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The Saint's Duty in Evil Times.
day, have come unto, and yet they are far from them the kingdom of heaven. Obſerve that paſſage, Mark xii. 32, 33; Where a ſcribe anſwered our Lord, and ſaid, To love the Lord with all the heart, and with all the underſtanding, and with all the ſoul, and with all the ſtrength, and to love his neighbour as himſelf,
is more than whole burnt offerings and ſacrifices. To whom our Lord replies, 34. verſe. Thou art not far from the kingdom of G O D.
Ninthly, Theſe come not unto Jeſus Chriſt, who have common gifts, and reſts there. O ſay ye, I find a faculty of prayer, I want not words enough, and gets them bravely let upon the pins; I have great knowledge of the ſcriptures, and am ſtraight and not byaſſed in my judgment; and what need ſuch a man as I fear? O deluded fool, conſider what Paul ſays, I Cor. xiii. 2.
Tho' I have the gift of propheſy, and underſtand all myſteries, and all knowledge, and tho' I have all faith, ſo that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. No doubt, Judas had much of this; God will give gifts unto perſons for the behoof and advantage of others; but when he gives grace, it is ay for their own advantage; yea, the devil himſelf is better gifted, and hath more knowledge than all you have.
Tenthly, Theſe come not unto Chriſt, who ſuffer many things materially for the truth, and have ſome ſeeming fruits thereof, and reſt there; do not think that your ſuffering your goods to be ſpoiled, and yourſelves to be caſt out of your habitation before ye comply with the enemy, is a ground, from which ye may
conclude all to be right: Nay, I tell you as the Apoſtle lays, I Cor. xiii. Tho' ye ſhould beſtow all your goods too feed the poor, tho' I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing : Yea, the ſame Apoſtle ſuppoſeth, Gal. iii. 4. That there may be much ſuffering in vain ; have ye ſuffered to many things in vain ? If it be yet in vain. There are many of you that are ſuffering matterially for Chriſt; materially, we ſay, and not formally; for hypocrites never wins to ſincerity in their doings and ſufferings, nor to do them as to God; and yet he will get hell to ſuffer in throughout all eternity; yea, a man when is credit his ſtraitly engaged, he may give his life for the cauſe, and yet get hell for his reward.
Eleventhly, Theſe come not unto Chriſt, who have only a hiſtorical and temporary faith, inſtead of ſaving faith, tho' ye ſhould believe all the truths in the Bible, yet that will not avail you, the devils believe and tremble; yea, tho' ye ſhould give your general aſſent to the way of ſalvation by Chriſt, yet unleſs ye receive and embrace him, and reſt upon him, all will be for nought: Look the caſe of this people; Iſai xlviii. 2. Who call them-ſelves of the holy city, and ſtay themſelves upon the God of iſ-rael; but what ſays the Lord of them? Yet not in truth nor in righteouſneſs: O take heed what ye are doing, and do not deceive
