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hatred, and perfecution of a partial, blind, malignant world; fo that if we liften either to the corrupt part of our own nature, or to the voice of the multitude, we fhall unavoidably be perfuaded to leave them undone, or rather to do the contrary. Nothing elfe than a prevailing habitual defire to please the Lord, can reconcile us to the practice of these felf-denying duties. But if this principle be deeply rooted in our hearts, the roughest paths of obedience will foon become fmooth: with refolution, nay, with cheerfulness, we shall addrefs ourselves to our work; declining no fervice, how painful or difficult foever, that we know will be crowned with the approbation of our Judge. Thus did the primitive Chriftians live unto the Lord. It appeared a small matter to them to be judged of man's judgement: this was their labour, that whether prefent or absent, they might be accepted of their Master. They fo fpake, and fo acted, not as pleafing men, but God, who trieth the hearts of his creatures, and will render unto every one according to his works.

3dly, To

3dly, To live unto the Lord, is to make his glory our end in every thing we do.

Paul expreffed the genuine spirit of Christianity, when, with a dignity becoming the character of an apostle, he thus wrote to the Philippians: "I would ye fhould un"derstand, brethren, that the things which

happened unto me, have fallen out rather

unto the furtherance of the gospel: fo "that my bonds in Chrift are manifest in "all the palace, and in all other places; and 66 many of the brethren in the Lord waxing "confident by my bonds, are much more "bold to speak the word without fear. "Some indeed preach Chrift even of envy " and strife; and fome alfo of good will. "The one preach Chrift of contention, not "fincerely, fuppofing to add affliction to

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my bonds but the other of love, know"ing that I am fet for the defence of the ❝ gospel. What then? notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in "truth, Chrift is preached; and I therein " do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I "know that this fhall turn to my falvation, through your prayer, and the fupply of

"the

"the Spirit of Jefus Chrift, according to ડ my earnest expectation, and my hope, "that in nothing I fhall be ashamed, but "that with all boldness, as always, fo now "alfo Chrift fhall be magnified in my body, "whether it be by life or by death. For

to me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain ;" Philip. i. 12,-21. If we live unto the Lord, we shall not feek great things for ourselves. This will be our only concern, that the Lord may be magnified in us, and by us, either by our doing or fuffering; by our life, or by our death. We fhall be contented to be employed in any station his wifdom fhall choofe for us, and study to honour him in that station by the diligent performance of the duties that belong to it. Though we occupy the meaneft office in his family, we fhall with pleasure apply ourselves to the work of that office, without repining at those who are dignified with a higher place; nay, instead of looking at them with envy, we shall rejoice to behold their diligence and fuccefs. If our Lord be well ferved, if much work be done, that will fatisfy us, by whatfoever hands the

work

work is carried on. We fhall execute what falls to our own fhare in the best manner we can; and pray for larger measures of grace to those who have the honour to be employed in higher pieces of fervice.

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4thly, To live unto the Lord, is to be wholly refigned to his difpofal; bleffing him at all times in adverfity as well as in prosperity, making him as welcome to take from us as to give unto us.

How well our Apoftle had learned this important leffon, appears from his own words, Philip. iv. 12. "I know both how to "be abased, and I know how to abound:

every where, and in all things I am in"structed, both to be full and to be hungry, "both to abound and to fuffer need." It is rebellion against our Lord to repine at any of his difpenfations, how afflicting foever. -What have we that we did not receive from him? and is it not lawful for him to do what he will with his own? David, after contemplating the heavens, the work of God's fingers, the moon and the stars which he had ordained, breaks forth into this exclamation, Pfal. viii. 4. "What is man,

"that

"that thou art mindful of him? and the "fon of man, that thou vifiteft him? For "thou haft made him a little lower than "the angels, and haft crowned him with glory and honour." He there celebrates the goodness of God, in affigning to man, at his first creation, fo high a rank among the variety and immenfity of his works. The form of expreffion is a little varied, Pfal. cxliv. 3.; where, fpeaking of God's condefcenfion to man in his fallen and degraded state, he faith, "Lord, what is man, "that thou takeft knowledge of him? or "the fon of man, that thou makeft account " of him? Man is like to vanity: his days

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are as a shadow that paffeth away." This reflection arose from the experience he had of God's unmerited, kindnefs to himself, "who had taught his hands to war, and his

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fingers to fight;" who had raised him from the sheepfold to the throne of Ifrael, and had “subdued his people under him." But I am perfuaded you will agree with. me, that what Job faith, (Fob vii. 17, 18.), is more striking and emphatical than either of the former two; when, in the deepeft

adverfity,

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