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verence of our heavenly Father is the most effectual Prefervative, we ought to keep up that in its full Strength, by frequently repeating fervent Prayer to him, and affecting Meditations upon him. How intirely the Exercifes of Devotion are laid aside by some; and with what Indifference, and even Contempt, a mere outward Shew of them, now and then, is just retained by others, who yet call themfelves Chriftians; too many of you, I fear, know too well: and it furnishes Matter of melancholy Reflection, not only to every pious, but every prudent Mind. For good Men must feel, that the Regard, due to God, is a moft inward, conftant and awful one: and wise Men must surely perceive, that neither can the common Welfare be preferved without Morals; nor Morals, without Religion; nor Religion, without Worship; private Worship, to ftrengthen our own Senfe of Duty; and public Worship, to spread it amongst others.

On all Accounts, therefore, it is our moft important Concern to cultivate and exprefs the Affections of Piety; which are indeed the nobleft Movements of our Souls towards the worthieft Object, towards the Attain

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Attainment of the most bleffed End: and to awaken ourselves from the Remiffness, into which we are apt to fall, on this Head beyond others, by reminding our Hearts often, that God is prefent, and a future State foon will be fo; and how foon to any of us, none can tell. May we all refolve, from this Moment, to strive earnestly for a happy Share in it, through Faith in the Merits of our dear Redeemer, and a right Ufe of the Suggestions of the Divine Spirit: to both whom, with the Father Almighty, be Honour and Praise, now and for ever! Amen,

SERMON

SERMON II.

MARK viii. 34.

And when he had called the People unto him, with his Difciples alfo: he faid unto them, Whofoever will come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his Cross, and follow me.

Every Word, which proceeded out of the

Mouth of our bleffed Lord, muft unquestionably deserve a very serious Attention. But fome Things being peculiarly needful to be known, or liable to be forgotten; to these, on proper Occafions, he demanded the especial Regard of his Hearers

and as they were

bound to pay it, fo are we. Thus in the foregoing Chapter, finding it requifite to confute the Jewish Traditions in Favour of that ceremonial Purity in their Perfons and Food, which led them to overlook the moral Purity of the Heart, we are told, that when he had called all the People unto him, he faid, Hearken

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unto me every one of you, and understand. There is nothing from without a Man, that entring into him can defile him: but the Things which come out of him, wicked Thoughts and their Confequences, thofe are they that defile the Man: if any Man hath Ears to hear, let him hear. With the fame Kind of Solemnity he delivered the Words of the Text: which indeed had ftill greater Need of it, as the former contradicted only received Opinions and Customs; but these, the strongest of our natural Paffions and Appetites. When he had called, &c.

Taking up the Crofs relates, in the primary and ftrict Sense, only to fuffering patiently for the Truth': a Duty, God be thanked, less common amongst us at present, and which therefore I shall pass over. In its larger Acceptation it will be found to coincide with Self-denial: a Word of great Importance to be rightly apprehended, because it expreffes here the Condition, on which alone we fhall be acknowledged the true Followers of Chrift. The Terms of Salvation are indeed elsewhere laid before us in Phrafes more intelligible at first Sight: but illuftrating this darker one will not only contribute to prove that the different

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* Mark vii. 14, 15, 16. Vid. Suicer in Eraupes, p. 1005.

Views of the Chriftian Doctrine are all confiftent with each other, but discover to us the principal Cause of our acting wrong, with the moft effectual Method of Amendment, perhaps more fully, than any Thing else can. I fhall therefore endeavour,

I. To explain the literal Meaning of the
Expreffion :

II. To fhew with what Limitations it must
be understood:

III. To fet before you the Obligation of the Duty, comprehended under it; and its Importance to our Virtue and our Happiness.

I. To explain the literal Meaning of the Expreffion,

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We speak every Day of denying ourselves fuch or fuch a Pleasure, that is refusing to ourselves the Enjoyment of it. But the Scripture Sense goes much beyond this, and extends to renouncing and disowning ourselves; throwing out of our Thoughts the Relation that we bear to our own Perfons; and behaving with as little Indulgence, as if a mere Stranger to us, were in Question. Of Course

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