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very uncertain, and fubject to be mistaken, SERM. and have been the Caufe and Original of XVIII. many Doubts and Scruples in the Minds of fuch Men, who have either weak Heads, or timorous Difpofitions; but this is a certain Rule, which will never fail us; by this Means we may certainly know the State and Condition of our own Souls; if we do but ask ourselves this one plain Question, and appeal to our own Confciences, whether we live like Chriftians or not; and hereby we shall eafily dif cover, whether we have the Life and Soul of genuine Piety and true Religion in us. The Tree will discover itself by its Fruits, and where there is a Principle of Grace and Holiness in the Soul of a Man, it will be operative, and produce good Actions. The Apostle, in the Verfes before the Text, fupposes, that there is an Oppofition between a carnal and a fpiritual Mind, and that the Way, to distinguish one from the other, is, to confider their Fruits and Effects. For he tells us, That, the Works of the Flesh are manifeft, Gal. . which are thefe, Adultery, Fornication, 19, &c. Uncleanness, Lafcivioufness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Herefies, En

vyings,

SERM. Vyings, Murders, Drunkenness, Revellings, XVIII. and fuch like: But the Fruit of the Spi

23.

rit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-fuffering, Ver. 22. Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against fuch there is no Law, i. e. they lie under the Condemnation of no Law, because they do not tranfgrefs against it. And then he concludes, If we live in the Spirit, let us alfo walk in the Spirit; plainly intimating to us, that our Walking in the Spirit is a plain and evident Sign, that we have a Principle of spiritual Life in our Souls, and live under the immediate Conduct and Influence of God's Holy Spirit.

Ver. 25.

2. FROM this Phrase of Walking in the Spirit, we may infer, that it is the Duty of every good Chriftian to grow in Grace, and to improve in virtuous and holy Living, to proceed from one Degree of Grace to another, till at last we arrive at the Fulness of Stature in the Lord Jefus Chrift; for thofe, who are regenerate and born again, will, like new born 1Pet.ii.z. Babes, defire the fincere Milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. And, if we do not go forward in the Ways of Virtue, we may be affured we are turning afide to the crooked Paths of Error and

Vice.

Vice; if our good Habits do not grow SERM. every Day more ftrong and more natu- XVIII. ral to us, and we are not deeper rooted and grounded in the Fear and Love of God, it is an infallible Sign that our fpiritual Life languishes and decays in us, and that we are in a declining and dangerous Condition?

Lastly, FROM this Expreffion of Living in the Spirit, we may infer, that it is our Duty, and ought to be our great Care, to entertain the Motions and to cherish the Inspirations and bleffed Influences of God's Holy Spirit; for fince the Gifts and Graces of God's Holy Spirit are the Springs and Principles of all fpiritual Life in our Souls, and fince these Graces are not wrought in us after an irresistible Manner, but in Conjunction with our own Diligence and vigorous Endeavours it will from hence evidently appear, that our great Care ought to be, first to fit and prepare ourfelves, and to purge our Souls from every unclean Thing, that they may be a fuitable Habitation for God's Holy Spirit to dwell in; and then in the next Place, to comply with his Operations, to yield to his Motions, and obey his Commands, and thus by making a good Ufe of that Grace which

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SERM. God has given us, we shall entitle our XVIII. felves to more, and engage God, the Author of every good and perfect Gift, to fill all our Capacities of receiving; and then we fhall grow in Grace, and increase in Favour with God and Man, till our patient Continuing in Well-doing has had its perfect Work in our Souls, which God of his Mercy grant for Jefus Chrift his Sake.

SERMON

SERMON XIX.

The Fruits of the Spirit.

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GAL. V, 22, 23.

But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-fuffering, Gentle nefs, Goodness, Faith,

Meeknefs, Temperance

there is no Law.

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against fuch

Deut. XXX. 19.

S Mofes faid to the Children of I-SERM, rael, I have fet before you Life XIX. and Death, Bleffing and Curfing, therefore chufe Life, that both thou and thy Seed may live; fo the Apostle St. Paul, in this Chapter, fets forth unto us the contrary Fruits of the Flesh and of the Spirit; fhews us the Oppofition which is between

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them

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