[We profess, as persons redeemed by the blood of our in- carnate God, to give up ourselves to him, and to live unto Him who died for us : and, if we are sincere in this, our deter- mination is fixed, that, with God's help, nothing shall ever keep us from executing this intention. We have deliberately counted the cost. We are aware, that " if we will Uve godly in Christ Jesus, we must suffer persecution : " but we are pre- pared to meet it, from whatever quarter it may come, yea, though " our greatest foes should be those of our own house- hold." We are ready to sacrifice our reputation, our interests, and our very lives also, rather than in any respect deny our God, or suffer ourselves to be diverted from the path of duty. We are determined, through grace, to put away every thing that may retard our progress heavenward, and to aspire after the highest possible attainments in righteousness and true holiness. Now God requires, that we should be acting up to this profession, " setting our face as a flint against the whole world," and standing in the posture of Daniel or the Hebrew Youths, willing to have our bodies consigned to a den of lions, or a fiery furnace, rather than violate our duty by any sinful compliance. If we are halting or hesitating, we have not truth in our inward parts.]
3. In our endeavours —
[Purposes must be judged of by the exertions that are put forth in order to carry them into effect. A diligent attendance therefore on all the means of grace must of necessity be re- quired of us : in the public ordinances, and in our private chambers, whether we be hearing, or reading, or meditating, or praying, we must be Hke men in earnest, even like the man- slayer fleeing from the pursuer of blood, that scarcely stopped to look behind him, till he should reach the appointed sanc- tuary, the city of refuge. Remissness in such a cause argues a want of real integrity : if truth be indeed in our inward parts, we shall run as in a race, which leaves us no time to loiter ; and wrestle with all our might, lest we be foiled in the contest ; and fight as those who know that there is no alternative but to overcome or perish. In all the interior workings of our minds we shall resemble the Corinthians, who were " clear in this matter''."]
That we may not be discouraged by the strictness of God's requirements, let us consider, II. The benefit he will confer —
There is a wisdom that is to be gained only by experience : what has its seat in the head, may be learned by the head : what dwells in the heart, must
c 2 Cor. vii. 11. D d2