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spirit_n ghost_n holy_a receive_v 18,187 5 5.7163 4 true
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A53432 The best guide in the worst of times delivered in a sermon at the Guild-Hall Chappel on March 27, 1681 before the honourable the aldermen and several eminent citizens of the city of London / by William Orme ... Orme, William. 1681 (1681) Wing O437; ESTC R23123 28,642 60

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of Jesus Christ But leave we these to guide their conversations by what they please yet we that intend to be such Christians as the Gospel requires are obliged to make the written Laws of God the chief and principal Rule of our Conversations and that upon these three Reasons First Because of the undoubted perfection and infallible Truth that belongs to them for they are Laws and Rules without any flaws and errors which cannot possibly deceive or misguide us because so true and perfect as to exclude the most critical correction and addition Whereas the Laws of men though never so exactly weighed at first in the balance of the most considering judgments and made with the greatest foresight and circumspection will in a few years appear so weak and imperfect fallible and erroneous that no one can walk by them without fears uncertainty and danger But the Laws in the Gospel because composed by a Divine Wisdom are so sound and perfect and free from faults that no one can live by them but he walks with all courage and safety So that he who governs his Conversation by the Gospel of Christ need not doubt or fear his doing ill or amiss For in such ways as the Laws of God every man saith Solomon walks safely or as the Original confidently and securely Prov. 3. 23. Secondly We have just reason to make the Laws in the Gospel the sole rule of our Conversations because of their Universal benefit and goodness For though Laws by some men may be counted evil and perjudicial because they lay rigours and restraints upon that beloved darling thing call'd Liberty Yet the Laws of Christ contained in the Gospel are so easie and pleasant profitable and advantageous to men that there is no discreet or prudent person but would have chosen and taken such a method to live by could he have had the wisdom and judgment to have found it out Nor doth the goodness and benefit of these Laws give them a Reputation but the Universality of their Goodness swells their Character For let these Laws be put in use and practice in any corners of the Earth and by men of all Climates and Countries and they will be continually found beneficial to bodily Health preservers of mens Credits and Reputations encouragers of Industry and Faithfulness distributers of Justice reconcilers of Enemies favourers of the Oppressed promoters of Love and Peace union and agreement in all Societies and the great Conservators of all our Temporal felicities And what Nation is there though Heathenish and Barbarous that could possibly complain of mischief and prejudice should they govern themselves by these revealed Statute Laws of Heavens Thirdly We ought only to guide our Conversations by these because of their perpetual fitness and everlasting Equity The Laws composed and enacted by men are rightly call'd Temporary because they are but for certain times and seasons For these like all Humane Governments and Lives have their certain Stages and fixed Periods And are Born and Live grow Old and Die We our selves can observe and see that those Acts and Statutes which were good and useful convenient and necessary for one Age become weak and foolish and very fit to be Repealed and Abrogated in the next Nor have any the results and decrees of the gravest Councils in the greatest Nations been of any long duration but such as were either grounded upon or derived from the Laws of God and Christ For such is the Everlasting Justice and Righteousness of our Gospel Laws that they will never grow old or out of use as long as the world endures for men in all Ages and in all Countries will constantly find it fit and just and reasonable to live by them And in this sence perhaps it 's to be taken sometimes when the Holy Ghost saith That the Word of God abideth for ever that is the Laws and Precepts contained in it are so well ordered tempered and prepared that they will last for ever and be found fit and reasonable to be observed by all men at all times and in all places of the World So that if we consider the truth and perfection the Universal goodness and perpetual fitness of these Sacred Rules we may reasonably conclude there is no such Guide for our Conversation as the Gospel of Christ And therefore S. Paul did wisely advise his Philippians and all Christians to be principally careful in letting their Conversations only be as becometh the Gospel of Christ I come now to the Third Particular which is to shew wherein the Agreeableness of a Man's Conversation to the Gospel of Christ doth consist in these Two General Things First In the constant practice of Purity and Holiness Secondly In the exercise of Meekness and Moderation and whatever promotes Vnity Peace and Charity with all men First In the constant practice of Purity and Holiness And indeed we could not well expect that the design of Christianity should tend to any thing else because the Author of that Religion was himself a person that knew no Sin and led a most Exemplary life in all the paths of Piety and Vertue And because the Holy Ghost who prepared all mens hearts to receive the Gospel by a lively Faith is a pure and undefiled Spirit And if we will also but consult what was partly spoken by Christ himself and partly dictated by this Holy Spirit we shall easily see that a Good and Holy life is most agreeable to the Contents of the Gospel For First of all It commands us to abstain from all appearance of evil to withdraw from the first courtships of Sin For it lays restraints upon our Minds Thoughts and Lusts after any thing that is Vile and Wicked And assures us that we are defiled if Sin be but conceived in the Heart though it be not brought forth into Act As in the case of bare lusting after a Woman and of harbouring Malice and Revenge but in the inward thoughts and intentions Secondly It doth positively prohibit and that under severe penalties all and every action that renders a Man's Conversation vile and odious base and scandalous mean and contemptible Namely all carnal uncleannesses Surfeitings Drunkenness Swearing Cursing Lying Perjury Bribery Oppression Couzenage and Fraud Sloth and Idleness Irreligion and Profaneness And the reason why the Gospel would have us to abstain from all these things is That our God and Creator might not be dishonoured and that his and our Enemies might not have occasion to blaspheme us and our most Excellent Religion Thirdly It presses upon us the conscientious practice of every Grace and Vertue and to adorn our Profession and outward Conversation with the flowers and fruits of Good Works This is the will of God saith S. Paul our Sanctification And the Grace of God the Gospel of Christ which hath appeared and brings Salvation to all men teacheth us to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and to live Righteously Soberly and Godly in this present world looking for