Spiritual perfection, unfolded and enforced from 2 Cor. VII, 1 having therefore these promises,…

That part of the Objection, That strict Holiness will expose us to Scorn, is palpably unreasonable, Did ever any Artist blush to excel in the Art that he professes? Is a Scholar ashamed to excel in useful Learning? And shall▪ a Christian, whose high and holy Calling obliges him to live becoming its dignity and purity, be ashamed of his accurate Conversation? Can we be too like God in his Holiness, his peculiar Glory? Can that be matter of Contempt, that is the supreme honour of the intelligent Creature? A Saint, when despised with titles of Ignominy by the Carnal World, should bind their Scorns as a Diadem about his Head; and wear them as ⟨image 5⟩beautiful Ornaments: The Apostles rejoiced, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ. What Reproaches did the Lord of Glory suffer for us? And what Pride and Folly is it, that we should desire to be glorified by his suffering Reproaches, and not willingly endure Reproach for his Glory? Our continual and ardent endeavours to rise to Perfection, commend us to our Sovereign and Saviour. A cold-dead Heathen is less offensive and odious to him than a lukewarm Christian.

That part of the Objection, That strict Holiness will expose us to Scorn, is palpably unreasonable, Did ever any Artist blush to excel in the Art that he professes? Is a Scholar asham'd to excel in useful Learning? And shall▪ a Christian, whose high and holy Calling obliges him to live becoming its dignity and purity, be asham'd of his accurate Conversation? Can we be too like God in his Holiness, his peculiar Glory? Can that be matter of Contempt, that is the supreme honour of the intelligent Creature? A Saint, when despised with titles of Ignominy by the Carnal World, should bind their Scorns as a Diadem about his Head; and wear them as ⟨image 5⟩beautiful Ornaments: The Apostles rejoiced, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ. What Reproaches did the Lord of Glory suffer for us? And what Pride and Folly is it, that we should desire to be glorified by his suffering Reproaches, and not willingly endure Reproach for his Glory? Our continual and ardent endeavours to rise to Perfection, commend us to our Soveraign and Saviour. A cold-dead Heathen is less offensive and odious to him than a lukewarm Christian.