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muft recommend them to God, the Dif cerner of Spirits. It was this Warmth of Concern for God's Honour in Phineas, that must be Imputed unto him for Righ teousness, among all pofterities for Evermore. The very fame thing done with Reluctancy, and after much Inftigation, and with a Colder hand, had been deftitute of the Ornament, and Unworthy the Reward.

The utmoft Glory of Elijah, fhines forth in this fhort Character, I have been very JEALOUS for the Lord God of Hofts. And there is nothing upon Record that redounds more to David's Honour, than the Expreffions of his Zeal in preparing a place for the Ark of the Lord: I will not come within the tabernacle of mine boufe, nor climb up into my bed: I will, not fuffer mine eyes to fleep, nor mine eyelids to flumber, neither the Temples of my bead to take any reft. True Zeal will break through all Oppofition, and Difficulties, and Discouragements; fuftain all Inconveniencies with Alacrity, and render us reftlefs and Diffatisfied, till we engage in the work and labour of love.

With fuch Eagerness and Earnéftnefs do all Good men conftantly approach the Throne of Grace, in Publick and Private Devotions; with fuch Eagernefs and Earnestness do they embrace all Opportunities of performing Works of Charity and Compaffion; with fuch Eagernefs and Earneftnefs do they press forward unto every Good Work, for the Advancement of God's Honour, and the Benefit of Mankind. And whofoever does not find himself affected with this Neceffary and Bleffed Difpofition, fhould bewail the Imperfection and Deadness which he still labours under, and inceffantly implore the Communications of the Spirit of God, that he may be actuated with the Holy Flame, and become Zealous of Good Works.

The Particulars, which have been Illuftrated, do bear fo Near and Plain a Relation to the Occafion and Purposes of this great Affembly, that Your Thoughts must needs run eafily into the Application of them. For as we may fafely attribute the Character of Good Works, to Thofe Charitable Provifions, which we

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have now under Confideration; So we may with Equal Propriety, Approve and Recommend the Zeal of thofe Charitable Souls, which have engaged in This Good Work, and which have been Earnest and Eager in their Defires and Endeavours, to propagate and carry it on to Perfection.

'Tis not more evident, that the Advancement of God's Honour, and the Benefit of our Brethren, are Proper Ends of Good Works, than it is that Those Great and Glorious Ends are duely Anfwer'd by that Education, which is given in the Charity-Schools, to Those Helpless Children, whose Happiness it is, that 'you Juftly regard their Mifery.

Is not That Work Manifeftly and Highly conducive to God's Honour, wherein 'tis provided, that the Image of God, Originally stamp'd upon Man, shall not be intirely wore out and finally disappear, but be Renewed and Reftored to Beauty and Luftre in great Numbers of those, on whom it must Otherwise have remained Miserably Defaced and Neglected: Wherein 'tis provided, that That Noble Soil, which muft Otherwife have been

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Barren and Unfruitful, or over-run with Tares and Noxious Weeds, fhall be abundantly Cultivated, and Inriched, and Productive of a Glorious Harvest: Wherein 'tis provided, that thofe Souls, which had Otherwise been expofed an Easy Prey to Evil Spirits and Evil Men, fhall be reduced from the Snares and Captivity of Satan, and become at once the Witneffes, and the Inftruments of the Glory of God: Wherein 'tis provided, that Thofe, whofe Voices had Otherwise been turn'd into Strains of Profaneness and Blafphemy, and all Iniquity, fhall be qualified to bear a Bleffed part, as your Ears have hear'd this Day, in Melodious and Moving Sounds of Praises and Thankf givings to God, Preludes to the Tranfporting Hallelujahs, which fhall be fung by the Choir of Heaven, before the glorious Throne of God for ever: Wherein: 'tis provided, that the various Circumftances of Benefit in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, fhall be properly and diligently Applied and Improved, for the Furtherance of the Gofpel; and that the Temples of the Holy Ghoft may

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be multiplied: Wherein 'tis provided, that Those who, even in the Land of Promife, might yet continue Strangers unto the Covenant of Promife, fhall be taught betimes the Neceffity of Building Chriftian Lives upon Chriftian Principles, that they may not Dishonour God, by Denying or Neglecting that Faith, which he hath required as the neceffary Foundation of Morality under the Gospel, and the indifpenfable Condition of Salvation: Wherein 'tis provided, that the Glory of God may fhine forth in This great Article of it, the Effect of This Gracious Promise, which the Holy Spirit hath laid great Stress upon, All shall know me, from the leaft of them unto the greatest of them: And, wherein 'tis provided, not only that the Doctrines of the Gospel may be Inculcated and Embraced at prefent, but that They may be handed down with Advantage to Succeeding Generations. God is pleased to exprefs a particular Approbation and Acceptance of that Sollicitude for his Honour, which Abraham testified, by Tranfmitting a Senfe of Religion to his Pofterity. Shall

I bide.

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