much to do or fuffer in obedience to his will; how engaging, how delightful a fight is this? And again, how offenfive, how very fhocking, when they, who make the fame outward profeffion, fhall dishonour and defile it by a scandalous and profligate converfation; and, instead of that fevere, that spiritual and heavenly life, to which their very name, and the pattern of their mafter obliges them, abandon themfelves to all manner of excess, and wallow in the moft brutish and deteftable pollutions? But, even where men do not degenerate into all this beaftlinefs; where cares and bufinefs of the world divert and draw them off from better employments, 'tis unfeemly to others, and of ill confequence to themfelves, to neglect their proper concern, and engage their thoughts and time in matters foreign to their main defign.

Spirit therefore yourself up to duty, by the remembrance of your ftation, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be. Bear conftantly about you a lively idea of Chrift crucified. Confider carefully his life, and let the perfection of that, shame you into the reforming your own: Your own, I fay, whofe very baptifm reprefents your profeffion, which is, to follow the example of our faviour, and to be made like unto him; and yet, after fo many years being called a chriftian, you are ftill very far from being one, if dying to fin, and living to righteoufness, as your fefus died and rofe again for you, be that which makes a chriftian, and diftinguishes him from other men., If perfons dedicated to piety and virtue, would but with due attention fix their thoughts upon the actions and fufferings of Christ,

this fingle fubject would furnish them with inftructions and motives abundantly fufficient for their purpose. St. Paul, we fee, determined to know nothing but Jefus Chrift and him crucified; and this indeed, truly known, is the beft, the most useful, and of all the moft comprehenfive learning.

This fires men with an eager holy zeal, and renders them not only exact, but chearful in their duty; it makes them perform what he commands with diligence, and fuffer all that he ordains with refignation and contentedness. Whereas a negligent and lukewarm christian confpires against himself; his life is one perpetual torment, for want of entire fubmiffion and fervent love. The trials and afflictions bear hard upon his fpirit, and the good he attempts is forced and againft the grain. He feels not the fupport of spiritual comforts; he knows he muft not have recourfe to worldly ones; or, if he might, they will not do his bufinefs; and fo he is left deftitute of all. For by tranfgreffing the rules of chriftian discipline, he hazards the fafety of his foul; and by feeking relief in unreasonable liberties, he creates fresh torments to himself; because these cannot fatisfy his confcience, but will be fure to leave fome displeasure and bitterness behind them. And who can ever be eafy, who is reproached with his own ill conduct, and chufes a remedy worse than the diftemper?

To this pattern fet us by Chrift himself, it will be of great ufe to add thofe of the apoftles, and other eminent lights in the church, Thefe will convince us, what excellencies mere men are capable of; and if we heartily endeavour after their perfections, we

ought

ought not to diftruft God's affiftance; but may confidently promise ourfelves, that an equal degree of zeal will be fupported by an equal measure of grace and strength. Obferve then their aufterities, their fervent prayers and heavenly meditations; observe the great and happy efficacy of them, in raising those holy perfons above the world and its temptations, and rendring their converfation all heavenly and divine, even whilft upon earth. It were indeed a defirable thing, that we could fo wholly abstract ourfelves from flesh and fenfe, that the praises of God, and attendance upon his commands, the contemplation of his glories, and the ineffable fatisfaction of devout minds, might be our conftant and only employment. And happy fhould we be, if the inordinate cares of life gave no diftraction to our thoughts, no interruption to those holy exercises. But these are joys referved for a future and better state; we cannot here be fo refined, we cannot be excufed from the incumbrances of the body, and its infeparable frailties and neceffities. And therefore the virtue proper to our prefent condition is of another nature. Use these worldly comforts we may, but we must not place our happiness in them; live upon them our bodies muft, but our fouls fhould relish God only. Whatever his providence thinks fit for us, we are to receive with meekness and contentednefs; as being well affured, that his wifdom can, and his goodness will chufe and ordain what is best. In the day of profperity we may rejoice, but that joy must be so tempered with gratitude and moderation, as neither to fwell into infolence and pride, nor to engage our affections in the love of the world, In

the

the day of adverfity we are to confider, and entertain the most calamitous accidents, without murmuring or discontent. In every change of circumftances, our minds must be entirely refigned to God; for he is all in all, eternal and unchangeable; perfect and happy in himself, abfolute and fole Lord of the univerfe; and every creature is, and ought to be, wholly at his difpofal.

But tho' he be always the fame, and can at any time do what is good in his fight, yet this is by no means our cafe. Frail, and of fhort continuance is our character; and this fhould excite our diligence, to work while it is day, because our night cometh on apace, wherein no man can work, John ix. Confider therefore, you muft die; die you know not how foon; and be afraid left that fatal hour overtake you, before the bufinefs of life be finished. Remember that the time once yours, can never be fo again: the wealth of both the Indies cannot redeem a fingle opportunity, which you have once let flip; and therefore lay faft hold on all that offer, and fuffer no hour to flide by, without its due improvement.

Virtue can never be attained without great pains and diligence; and if you cool and linger in the purfuit, the moment that you gain not ground, you lofe it. For the affairs of our fouls can never ftand at one stay; but, as oft as we favour ourselves in point of duty, we decline and fall back again toward sin, or at least into an indisposition toward goodness: but if we cherish our zeal, and conftantly excite its holy fires, by a vigorous attendance upon our bufinefs, we fhall foon feel the comfort of this kindly warmth; and all the difficulties we found or formed

to

to ourselves, will quickly disappear. God will give more grace to him that ufes what he gave formerly, and virtue every day will difclofe her amiablenefs, and make us more in love with her. Then it is, that the wife man's defcription is experimentally made good to us, that her ways are ways of pleaI fantnefs, and all her paths are peace, Prov, iii, readily acknowledge the attempt, I am now advising, to be exceeding laborious and great: no bodily toil is to be compared to it; nor any conqueft over temporal enemies fo hazardous and expensive, as that which we gain upon ourselves, and the adverfary of fouls, But as the difficulty exceeds, fo does the benefit and glory likewife. This field must be entred, and this battle won, or we are loft for ever; and he, who does not inure himself to vanquishing, by fubduing lefs temptations, will never be able to grapple with more violent and trying ones; and infirmities' once yielded to, grow infenfibly to stubborn habits of vice. This is a daily warfare, and we may daily reap the fruits of it. For every night will crown us with fresh lawrels, and the reflection upon a day well fpent, furnish us with joys more pleafing than ten thousand triumphs. Since therefore every day's behaviour is of fuch mighty confequence, in giving a turn to our fpiritual affairs, beware left any pass unprofitably. Watch continually over thy felf, and let not this neceffary fervour abate, for want of care to cherish and excite it. Remember that your own falvation is the truft committed to your charge; a trust of importance greater than the whole world; and therefore, whatever becomes of the reft, do To admonish and reprove your brethren,

cure one.

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