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to ferve the heavenly Mafter whom they Let me endeavour therefore to affift them in pursuing their holy purpose,

have chofen.

II. If you would prove yourself to be on the fide of the Lord; confign yourself entirely to his governance, and receive with immediate and complete fubmiffion every one of his commandments. Confider the character and the duty of a foldier. A foldier who confides in his general, and defires to obtain his approbation, never in the smallest inftance difputes his orders; and constantly holds himfelf prepared to carry them into effect. On the fagacity of his commander he relies for the establishment of plans, and the direction of meafures, by which their common enemies are to be refifted and fubdued and is confcious that his own wifdom and fafety confift in punctual, vigilant, and courageous obedience. Such must be your conduct as foldiers of Jefus Christ. Surrender yourselves without referve to the guidance of the captain of your falvation. Fight the good fight of faith. Embrace with undoubting confidence every doctrine difclosed in his holy word. He is the Son of God: he knows what is the mind of his al

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mighty Father. He knows how great is the corruption of human nature; how odious fin is in the fight of God; and how dreadful are the confequences which naturally attend it. He knows that it is only through his atoning blood that finners can be faved: that it is only through the fanctifying influence of the Holy Ghoft that his gofpel can be accepted and obeyed. Thefe momentous truths he has revealed to you in the Scriptures. Believe them, if you look for eternal life. Believe the Son of God, the Lord of glory, who came down from heaven, who died for you. Take him for your Mafter and your King Range yourfelves on his fide. Let his will be your will, his ways your ways. Fly to him, as the Levites fled to Mofes, with hearts prepared to liften with perfect fubmiffion to all his commands; and refolve, through his bleffed help, to ferve him faithfully and zealously unto death.

If you are thus bent on devoting yourselves to the fervice of the Lord; remember that there is only one method by which you can give proof that you are on his fide. He that doeth righteousness, is righteous. He that keepeth my commandments, be it is that loveth me. Ye are my friends, if ye do that which I

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command you. If any man love me, he will keep my words.

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (e). It is thus that you are to manifeft yourself the faithful fervant of God, the determined foldier of Chrift Jefus. It is thus that you are to contend against his enemies; it is thus that, you are to promote his glory; it is thus that you are to be inftrumental in extending his kingdom. The firft conqueft which you will labour to prefent to your Lord, is the conqueft of yourself. You will fervently feek his, grace that you may be enabled to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. "I am not my own"-this will be the language of your heart-" I am not my

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own: I am bought with a price. I am not my own: I belong to the Lord Jefus. I am not to live unto myfelf; but unto him who "died for me. I am a foldier ftationed upon

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duty; not to feek my own pleasure, but to perform the will of my heavenly King. I am now, if need be, to endure hardship. I am now to be watchful, patient, laborious, "contented with my lot. I am to give full proof of my miniftry. I am to deny my"felf. I am to keep under my body and "bring it into fubjection. I am to refift the {ƒ) 1 John, iii. 7. John, xiv. 21. 23. xv. 14. 1 John, v. 3.

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"temptations of the world, the flesh and the "devil, the adverfaries of God and of my foul. If fenfual appetite, if the love of eafe, if a thirst for honour, or riches, or power; if joy, or forrow, or hope, or fear, on any earthly allurement, prevail upon me "to abandon my poft: I am no longer on "the fide of the Lord; I am a traitor to him; "I take part with his enemies; I forfeit that " crown of glory, which my gracious God "has prepared for me if I faithfully ferve

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him unto the end; and I plunge myfelf "into the pit of everlafting deftruction."

If your heart be at length ftedfast with the Lord, you will feize with delight every opportunity which he affords you of contribu ting to win others to his kingdom. The commiffion with which the Levites were charged by Mofes against their finful countrymen was a miniftry of vengeance. Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael: Put every man his ford by his fide; and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and flay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. Confecrate yourfelves to-day to the Lord, even every man upon his fon and upon his brother (f). Very different is the commiffion with which God charges you respecting those who are (ƒ) Exod. xxxii. 27—29.

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not on his fide. He charges you with a commiffion of love, with a miniftry of recons ciliation. To you he fays; Let your light fo Shine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Follow after the things which make for peace; and things wherewith one may edify another (g). Give to religion the full effect

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your example, of your influence, of your recommendation. Shew that you affign to religion the first place in your heart from a decided conviction that the firft place is its due; and that, where it does not hold that place, happiness will never take up her abode. Let others be won to the love of God by difcerning the bleffed effects of that love upon yourself. Let them perceive that in confequence of having fet your heart upon God, you are become more humble, more gentle, more tender, more kind, more bountiful, more amiable, more happy. Let them perceive that your converfation is in heaven; that you feel yourself, and feel yourself without regret, a stranger and pilgrim upon earth; that you are not difquieted like the men of the prefent world, by diftracting cares and conflicting paffions; but that you are waiting in patient and cheerful ferenity, under (g) Matt. v. 16

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Rem. xiv. 19.

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