Transcribed from the 1838 John Heaton edition by David Price. A SERMON PREACHED AT ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH, BOLTON, _On Sunday_, 7_th_ _January_, 1838, * * * * * OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF * * * * * THE REV. WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE, M.A., LATE INCUMBENT OF THAT CHURCH, AND PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CONGREGATION, * * * * * BY THE REV. J. SLADE, M.A. VICAR OF BOLTON. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOLTON: PRINTED BY JOHN HEATON, DEANSGATE. And Sold by all Booksellers. * * * * * SERMON. ROM. XIV. 8. _For whether we live_, _we live unto the Lord_; _and whether we die_, _we die unto the Lord_: _whether we live therefore_, _or die_, _we are the Lord’s_. THE text refers to the foregoing verse: “None of us liveth unto himself; and no man dieth to himself.” We are very apt to feel and act, as if we were independent creatures. Perhaps if examined, as to our particular creed, we should readily confess ourselves to be placed under the sovereignty of the Almighty; and to be accountable, as Christians, at the bar of Him, who will “judge both quick and dead.” But few are daily conscious, as they ought to be, either of their dependence or their responsibility. Their creed is not in their heart; they live chiefly and practically under a system of self-government; grievously forgetting the dominion of the Lord who created and redeemed them. A proud spirit is, as it has been from the beginning, the bane of man: he fell through impatience of his Maker’s mild yoke, and an intolerance of his Maker’s superiority: and the poison, thus whispered into his ear by the evil one, still lurks within him; corrupting his feeling and principle, and rendering him greatly insensible to the divine superintendence and blessing.