370 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING their disobedience, and force them to cast away,their willful sin- ning. I have said the more on this point, because I know if this advice do but help you to mortify your sin, the best and greatest work is done, whether you get assurance and comfort or no; and withal, that it is the most probable means to this assurance and comfort. I should next have warned you of the other extreme, viz. need- less scruples; but I mean to make that a peculiar Direction by it- self, when I have first added a little more of this great means of peace a sound obedience. Direct. XXIV. My next advice for the obtaining of a settled peace of comfort is this : ' Take heed that you content not yourself with a cheap course of religion, and such a serving of God as cost- eth you little or nothing. But in your abstaining from sin; in your rising out ofsin, and in your discharge of duty, incline most to that way which is mostself-denying, and displeasing to the flesh, (so you be sure it be a lawful way.). And when you are called out to any work which will stand you in extraordinary labor and cost, you must be so far from shrinking and drawing your neck out of the yoke, that you must look upon it as a special price that is put intoyour hand, and singular advantage and opportunity for the in- crease of your comforts. This rule is like the rest of the Christiandoctrine, which is not thoroughly understood by any waybut experience. Libertines and sensual professors that never tried it, did never well understand it. I could find hi my heart to be large in explaining and applying it, but that I have been so large beyond my first intentions in the for- mer Directions, that Iwill cut off the rest as short as I well can. Let none be so wickedly injurious to me, as to. say, I speak or think of any merit, properly so called, in any the costliest work of man. Fasten not that on me, which I both disclaim, and de- sire the reader to take heed of. But I must tell you these two things. 1. That a cheap religion is far more uncertain evidenceofsincer- ity than a dear. It will not discover so well toaman's soul, wheth- er he prefer Christ before the world,'and whether he take him and his benefits for his portion and treasure, 2. That a cheap religion is not usually accompanied with any notable degree ofcomforts, although the person be a, sincere-heart- ed Christian. Every hypocrite can submit to a religion that will cost himlittle ; much more, which will get reputation with amenof greatest wisdom and piety ; yea, he may stick to it, so it will not undo him in the world. If a man have knowledge, and gifts of utterance, and strengthof body, it is no costly matter to speak many good words,
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