538 How mull we make Religion our bu finefs ? Serm. 23. the fhortnefs of time ; this life is but a vapour, Jam. 4.9, a fT,adow, I Ch.ron. 29.15. 'tis t'ND as nothing, Pfal, 39.5. a 1í(i- 7róx,Q -, we are wheeling apace out of the world, and theres no work to be done for our fouls in the grave : Ecclef. 9.2. Whatfoever thy hand findetls to do, do it with thy might, for there is no-work nor device in the grave whether thougoeft. Ne,w is the time of life , now is the day of grace, you. know not how loon these two Suns may fet : The shorter our life, the fwifter should be our pace. 5. If you would make Religion your bufinefs, get an under - flandirg heart, weigh things ferioufly in the ballance of reafon and judgment. Think of the infinite importance of this bufinef, our eternal! mifery or happinefs depends upon it : other things are but for convenience, this is of neceffity : if this work be not done , we are undone; if we do not the work which believers are doing , we muff do the work which Devils are doing : and if God give us a ferions heart to lay out our felves in the bufinefs of Religion, our income will be greater than our expence. Religion is a good Trade if it be well followed ; it will quit the coif ; 'pis working in flyer, I Pet. I.9. Receiving the end ofyour faith, the falvation of your fouls. God will fhortly take us from the working-houfe to the Throne, and will fet upon our head a frefh Garland made of the flowers of Paradife. 6. If you would make Religion your bufnefs, implore the help of Gods Spirit. A`l we can do is but loft labour, unlefs the Spirit excite and accelerate. Beg a gale from Heaven. Cant. 4. ult. Awake O North -wind, and core thou South blow upon my Garden, d-c. If the Spirit joyn with our Chariot , then we move to Heaven fwiftly , as the Roe upon the mountains, or as the Chants of Ami. nadab. Now having laid down the Rules, let me for a conclusion prefs all Chriftians to this great duty of making Religion their bufinefs; and I will ufe but two weighty confederations : I. The fweetnefs that is in Religion ; all her parties are pleafant- nefs, Prov. 3. r7. The way of Religion is ftrowed with Rofes, in regard of that inward peace God gives, Pfd. 19. I I. In keeping thy precepts there is great reward. This is fuch a labour as bath delight in it : as while the mother tends her child and fomerimes beyond her ftrer,gth too, yet finds a fecret delight in it ; fo while a Chriftian is ferving God, theres that inward contentment and delight infufed, and he meets with fuch transfigurations of foul, that he thinks him - felf Cito pede pr,t- te /it atas -- Ovid. Phocy tides. 5. Role. Cant.6. t 2. I. Motive:
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