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* And for the rest, although wickedness will never be suffered to go unpunished, and the sad state of many may excite our benevolent concern, and prayers for them, we may trust our Creator, that in the end all his proceedings will turn out full of mercy and goodness, beyond what we can now conceive or compres hend.

Unto him alone be glory in the highest for

ever.

PRAYER.

O God, the Father of our beings, the Maker and Governor of all things; whose ways are always righteous and good!

: We desire to be made sensible of the

great importance of our present state, and of our happiness in being under thy direction; who lovest us, and knowest what is best for us, and who will never chastize and afflict thy children but for their good.

As it hath pleased thee, in thy sovereign allruling wisdom, to place us, in this beginning of our existence, in a world full of dangerous trials and alluring temptations; in which it is difficult for us to walk securely, and be faith

ful

ful to thee and thy truth; and wherein many suffer themselves to be drawn aside into the broad way that leadeth to destruction, and become lost to virtue and goodness and to thee:

Our reliance and trust is in thee, O Lord, who knowest our frame, and rememberest that we are but dust: and we pray thee not to suffer us to be led into temptation which may overset our feeble virtue, but to proportion thy grace and help to the duty to which thou callest us; that in thy wisdom and strength we may be able to overcome every thing evil, and to stand before thee.

And because it is thine appointment, O thou supreme disposer of all things! that sinful allurements, and obstructions to virtue and our duty to thee, shall follow us to the end of this our mortal course;

Permit us not to be disheartened by any thing that shall befall us, whilst we can consider all things as directed by thee; and that we are continually under thy inspection and guidance; who delightest in beholding the virtuous struggles of thy children, and who

hast

hast graciously encouraged us, that if we are faithful unto death, thou wilt give us the crown of life.

To thee, who art able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding joy: to thee, God only wise, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power for ever and

ever!

July 26, 1778.

SERMON

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SERMON XI.

ROMANS ii. 14, 15.

For when the gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law; these having not the law are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts; their conscience also bearing witness, and their reasoning between themselves, accusing or else excusing one another.

THIS epistle of St. Paul's was written from the city of Corinth in Greece, a short time before his journey to Jerusalem; when he went up to carry the charitable collections he had made in different parts, chiefly among the gentile Christians, for the relief of his poor countrymen in Judea. Whilst he was there, through the bitter malice of his unbelieving countrymen against him, he was seized, cast into prison, and tried for his life; of

which

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