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proofs of our abhorring the fin of the day; and why then should we flatter ourfelves with the thought, that God hath left off to abhor, and will no longer continue to chaftife us for the fake of it? "Truly" (to ufe our Saviour's words) "ye bear witnefs, that ye allow the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed the prophets, and ye build their fepulchres; Luke xi. 48. that is, Ye pay fome outward refpect to their afhes, fome ceremonious regard to their memories; but without renouncing the principles, and abominating the practices, that led to the fpilling that righteous blood, which, therefore, we have reafon to fear, may be required even of this generation. When, and in what manner, God will require it, he alone knows. But if we confider the height of all forts of wickedness, to which we are now arrived; the open contempt of religion, and feprn of facred perfons, and things, that reigns among us; the inteftine difcords, by which we are torn at home; the dangers which have threatened us from aabroad, and (however we may fay, Peace, Peace, to ourselves) ftill do threaten us, we have just caufe to apprehend, that the complete measure of our iniquity is almoft filled up, and that the day of our visitation is not far off.

But do not thou, "O Lord to whom vengeance belongeth," do not thou deal with us according to our deferts; "be not displeased at us for ever, neither ftretch out thy wrath from one generation to another !" Command thy destroying angel, when he goeth through the city (as the prophet Ezekiel fpeaks, chap ix. 4.) to fet a mark upon the forehead of all thofe that figh,

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and that cry for the abomination, which hath been done in the midft thereof;" and either to fpare the whole for their fakes; or, at least not to fmite the righteous together with the wicked! Make us deeply fenfible of this, and all other our great enormities, and of thy wondrous lenity and forbearance!" Teach us, even yet in this our day (if it be poffible, the things that belong to our peace, ere they be hid from our eyes!" Luke xix 42. Teach us, by a reflection on past calami→ tics, to prevent new ones, and to avoid these rock and thelves, on which our fore-fathers were fhipwrecked!

Which God of his infinite mercy grant through the merits of that "blood, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel!

To him, Father, Son. and Holy Ghoft, be af cribed, as is moft due, all honour, adoration, and thanks, now, and for evermore. Amen.

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The Wicked Lives of Chriftians no Argument against the Truch of Christianity.

1 TIM. vi. 1.

That the name of God, and his doctrine be not blafphemed.

HE purity and perfection of the Chriftian morality, confidering the meannefs of the perfons who published that doctrine, is a fure argument of its divine original and authority, But then the lives of fo many Chriftians, led in a way fo little anfwerable to the precepts of Christ, are a mighty difhonour to our religion, and give occafion to those who seek occafion, to reproach and blefpheme it.

What fignifies it, says the libertine, or indeed

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how can one be fatisfied, that the gospel is of heavenly extraction; when we fee it hath no more efficacy and influence on the hearts and lives of those who profefs it, than other religions that are of mere human contrivance; when there is as much impiety, and vice of all forts among those "that name the name of Chrift," as amongst the Mahometans and heathens?

This popular objection St. Paul appears to have had much upon his thoughts, and doth therefore frequently prefs his new converts, in this and other epiftles, to diftinguish themselves by a becoining fanctity of life and manners; for this reafon, among others, "That the name of God and his doctrine be not blafphemed..

If there were great occafion for fuch exhortations then, there is much greater now; when the manners of Chriftians are degenerated fo far, not only from the precepts of Chrift, but even from the pattern fet by thofe firft belivers; and when there are even among thofe, who call themselves Chriftians, fome as ready to lay hold of this ob jection, and to urge it in prejudice of our religion, as any of the most determined heathens. even Porphyry, Gefus, or Julian himself, were.

From the words therefore, a proper occafion will be given me to enquire,

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First, What ground there is for a complaint of the extreme wickedness of men now under the evangelical difpenfation.

Secondly, Allowing the complaint to be juft, how little reafon there yet would be for turning

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it to the the disadvantage of Chriftianity itself. And,

Thirdly, What are the inferences that may more juftly and naturally be deduced from it.

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First, I am to confider what juft ground or colour there may be for a complaint of the exceeding wickedness of men now under the Chril 'tian difpenfation.

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And here it may with truth be observed to the advantage of our holy religion, that, as 'bid'as men are under it, they would have yet been worfe without it; fince upon a juft comparison of Chriftians, even in thefe latter tlines, with the enemies of the crofs of Chrift, it will, I am "perfuaded, be found, that the manners of the one are not quite fo corrupt and vicious as thofe of the other. There may perhaps be fome particular Chriftians more abandoned to all forts and "degrees of impiety, than any even of the most profligate heathens (for which inftances hall account in what follows) but furely Christendom, as to the general state of it, is not equally feandalous in this refpect, with thofe parts of the world, that are ftrangers to Chrift; thofe parts. of it, I mean, where the incentives to luxury, ambition, and every fort of vice do equally abound.

"And therefore the aggravating deferiptions that have been given of this matter by fome pious and pathetical pens, are not to be interpreted too ftrictly. The faults of Chriftians are obvious and manifeft to thofe of the fame faith, and strike

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