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as a Pattern to his Followers: on the SER M. contrary, when the People, the Publicans, and the Soldiers enquir'd of him, what they should do, to flee from the Wrath to come, he did not exhort them to go out of the World into the Wilderness; but gave them fuch Directions only as related to a faithful Discharge of their Duty in their feveral Stations and Callings : And when afterwards our Saviour began to enter on his Ministry, and to appear as our Saviour, by publishing the Gospel of his Kingdom, we find nothing either in his Actions, or his Doctrine, to countenance that Recluse and Solitary State, which fome fince, who would be thought best to have imitated his Example, and obey'd his Precepts, have fo zealously efpous'd and practis'd. His Divine Difcourfes were chiefly spent in preffing Men to exercise those Graces which adorn the Sociable State: even his first Sermon on the Mount to the Multitude did, in the Entrance of it, recommend and enjoin a Publick, Confpicuous, and Exemplary Vertue; and (with fome allufion, perhaps, to that Eminence on which

he

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SERM. he fat, and the Company which furrounded him) he then liken'd his Disciples to Matth. v. a City Set on an Hill, that cannot be hid; he commanded them to put their Light Ib. v. 15. in a Candlestick, not under a Bufbel, and Ib. v. 16. So to make it fbine before Men, that They Seeing their good Works, might glorifie their Father which is in Heaven.

Far be it from me, however, to condemn all those Good and Holy Perfons, who have betaken themselves to this Solitary and Auftere Course of Living. Doubtless, many of them were acted by a fincere, but mifguided, Principle of Piety; the Fruits of which, tho' mix'd with a great Allay of Superftition, did yet, in divers refpects, redound to the Credit of Religion, and the Good of Mankind. But fuppofing thefe to be Real, yet they were, I fay, Uncommanded Instances of Vertue; not poffible, or, if poffible, not fit to be practis'd by the far greater Part of Chriftians. The Re. treat therefore, which I am speaking of, is not that of Monks and Hermits, but of Men living in the World, and going out

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of it for a 'time, in order to return into SER M. it; it is a Temporary, not a Total Retreat; fuch as we may leave off, or refume, at pleasure, according as we have Need of it, or an Opportunity for it; fuch, as is confiftent with all the Bufinefs, and even with the Innocent Pleafures of Life; and is fo far from interfering with the Duties of our Publick Offices and .Stations, that it disposes and enables us for the better Discharge of them. 'Tis this fort of Retreat which may properly be made the matter of general Exhortation from the Pulpit, because it is really matter of general Obligation to every good and fincere Chriftian.

No Man is, or ought to be fo deeply immers'd in the Affairs of This World, as not to be able to retire from them now and then into his Closet, there to mind the Concerns of Another. Every day of his Life, Early, or Late, fome Moments he may and must find to bestow this way; the Lord's Day particularly is a great Opportunity of this kind, which can never wholly be neglected without

Indevo

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SERM. Indevotion, or even without Scandal. And fuch alfo is the Annual Season of Recollection in which we are now far advanc'd; not, I truft, without having employ'd it, in fome measure, to those good Purposes for which it was intended. At fuch Times as these, either when the Labours and Ordinary Occupations of Life cease, or when Publick Diversions and Entertainments are forbidden; Then every One, the Noble and the Mean, the Wealthy and the Poor, hath it certainly in his Power, if it be but in his Heart, to retire; to step afide from the Hurry and Vanities of Life, and all the Allurements of Senfe, and to Examine, and Improve, and Enjoy himself in private.

That we may be all excited fo to do, I fhall proceed, in the next Place, to represent to You the feveral Advantages attending this Religious Practice; whether we confider it, as a Means of effacing the Ill Impreffions made on our Minds in Daily Converfation, or as an Opportunity of pursuing farther Degrees

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of Perfection and abounding in all the SERM. Methods of Spiritual Improvement.

The Advantages of the firft kind, which it affords us, are plainly such as These; That it unites and fixes our scatter'd Thoughts; places us out of the Reach of the moft Dangerous Temptations; frees us from the Infinuating Contagion of Ill Examples, and hufhes and lays afleep those troublefome Paffions, which are the great Difturbers of our Repose and Happiness.

A Diffipation of Thought is the Natural and Unavoidable Effect of our Con verfing much in the World; where we cannot help fquandring away a great deal of our Time upon Useless Objects, of no true Worth in themselves, and of no real Concern to us. We roul on in a Circle of vain empty Pleafures, and are deliver'd over continually from one flight Amusement to another; ever feemingly very Bufie, and ever really very Idle; applying our felves without Refpite to That, which it becomes us most to neglect, and VOL. I. utterly

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