that your faith being put to a more advantageous proof, than that of gold, which loses by the essay, may redound to your praise and highest honour at the appearance of Jesus Christ:

and were answer'd, that it was not they, but we, who were concern'd in the events which they predicted, events which have been now represented to you by those, whom the holy spirit from heaven inspired to preach the gospel to you: a secret which the angels desire to penetrate into.

but as he, who has called you, is holy: let your whole conduct be an imitation of his holiness.

but by the precious blood of Christ, who is the lamb without spot, and without blemish:

since your regeneration is not owing to any corruptible principles, but to the unchangeable word of the immortal God.

but the word of the Lord remains for ever: and that is the gospel, which has been preached to you.

trusts thereon shall not be confounded. it will prove an honour to you, who believe; but to the incredulous, the same stone, which is the chief of the angle,

and this they were destin'd to. but you are the chosen race, you are kings and priests, the holy nation, the peculiar people, that you might display his glory, who called you out

of darkness into his marvellous light: you, who formerly were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy,

but at present have obtain'd it. I exhort you, my dear brethren, as strangers and travellers to avoid all sensual passions, as destructive to your

men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants

but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution

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,

who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge.

for you were as sheep going astray, but now you are brought back to the pastor and overseer of your souls.

but in the internal qualities of the mind, in that purity, in that mild and dispassionate temper, which is so acceptable to the divine being.

for the eyes of the Lord are upon the virtuous, and his ears attend to their prayers, but the wicked he discountenances."

thus baptism, which corresponds to the deluge, does now save us, not as it is a cleansing from external filth, but as it is an engagement to lead a divine life, from the belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

so that for the future he does not pass the rest of this life in gratifying his sensual passions, but in conformity to the divine precepts.

but they will be call'd to account by him, who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

but above all, let your mutual benevolence be intense, for benevolence cancels a multitude of offences.

let a speaker deliver nothing but what is agreeable to the divine oracles: and let him that attends the poor, be active in proportion to the strength God has given him. amen.

but whoever suffers as a christian, let him not be asham'd, but rather give thanks to God upon that account.

to exhort you to feed the flock of God, which is among you: to take care of it, voluntarily, without reluctance, not from any view to sordid gain, but out of real affection;

not to domineer over the laity, but to be examples for their imitation;

but may the all-gracious God, who has called us to eternal glory, perfect, confirm, fortify, and settle you, during the short interval of your sufferings.