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perfection, he has much more reason to say with Job, Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will ઠંડ lay mine hand upon my mouth." Such an evenness and conftancy, however, is attainable in the work of the Lord, as, in the gracious acceptation of the gospel, is ftyled perfection. To this our ambition ought to be directed. The temper of fome men, is chiefly concerned in their devotion. Awakened by fome circumftances of providence, they are active and zealous in the fervice of Chrift for a season: they are like feeds which fall on ftony places, where they have not much earth, and forthwith they fpring up because they have no deepness of earth: but when the fun rifes they are fcorched, and, because they have no root, they wither away (a). Be not deceived. This is not to be ftedfaft in the work of the Lord, nor are these the marks of his children. Stedfaftnefs, believe it, is a very different thing. It is what the fincere Christian has habitually in his intention, and his customary practice correfponds with it: "Herein," fays the apoftle," do I exercife myfelf, to have always a con

fcience void of offence toward God and toward men." And if at any time he fhould step afide from the path of duty, his foul is grieved within him; he returns to God with an unfeigned repentance, and endeavours to walk with greater circumfpection for the future.

Lafly, Being stedfast and immoveable in the work of the Lord, implies in it perfeverance in the Chriftian faith and practice to the very end of life. For it is not enough that we begin well, and continue, for a while, to ferve our Mafter with apparent fincerity. Many have done fo, who, like our Saviour's pretended disciples, have at last gone back, and walked no 'more with him; and the Spirit of truth affures us, that they who do fo, draw back to their own perdition. But, if we would obtain the promifed reward, we muft

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hold on our way, and refolutely perfevere in the work of the Lord. For it is only he who endures to the end, that fhall be faved. It is to him who, by a patient continuance in well-doing, feeks for glory, honour, and immortality, that God will give eternal life. Let us not, then, be weary of well-doing; for, in due feafon, we fhall reap, if we faint not. Let nothing divert us from the path of duty. Let us be humbled before God, for our former deviations from it; and endeavour, in the ftrength of divine grace, that, for the future, we fhall be ftedfaft and immoveable in the work of the Lord. And this brings me,,

II. To fhow you against what we are to be fo: or to point out fome of the many temptations we may meet with, to render us neglectful of our duty, of unftedfast in the practice of it.

1. The influence of bad example is a fource of fe duction, against which, in a special manner, we ought to be upon our guard. The power of example is great. The world is governed by it, more than by precept. We have daily opportunities of feeing its prevalence on every rank of men. It is, however, much to be lamented, that the influence of bad example is a great deal more strong and general than the influence of good: "Evil communication," fays the apoftle, "corrupts good manners." To refemble thofe with whom we have occafion to mingle in life, is a propenfity in our nature, to which we frequently give too much indulgence: It fhould never extend beyond things that are lawful, or indifferent. Singularity in religious matters, when conducted with benevolence and humility, is the characteristic of a pious mind, and is abfolutely neceffary, if we would be ftedfast and immoveable in the work of the Lord. Let us not then be conformed to this world; but let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, and and make it apparent to all around us, that, whatever

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others may do, we for our parts are refolved to ferve the Lord.

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2. We must be ftedfast and immoveable against the opinion, efteem and friendship of the world. We are apt to be influenced by what others think or fay of us. Mankind are naturally fond of approbation, efpecially the approbation of fuch as they esteem, and of those upon whom they depend, or with whom they have occafion to converse. And this, if it can be obtained, confiftently with the prefervation of a good confcience, is certainly much to be defired. "A good 66 name," fays Solomon, "is better than precious oint66 "ment; and loving favour rather to be chosen than filver and gold (.)." In too many cafes, however, it cannot be procured unlefs upon finful terms. If we refufe to comply with the corrupt cuftoms of the world, or to connive at the vices of men, instead of their friendfhip and good opinion, we are in danger of incurring their hatred and reproach. We must notwithstanding beware of yielding to the temptation. It furely becomes us, to offend man rather than God. We must not, for the fake of pleafing men, or to avoid their displeasure, diffemble our religious fentiments, or gratify their finful humours, by a bafe and fervile compliance. No; we must study, above all things, to approve ourfelves to God for he alone is our Supreme Lord and Lawgiver; it is by his judgment we muft ftand or fall; and his favour and friendship are infinitely preferable to the esteem and friendship of the world."

3. Against the temptation of worldly intereft and advantage. This is an allurement to a great part of mankind; a temptation that is apt to work very powerfully on the neceflities of fome, and on the covetoufnefs and ambition of others. Riches, honours and pleasures, are the objects of many of our defires, and the springs by which they are actuated. They are inftruments of deftruction, with which we de

() Prov. xxii. I.

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cline not to be wounded. Inftead of refifting, or re-› treating from the blow, we rufh with eagerness on their fatal points. The poifon is fo fweet, that we drink it in greedily, and will not believe that there is death in the cup. How many have been ruined in their best interests by the love of money, by the eager defire of worldly preferment, and by the insatiable thirst for pleafures which endure not! How many,. who once made a fair profeffion of religion, have, by fuch inducements, made fhipwreck of their faith and a good confcience!" They that will be rich," fays the apostle, "fall into temptation and a fnare, "and into many foolish and hurtful lufts, which "drown men in deftruction and perdition: For," adds he, "the love of money is the root of all evil, "which, while fome coveted after, they have erred, "or been feduced from the faith, and pierced them-"felves through with many forrows (m)." Of this Demas was a melancholy inftance, even in the primitive age of Chriftianity; which made the apostlefay of him, "Demas hath forfaken me, having loved "this prefent world." Even fincere Chriftians themfelves are in great danger of being fhaken in theirs ftedfaftnefs by the charms of the world. And, hence,. they are fo frequently cautioned and exhorted to be upon their guard against temptations of this kind, particularly by the apostle John: "Love not the "world," fays he, "neither the things that are in "the world. If any man love the world, the love " of the Father is not in him (o)." Let us beware, then, left through the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, we lofe our firft love, and even the things that remain be ready to die.

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4. We muit alfo be ftedfaft and immoveable against a the perfecutions of the world. We live in an age in which the religion of Chrift is expofed to contempt and oppofition. Our Saviour has forewarned his difciples,

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(m) 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10.

(0) John L 15.

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difciples, to expect perfecution; and they are fometimes called, in providence, to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods; nay, to refift even unto blood in the defence of their facred profeffion. This, indeed,, bleffed be God, is not our cafe at prefent. We enjoy the liberty of our confciences under the mild protection of a happy government. But, in the uncertainty of human affairs, who of us can be fure, that we shall escape the fiery trial? And, should this happen, we would find it no eafy matter to be ftedfaft and immoveable in the work of the Lord. But, although we should never be fubjected to perfecution: of this kind, a corrupt and blinded world has other means of detaching men from their religious profeffion. There are many who feem to be weary of Christ and his religion, many who endeavour to find blemishes in his facred gofpel, and even treat the profeffors of it with scorn and reproach. Now, it is not easy to bear mockery and contempt; to be accounted, as the apoftles were formerly, enthufiafts and madmen. This, it must be confeffed, is a feveretrial to an ingenuous mind. We muft not, however, be deterred from our ftedfaftnefs by the approach of fufferings, or the ridicule of the world. No; whatever it may coft us, we must adhere with refolution to God and a good confcience. How encouraging to this purpose, but at the fame time how awful, are thefe words of our bleffed Saviour!" Whofoever "fhall confefs me before men, him will I alfo con

fefs before my Father which is in heaven; but "whofoever fhall deny me before men, him will I "alfo deny before my Father which is in heaven (a)."

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Lafly, Against the cunning arts and infinuations of bufy feducers. "My fon," fays Solomon," if "finners entice thee, confent thou not."—" Take heed," fays our Saviour," that no man deceive "you."

(a) Matt. x. 32, 33.

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