DECAD. VI. And lernor rhefe thoughtsbeAying,but fixed: In vain doe we medirate,ifwe re- A folve not: whrn yont heart is once thus letled,idhallcommand all things roadvantage. T~e world lhallnotberray,bucferveir; and that fhall be fulfilled which God promifes by his Stlomon; When thewa1es ofa flJan pkafethe Lord, be roil/ maR;his eneIJtiaalfo at ptacewith hiflJ. Sir thisadvice my poverty afforded long fince ro a weak friend ; I wri e it nor to you a~y mherwife, than asSchollers arewont ro fay their pm to their l'vh!lers. The world bath long and juftly both noted and honcuredyou for eminence iri wifdcmc and learnin~,and I above themofi; I am ready with the •we ofa L~arner,ro eml-"r· · all prccer rs from you : you!fhall expect nothing from me,but Tefiimbnics ofrHf><cr and thankfu lnefic. , of##++t1#4+W#t#»i++t~~H1+H~"+ B ToSir GEoRa;E'; FLEETWooo. EP. Ill. Ofthemnediu ofjinne, and mol/vu lotvoydlt. THere isnone, either more commonormore troublefome guefi, than Sin. Troublefome,both in the felicitation ofit,and in the remorfe.Before the act, it wearies witha wicked importunity; after the all:, it torments us With fears,and the painfull gnaWings ofan accufing Confcience:Neither is it moreirkfom to men,rban odions toGod; who indeed never bated any thing but it;and foi it any thing. Howhappy were we, ifwe could be rid ofit? Thismufi be our defirc,bu: cannot beour hope/a long as wecarry this body offin and death about us : yet(which is our comforr)it !ball not carryus, thoughwe carry it: It will dwell with us,bur with no command ;yea,with no peace:Wegrudge to give it houfe-roome; but we h;lre C to give it fervice. Thisour Hagar will abidemany firokes, ere (be be mrnedour of doores: lhe fhailgocat lafi;and the feedofpromifefball inherit alone. Therei~ no unquiernefTegood,bur t~is: and in this cale,quierneffe cannot !landwith fafery:)lei'- ther did everwarre more trulybeget pe'!c~tban in rhisfirife of rh~ foale. Refi!lance is the way to vill:ory; and tba'f,foan eternal! peaceand happine& It is a bleffed care then, how to refifi fin, how r6 avoi~ it: and fuch as I am glad to reach and !earne. Asrhereare two grounds ofall finne,foofthe avoidance offinne;Love and Feare:Thefe ifthey be placed amiffe,caufeus tooffend: ifright,are the remedies ofevill. The lovemull beofGod; Feare,ofjudgemem. As he lovesmuch,towhom much is fOrgiven: fo hetbat lovesmuch,will nor dare D to doe that whiehmay need forgivenelfe. The heart that bath felt the fwcetnelfe of Gods mercies, will not abide the bitter rel!ithof fin: Thisisboth a flrongermotive rhan Fcare, and more Noble ; None but agood heart is capabk"ofthisgrace: which who fo barb received, thns powerfully repels tentarions. , . Have I round my God fo gracious tome,that he barb denied me nothing,eirherin eanhor heaven: and !ball not I fo much asdeny myownwill for his fake? Harhmy deareSaviour boughtmy foule at filch aprice,and !ball henot have it? Was hecrucified for my finnes, and !ball! bymytinnescrucifiehil!tagaine? Am I his in fomany bonds,and fhalll ferve the Devill? 0 God ! is this thefruitofthybeneficencero me, that I fbould wilfully difhonor thee?Was thy blood fo li<rle worrh,thar Ifhould tread jr under my feet? Dorh this becomehim that fhall beonce gloriou1with th~e? Hafl thou rrcparedheaven forme,and doe I rhusprepare my felfe for heaven?Shalll thus E recompence thy love, in doing that which thou hatefi?S>tanharh no Dart (I fpeake confidently) that can pierce thisfbield : Chrinians are indeed too oft furprized,ere they can hold it om: there is no fmall policy in the fuddenneffe oftemptation: but if they have o~ce fetled it before theirbrefi, they are fafe, and theirenemy hopelcffe; Under this head rherefure,rhereis fureremedy againfi lin,by lookingupwards,backwards,inroour felves,forwards.Upwards,ar the gloriousMajcflie,and iofiniro goodnefTe ofthat God whom our finne would offend, and in whofe face we fin: whofe m,ercies, and whoreholineffe is fuch, that ifthere were no hell,wewould nor offend. -------------------------~Backwards • I
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