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enmity, rebellion, and the workings of uncleanness in the carnal mind, and in striving most to oppose when the saint is most bent upon good. But this old man was condemned in Christ crucified when he died: he is put off when the new man is put on is to have his requests daily denied; shall never be imputed to us as sin; is to be put off for good and all with the body at death, and never to be seen or felt more. And, at the resurrection, the Spirit that now dwells in us shall quicken our mortal bodies, and fashion them like unto the glorious body of Christ: and then shall the devil and all his seed perish in their own corruption, and be destroyed with endless destruction from the presence of God, and from the glory of his power; for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it.

365

THE

UTILITY OF THE BOOKS,

AND THE

EXCELLENCY OF THE PARCHMENTS;

BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF

A SERMON DELIVERED AT PROVIDENCE. CHAPEL,

ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1796:

THE DAY APPOINTED BY GOVERNMENT FOR PUBLIC FASTING AND PRAYER.

WHEREFORE IT IS SAID IN THE BOOK OF THE WARS OF THE LORD, WHAT HE DID IN THE RED SEA, AND IN THE BROOKS OF ARNON. NUMBERS xxi, 14.

THE

UTILITY OF THE BOOKS,

AND THE

EXCELLENCY OF THE PARCHMENTS.

2 TIMOTHY iv. 13.

And the books, but especially the parchments."

THE apostle at this time was a prisoner at Rome, in the happy enjoyment of a good conscience, and in daily expectation of martyrdom; his race was almost run, the fight of faith was nearly finished; and the last enemy, death, was coming forth, and Paul knew that there was no discharge in that

war.

He was now grown old; the certain young man called Saul, at whose feet the executioners of Stephen laid down their clothes, was now Paul the aged. He had long died daily; life by his ministry had worked in others, but death in him; his outward man had been some time decaying, and his inner man had been renewing day by day.

Paul had been once in the third heaven, where he had seen the prize he ran for, and the crown

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