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" live and move." Nay, all that we poffefs is fo neceffarily dependent upon him, that with regard to foul, and body, and outward eftate, we have nothing but what we daily receive from his liberal hand. Befides this original and unalienable right to govern us, there is another title, which, as Christians, we profefs to acknowledge, and ought always to do it with the warmest and most humble gratitude; I mean, the right he hath obtained by redemption and purchafe. As his natural fubjects, we are bound to ferve him to the utmost extent of the powers he hath given us and this ori ginal obligation, instead of being relaxed or impaired, is rather confirmed and strengthened by the mercy he hath shown us as the objects of his grace: "We are not our

own, we are bought with a price ;" and are therefore bound, by the united ties of gratitude and justice, " to glorify our Re"deemer, both with our bodies and fpirits, " which are his."

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But what I would chiefly lead your atis the nature and properties of

tention to,

thofe

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thofe laws to which our subjection and obe dience are required.

They are all holy, just, and good," refulting from the very frame our Creator hath given us, and from the relation we bear to himself, and to other beings with whom his Providence hath connected us. Hence it follows, that they are equally incapable of repeal or abatement. The laws of men are local, temporary, changeable, and always partake of the imperfection of their authors. Some of them are fo obfcure, that they need another law to explain them; and it often happens that the commentary is darker than the text. The beft of them take their aim from fome temporal evil that is either presently felt, or foreseen in its caufe; and the highest end they propose, is to restrain from injuries of the groffer kind: they do not even pretend to be a rule of moral conduct; they prohibit and denounce vengeance against theft, robbery, murder, and the like; but lay no restraint upon heart-hatred, covetoufness, and envy. They tell us in what inftances injuftice or cruelty become exceffive

and

and intolerable; but where do we find it written in any body of human laws, "Thou "fhalt love thy neighbour as thyself;" and, "All things whatfoever ye would that men "fhould do unto you, do ye even fo unto "them?" Whereas the laws of the gofpel extend to the heart as well as to the life, and fpeak to all men without exception, at all times, and in every fituation. They utter their voice with fuch precifion and perfpicuity, that none can be at a lofs to difcover their meaning. They do not bend to the humours of men, nor accommodate themfelves to thofe flexible maxims and customs which by turns prevail in this or the other age and country; far lefs do they grow obfolete, as human ftatutes do, which by long difufe lofe their force, and become void: like their great Mafter, what they were yesterday they are the fame to-day; and in every fucceeding period their efficacy will continue till time itself fhall be no more. And, therefore, when I repeat the words of this facred book, you are to confider them as fpoken to yourselves in particular; and no lefs binding upon you

in their most fimple and obvious meaning; than they formerly were upon those to whom they were primarily addressed.

One thing further I would recommend to your notice, viz. that the laws I am speaking of are the laws of Him "who loved us, ❝and gave himself for us, an offering and "facrifice to God of a fweet-fmelling fa

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vour;" and therefore we may rest affured, that they are kind as well as righteous, and fuited with perfect wisdom to be the means of promoting our trueft interest. They are laws which he himself hath magnified and made honourable; not only by anfwering all their demands, fo far as his high character would permit, or his peculiar circumstances afforded occafion; but likewise by expiating the guilt incurred by the tranfgreffion of them, and bearing in his own person the punishment that was due to the offending creature.

This laft confideration fets the obedience required of us in a moft endearing point of light. It is not the fervile task of a hireling who labours for his wages, but the ingenuous and grateful fervice of a loving

child. Christ hath purchased the glorious inheritance; and to all who believe on him, eternal life is the free gift of God through the merit of his blood: fo that nothing is required of them, but what tends to purify and perfect their natures; that, by a growing resemblance to the Father of their fpirits in this state of difcipline, they may be rendered meet for the full and everlasting enjoyment of him, when death, by diffolving the earthly tabernacle, fhall pull down all that remains of the first Adam, and bring a final release from the body of fin.

HAVING premised thefe general remarks, I fhall now proceed to remind you of those particular precepts to which our conformity is required by the gospel of Christ. And we are happily furnished with a short, but most comprehenfive, fummary of them, by this fame Apoftle in his epiftle co Titus, chap. ii. 11. 12. The grace of God that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men; teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world.

VOL. II.

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