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Ghost, and by the obedience of God, who is the great Father and Master and Lord of all; we shall come-and otherwise we shall not comeunto a redemption from the evil spirit of the last times, which is now spread abroad throughout the church. Unto which blessed estate that we may all arrive, may the Lord of his infinite mercy grant! and to his name shall be the praise.

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This know also, that in the last days perilous times For men shall be................. heady,

shall come. high-minded.

THESE two characteristics of the last times I join together, not because they are less distinct, less true, or less capable of illustration from, and application to, the times in which we live; but because there now remain to me only two Sabbaths, besides this, before I shall be called from my stated labours in this place for a few weeks, and I would not leave this subject uncompleted before my departure. Yet are the two characteristics very much akin to one another: the former expressing haste, and precipitancy, and unstayedness; the latter pointing the direction which this turbulent and restless spirit assumeth, upwards, towards a higher station, through thoughts of vanity, rather than any honourable ambition, or love of a more extended influence. The former-that you may be enabled to judge for yourselves-is

used Acts xix. 36, where the town-clerk of Ephesus would appease the tumult of the people, saying, "Seeing, then, that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly," precipitately, violently, or head-foremost. Now, besides this application of it to rash and violent proceedings, it is also applied, by classical writers, and in the Greek version of the Old Testament, to hasty and unguarded speeches: as in Prov. x. 14, "Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish," or rash, "is near destruction." And again, Prov. xiii. 3, in the same sense: "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."

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Now, concerning the, duty of a Christian, in respect both to his words and actions, it is never to be doubted, that while, above all things, truth and righteousness are to be pursued, haste and rashness are diligently to be guarded against; for the reason that we are naturally prone to that which is evil, and slow to that which is good. First thoughts are, in general, like the scum of any mixture, the fullest of impurities; especially in minds naturally of an excitable and unquiet temper-and all such should especially be upon their guard neither to speak nor to act upon the spur of the moment. The wisdom that is from above is peaceable and gentle. See how often Peter, from his forwardness, subjected himself both to shame

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and to rebuke.

See what an excellent lesson

of calm, firm, and unaltered dignity our Lord giveth to all his disciples, upon every occasion where he was violently or insidiously attacked. You know what parts of a man are the readiest to rouse themselves: his fears, his temper, his passions, his worldly and personal interests. Now these are the worst possible counsellors: fear magnifies things out of all proportion; temper agitates and irritates the mind, and prevents it from reflection; passions either blind or infuriate us; and personal worldly interests cast a dark eclipse over charity and faith, and things unseen and eternal. A wise and good man should, like a calm judge, hear these contentious parties; but separate himself from their contentions, and consult only with equity and righteousness. Seeing, moreover, that it is from God that all wise counsels, good thoughts, and righteous actions proceed, we ought, before expressing or enacting any sudden impulse, to wait, and consult the Oracle and Spirit of God, who, for his quietness, is likened unto the gentle dove. From hasty words proceed quarrels, scoldings, and contentions. Offences sink deep into tender spirits, and require many words to restore harmony again. How many lives have been sacrificed by a hasty word! I might say, that nine out of ten of all the duels which disgrace Christian nations proceed from words uttered in haste. Right truly is it said in Holy Writ, "The wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God." And again, it is well advised," that we should be slow to speak, and swift to hear." And for nothing doth the Apostle rebuke the Corinthian church so much, as for their haste and hurry to express the revelations which they received from God, saying, "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation." And this he accounteth a great defect of understanding; saying, "Brethren, be not children in understanding; how beit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be ye men.' And therefore he dischargeth women altogether from speaking in the churches, as judging that they wére more quick and susceptible of impressions, and therefore not so apt to wisdom and understanding.

Satan

Dearly beloved brethren, let not any one of you, therefore, rashly conclude that any thing which is vividly and strongly presented unto your minds is therefore from the Lord. doth transform himself into an angel of light: we have spiritual wickednesses to contend with. All heresies, all blasphemies, come from the mind acted upon by the influence of Satan: he suiteth his temptation to every man's conditions: a good man is not by his goodness removed from his assaults, neither a wise man by his wisdom; but only a man who is ever full of faith and of the Spirit of holiness. The

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