Serm.CLVIII. andparticular Calling. II. Let us confider how great our Work is, and thenwe fhall eafily be convinc'd what care it requires, what diligence it calls for from us. Very few Perlons, I doubt, are fufficiently fenfible, how much thought and confideration, how much care and vigilancy, how firm a refolution and earneft contention of mind is need- fary to the bufinefs of Religion, to the due cultivating and improving of our minds, to the mortifying and fubduing of our lofts, to the maftering and gover- ning ofour paffions, to the reforming of our tempers, to the corre&ing of all our irregularities of our appetites and affe&ions, and to the reducing of our crooked wills, whichhave been long obftinately bent the wrong way, to the ilreightnefs of that Rule which God hath given us to walk by. Few, I fear, confider how muchpains is neceffary to the ftoring ofour minds with good Principles, and to the fixing and riveting in our Soulsall the proper motives and confiderations to engage us to Virtue, that in all the occafions of our lives they mayhave their due force and influence upon us. Few ofus take pains to underftand the juft bounds and limits ofour Duty, and fo to attend thereto, as to be always upon our guard againit the infinite temptations of human life, and the many malicious enemies of our Souls, that we may not be circumvented by the wiles ofthe Devil, nor caught in thole fnares whichhe lays before us in our ways, that we may not be wrought upon by the infrmations, nor over-reach'd by the deceitfialnefs offin. How few confider what care and watchfulnefs of our felves, what conftancy and fervency of Prayer to God is neceffary to the due difcharge of every part of our Duty ; or to the right exercife ofevery Grace and Virtue ! Betides an ear- neft imploring of the Divine Affiftance, there is required likewife a particular care and application ofmind, that we may fail in no point ; and that, as St. fames, expreffeth it, Í -e may be entire, wanting nothing ; that our Faith and our Hope, our Devotion and our Charity, our Humility and our Patience, and every other grace may be exercifed in the belt manner, and have itsproper work. III. Confider, what incredible pains Men will take, what diligence they will ufe for bad purpofes, and for ends infinitely lefs confiderable, ut jugulent "'amines, furgunt de nolle latrones, ut teipfum feroce, non expergifcere, Thieves will rife and travel by night to rob and kill, andfball we ufe no care, no vigilance to fave our felves? What drudges and haves are many Men to their fenfual pleafures and lulls ? How hot and fierce vpon revenge? And what hazards will they run to fa- tisfie this unreafonable and devilifh paffìon ; and thereby to make way for a fpeedy and bitter Repentance, which always treads upon the heels of revenge ? For nofoo- ner hath any Man executed his rage upon another, but his Confcience prefently turns it upon himfelf. How induftrious do we fee Men at their recreations and fports, taking really more pains for the fake of pleafure, than the poor Man does that works for his liviug? What a violent third; and infatiable covetoufnefs poffeffeth fome Men after learning and knowledge ? How will they toil and watch, wear out their eyes, and wane their fpirits, and purfue their {Indies, not only with the negle& of fitting diverlon, but even of the neceffary fupport and reparation ofNature, by meat and fleep? nay,, many times to increafe their learning, they weaken their under- fiandings, and for the gaining of more knowledge, do difable that power and fa- culty which fbould make ufe of it when they have it. How will Men attend for feveral hours to a lewd and extravagant Play, and fit not only with patience, but with delight to hear things fpoken, which are neither fit to be fpoken nor heard ? And above all, how eager and earneft, howbufie and induftrious are a-great part of mankind, in the purfuit of their ambitious and covetous defigns? How forely will they labour and travel ? how hardly will they be contented to fare; and how meanly will they live themfélves, to. make they know not whom rich ; even any body that happens to come in their way, when they make theirliftWills. And 383
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