Preached Augun 17. 16620 12 men; if they can but keep fair with men,and shun the difpleaftwe of men, that is all they aim at : but my Brethren, what a poor thing is it to pleafe man, and difpleafe God ? what a poor thing is it to have mail to be your friend, and God to be your Etienne to have the finites of a poor dying perifhing Worm, and to lie under the frowns of the great God. Indeed there is a good pleafing of men, to pleafe them for their Edification, as the Apoftle fpeaks, Rom. 15. 2. and fo the Apoftic teaks ofhimfelf, i Car. io. 32. Even asIpleafe all men in all things, that is in all things that are of an indifferent nature, not fitnplie evil, nor fimplie good in all things. This Apoftle was of a yielding and complying fpirit, that he might thereby the better insinuate hill-if-elf into the affeEtions of men, and be more inftrumental to theglory of God, in the work of the agfpe/, i Cor.9.22. To the weak became Ias weak, that I might gain the weak!, I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means lave fame ; and this I do for the Gofpels fake. But now in matterof Duty,fuch things as are cxprefly determined by God, and fo are either good or evil ; in theft things the. Apoftle would beno pleafer of men ; If Ifhouldpleafemen, Ijhould not be the fervant of Cbriff ; i Gal. It is good topleale others to their Edifica- tion ; but we muff muff not pleafe others to their own ruin and condemnation ; It is good topleafe men,when we can fo do,and nor grieve God inifead ofpleafing men,let it be your conftant care and beft endeavour in all things to pleafe God:my brethren this is a du- ty of fo great importance, that was I now to take my leave ofyout, and ihould certainly know that I thould never fpeak to you more as- we are come very near to that; for though I fpeak toyou as a living' man,yet I fpeak toyou as a dying Minifter;this I fay,is a dutie ofthat weight and importance, that I know not what toprels up you more material than this : confiilt but two places ofScripture, Col. i. For this caufewe do not ceafe topray for you; What was the thing the A- poftle in this his confront prayer did beg of God for them?It was this that they might pleafe God,andwhen he was taking his leave in the winding up ofhis Epiffle to the Hebrews, Now the God ofpeace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, the great Shepherd of the freep,through thebloodof the everlailing covenant,rnakeyou perfect in eve- ry good work to do his will, working in you that which is wetpleafing in his fight. I need not go beyond the text for Motives to fir you up to thefe Endeavours : For, Motive I.Firil,confider what that God is which! would have you endeavour to pleafe.He is thatGod which madeheaven& earth:that God
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