when this voice from heaven was heard, "thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

but in truth, added he, no prophet was ever well received in his own country.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to you, that you present your bodies a living victim, holy, acceptable unto God, as the service of a rational being.

for he that thus pays his allegiance to Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

to display the glory of his grace, which has render'd us acceptable by his beloved son:

I have now receiv'd the whole, and have more than sufficient: I am loaded with the presents you sent by Epaphroditus, which I have receiv'd as grateful incense, as a sacrifice which God accepts and approves.

wherefore at his appearing in publick, he saith, "sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us,