\ ____ __,_·-----~--- \. _______ S...::.p_ir_'ii_ua_i_P_e_,rfi:...e_Cl_io_n.~------...o.__ -~_59 at otbertimes before, and fhakemyfel/; and·•he••ifl not that the L<rdw/ZI dep3Ttdfm" biir., Thus m2ny decline in their valuations and affections to things fpirituaJ, and are lefs Cl rcumfpecl in their Convcrf:nions, lefs ferven_t in their dctircs of g:acc, and faithful in the improvement of it than formerly ; and th1s deferves heart-brea lung fortow. • · Befides, the comparing our (elves with others who have excell'd us in holinefs , and have been more watchful to abftain from fin, and more zealous in doing good, is very ufe• ful. Thi s will walh off the colour of the common Excufe, rbat without tbe bolinefs of"" Ant.el, 'tiJ impeJ!ible to be preferved _u.dejiled in tke midfl of fe~foal Temptations_: But asthe Philofopher demonllrated t he pollibthty of Motton, by walkmg before a c•pttous Cav!ller that Jenicd it; fo when many Samrs that have the fame fra1l Natu res , and are furroundect with the fame Temptations, keep themfelves pure in their Difpofit ions and Acti on<, when they are regular in Duties of civil Converfation with Men, and in holy Communion with God, and we that have the fame fpitit of grace, and word of grace, to infi ruct and afii!l: us, fall fo fl1ort of their attainments, how will the comparifon upbraid us , and cover us with confufion? 1 flull add, T ha t the decei tfulnefs of the Heart is difcovered in this, Men ate very apt to pleafe themfeJves in the compari fon with thofe who are notorioufJy worfe, but averfe irorn confidering thofe who arc eminently better, llut t his will be of no avail in the day of Judgment; fort he Law of God is the Rule to whic~ we mu O: conform, not the Examples of others. llefides, how can any expect, that the wtckednefs of others fhould excufe t hem i~ Judgment, and not fear that the holinefs of others lhall accu(e and condemn them! CHAP. Xll l. 'o;~;t;:;~:f.~~'f:;•r!!)£:'J:~,;:'t,;;';;;;::~,:: ~;~~~;;;·~J('JJ~~':!i.~~~/":.f;~~;;;:.~ Enemies. We are 'Very recepti'Ve of Temptations. Watcb(ulnefs refPel!s our doing good in its 1 feafo~, and with its proper Circum/lan.ces. A d~e regard to t~;e DHties of Otcr Se'Vtral Relations, u neceffary in order totbe per{eEiulg of Holmefs. f?ome/hck, Sacred; andCivil Relations con{tdered. The /aft Counfol, Let our progrefs toward.s Fleaven !Je with the fame Zeal as at our ftrftentrance into it, and the fame Serioufnefs, as wbenwecome tot/;~ e11d of it. 7·C~~ls~~~~ ii.~~c~{~i~ti~;r~~~~~~e~ ~~;~e'fe~~~Yb~•;i~~e~ ~e~;~ta~~;~~i~r~~~~~!~ of Death; Awake tbou tbatfleepef/,and arifefrom tbc dead,andChrif/ foal/give t!Jee light. The Eph.,. ••· fpiritual fl cep is under!load by comparifon with the natural, in the natural the lnllruments of fen~c and motion are bound u~; the apprchenfive Facu lties that difcover dangers, and the adwe Powers that refifi or avmd them, are fufpendcd from their excrcife. Now fpiritual fecurity is call'd a fleep, as it implies ignora~ce of dangersthat threa ten the Soul, and ud. preparednefs to prevent them. Accordmgly, tn oppofition to carnal fecurity, Watchfulnefs confifls in two things; in the forefight of approaching Evils, and furnilhin g our felves with means, and ufing them for our fafety. There is the Life of Grace in every regenerate per~ fon, but Watchfulnefs implies the lively exercifeand activity of grace: In the prefent fra te, thefptflt of flumbcr IS apt tolleal upon us; even t!Je wife Virgins f/umler'd and jlept, The three Difciples at Chrill'sTransfiguration in the Mount,when it migh t beimagin'd there could be no mdmau?n m them, and no. tempt~r.wn to fleep, for that the g lorious Light wou ld powerfully excite and actuate the Vtfive Spmts, yet fell alleep; and at his private Pallion in the Garden, when there was the greatefi caufe of their farrow and fympathy, yet were feiz'd with unwelcome heavinefs; for which our meek Redeemer fa gently reprov'd them, Could y e not watc!Jwitb me tbuJone bourl The befi are liable to relapfes into fecurity, till they fhall be awakened and rai(ed by the Omnipotent Voice of the Son of God at thelall day, to Immortahty and Perfectton. Watchfulnefs may be confider'd either with refpect to the preven ting evil, or the doing good. With re(pect to the preventmg Evtl, t here are fuch Motives as 010uld make us very cucumfpetl, left we be overtaken and overcome by Tempr:aions. I.lf we confider the Subtilty and Strength, the Ma lice and Diligence, wir h the mighty numbers of our fpiritual Enemies~ there is great reafon we {hould not only be ~wake, but watchfu l to oppofe them~ 1. The
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