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ple, in which it was in some good measure reduced to practice, be denied to be beautiful, excellent, and beneficial to mankind? What then is wanting, but that those who believe and love these truths, should aim to be such living sermons, as may convince all around them of the superior excellence and efficacy of their principles: and to shew that "the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, doth indeed teach men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world?"

Let us then call upon ourselves and each other, to "let our light shine before men, that they may see "our good works, and glorify our Father who is in "Heaven:" and let us continually beg of him to communicate to us more abundantly his sanctifying Spirit, that we may "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." To Him therefore in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all glory, honour, adoration, and thanksgiving, now and for evermore. Amen.

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VICAR OF GREAT MISSENDEN, AND PERPETUAL CURATE OF LEE,

IN THE COUNTY OF BUCKS:

Preached

AT MISSENDEN,

JUNE 19, 1803.

TO WHICH IS ADDED, A MEMOIR OF THE DECEASED.

SERMON III.

PHILIPPIANS i. 21.

To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

VARIOUS have been the efforts of man's ingenuity to acquire wealth and splendour; but the unwearied attempts, which for a long course of years were made by numbers, to find a way of converting the baser metals into gold, was perhaps the most extraordinary of them all. Yet could it have succeeded to the utmost wishes formed by its deluded votaries, what material advantages to individuals, or to the community, would have been derived from it?

But he who has learned to convert death itself into gain, has indeed made a discovery of infinite importance to the dying race of men. This, the apostles and prophets learned by divine revelation; this, they communicate to us in their writings; this, all faithful ministers are employed to teach mankind: yet, alas!

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