more either of the clearness and importance of God's word, or of the deformity of his own actions. And from this caufe without all doubt it proceeds, that the manners and converfation of fo many who have both opportunity and ability of knowing the truth, in whofe hands are the Holy Scriptures, and who have the word of the gofpel almoft continually : founding

founding in their ears, are yet in no wife answerable to fuch special advantages. But furely Chriftianity is not a matter merely of theory and speculation : It is intended to make us better, in order that we may be happier men. Fully to understand, and to be able and ready, as occafions may offer, to vindicate our most holy Faith, may perhaps be confidered as the more immediate business of it's publick Profeffors: But to live holily and unblameably is the duty of them and all, and is too that fubftantial wifdom which alone can render any wife unto falvation.

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SERMON XXVI.

PSALM XXXVII. 38.

Keep Innocency, and take heed unto the Thing that is right; for that shall bring a Man Peace at the laft.

HIS entire Pfalm appears to have

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been compofed by Holy David, with a view to prevent or remove any offence, that might be taken by fuperficial obfervers, at the profperity and splendour of wicked men, and the troubles and afflictions of the righteous; which, it could not be denied, did frequently hap

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pen even under a difpenfation, whose profeffed fanctions were temporal rewards and punishments. In order therefore to vindicate the ways of Providence to fuch perfons, he advises them in the first place to fupprefs every emotion of envy or indignation at the apparent fuccessfulness of injurious and impious men; till, by due obfervation on the final confequences of things, they should be convinced, as he himself was, that the prosperity of finners is but a prelude to their deftruction. "Fret not thyfelf (fays he) becaufe of the evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity: For they fhall foon be cut down like the grafs, and wither as the green herb." And again, "I have feen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree: Yet he paffed away, and lo, he was not; yea I fought him, but he could not be found." He then diverts their attention to the

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other fide, and bids them confider well the whole of the righteous man's cafe: That though, in the common course of this uncertain life, "he may come into misfortunes like other folk, and be plagued for a time like other men;" yet from the use he makes of his fufferings, and the bleffing of God upon his faithful perfeverance in well-doing, his latter end fhall be peaceful and happy: He fhall at least be poffeffed of that inward ferenity and joyful hope, which will never leave nor forfake him; fuch as the good things of the world cannot give, neither can it's evil things take away. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."- Or, according to the old translation, "Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right; for that fhall bring a man peace at the last.” From which pious admonition and encouraging exhortation of the Royal

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