The sure trial of uprightness opened in several sermons upon Psal. xviii, v. 23…The sure trial of uprightness open'd in several sermons upon Psal. xviii, v. 23…

4. Consider how dearly our Sins cost our Saviour, his Sacred Blood, to reconcile us to God, and to set us free from their Dominion. This is an Argument purely Evangelical, and most worthy the Breast of a Christian. He dearly purchased a Title to our Love, and the serious contemplation of his Passion, has an admirable efficacy to inspire the Flame, and consequently to make Sin odious▪ that must be expiated and purged ⟨p. 98⟩away by such bitter Sufferings. Our Sins brought our Saviour to the Cross, and can we entertain them in our Hearts with the Crimson Guilt that cleaves to them? Can we live in the practice of them, and crucify him afresh? He came to redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify us to himself, a peculiar People zealous of good Works. How can we defeat the End, and disparage the efficacy of his Death? How can we violate such dear Obligations? To cherish any Sin, is the most ungracious and unkind return to his bleeding dying Love, who valued our Souls more than his most precious Life. Were it not visible by daily Experience, that many are so prodigiously wicked, it would raise our wonder how it is possible, that any Christian to whom the Love of the Son of God in dying for our Sins is revealed, should indulge himself in any Sin. If we did frequently, and with solemnity and seriousness remember the Death of our Saviour, and his blessed Intention in it, we should find that change in our Hearts in regard of our Sins, as Amnon did in his Affections to his Sister Tamar: His incestuous Love to her at first was a secret Fire that consumed him; but after ⟨p. 99⟩he had dishonoured her, and polluted himself, his Hatred of her was more extreme than his Love before: Thus the Sins that have been as near to us as our Bosoms, as pleasant as our corrupt Inclinations, as familiar and intimate as Custom, that have deeply defiled our Souls, we should with stronger detestation reject them, than ever with delight we committed them.

4. Consider how dearly our Sins cost our Saviour, his Sacred Blood, to reconcile us to God, and to set us free from their Dominion. This is an Argument purely Evangelical, and most worthy the Breast of a Christian. He dearly purchas'd a Title to our Love, and the serious contemplation of his Passion, has an admirable efficacy to inspire the Flame, and consequently to make Sin odious that must be expiated and purged