· 340 Of the Importance and Diffi~ulfy ing of it; arid that n1ifcarrying in it is the rnofl: dangerous thing in the \vorld. I I. The fecond thing we had to fpeak to, is the difficulty of managing this charge a– right. And· this will appear if we confi– der: I. 1'he end and defign of the nlini– fterial funttion; 2. The impedi11_1ents we have tp overcome in the profecution of that ~ end; and, 3· The fevcral forts of duties and e:xercifes 1ncumbent upon us. _As for tht firfi. The great bufinef~ of our cal– 'ing is, to advance the divine life in the world; to make religion fw.ay and prevail; frame and n1ould the fouls of men into a confonnity to God, ·and fuperinduce the beautiful Hnean1ents of his blefied ~n1age upon then1; to enlighten their undcrftand· ings, an·d infonn their judge1nents, rcttify their wills, and order their paffions, and fanttify all their affections. The world li– eth in fin; and it is ·our work to awaken men out of their deadly fleep, to refcuc then1 out of that djfi11al condition. We are the inftruments of God for effecruaring -thefe great de(Igns: ;and, though we be J?Ot 2ccountable for .the ·fuccefs, when we have <tone what lieth in our po\;Ver, yet nothiug below this _fuould be our airn ; and. we fuo'l1ld never ceafe our endeavours, until that I ~
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