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thy name, O most Highest; To tell of thy loving kindness early in the morning, and of thy truth in the night season "."

Especially, Christian brethren, let the love of Christ be known to be an inmate, and let prayer be continually made to God through Him, in every house where either example will be like to sway, or authority to command. In this, let what the nobleman did, be done also. They who have a greater number of talents given them to trade withal, depend upon it, will never go to heaven or hell alone. Their example will do much in every way, whether for good or ill. In vain indeed, yea bitterness in their latter end, will their power prove to be, "who labour not to draw their families to God." But happy, thrice happy they, who by adding, as far as lies in them, to the number of the elect, hasten that blessed kingdom which is to come, where God will dwell with them, "and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God," and "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain "."

7 Ps. xcii. 1, 2.

8

See Bp. Hall ut suprà, p. 65.

Rev. xxi. 3, 4.

SERMON XVII.

TO KNOW THE DOCTRINE, GOD'S WILL MUST BE DONE; OR, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

"Heaven is not given for our good works here,

But it is given to the labourer."

Herrick's Holy Numbers.

"The faith of a Christian hath no signification at all but obedience and charity; and if men be just, and charitable, and good, and live according to their faith, then only they are Christians; whatsoever else is pretended is but a shadow, and the image of a grace; for since in all the sects and institutions of the world, the professors did, in some reasonable sort, conform to the rules of the profession, (as appears in all the schools of philosophers, and religions of the world, and the practices of the Jews, and the usages and country customs of the Turks,) it is a strange dishonour to Christianity, that in it alone men should pretend to the faith of it, and do nothing of what it persuades and commands upon the account of those promises, which it makes us to believe."-Jer. Taylor.

"It is well that the foundation of God standeth sure, and that the Lord knoweth them that are his; or he would hardly take us for his own, so far do we live below the honour of saints."-Baxter, Saints' Rest.

"There is more real love of God shown in the least sincere act of obedi ence, than in the greatest and most pompous sacrifice.”—South.

"But after death the tryall is to come,

When best shall bee to them that liveth best."

Faerie Queene.

Beus propitius esto mihi peccatori!

JOHN xii. 17.

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

DID we but yield a willing obedience to the word of God, and to the teaching of the Church, we should never greatly err. It is when we devise systems for ourselves, and follow after our own inventions, that the mind wanders and the will becomes unstable, and the understanding is darkened. And of this the Psalmist was well advised when he said, "Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths." "When thy word goeth forth, it giveth light and understanding unto the simple '."

How little this is laid to heart the world full readily testifies. Opinions, even upon sacred points, are varied almost as the faces of those who hold

'Ps. cxix. 105. 130.

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