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Religion, fo far as it may be made visible to Men, doth confiit.

And here I fhall only speak a little to three particulars.

1. In all Providences. It is feldom or never seen, that any of the people of God continue in the fame condition, as to the things of this World, any long time, without fome alteration, more or less. God is pleased, many times, to bestow many good things upon them, which he never intended they should always enjoy, Pfal. 102. 10,Thou hast lifted me up, and caft me down. Now, as we defire our Souls fhould profper, principles of godliness should be fo exercised, as to bear all fuch changes, fo as to avoid the fnares, and temptations accompanying them. To this height St. Paul attained, that he could thus manage all conditions, Phil. 4.12, I know both how to be abafed, and I know how to abound, &c. Want, or no want; having nothing, or poffeffing all things, make no change of the frame of my heart. So he faith, I am inftructed in every thing This is the excellency of the principles of godliness, That though truths, and falfhood; things morally good, or morally evil, are at fuch a diftance, that the fame principles cannot turn to either fide: yet Poverty and Riches, a full Eftate, and a poor and mean ftate, liberty or reftraint are not at fuch

a distance, but that the fame gracious principle can apply it felf to both the one, and the other; and may be exercised so as the Soul may profper, and may be fpiritually a gainer, both by the one, and by the other. And as we defire our Souls fhould profper, these principles ought to be exercised, that we may find it fo. For fo far as corruption mingles with the Providences we are under, fo far, if there be any grace in the heart, it will be fo far from thriving, that it will wither, and decay. It is obferved, that when things go well with a Man in his outward condition, if corruption be not kept at a distance from it, the Man will grow proud, and paffionate; high, and felf conceited: Earthy, and Selfish, impatient of be ing croffed in any thing; having, as he finds, wit enough for every thing else, and that therefore every one must stoop to him. And fo, when things go crofs, and, as the ufual phrafe is, The World frowns upon him, if his corruptions be not kept at a distance from his condition, the Man will grow fret, ful, discontented, unthankful for what he hath, envious at thofe, with whom it is better then with himself And (to fpeak all in a word) fin will fit light, when croffes fit heavy. Therefore, it is of abfolute neceffity, that, as ever we defire our Souls fhould profper, this (with the uttermoft

of our care) fhould be looked unto. 1. That when the good hand of God is for us, fo as all our Goings out, and Comings-in, the beginning and ending of every thing we undertake, fucceeds well, accor ding to our defires, that then thefe princi ples of grace ought to be exercifed, that nothing come betwixt Jefus Chrift, and our

hearts, but that the more we have of the World, the more our hearts may be in Heal ven. As Jacob was then defirous to be in Heaven, when God had given in the unexpected fight of his loft Son, his best Son, and that as great as he was good, Gen. 46. 30, And Ifrael faid unto Jofeph, Now let me dye, fince I have feen thy face. Jam. I. 10, Let the rich Man rejoice in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grafs he hall pass away. [ when he is made low. ie. When his heart is low and meek, humble and patient, when his condition is full, and high; though perhaps not fo in it felf, but as compared with others, who had the fame opportunities for the World, that he had reckoning of all that he hath, but as food that périsheth but as a flower that fadethgcaccounting this as the chiefeft excellency of the plentifulness of his Eftate, that he hath a larger opportunity of doing good and of doing more for God, then he could have had, if his portion had been as little, as once it was.

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Thus to exercise grace, To bear fuch full a cup without fpilling, argues not only the truth, but also the ftrength of grace; and is the way to make the Soul profper, as fast as the Estate ham om Hot 1 Lun

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2 In all our civil converfe with Men, principles of godliness must be exercised, with righteoufnefs, and fobriety, Tit. 2. 12, Ted with all courtefte, and kindness.3 Epift. of John, v. 6. Gaius is exhorted, in his kindness to the Brethren, that travelled up and down, about the affairs of the Gofpel, when he brought them onwards on their Journey, to do it after a godly, fort. That which the Apoftle preffeth on aged Women is the duty of all, both old, and young, Tit. 2. 2, That the aged women be fober, grave, temperate. Zech. 14.20,21, In that day fhall be written upon the Bells of the horses, Holiness to the Lord: And every Pot in Jerufalem fhall be holiness to the Lord. This was written upon the High-Priests Mitre, as he was a type of the great High-Prieft, the Lord Jefus, who was holy, and undefiled. That which Men are thereby taught is this, That the meanest things of common ufe, fhould be holily used: In all we do, we fhould act as perfons confecrated to God; that are not our own, and therefore we ought to glorifie God, with our Bodies, and with our Spirits, which are God's, 1 Cor. 6. 20. Even in our natural

natural actions, Whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now I have told you already (and I told you the truth) that God is not glorified (it will appear fo one day) but when the principles of godlinefs are exercifed. Neglect hereof, even in these natural actions, is charged upon Men, as their fin. Jude, ver. 12. That they did feed without fear.

3. In all companys: So as where ever we are, we always keep our hearts under the awe of God, Eph. 4. 29, Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your mouth. Col. 4 6, Let your Speech be always with grace, feafoned with Salt. But of this, more under another head, in the next use of this Point.

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