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SERMON LXVI.

MATT. X. 8.

Freely ye have received, freely give.

I NEED not inform this learned audi

ence, that these words, in their original application, relate to the dispensation of those miraculous gifts, which our Saviour bestowed upon his twelve Disciples, "when he first sent them forth to preach "the word to the lost sheep of the house "of Israel." They may, however, without impropriety, now, when the power of working miracles no longer exists, be taken in a more enlarged sense, as an ex2 hortation to every man to cultivate and apply

VOL. IV.

B

apply to the best advantage those several faculties and abilities, which he has received from the bounty of Divine Providence. And in this view, whether we consider them as applicable to the business of the present life, or the concerns of the next, they contain a lesson of the utmost use and importance, and seem to speak to every man in some such language as this:

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Freely thou hast received, at the "hand of God, a variety of blessings and "talents, to which thou hadst no claim

from any merit of thy own, but which "were the spontaneous gift of his divine "benevolence. Let this consideration, "therefore, stimulate thee to give, as "freely as thou hast received.' Suffer "not life to glide away insensibly in tor"pidity or indifference; but, whatever be

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thy province or station in it, call forth all thy powers to their proper use. Lay hold on every occasion, which pre

"sents

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