Serm. XLIL `The Wifilom of Religion. Lion from another, to advife himfelf, and would rather chufe to imitate the filent good Example which they fee in another, than to have either his Advice or his Example itnpofed upon them. How difficult is it to have a Mind equal to every Condition, and to be content with mean and moderate things ? to be patient in Adverhty, and Humble in Profperity, and Meek upon fudden and violent Provocations ? to keep our Paffi- ons free from getting head of our Reafon, and our Zeal from' out-running our Knowledge ? to have a Will perfe&ly fubmitted and refigned to theWill of God, even when it lies crofsand thwart to ours, fo that whatever pleafes God, fhould pleafe us ? to be Refolute, when our Duty happens to be difficult and dangerous ; or even to believe that to be our Duty (tho' it certainly be fo) which is very inconvenient for us to do? to hold out and be unwearied in well-doing ? to be careful to preferve our Lives, and yet upon a great Occafion, and whenever God calls for them, tobe content to lay them down ? To be Wife and Innocent ; Men in Vnderflanding, and yet in Malice Children ? To have many great Virtues, and not to want that which gives the great lufire to them all, I mean real and unaffe&ed Modefiy, and Humility ? In thort, How difficult is it, to have regard to all God's Commandments, and to hate every evil andfalfeway ? To have our Duty continually in our eye, and ready to be put into pra&íce upon every proper Occafion ? Tohave God, and the Con- fideration ofanother World, always before us, prefent to our Minds, and ope- rative upon our Praflice? To live as thofe that know they muff die, and to have our Thoughts perpetually awake, and intent upon the great and Everlafling Concernments ofour Immortal Souls? Thefe are great things indeed, eafie to be talkt of, but hard to be done ; nay not tobe done at all, without frequent and fervent Prayer to God, and the con- tinual aids and fuppliesof his Grace ; not withoutan earnett endeavour on out parts, a vigorous relftance of Temptations, and many a fore Confli& with our own perverfe Wills and fenfual Inclinations ; not without a perpetual guard and warchfulnefs over our Lives, and our unruly Appetites and Pafíions ? Little do unexperienced Men, and thofe who have taken no great pains with themfelves, imagine what Thought and Confideration, what Care and Attention, what Refolution and Firmnefs of Mind, what Diligence and patient continuance in well doing, are requifité to make a truly good Man ; fuch a one as St. Paul defcribes, that is, perfeti and entire, and wanting nothing ; that follows God fully, and fulfils every part of his Duty, having a Confcieneevoid of offence towards God, and towards Man. Who is there among us, that is either wife enough for his own dire&ion, or good enough for the peace and fatisfa&ion of his own Mind ; that is fo happy as to know his Duty, and to do it ; as to have both the Under- ftanding and the Will to do in all things as he ought ? After our bell Care, and all our Pains and Endeavours, the moft of us will fä11 find a great many defe&s in our Lives, and cannot but difcern great and mani- fold Imperfe&ions in our very belt Duties and Services ; infomuch that we Ihall be forced to make the fame acknowledgment concerning them, which Solomon does concerning the imperfe&ion of all things under the Sun that which is crooked cannot be madefreight, and that which is wanting cannot be mumbred. And when all is done, we have all of us reafon tofay, not only that we are unprofitable fer- vants, having done nothing but what was our duty to do but have caufe likewife, with great fhame and confufionof face, to acknowledge that we have been in many refpe&s Wicked and Slothful Servants, and fo very far from having done what was our duty to do, that the greateft part of the good which the molt of us bavedone,' is the leaft part of the good which we might and ought to have done. The Pra&ice of Religion, in all the Parts and Inftances of our Duty, is work more than enough for the heft and greateft Mind, for the longeft and belt or- der'd Life, The Commandment of God is exceeding broad ; and an Obedience in any good meafure equal to the extent of it, extreamly difficult. And after all, as the Man in the Gofpel faid with tears to our Saviour, concerning the weaknefs of hisown Faith, Lord, Ibelieve, help thou my unbelief, Mar. g. 24. So the belt of Men 95
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