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dence; yea, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, for sure I am, that these light afflic tions, which are but for a moment, shall work out for me" a far more exceeding and eternal weight weight of glory."

O may the Lord enable us all to see the greatness of his salvation; may he, by his spirit, so shed abroad his love in our hearts, that we, in return for all his benefits, which are not only greater than words can express, but even far beyond what imagination can conceive, may perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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SERMON VIII.

THE OBLIGATION

LAID UPON CHRISTIANS TO PERFORM THE

WILL OF GOD.

SERMON VIII.

MATTHEW, vi. 10.

Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven.

WE, who are Christians, take up the Bible,

as a revelation from God. It directs us what we are to believe, and what we are to do. If any of those things, which are matters of Faith, seem, at first view, unreasonable, we are not on that account to reject them; and if those things, which are matters of practice, seem too hard for flesh and blood to perform, we are not immediately to pronounce them impossible. In the first instance, clearer evidence and maturer judgment may shew us the folly of hasty decisions; and in the latter we shall learn, that the assistance of the Holy Spirit is granted to overcome our natural attachment to the things of this life, and to enable us to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.

It has been observed with great propriety, that the Christian's path is beset with many dangers, therefore he is exhorted to be cau

Ꮪ .

tious, watchful, and diligent. Should he endeavour to establish his salvation by Faith only, he may then be liable to fall into the error of those, who put away a good conscience concerning faith, and thereby made shipwreck *; or, should he strive to fulfil the righteousness of the law, he may be like those Jews, who went about to establish their own righteousness, and did not submit to the righteousness of God. Yet, great as the dangers that attend our path may be, I make no doubt but that all who are sincere will escape them.— Such a disposition makes a man desirous of knowing the worst of himself; it induces him to search the Scriptures with all diligence, and to pay as much respect to those passages which condemn, as to those which justify, his faith and practice; it inclines him to give up his heart to God, that every lofty imagination may be brought down, that every self conceit may be eradicated, and that every sort of wickedness, however subtle and insinuating it may be, may not any longer usurp a place therein.

Let us now inquire into the meaning of the text; "Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven." I shall divide the subject into the following heads, and consider,

I. What is the will of God;

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