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of his Vifits, the gracious Manifestations of SERM. II. his Prefence. Bold Intruders may break in upon her, her, and the unclean Spirit may at times enter the House against her Will, but fhe gives no Entertainment to fuch unwelcome Guests, nay, the cafts them out with all poffible Speed, for having fet her Affections on things Above, and her Face towards the heavenly City, her Thoughts naturally. tend the fame way: And after all we must allow, that, amidst the various Rules laid down for the Government of our Thoughts, the best Courfe we can take to order them aright is to begin with the Affections, inafmuch as thefe are the Source from whence they flow; for what a Man loves best he is fure to think most upon.

Another Evidence of Purity of Heart is Simplicity, which takes in what is meant in Scripture by the fingle Eye and Singleness of Heart, both with respect to God and Man; the contrary to which is rebuked in those Words of St. James," Purify your Hearts, ye double-minded."

The Hypocrite wears two Faces, and the Men of the World bewilder themfelves in the crooked Paths of a ferpentine Cunning, and are therefore continually laying Snares

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SERM. II. for their Consciences; whereas the fimple hearted Chriftian hath but one Meaning and one Way, and therefore he walketh upright ly; with him is not Yea and Nay: He needeth no Cafuistry to his Divinity, to teach him how far he may follow his own Inclinations without finning, for his only Inclination is to do the Will of God in all things, and therefore the Purity of his Intention gives Acceptance (thro' the Beloved) to his moft indifferent Things; and the Spirit of Love, which in him is the Law of the Spirit of Life, flows into a fpontaneous Obedience to all that God requires of Him. Does any one abound in goodWorks? it may truly be faid of the King's Daughter, that herein she is more abundant, for fhe adorns the Doctrine of God her Saviour in all things; And therefore as fhe is all glorious within, so her Cloathing is of wrought Gold- her Soul is cloathed with the Righteousness of Christ, as the Garment of her Salvation; and in her outward Life fhe "lets her Light fo "fhine before Men, that they may fee her good Works, and glorify her Father which "is in Heaven."

It might here be expected that Mention fhould be made of those other eminent Chrif

tian Graces Faith, Hope, Charity, as thefe SERM. II. are the moft diftinguished Parts of the Divine Life, the most comely and amiable Features in the Beauty of Holinefs: But thefe are Topics of more general Note, and such as have been much infifted on at other times: Let it fuffice then to add here, that the King's Daughter is complete in the King's Son, for Chrift in her is both the Hope and Earneft of her Glory here, as He will be the Fullness of its Accomplishment hereafter.

Thus doth the Lord, when He is come into his Temple, beautify the Place of his Sanctuary, and make the Place of his Feet glorious, for He adorns the faithful Soul with the Graces of his Spirit, even as a Bride is adorned with Jewels: And tho' at times He may prove her with Trials and Croffes, yet it is that he may be approved of by Him; thus all these things work together for her good, and He will affuredly at last compass her about with Songs of Deliverance, give her the Oyl of foy for Mourning, and the Garment of Praife for the Spirit of Heaviness.

Hail, Thou beloved Daughter of the King, all glorious within! Welcome, thrice welcome, to the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy one of Ifrael," whofe Walls are "called

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SERM. II." called Salvation, and whofe Gates Praife! "The Sun fhall be no more thy Light by Day, neither for Brightness fhall the Moon give Light unto thee, but the Lord shall "be unto thee an everlasting Light, and thy God thy Glory.”

SERMON

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Be not flothful, but Followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promifes

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III.

HE Jewish Converts are exhorted, in SERMON the Beginning of this Chapter, to a farther Proficiency in the Knowledge of Chrift and his Religion: "Leaving, (fays the Apostle) the Principles of "the Doctrine of Chrift, let us go on << unto Perfection." He had before laid the Foundation like a wife Mafter-builder, and had grounded them in the Rudiments or initiatory things of Religion, fuch as Baptifm, Confirmation, outward Ordinances, and the Belief of a Refurrection and Judgment to come; and now proposes to inftruct them in its more recondite Truths,

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