the fpiritual Life. And perhaps there are more destroy'd by living in a regular Senfuality, than even by that very Sin I have now been warning you of. I know, indeed, that many who are only almost Christians, and who seek, but do not strive to enter into the Kingdom of God, urge a Text of Scripture to justify their Indulgence, faying, That it is not what entreth into the Man defileth the Man. And fo we grant when taken moderately; but then they should confider, that it is poffible, nay it is proved by daily Experience, that a Perfon may eat and drink fo much as not to hurt his Body, and yet do infinite Prejudice to his Soul. For SelfIndulgence lulls the Soul into a spiritual Slumber, as well as direct Intemperance; and tho the latter may expofe us to more Contempt among Men, yet the former, if continued ing will as certainly fhut us out from the Prefence of God. St. Paul knew this full well; and therefore, though he was the fpiritual Father of thousands, and was near upon finishing his Course, yet he says, it was his daily Practice to keep his Body under, and bring it into Subjection, no doubt, by a ftrict Abftinence and Fafting; not that he might arrive at higher Degrees of Perfection, but left after he had preached to others, he himself should be a Caftaway. But why urge I the Apoftle's Example to excite you to a ftrict Temperance in eating and drinking? Rather let me exhort you only to put in Practice the latter Part of the Text,to labour to be filled with the Spirit of God, and then you will no longer fearch the Scriptures to to find Arguments for Self indulgence; but you will deal fincerely with yourselves, and faft as as often as the Church enjoins, if your Healths will permit; and eat and drink no more at any Time, than what is confiftent with the ftricteft Precepts of the Gofpel. Oh do but beg of God, that you may fee how you are fallen in Adam, and must be renew'd e'er you can be happy, by the Spirit of Jefus Chrift! Let us befeech him to enlighten us to fee the Treachery of our corrupt Hearts, and how pure and holy these Bodies ought to be, which are living Temples of the Holy Ghost, and then we shall fhew ourselves Men. Abftain from all Appearance of any Thing that will quench this Holy Spirit, and do any Thing that will invite him into, or cause him to abide in our Hearts. And thus being made Temples of the Holy Ghost, by his dwelling in our Bodies here, though after Death Worms may deftroy them, yet fhall they be raised by the fame Spirit at the general Refurrection of the last Day, to be fashioned like unto Chrift's glorious Body hereafter. Which God of bis infinite Mercy grant, &c. |