Berm. X.L. Religion, our fir/t and great Concernment. 277 by the way, anddoes many other Things whichdonot dire&ly fet him forward, yet then are all fubfervient to his Journey, or in profecution of it ; or at leafs no wilful deviations from it. Thus it fhould be with us, while we are fojourning in this World ; our fix'd Aim and Defign should be to get to Heaven, and thither we fhould be continually tending in our Delires and Endeavours. And if this Refolurion be deeply rooted and fix'd in our Minds, it will govern all our Actions, and keep theín fteady to their main End. Whereas, if we be un- certain and unrefolv'd uponour great End, and be divided between the Happi- nefs ofthe next Life, and the prefent Enjoyments of this, we (hall be fickle and unfteady in all our Motions. He that hath two Ends, can purfue neither vigo- roufly, but while he is moving towards the one, he leans and inclines to the other ; and like a Needle between two Loadflones, is always in a doubtful and trembling Condition ; inclines to both, but is conflant to neither : And this is the meaningof that Aphorifm ofSt. James, The double minded Man is unflable in all his ways. He that is unrefolv'd as tohismain End, hath two Minds, and can profecute nothing vigoroully : But ifour Mind be once fix'd and refolv'd, that will determine and govern all ourmotions, and infpire us with Diligence, and Zeal, and Perfeverance in the profecution ofour End. 2. Seeking the Kingdom of God and his Righteoufnefs, implies inceffant Care andDiligence as to the means 5 that we make Religion our bufinefs, and exercife our felves in the Duties of it, both in publick and private, at proper times and feafons, with the fame ferioufnefs and application of Mind, as Men do in their Callings and Profeflìons, for the gaining of Wealth and Preferment; efpecially on the Lord's-Day, which God bath taken tohimfelf, and let apart for the Du- ties of his Worship and Service. Not that we are excufed from minding Religi- on other times ; but that chofe who are preft and ftraitned by the neceffary Cares of this Life, may be fore to mind it then, and may have no colour of ex- cufe for the neglect ofit at that time, which God hath allotted for that very pur- pofe, and which it is unlawful to employ about our Worldly Affairs. God ex- pe&s that we fhould ferve him at other times, that we should live in an habitual fenfeof him, and (as Solomon expreffeth it, Prov. 23. 17.) Be in thefear of the Lord allthe day long ; fo as to be careful not to offend or tranfgrefs in any thing, and fo as to redeem allOpportunities for the exercife of Piety, and Devotion ; but this Day he peremptorily challengeth tohimfelf, and expe&s we fhould im- ploy it in his Service, and dedicate it to Religion, to the Contemplation of God and Heavenly Things, and the Care of our Immortal Souls, with the fame feri- oufnefs and diligence, as we do upon other days labourfor the bread which perifheth; and the lets leifure we haveupon other days for this purpofe, the more entirely fhould wedevote and confecrate this Day to the Purpofes and Duties of Religion. Not but that our whole Life, andall the Actions of it, fhould be under the government of Religion, and dire&ed by the Laws and Rules of it; and it fhould be our continualCare and Endeavour to pleafe God in all things, and we fhould take as much pains, and be as heartily concerned to be good Men, as the Men of the World are to grow Rich and Great in thisWorld; nay fo much more, by how much it is abetter and nobler Defign to improve in Grace and Virtue, than to profper and thrive in our Temporal Eftate ; and we do not in good earneft feek the ICingdora of God, and his Righteoufnefs, ifthis be not our great (lady and endeavour, to fubdue our Lufts, and govern our Paffions, and, in a word, to reform whatever is amifs in the inward frame and temper of our Minds, and in our outward Converfation. And indeed nothingdoes require greater diligence, and attention, and care, than for a Man to become truly and thoroughly good, to be meekand humble, and patient and contented, and refign to the Will of God in every Condition ; tobe peaceable and charitable, and placable, and rea- dy to forgive ; thefe are great and difficult things, and, whatever we think, not the work of a Wifh, or the effe& of a fudden Refolution before the receiving of the Holy Sacrament, no nor the fruit of frequent and fervent Prayers, without the hearty concurrence of our own Care and Endeavour, to render ourLives loch, as we pray Godby his Grace to aß'ilt and enable us tobe. 3. Seeking
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