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XV.

der men fafe in unrighteous Living, but SER M. to purge the confcience of fuch as truly repent and amend, to purge them from dead works to ferve the living God, Heb. ix. 14; The End why our Lord gave himself for us, being, that he might purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. If this great End be attained; if (according to the language of St John) we walk in the Light, (that is, in the practice of true virtue and holiness,) even as God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all; then indeed the blood of Jefus Chrift his Son cleanfeth us from all past Sin. But if we say we have fellowship with Him, and (still) walk in darkness; (that is, continue to live wickedly, and yet hope for Benefit from the profeffion of God's true religion from what Chrift has either done or fuffered for us;) we lie, and do not the Truth, 1 Joh. i. 6.

4thly, and lastly: As from what has been faid, appears the Reasonableness of mens applying to God through That One Mediatour, whom he has appointed; so at the fame Time appears likewife the Folly,

of

SER M. of their setting up Other Mediators, of XV. their own invention; fuch as are Angels,

Saints, the Bleffed Virgin, and the like. For there is one God, fays the Apostle, and One Mediatour between God and Men. And as departing from the One God and Father of All, who is above all, and through all, and in us all, is the first and highest Species of Idolatry; fo another fort of the fame Sin, is setting up falfe and imaginary Mediators, by will-worship, by a voluntary humility, as St Paul ftiles it, and worShipping of Angels; when men intrude into things which they have not feen, vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by Joints and Bands having nourishment miniftred, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

SERMON

SERMON XVI.

The Converfation of Chriftians is in Heaven.

[Preached on Afcenfion-Day.]

PHIL. iii. 20.

For our Converfation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift.

I

N difcourfing upon These words S ER M.
of the Apostle, I shall ist en- XVI.
deavour briefly to fhow, what
is the full meaning of this
Phrafe, of having our Corver-

fation in Heaven; and 2dly, what are the

XVI.

SER M. principal Benefits and Advantages, which may arife to good men from This confideration.

I. As to the Signification of the Phrase, having our converfation in Heaven; it may properly be understood to imply, three things.

Ift, OUR Meditating frequently upon That Heavenly State, That Kingdom of Truth, Virtue and Happiness, which is propofed to us as the Reward and End of our Christian Warfare. To converse with any Perfon prefent, fignifies delighting in his Company, or being concerned in his Affairs. To be converfant with any person abfent, fignifies holding mutual intercourse and correspondence with him; being follicitous about what is done by him, or happens to him. To have our converfation in a distant Place, fignifies being much There in our Minds; defiring to have an influence or intereft, in what is done There; and judging, that What paffes There, has an influence upon Us, affects us nearly, or relates to us more immediately. When therefore the Apoftle affirms, as in the

XVI.

Text, that our Converfation is in Heaven; SER M. his meaning is, that though our Perfons at present dwell on Earth, yet our greateft Intereft and Concerns are in Heaven. Like a Merchant trading in a distant Country; his present Abode may be in foreign parts, but his Estate, his Family, his settled Habitation, is at home; and 'tis of much more importance to him, what the lafting State of his Affairs is at Home; than what happens to him Abroad, with regard to fuch Accidental temporary Circumftances, as do not much affect his main Concerns in his own Country. Thus Chriftians, have their great, their lafting Intereft, in Heaven. And though they cannot, they ought not, any more than other men, to be infenfible of what happens to them in this short and tranfitory life, according to the true proportion of things, and their real value; yet every thing here, ought chiefly to be confidered, with regard to the influence 'tis likely to have, upon our future and eternal State. Which right Judgment and Estimation of things, 'tis impoffible men fhould make; unless by

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