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XVIII.

SERM. become despicable in his own eyes, and shrink with shame at the remembrance of his folly and cowardice.

The utmost perfection, to which humanity can arrive, is a constant and determinate pursuit of virtue, without any regard to present danger or advantage. Let us not then turn to the right hand or to the left, either swayed by the applauses, or terrified by the censures of the world; but let us go straight on in that path, which the author of our religion has marked out, and which our own conscience will tell us leads to life and happiness: let no false opinion of dignity or honour deter us from mercy and forgiveness, and invite us to resentment. Of him who hopes to be forgiven, it is indispensably necessary that he forgive; no motive then ought to have the least weight when put in competition with this. On this virtue of forgiveness eternity

eternity is suspended, and to him who re- SERM. fuses to practise it, the throne of mercy

is inaccessible, and the Saviour of the world has been born in vain.

XVIII.

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SERMON XIX.

THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.

I CORINTHIANS XV. PART OF V. 10.

I laboured more abundantly than they all.

XIX.

THIS day is appointed by our church to be SERM. kept sacred in memory of the conversion of St. Paul. Whether we consider the extraordinary circumstances which produced this conversion, or whether we look to the advantage which the Gentile world, and we, among others, have received from it,-in either view, both reason and gratitude demand that it should be had in everlasting remembrance.

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SERM.
XIX.

I propose in this discourse to enter concisely into the history and character of this illustrious apostle, and to shew the argu ment which his conversion affords in favour of the truth of Christianity, and, lastly, to lay down some rules for your practice, which, the facts described may suggest.

By the conversion of St. Paul is meant, his quitting the Jewish, and embracing the Christian religion. St. Paul was born at Tarsus, of Jewish parents; their circumstances were probably opulent, though they brought up their son to the trade of tentmaking; for it was usual with the Jews, whatever fortune they were able to give their children, to have them instructed in some trade, both to keep them from idle

JV.

ness, and that they might have some resource, if their circumstances should ever require it.

Having received the rudiments of his

education

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