312 SERMON. 



fulfilling the lusts of the flesh ; and glorying to out-do and 

 conquer others in such vile and irrational emulations : never 

 considering that all such glory is the height of their shame, 

 and proves them only the more degenerate and brutish. 

 They ought to be mindful how contrary all such uses of it 

 are to the intents for which God gave it them ; viz: that they 

 should exert it in undergoing more abundant labours, and 

 enduring more hardships for his sake : and so much as they 

 excell others in strength, be the so much more mighty in 

 resisting temptations, and overcoming the wicked one; and in 

 fulfilling God's commandments, and exalting his praise, as the 

 H: Angels, which excell in strength, we read, are: and in acts 

 of piety, faith, devotion, and zeal ; that they may have power 

 with God, and be able to prevail with him for blessings, on 

 themselves and friends. If thus we use our strength : then 

 out of the strong will come forth sweetness : for we shall 

 thereby confirm and increase our inward powers and spiritual 

 graces, and likewise our everlasting reward. 



And then 2 ly as for beauty, or the comliness of our outward 

 parts; we may thereby serve God acceptably, and endear 

 ourselves to the Gracious Donor of them; as Esther did her's, 

 to the benefit of the true Eeligion and welfare of God's faithful 

 people. But if our hearts be lifted up within us because of it, 

 and we are inclined to grow vain, and to despise others upon 

 that account ; if we use it only as an incitement to leudness, 

 and wicked purposes, and to multiply iniquity in ourselves 

 and others, as is the practice with too many : if this be the 

 best use we make of our fair proportions and beautiful frame; 

 it would have been much better for us that we had been born 

 the most ugly and deformed creatures in the w r orld : since no 

 outward deformity would render us hateful to God : but 

 beauty, so abused, will be of all things the most odious, and 

 abhorred in his sight : if we serve only Satan, and our own 

 vile affections by our gracefulness of person, and not God and 

 virtue ; we shall certainly be esteemed unprofitable ; and be 

 sentenced, how splendid and gay soever we may have been 

 here, to utter darkness, and weeping, and wailing, and gnash- 

 ing of teeth. 



