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heed of doing any fuch things as may make Religion ftink in the noftrils of profane men: Take heed of doing any thing that is not justifiable or warrantable, and which may be an active fcandal unto others. Indeed there are paffive fcandals and offences, fuch as wicked men take through their own corrupt and malicious hearts, as the Pharifees did at Chrift; But fuch people destroy themselves, and like Serpents, turn every thing they eat into poifen: But the true Chriftian is tender of Gods Glory, and the repute of Religion; and therefore dares not do fuch things as are unwarrantable. If Auguftus could fay, an Emperor fhould not only be free from crimes, but the very fufpition of them: How much more fhould true Chriftians labour to be fuch, who are commanded to abstain from all appearance of evil? Thef.5,22. Do nothing therefore that is misbecomming a real Chriftian. As Ne hemiah once said, shall such a man as I flee? Nehem.6.11. So do thou reflect upon thy felf, when tempted to any evil action: Shall fuch an one as 1, lie, fwear, deal deceitfully; be proud, be covetous, be earthly minded, &c? O! it ever thou shouldft be overcome with fuch things, thou maist fay to thy felf truly, what Michal faid falfely to David, Thou haft made thy felf like one of the vile and bafe ones of the earth.

That therefore thou maift be the more feriously watchful over all thy actions take these three directions. 1. Look

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1. Look carefully to the principle, the spring, the rife of them. Obferve from whence all thy external obedience flowes: Does it come from an inward principle of Grace, from a fanctified heart, from a new Nature, from a principle of Faith, and Love? or from external motives, and outward refpects and confiderations? 'Tis not the matter that makes the work good, but the principle: Some things may be done (for the matter good) and fome external obedience performed by meer natural men, and that either for credit, or upon the impulfes of natural Confcience, out of bondage, and a fervile frame of spirit, like fruits that are ripened by art and force, not naturally and kindly, but 't is not enough to do actions good and just as to the matter, but we must do them out of love to God, and obedience to his will, and in Faith expecting our reward from him.

2. Look to thy rule. Is the Word of God the rule and fquare of thy actions? Thy Word is a light to my feet, and a lanthorn to my paths, faies David, Pfal.119 105. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,' and upon the Ifrael of God, faies Paul, Gal.6.16. Many people watch in a diforderly way; They have no Law or Rule, but their own lufts and corrupt wills; no guide, but their own blind paffions and humours. But if thou wouldst order thy actions aright, take the word of God for thy Rule, T 3. Look

3. Look to thy aim and end. Thy main and ultimate end must be Gods Glory. A Chriftians whole life fhould be a living unto God, Gal.2.19. All that is done, be it an act of Piety, Fustice, Temperance, or Charity, it should be done with this aim, that God might be glorified thereby. In all thy actions therefore, whether natural, civil, or spiritual, thou muft ftill defigne the Glory of God: But of this we have spoken more under the fourth particular of this Chapter.

Jam.2.12. So fpeak ye, and fo do as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty.

1 Pet.1.15. But as he which hath called you is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of converfation. 2 Pet.3.11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dißolved, what manner of perfons ought ye to be, in all holy converfation and Godlineffe? Mat.7.22. Many will fay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy Name? and in thy Name have caft out Devils? and in thy Name done many wonderful works? V.23. And then will I profeffe unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Heb.12.14. Follow peace with all men, and holi. neffe, without which no man fhall fee the Lord. Tit. 2.14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purific unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good

works.

1 John

1 John 3.3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure. Eph.5.15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fooles, but as wife.

V.16. Redeeming the time, because the daies

are evil.

Col.4.5. Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time.

2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoycing is this, the teftimony of our Confcience, that in fimplicity, and Godly fincerity, not with fleshly wisdome, but by the Grace of God, we had our converfation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards. Ifa.38.3. And Hezekiah faid, remember now. O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy fight, and Hezekiah wept fore.

Acts 24.16. And herein do I exercise my self, to have alwaies a Confcience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Jam.1.alt. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God, and the Father, is this, to visit the fa therleffe, and widowes, in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world, Jam.2. ult. For as the body without the spirit is dead, fo Faith without workes is dead alfo. Mar.5.16. Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your goed werks, and glorific your Father which is in Heaven.

T2

Prov. 16.

Prov.16.17. The high way of the upright is to depart from evil, he that keepeth his way preserv eth his foul. Ezek.36.27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and caufe you to walk in my statutes, and ye fhall keep my Fudgments, and do them. I Cor 6.20. For ye are bought with a prices therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are Gods.

1 Tim.1.5. Now the end of the Commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good ConScience, and of Faith unfeigned.

2 Tim.2.19. Nevertheleffe, the foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from ini. quity. Eph 4.1. Itherefore, the Prisoner of the Lord befeech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Luke 3.8. Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance 2 Cor.5.10. For we must all appear before the judgment feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Rom.12.2. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God.

Phil, 2..

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