_______ Spiritual Perfe_fl_,_ori_. __________ 6_, 7 World, is a galling refiraint to Carnal Men (rom the:r [ccohr Emp loyments. 'Tis true ; they will go to the pubilck Worfhtp etcher for Sccu!~ r refpe£is, Cuih_m, or rhe Coertloq of the Laws, or the impulfc ofCor.fcience, that _wt:l not be .~ uiet Wit hout fom~ Relig:.. 011 , but they arc ~lad when 'tis done, and by vain difcourfes dafh ou t cf th~~~ minds the inltruB:ions of the Word of God. Ti:oy rpcnd a great part of the day as If It wer, unfan8:ified rime, in curious dreffing, in Luxurious Peafi ing, in complemental Vif'ics, in Idlenefs, and fometimes in A Et ions worfc than I dlenefs. Tht certa in Caufe of this Profanenefs is, they a;e nor partakers of dtt;! divine Narcre, cha t inclines the Soul tO ~e0n~e ~~~;~t~~5s~~~l:tftt~~e7 ~!~o:~~~iof~o:1it!11~i~u3~l i~kH~r~~~ a~~~~, t~a;i~%~r a~l~Jf~~;J from Sin, nor ch.ang'd into the divine Image. But t hofe who confciemioufi y ~mplo y that day in Duties proper to it, in Prayer and Hea ring, and Rcadtog the S~npcures, and fpiritual Books, ~n holy C~nference, ~vh~reby Li~ht and ~eat is mutually ~?mmunicated amoog the Saints, and In the Meduanon of Eternal t hmgs, whereby FJi t h re.. moves the Vail, and looks into the Sanfruary of Life and Glory; as Mofes by Converfing with God in the Mount, came down with a fhining Countenance, fo a divine Lullre will appear in their Converfations in the following \Veek. ). The frequent difcuffion of ConfCieoce, and review of our Ways'· is an effe£tual Means of riling to PerfeCtion in Holinefs. This Duty is difficult and dtftallful to Carnal Perrons: for Senre is prevalent, and fafiens their Thoughts upon Extern al ObjeCts, t hat they are unfit for reAe8iog upon themfelves, for the proper and moll excellent operations of the Reafonable Soul, wherein they are rais' d eo the Rank of Angelica! Spirits, and to a refemblancc of the Deity, who Eternally Comemplat t:s with Infinite Delight, the Perfofrions of his Nature, and the Copy of them in his Works. They are infenfible of the Nobility of their Nature, and cannot fequefier themfelvcs from Worldly things, and emer into the Retirements of their Souls. They are afraid and unwilling to look into their Hearts, ldl they fbould be Convinc'd and ovcr~argued by Confcience of their woful Coodition. Home is too hot for them. Their lludy i1 to Charm their Cares, and nor to be diflurb'd in thei r Security. But the Duty is indi[pen[ably requir'd of us. We are commanded to (land in"'" and pf, J. , . 4 . fin not, and commune wzth Ollr own he4TtS: to feareh and try our ways, and turn to tbe Lord: Lam.J. iOI to prove our own work. The beoefi[ refulcing from it, is wor.rh our Care, and lh,ould Gll. 6. .j. make us to digeft all difficulties in the performance. David declares, I thought on m1 PfaJ.• , 9 . W4JS, and turned m1 feet to thy ttjlimonies. He fidl reReaed on his ways, and then reform'd them. Con[cience mull be awaken'd by Grace, or Judgment, to Self.rellcB:ion. The examen of Confcience either regards our fpiritual State, or our Aaions in their Moral Qtalities of Good and Evil. The firfi is of infinite moment, that we may underfiand whether we are in the llate of polluted Nature, or in a renewed fiate; and conrequendy, whether in the prefent Favour of God, or under his Di[plearure, and accordingly what we may expeCt in the next World, a blelfed or mi[erable Eternity. But as was before obferved, Men are very averfe frcm the fevcre trral of their flare, for fear the itTue will be perplexing; the exact inquiry into their Lives, is like the Torment on the Rack: Or if fomctimes rhey turn their thoughts inward tO confider thcrnfelves' they do it flightly' not with fincere Judgment; and though their rpiritual fiate be uncertam, or apparently e\•d, ye t they are refolved not ro doubt of ir. This negleCl: is fatal to many, who comfort themfelves with their Company, becaure the . moll: are in no better condition than they are. This I !hall not inlifi on, but confider the furvey of Mens ACtions . Con[cicnce is the centre of che Soul, to which all Moral Good and Evil has a tendency; 'tis an internal fuperv1for and guardian, which a Man always carries in his Bofom. To perform Its Office, it mull, 1. Be inlighrned with the clear knowledge of the Divine Law in its PrecCpts; for Duties unl<nown cannot be praC1ifed, and fins unknown and unconftder'd, ...cannot be loathed and forraken. The Law like a clear aod equal glars (that refleCts the ~ea rns accord in" to their incidence) difcovers the beauties and fpors of the Soul. T here are contain'd ;~.i~0~e~~r~e~.ules that refpetl all, and particular Precepts thar concern the feveral re- ~ T he difcuffion of Confcience t.hat_ it may be ~ffe8:ua l, mull in the manoer . of it , ~; :r~~it~o~1e~~:n~ea;r:~3ftfl1~~~fc~~~,0'tl:~1 a~~~;in~0~~ bae~;c:.vil ~~~~~~~ g'!yhi~~~~~ be, Qqq q l (1.) Di-
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