Ver. 3, 4. xxvth Chapter of St. MATTHEW. i9 World and Flefh, you muff not ralhly engage, but deliberately refolve. We muff confider the Quality of Chrifts Laws, what ¡Able there are, that we may knowingly, all difficulties confidered, put our (elves into Isis hands. There is an anxious and fèrious deliberation neceffary ; otherwife, to leap into Profeflìon fleightly, maketh way for Apoftafie, or elfe for fuch a cheap Religion which cofts nothing, and therefore is worth nothing. (3.) Some unmortified corruption, or indulged Luft, which hindereth both.the Ra- dication and Prevalency of Grace. The Heart divided, touched partly with God, and partly with the Creature ; neither hoofed nor unloofed, but between both, can never be found and upright. Yam. t. 8..A double- minded man is uwftable in ad hu rcayes. A man muft purge himfelf from Lufts,. before lie be a Veffel fit for Gods ufe, z Tim. 2. zo. There is fome delight in lawful or unlawful things, that lyeth between us and Chrift ; and is fo near and dear to us, as to draw away the Heart, at leaft i[í part, that the heavenly Plantation cannot thrive .and profper in our Souls, Luke 8. 54. There is fome unmortified root of bitternefs. Jer. 4. ;, 4. Sow not among thorns, plow up the fallow ground. Till God be ourfcope, Religion can never be our work. If the pleating, enjoying, or glorifying him, were more lincerely intended, other things would come on with more eafe and fuccefs ; as the Water floweth dies own accord, if the Pipe be 'not leaky. If the Honour of Chrift, his Glory, Will, and Command, lye neareft and clofeft the Heart, then fin would be more loathed than any other thing, more feared, more avoided, and we would follow our work more heartily. We are enlivened in the Means, by an unfeigned regarding of the End ; our carelefnefs cometh from this, that God is only minded as a matter by the by. The -End and Means alwayes go together. If any thing be prized more than God, or equal with him, or apart from him, a little Grace and Godlinefs will ferve the turn : If God were intirely our End, we would be mainly for him, and molt in dal-trims to approve our felves to him ; if it be not fo, fomething there is, that caufeth that neglea, that muft be found out ; fomething that cloggeth thy heart, and detaineth thee from 'this effectual purfuit ; fome lull, the gratifying of which is the delight and pleafure which contents us, and therefore are we cold and Height in Religion. (4.) Vnbelie f. For, faith doth enliven all our Notions of God, and Chrift, a nd Hea- ven, and the day of Judgement, and maketh them effectual, and powerful: The Apoftle telleth us, Heb. ay. s. That Faith is the fubfiance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not Peen. It puts a prefence into things, and fo afeas us, as if the things believed were before our eyes : Otherwife, a man cannot fee things at a di- fiance, a Pet. t. g. Chrift and Eternity are afar off. Hence town Unbeliever they Teem little ; and therefore, 'cis not made a bufinefs of the greateft weight or Impor- tance to feek after them. At the day of Judgment how will wicked men {lamp, and tear their hair, when matters of Faith become matters of Senfe, that they mind- ed them no more ! Oh ! if I had known this, I fhoold never have dreamed out my time as I have done, (faith the convinced Wretch) but made a more ferions bu- frnefs of my preparation. If the day of Judgment be too far off, let us lay the Scene a little nearer : Suppofe one of the damned Souls now in torments, that feeleth that which he would never believe, thus crying out ; Oh ! had I thought my Lazy defires and good meanings would have done me no more good, that my floathful. nefs would have ended {o fadly ; I would rather have wept out my EYes, and have filled the World with forrowful Complaints ; I would have bereaved my felfoffleep by Night, and refufed my Bread by Day, rather than to have wanted time to have thought of God, and the great Affairs of my Soul. If our Faith be fo (loci- fighted, that we cannot look as far as the Region of darknefs, time may come in this World, that we fliall wilh we had done more for God, and-our preciuus and immortal Souls. Firft or laft we bear witnefs to this Truth ; when the neglected Soul cometh to be feparated from the pampered Fla, or over - prized body : If we would learn to [hut the Eye of Senfe. and open the Eye of Faith, we might fee it now. 2 Vfe, Is to prefs you, to get Oyl in your Veffels ; to be rooted and grounded in Faith, fettled in Love, Hope, Zeal, Temperance, and perfect what is lacking to every, grace. That you may be fenfible what I exhort you to, I {hall give you the fummo of it by degrees. 1. Do not meetly affeft the reputation .of Good People, and refe there. As' the D z Lord
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