Ver. 9. Fifth Cbap. 2d Ep. to the C O RI NTH. 73 his end, is out of the waÿ in the firft ftep he taketh, and all his ads are but ads of fin, er- rour and folly, how fplendid foever the matter or manner of the action may reprefent it to vulgar appearance, fuppofe praying or preaching out of envy, or alms for vain glory,' Phil. r. 15'. Some preach ChriJI out of envy and flrrfe, and force of good will. They may preach to others,who are but hollow hearted men themfelves.And a mans moft excellent gifts, and the duties of Gods own Worfhip, may be proftituted to fo bate an end, as to hide and feed our tufts. So Chrift fpeaketh of the Hypocrites, giving alms to be Peen of men, Matth. 6. t. And praying to be feen of men, Sth verfe. 1 hefe things are incident to the corrupt heart of man, even fometimes, when 'tis in part renewed by ends and motives,will be interpofingthemfelves; but good Chriftians, had need to refill the very firft motions of thefe things, for where they are once rooted in the Heart, and prevail, our duties are not a Worfhip ofGod, but a ferviceof fin, and we our felves will be found at length, but unfincere and rotten hearted Hypocrites, a Chriftian thould content him - felfwtth Gods approbation, and needs no other Theatre than his own Confcience, nor other Spectator than our Father who teeth in fecret, Matth. 6. q, 6. Befides the fweet Teftimony of the Confciencefollowing upon fuchaEtions. And in time this (hall be laid open, and found to our praife and honour. 'Tis God and Glory the upright heart aimeth at, and bendeth his Rudy, heart and life to leek. z. It maketh us Serious andwatchful,and to keep Clofe to our duty, Finis off menfura rnediorirm. The Aptitude and fitnefs of means, is judged of by the end. Let a man fix up- on a right end and Scope,and he will loon underftand his stay, and will addrefs him;4elf to f sch means as are fitted to that end,and malee ftraight towards it without any circuits,and wandrings. What is the reafon that tnen fill up their lives with things that are Imperti- nent to their great end,and fometimes altogether inconfiftent with it ? Becaufe they have not fixed their Scope, or do not regard their end. A man that bath relolvedly determined that this is his end tobe accepted of God, and to enjoy God, he valued). Gods favour as his happinefs, 7.$ being reconciled to him, and his great care the pleafing ofhjm, his ut. moft indunrious Imploymentt- 'Xis life is nothing elfe but a feeking to pleafe, honour and injoy God. And fo by this means FirI, Impertinencies, Secondly, InconJJlencies are prevented and cut oti. r. Do but Confider how, many Impertinencies are cut off, if I be true to my end and great fcope; for inftance,when I remember that my bufinefs is to be accepted ofGod at the loft, and am refolved to Peek afterthat,and mindthat,can I fpend my time in cafe and idle - nefs,or carnal vanities and recreations? Eccl. z. z.Whatdotb it?What good and profit corn eth of this ? What refpe& bath it to my great end ? When I am gaming and fporting away my precious time, or it may be hut trifling it away in impertinent chatting and vain cenfures; is this the way ro Heaven,? Shall I get thither former by toying, or praying; by lowing to theFlelh,ortheSpirit;by ftudying the WordofGod,and meditating therein day and night, or by reading Romances, filthy Plays, and obfcene, and fcurrilous wri- tings; by cards and dice, or by holy conference andpraifing God? Alas ! if men would but fum up the imployment of every day,they might write at thebottom of the account, here is nothing but vanity, a great deal of time fpent, and a pudder made, and little or nothing done to our great end. Chriftians, what do you ? Or what have you done ? yet. 8. 6. That queftion is to be anfwered, not only by reflecting upon your rule, but by re- fleding upon your end. z. It will not only cut offimpertinencies, but a far greater mifchief, and that is, incon- fiJfencies with our great end,Gen. 39, 9.How can Ido this wickednefs and fin againfl God?Men do not only forget their end and happinefs, but run quite from it,by doing actions directly contrary; vanities are impertinent to our great end, but direct fins are inconfiltent. Wouldmen difhonour God, and difobey his Laws, and grieve his Spirit, if they did re- member ferioufly, that their mifery and Happinefs did depend upon Gods pleafure, or difpleafure ? Surely then they would avoid Gods wrath, and difpleafure, and fin, which is the caute of it, as the greaten mifery and evil that can befall them, and fe,ek after his favour astheir great happinefs. 3. It would folace and comfort us under the difficulties of obedience, the hardfhips and inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage, and that mean and alluded State of Life, where- in perhaps God will imploy us, and exercife us, for his Glory.. r. It would fweeten the difficulties of obedience; for the end Both fweeten the means. 'Tistroublefome to the flefh to limit and Confine our defires and adions, within the com- pafs of a flri& rule, but it fatisfieth a refolved heart to remember, that either we mutt pleafe the Flefh, or pleafe the Lord. If now it be troublefome to us, hereafter it will be r r !t comfortable.
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