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AUTHOR: 
 
 ODDRijGE, PHII :P 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 THE RISE AND 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 OND^ 
 
 J 
 
 DATE: 
 
 MA'' 
 
 \J 
 
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Coluntbta (Mnitiewttp 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 5 
 
THE 
 
 / 
 
 RISE and PROGRESS 
 
 O F 
 
 «•-- 
 
 
 R E t ii G:i o\^ iini ihe-S o u l : 
 
 I •_••••••.#• ••••• • 
 
 rn a COURSfi of Serious and 
 Pr ACTiiicA^t Addresses. 
 
 • • • • J 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • 
 
 Suited to PERSONS of every Character 
 and Circumstance; 
 
 With 
 
 A Devout Meditation or Prayer added 
 to each CHAPTER.i 
 
 % P. DODDRIDGE, P.P. 
 
 ^aferet hie Grejfum, Fonta dabit arida Vallis. 
 
 Inque cavas Foffas defluet Agmen Aqua: 
 inftaurabit Iter Vires ; et Numinis Ora 
 
 yijurus Solymof figet in Mde Pedem, 
 
 Johnft. Pfal. Ixxxiv. 5, 6. 
 
 ^'•^Ij!7li^tTl''T'''^ ^^^^ ^''^ ^^'^'^ ^^^<^rd 
 
 every Man in all IVtfdom ; that we may prefent even 
 Man perfca tn Chrijl Jefus. Col. i. 28/ ^ 
 
 ^^^ Sec ond Edition. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. Br a c k s t o n e, in CornhiU', and 
 
 yy^AVC H, in Gracec hurch'Strget. 
 
 M DCC XLV, 
 
■\:U 
 
 ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 (iii) 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 To the Reverend 
 
 Dr. ISAAC WATTS. 
 
 536G1 
 
 Reverend and Dear S I R^ 
 
 "glTH the moft affeftio- 
 ^ nate Gratitude and Re- 
 - fpe<a, I beg Leave to 
 prefent to You a Book, 
 which owes its Exift- 
 ence to your Requeft, its Copiouf- 
 nefs to your Plan, and much of its 
 Perfpicuity to your Review, and to 
 the Ufe I made of your Remarks on 
 that Part of it, which your Health 
 and Leifure would permit you to 
 
 A 2 examine. 
 
iv DEDICATION. 
 
 examine. I addrefs it to You, not 
 to beg your Patronage to it, for of 
 that 1 am already well afTured ; and 
 much lefs from any Ambition of at- 
 tempting your Charafter, for which, 
 if I were more equal to the SubjecT:, 
 I fhould think this a very improper 
 Place : But chiefly from a fecret De- 
 light, which I find in the Thought 
 of beins: known to thofe whom this 
 may reach, as one whom You have 
 honoured, not only with your Friend- 
 fliin, but with fo much of your Ef- 
 teem and Approbation too, as mull 
 fubAantially appear in your commit- 
 ting a Work to me, which You had 
 yourfelf projected as one of the moft 
 confiderable Services of your Life. 
 
 1 HAVE long thought the Love of 
 Popular Applaufe a Meannefs, which 
 a Philofophy far inferior to that of 
 our Divine Mafier might have taught 
 us to conquer. But to be efteemed 
 by eminently Great and Good Men, 
 to whom we are intimately known, 
 
 appears 
 
 DEDICATION. v 
 
 appears to me not only one of the 
 mofl folid Atteftations of fome real 
 Worth, but, next to the Approba- 
 tion of God and our own Confcien- 
 ces, one of its moft valuable Re- 
 wards. It will, I doubt not, be 
 found fo in that World, to which 
 Spirits like yours are tending, and 
 for which thro' Divine Grace You 
 have obtained fo uncommon a De- 
 gree of Ripenefs. And permit me, 
 Sir, while I write this, to refrefh 
 myfelf with the Hope, that when 
 that Union of Hearts, which has fb 
 long fubfifted between us, fhall ar- 
 rive to its full Maturity and Endear- 
 ment there, it will be Matter of mu- 
 tual Delight, to recoiled, that You 
 have afligned me, and that I have 
 in fome Degree executed a Tafk, 
 which may perhaps, under the Blef- 
 fing of God, awaken and improve 
 Religious Sentiments in the Minds of 
 thofe whom we leave behind us, and 
 of others who may arife after us 
 
 A 3 in 
 
vi DEDIC ATION. 
 
 in this vain, tranfitory, infnaring 
 World. 
 
 Such is the Improvement You 
 have made of Your Capacities for 
 Service, that I am fully perfuaded, 
 Heaven has received very few, in 
 thefe latter Ages, who have done fa 
 much to ferve its Interefts here bel- 
 low; few, who have laboured in 
 this bell; of Caufes with equal Afli- 
 duity, and equal Succefs. And there- 
 fore, I cannot but join with all who 
 wifli well to the Cbrtjlian Intereji 
 among us, in acknowledging the 
 Goodnefs of Providence to You and 
 to the Church of Chrijiy in prolong- 
 ing a Life at once fo valuable and fo 
 tender, to fuch an advanced Period. 
 With them, Sir, I rejoice, that GO0 
 hath given you to poflefs in fo ex- 
 traordinary a Degree, not only the 
 Confcioufnefs of intending great Be- 
 nefit tO' the World, but the Satisfac- 
 tion of having effeded it, and of 
 feeing fuch aiiHarveft aheady fpring- 
 
 ing 
 
 vii 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 ing up, I hope as an Earnefl of a 
 much more copious Increafe from 
 thence. With Multitudes more I 
 blefs God, that You are not, in this 
 Evening of fo afflicted and yet {o 
 laborious a Day, rendered entirely 
 incapable of fcTving the Publick from 
 the Prefsy and from the Pulpit -y and 
 that amidff the Pain which your ac- 
 tive Spirit feels, when thefe pleafing 
 Services fuffer long Interruption from 
 Bodily Weaknefs, it may be fo fin- 
 gularly refrefhed by refleding on 
 that Sphere of extenfive Ufefulnefs, 
 in which hy your Writings You con- 
 tinually move. 
 
 r CONGRATULATE you, dear Sir, 
 that while You are in a Multitude 
 of Fa?nilies^ and Schools of the lower 
 Clafs, condefcending to the humble, 
 yet important Work of forming In- 
 fant-Minds to the firft Rudiments of 
 Religious Knowledge and devout Im- 
 preflions, by your various Cate- 
 ckifms and Divi?te Songs ; You are al- 
 
 A 4 {o 
 
viii DEDICATIO N. 
 
 fo daily reading Ledures of Logick^ 
 and other ufeful Branches of Phi- 
 lofophy^ to ftudious Youth: And 
 this, not only in private Academies, 
 but in themofl- publick and celebrat- 
 ed Seats of Learning ; nor merely in 
 Scotla7id^ and in our American Co- 
 lonies, (where, from fome peculiar 
 Con fiderat ions, it might moft natu- 
 rally be expedcd ;) but, thro' thea- 
 miable Candor of fome excellent Men 
 and accomplifhed Tutors, in our 
 Englijh Univerfities too. I congra- 
 tulate you, that You are teaching, 
 no doubt, Hundreds of MiniJierSy 
 and Thouknds of private CAri^ianSy 
 by your Sermom^ and other Theolo- 
 gical Writings^ fo happily calculated 
 to diffufe thro' their Minds thatLight 
 of Knowledge, and thro' their Hearts 
 that Fervour of Piety, which God 
 has been pleafed to inkindle in your 
 own. But above all, I congratulate 
 you, that by your Sacred Poetrjy 
 efpecially by your Pfahns^ and your 
 
 Hymnsy 
 
 DEDICATION. \t. 
 
 Hymns^ You are leading the Wor- 
 fhip, and I truft alfo animating the 
 Devotion of Myriads^ in our pub- 
 lick AfTemblies every Sabbath, and 
 in their Families or ^ Clofets every 
 Day. This, Sir, at ieaft fo far as 
 it relates to the Service of the Sanc- 
 tuary^ is an unparalleled Favour, by 
 which God hath been pleafed to di- 
 ftinguifh you, I may boldly fay it, 
 beyond any of his Servants now upon 
 Earth. Well may it be efteemed a 
 glorious Equivalent^ and indeed 
 much more than an Equivalent, for 
 all thofe Views of Ecclefeafiical Pre- 
 fer7nent, to which fuch Talents, 
 Learning, Virtues, and Intereft 
 might have intitled you in an Efta- 
 bliihment; and I doubt not, but 
 You joyfully accept it as fuch. 
 
 Nor is it eafy to conceive, in 
 what Circumftances You could, on 
 any Suppolition, have been eafier 
 and happier, than in that Pious and 
 truly Ho?tourable Faviily. in which, 
 
 as 
 
if 
 
 X D ED IC ATION. 
 
 as I verily believe, in Ipecial Indul- 
 gence both to you and to it, Provi- 
 dence has been pleafed to appoint 
 that You fhould Ipend fo considera- 
 ble a Part of your Life. It is my 
 earneft Prayer, that all the Remain- 
 der of it may be ferene, ufeful, and 
 pleafant. And as, to my certain 
 Knowledge, your Compofitions have 
 been the fingular Comfort of many 
 excellent Chrtjlians (fome of them 
 numbered among my deareft Friends,) 
 on their dying Bed ; for I have heard 
 Stanza s of them repeated from the 
 Lips of feveral, who were doubtlefs 
 in a few Hours to begin the Song of 
 Mcfes and the Lamb : So I hope and 
 truft, that when God fhall call you 
 to that Salvation^ for which your 
 Faith and Patience have fo long been 
 waitings He will fhed around you 
 the choicefl: Beams of his Favour, 
 and gladden your Heart with Con- 
 folations^ like thofe which You have 
 
 been 
 
 xt 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 been the happy Inftruraent of admi- 
 niftring to others. 
 
 In the mean Time, Sir, be afTu- 
 red, that I am not a little animated 
 in the various Labours to which 
 Providence has called me, by refled:- 
 ing, that I have fucb a Con tempo- 
 raryy and efpecially fuch a Frtend\ 
 whofe fingle Prefence would be ta 
 me as that of a Cloud of Wttneffes 
 here below, to awaken my Alacrity 
 in the Race that is fet before me. 
 And I am perfuaded, that while I 
 fay this, I fpeak the Sentiment of 
 many of my Brethren, even of vari- 
 ous Denominations : A Confidera- 
 tion, which I hope will do fome- 
 thing towards reconciling a Heart fo 
 generous as yours, to the Delay of 
 that exceeding and eternal Weight of 
 Gloryy which is now fo nearly ap- 
 proaching. Yes, my honoured 
 Friend, You will, I hope, chcarlully 
 endure a little longer Continuance 
 in Life amidft all its Infirmities; 
 
 from 
 
from an AfTurance, that while God 
 is pleafed to maintain the Exercife of 
 your Reafon, it is hardly poflible 
 that You fhould live in vain^ to the 
 World, or yourfclf. Every Day, 
 and every Trial, is brightening your 
 Crown, and rendering you ftill more 
 meet for an Inheritance amoitg the 
 Saints in Light. Every Word that 
 You drop from the Pulpit^ has now, 
 furely, its peculiar Weight: The 
 Eyes of many are on their afcendi7ig 
 Prophet^ eagerly intent that they may 
 catch, if not his Mantle^ at Icaft 
 fome Divine Sentence from his Lips, 
 which may long guide their Ways, 
 and warm their Hearts. This Soli- 
 citude your Friends bring into thole 
 happy Moments, in which they are 
 favoured with your Coriverfe in pri- 
 vate : And when You are retired 
 from them, your Prayers^ I doubt 
 not, largely contribute towards guard- 
 ing your Country, watering the 
 Chujch, and blefling the World. 
 
 Long 
 
 DEDICAT 10 N. xiii 
 
 Long may they continue to anfwer 
 thefe great Ends! And permit me, 
 Sir, to conclude with exprefling my 
 chearful Confidence, that in thofe 
 heft Moments You axe often particu- 
 larly rftindful of one, who fo highly 
 efteems, fo greatly needs, and fo 
 warmly returns that Remembrance, 
 as, 
 
 ft. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir^ 
 
 Tour moji AffeSlicnate Brother^ 
 And Obliged Humble Servant^ 
 
 Northampton^ 
 Pec. 13. 1744. 
 
 P. Doddridge. 
 
 PRE- 
 
(XV) 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ^''^^^M'^j H E feveral Hints given in the 
 S^^^t^^J'i Dedication, and the Firji 
 fr^/n-kc^ nr iii^^ C6^7//rr of this Treatife, 
 
 which contains a particular 
 PIa?i of the Defign, render 
 it unneceffary to introduce it 
 with a long Preface. Some 
 of my Readers may perhaps remember, that 
 feveral Years ago I promifed this Work to 
 the Publick, in the Preface to the Second 
 Edition of my Sermom on the Power and 
 Grace of Chrift^ &c. My much honoured 
 Friend Dr. Watts had laid the Scheme, efpe- 
 cially of the former Part : But as thofe In- 
 difpofitions, with which (to the unfpeakable 
 Grief of the Churches,) God has beenpleaf- 
 ed to exercife him, had forbid his Hopes of 
 being able to add this, to his many Labours 
 
XVI 
 
 P R E FJ C E. 
 
 4 5 
 
 r 
 
 €f Love to immortal Souls, he was pleafed 
 in a very afFeftionate and importunate Man- 
 ner to urge me to undertake it. And I blefs 
 God with my whole Heart, not only that 
 He hath carried me thro* tkis deligbtfid Tajky 
 (for fuch indeed I have found it,) but alfo that 
 He hath fpared that worthy and amiable Per- 
 fon to fee it accompli(hed, and given him 
 Strength and Spirit to review fo confiderable 
 a Part of it. His Approbation, expreffed in 
 ftronger Terms than Modefty will permit me 
 to repeat, encourages me to hope, that it is 
 executed in fuch a Manner, as may, by the 
 Divine Blefling, render it of fome general 
 Service. And I the rather expeft it will be 
 fo, as it now comes Abroad into the World, 
 not only with my own Prayers and his^ but 
 alfo with thofe of many other Pious Friends, 
 which I have been particularly careful to en»- 
 gage for its Succefs. 
 
 Into whatever Hands this Work may 
 come, I muft defire, that before any pais 
 their Judgment upon it, they would pleafp 
 to read it through ; that they may difcern the 
 Connexion between one Part of it and arw- 
 ther. Which I the rather requefl:, becaufe 
 I have long obferved, that Ckriflians of dif- 
 ferent Parties have been eagerly laying Hold 
 on particular Parts of the Syjiem of Divine 
 Truths^ and have been contending about 
 them, as if each had been all y or as if the 
 Separation of the Members from each other, 
 
 and 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 xvu 
 
 and from the Head, were the Prefervation of 
 the Body, inftead of its Deftrudtion. They 
 have been zealous to efpoufe the Defence, 
 and to maintain the Honour and Ufefulnefs 
 of each apart j whereas their Honour, as 
 well as Ufefulnefs, feems to me to lie much 
 in their Connection : And Sufpicions have of- 
 ten arifen betwixt the refpedive Defenders of 
 each, which have appeared as unreafonablc 
 and abfurd, as if all the Preparations for fe- 
 curing one Part of a Ship in a Storm were to 
 be cenfured as a Contrivance to fink the Reft. 
 I pray God, to give to all His Minijiers, and 
 People^ more and more of the Spirit of Wif 
 dom^ and of Love^ and oj a found Mind, and 
 to remove far from us thofe mutual fealoufies 
 and Animofities^ which hinder our afting 
 with that Unanimity y which is neceflary in 
 order to the fuccefsful carrying on our com-- 
 mon Warfare again ft the Enemies of Chrijii^ 
 anity. We may be fure, thcfe Enemies will 
 never fail to make their own Advantage of 
 our 7nultipUed Divifions^ and fevere Contefts 
 with each other : But they muft neceffarily ^ 
 lofe both their Ground and their Influence, 
 in Proportion to the Degree, in which the 
 Energy of Chrifiian Principles is felt, to u- 
 nite and transform the Hearts of thofe by 
 whom they are profefled. 
 
 I HAVE ftudied the greateft Plainnefs of 
 Speech^ that the loweft of my Readers may, 
 if poflible, be able to under ftand every 
 
 a Word j 
 
xviii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 XIX 
 
 ^ -• 
 
 Word ; and I hope, Perfons of a more ele- 
 gant Tafte and refined Education will pardon 
 what appeared to me lb ncceflary a Piece of 
 Charity. Such a Care in PraSfical Writers 
 fecms one important Inftance of that honour- 
 ing all Meriy which our amiable and conde- 
 fcending Religion teaches us: And I have 
 been particularly obliged to my worthy Pa- 
 tron, for what he hath done to fliorten fome 
 of the Sentences, and to put my Meaning 
 into plainer and more familiar Words. Yet 
 I dare fay, the World will not fufpedl it of 
 having contradled any Impropriety or Inele- 
 gance of Language, by pafling thro' the 
 Hands of Dr. Watts. 
 
 I MUST add one Remark here, which I 
 heartily wi(h I had not omitted in the former 
 Edition, viz. That tho* I do in this Book 
 confider my Reader as fucceffively in a 
 great Variety of fuppofed Circumftances, be- 
 ginning with thofe of a thoughtlefs Sinner^ 
 and leading him thro* feveral Stages of Con- 
 viction, Terror, &c. as what may be previ- 
 ous to his fincerely accepting the Gofpel, and 
 devoting himfelf to the Service of God j yet 
 I would by no means be thought to infinu- 
 ate, that enjery one who is brought to that 
 happy Refolution, arrives at it thro' ihok par- 
 ticular Steps, or feels Agitations of Mind 
 equal in Degree to thofe I have defcribed. 
 Some Senfe of Sin, and fome ferious and 
 humbling Apprehenfion of our Danger and 
 
 Mifery 
 
 Mifery in Confequence of it, muft indeed be 
 neceffary, to difpofe us to receive the Grace 
 of the Gofpel, and the Saviour who is there 
 exhibited to our Faith. But. God is pleafed 
 fometimes to begin the Work of his Grace on 
 the Heart, almoft from the firft Dawning of 
 Reafon, and to carry it on by fuch gentle and 
 infenfible Degrees, that very excellent Per- 
 lons, who have made the mofl eminent At- 
 tainments in the Divine Life, have been un- 
 able to recount any remarkable Hiftory of 
 their Converfion : And fo fir as I can learn, 
 this is moft frequently the Cafe with thofe of 
 them who have enjoyed the Benefits of a 
 pious Education, when it has not been fuc- 
 ceeded by a vicious and licentious Youth. 
 God forbid therefore, that any fuch fhould 
 be fo infenfible of their own Happinefs, as 
 to fall into Perplexity with Relation to their 
 Spiritual State, for Want of being able to 
 trace fuch a Rife of Religion in their Minds, 
 as it was neceffary on my Plan for me to de- 
 
 Icribe, and exemplify here. 1 have fpoke 
 
 my Sentiments on this Head fo fully in the 
 Vlir'' of my Sermo?2s on Regeneration, that I 
 think none who has read and remembers the 
 general Contents of it, can be in Danger of 
 mifl:aking my Meaning here. But as it is 
 very poffible, this Book may fall into the 
 Hands of many, who have not read the o- 
 ther, and have no Opportunity of confult- 
 ing it, I thought it proper to infert thisCau- 
 
 a '' 
 
 4.1 
 
 tioa 
 
XX 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 * 
 
 I' I 
 
 tion in the Preface to this ; and I am much 
 obliged to that worthy and excellent Perfon, 
 who kindly reminded me of the Expedi- 
 ency of doing it. 
 
 I CONCLUDE with defiring my Friends to 
 forgive the neceflary Interruption which this 
 Work has given to the Third Volume of my 
 Family Expcjitor^ which I am now fending 
 to the Prels as faft as I can, and hope to pub- 
 li(h in Icfs than a Year. To this Volume I 
 have referred feveral additional Notes^ and the 
 Indexes^ which are neceffary to render the 
 former Volumes compleat ; having deter- 
 mined to add nothing to ihc Second Edition, 
 which fhould depreciate the former. I do not 
 think it neceflary to trouble my Friends with 
 a new Subfcription ; taking it for granted, 
 that few who were pleafcd with the other 
 Part of the Work, will fail of Perfeding 
 the Sett on the Hijhrical Books of the New 
 Teftament. When my Expofuion on the 
 '^pi/iolary Part may be compleated, God 
 only knows. I will proceed in it as faft as 
 the other Duties of my Station will permit ; 
 and I earneflly beg, that if my Pvcaders find 
 Edification and Advantage by any of my 
 Writings, they would in Return offer a 
 Prayer for me, that God may carry me on, 
 in that mofi important Labour of my Pen, un- 
 (jer the remarkable Tokens of His Guidance 
 gnd Blefling. 
 
 THE 
 
 -h ^^ 4**1- -l»^ -J*-^ -J* -t» *l- 4* ■4- 4*H- -**H- -^ 
 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 THE Introducftion to the Work, with 
 fome general Account of its Defign. 
 
 Page I 
 
 A Prayer for the Succefs of it, in pro- 
 moting the Rife and Progrefs of Re- 
 ligion. * 12 
 
 Chap. II. 
 The Carclefs Sinner awakened. i6 
 
 The Meditation of a Sinner, who was 
 once thoughtlefs, but begins to be 
 awakened. 27 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The Awakened Sinner urged to immediate 
 Confideration, and cautioned againft De- 
 lay. 3 1 
 
 A Prayer for one, who is tempted to delay 
 applying to Religion, the* under fome 
 Convictions of its Importance. 39 
 
 a 3 Chap. 
 
 wt ■ 
 

 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 The Sinner arraigned and convifted. Pag. 43 
 
 The Confeffion of a Sinner, convinced 
 in general of his Guilt. 55 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Sinner ftripped of his vain Picas. 58 
 
 The Meditation of a convinced Sinner, 
 giving up his vain Pleas before God. 
 
 69 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 The Sinner fentenced. 72 
 
 The Reflection of a Sinner, ftruck with 
 the Terror of his Sentence. 8 1 
 
 c H a p. yii. 
 
 The helplefs State of the Sinner under Con- 
 demnation. 84 
 
 The Lamentation of a Sinner in this 
 miferable Condition. 90 
 
 Chap. VIII. 
 
 News of Salvation by Christ brought to 
 the convinced and condemned Sinner. 93 
 
 The Sinner's Refledlion on this good 
 News. 10 1 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 A more particular Account of the Way, by 
 which this Salvation is to be obtained. 
 
 104 
 The 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 The Sinner deliberating on the Expe- 
 diency of falling in with this Me- 
 thod of Salvation. Pag. 114 
 
 Chap. X. 
 
 The Sinner ferioufly urged and intreated to 
 accept of Salvation in this Way. 117 
 
 The Sinner yielding to thefe Intreaties, 
 and declaring his Acceptance of Sal- 
 vation by Christ. 124 
 
 Chap. XI. 
 
 A folcmn Addrcfs to thofe, who will not be 
 perfuaded to fall in with the Defign of 
 the Gofpel. 127 
 
 A companionate Prayer in Behalf of the 
 Impenitent Sinner. 142 
 
 Chap. XII. 
 
 An Addrefs to a Soul fo overwhelmed with 
 a Senfe of the Greatnefs of its Sins, that 
 it dares not apply itfelf to Christ with 
 any Hope of Salvation. 146 
 
 Refledion on the Encouragements he has 
 to do it, ending in an humble and 
 earneft Application to Christ for 
 Mercy. j ^2 
 
 Chap. XIII. 
 
 The Doubting Soul more particularly affifted 
 
 in 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 in its Enquiries as to the Sincerity of its 
 Faith and Repentance. Pag. 156 
 
 The Soul fubmitting to Divine Exa- 
 mination the Sincerity of its Repen- 
 tance and Faith. 163 
 
 Chap. XIV. 
 
 A more particular View of the feveral 
 Branches of the Christian Temper j 
 by which the Reader may be farther 
 affifted, in judging what he is, and what 
 he ihould endeavour to be. 166 
 
 A Review of the feveral Branches of 
 this Temper in a Scriptural Prayer. 
 
 ,83 
 
 Chap. XV. 
 
 The Reader reminded, how much he needs 
 the Affiftance of the Spirit of God to 
 form him to this Temper, and what En- 
 couragement he has to expeft it. 188 
 
 An humble Supplication for the Influ- 
 ences of Divine Grace, to form and 
 ftrengthen Religion in the Soul. 1 95 
 
 Chap XVI. 
 
 The Christian Convert warned of, 
 and animated againft, thofe Difcourage- 
 ments which he muft expedt to meet 
 with, when entering on a Religious 
 Courfe. 198 
 
 The 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 The §ou\ alarmed by a Senfe of thefc 
 Difficulties, committing itfelf to Di- 
 vine Protedlion. Pag. 204 
 
 Chap. XVII. 
 
 The Christian urged to, and affifted in, 
 an exprefs Adt of Self-Dedication 
 to the Service of God. 207 
 
 An Example of Self-Dedication> ora fo- 
 lemn Form of renewing our Cove- 
 nant with God : 211 
 
 Together with an Abstract of it, 
 to be ufed with proper and requifitc 
 Alterations. 2 1 8 
 
 Chap. XVIII. 
 
 Of entering into Church Communion by an 
 Attendance upon the Lord's-Supper. 
 
 221 
 A Prayer for one who defires to attend, 
 yet has fome remaining Doubts con- 
 cerning his Right to that folcmn Or- 
 dinance. 228 
 
 Chap. XIX. 
 
 Some more particular Dircdions for main- 
 taining continual Communion with God, 
 or being in his Fear all the Day longi in a 
 Letter to a pious Friend. 232 
 
 A ferious View of Death, proper 
 
 to 
 
f 
 
 ^5 
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 to be taken as we lie d||^n on oiir 
 Beds. Pag. 2 5 1 
 
 Chap. XX. 
 
 A ferious Perfuafive to fuch a Method of 
 fpending our Days. 253 
 
 A Prayer fuited to the State of a Soul, 
 who longs to attain to fuch a Life. 
 
 263 
 
 Chap. XXI. 
 
 A Caution againft various Temptations, 
 by which the young Convert may be 
 drawn afide from the Couife before re- 
 commended. 267 
 The young Convert^s Prayer for Divine 
 Protedion from the Danger of thefe 
 Snares. 278 
 
 Chap. XXII. 
 The Cafe of spiritual Decay and Languor 
 in Religion. 201 
 
 A Prayer for one under Spiritual De- 
 cays. 291 
 
 Chap. XXIII. 
 
 The fad Cafe of a Relapfe into known and 
 deliberate Sin, after folemn Ads of De- 
 dication to God, and fome Progrefs made 
 in Religion. 295 
 
 A Prayer for one who has fallen into 
 
 grofs 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 grofs Sin, after Religious Refolutlons 
 and Engagements. Pag. 305 
 
 Chap. XXIV. 
 
 The Cafe of the Christian under the 
 Hidings of God's Face. 310 
 
 An humble Supplication for one under 
 the Hidings of God's Face. 319 
 
 Chap. XXV. 
 
 The Christian ftruggling under great 
 and heavy Affli(flions. 324 
 
 An Addrefs to God under the Preffure 
 of heavy Afflidtions. 330 
 
 Chap XXVL 
 
 The Christian affifted in examining into 
 his Growth in Grace. 33 r 
 
 The Christian breathing earneftly 
 after Growth in Grace. 346 
 
 Chap. XXVIL 
 
 The Advanced Christian reminded of 
 the Mercies of God, and exhorted to the 
 Exercifes of habitual Love to him, and 
 Joy in him. 349 
 
 An Example of the genuine Workings 
 of this grateful Joy in God. 357 
 
 Chap. XXVIII. 
 
 The Eftablifhed Christian urged to 
 
 exert 
 
CONTENrS. 
 
 exert himfelf for Purpofes of Ufefulnefs. 
 
 Pag. 363 
 
 The Christian breathing after more 
 extenfive Ufefulnefs. 376 
 
 Chap. XXIX. 
 
 The Christian rejoicing in the Views of 
 
 Death and Judgment. 379 
 
 The Meditation and Prayer of a Ch R i s- 
 
 TiAN, whofe Heart is warmed with 
 
 thefe Profpedls. 390 
 
 Chap. XXX. 
 
 The Christian honouring God by his 
 
 Dying Behaviour. 393 
 
 A Meditation and Prayer fuited to the 
 
 Cafe of a Dying Christian. 404 
 
 THE 
 
 THE 
 
 RISE and PROGRESS 
 
 O F 
 
 RELIGION in the Soul. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The Introduftion to the Work, with fome 
 general Account of its Defign. 
 
 Th^j true Religion is very rare^ appears from com- 
 paring the Nature of it with the Lives and Charac- 
 ters of Men around us. §. i, 2. The Want of 
 it., Matter of jufi Lamentation. §.3. T^o remedy 
 this Evil^ is the Dr/ign of the enfuing Treatife: §. 4. 
 To which^ therefore^ the Author earnejily befpeaks 
 the Attention of the Reader^ as his ozvn Heart is 
 deeply intcrejled in it. §. 5, 6. A General Plan 
 of the PFork •, of which the Fifteen firft Chapters 
 relate chiefly to the Ris£ of Religion, and the 
 remaining Chapters to its Progress. §. 7, — 
 12. The Chapter concludes with a Prayer for 
 the Succefs of the Work, 
 
 B §. I. WHEN 
 
r 
 
 Religion not an univerfal ^jtngy Ch. i. 
 
 HEN we look round about 
 us with an attentive Eye, 
 and confider the Charaders 
 and Purfuits of Men, we 
 plainly fee, that tho', in the 
 original Conftitution of their 
 Natures, they only, of all the Creatures that 
 dwell on the Face of the Earth, be capable of 
 Religion, yet many of them fliamefully negledt 
 it. And whatever different Notions People may 
 entertain of what they call Religion^ all muft 
 agree in owning, that it is very far from being 
 an univerfal Thing, 
 
 §. 2. Religion, in its moft general View, 
 is fuch a Senfe of God on the Soul, and fuch a 
 Conviftion of our Obligations to him, and of 
 our Dependancc upon him, as fhall engage us 
 10 make it our great Care to conduft ourfelves 
 in a Manner which we have reafon to believe 
 will be pleafing to Him. Now when we have 
 given this plain Account of Religion^ it is by no 
 Means neceffary, that we (hould fearch among 
 the Savages of the African or American Nations, 
 to find Inftances of thofe who are Strangers to 
 it. When we view the Conduft of the Gene- 
 rality of People at Home^ in a Cbri/lian and 
 Proteftant Nation^ in a Nation whofe Obligations 
 to God have been fingular, almoft beyond thofe 
 of any other People under Heaven, will any 
 one prefume to fay, that Religion has an univer- 
 fal Reign among us ? Will any one fuppofe, that 
 it prevails in every Ijfe? that it reigns in every 
 Heart? Alas! the avowed Infidelity, the Pro- 
 phanation of the Name and Day of God, the 
 Drunkennels, the l^wdncfi, the Injuftice, the 
 
 ~ Falfhcx)d, 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 Ch. I. as appears from the Lives of Men, 3 
 
 Falfliood, the Pride, the Prodigality, the bafe 
 Selfiihnels, the ftupid Infenfibility of the Spiri- 
 tual and Eternal Interefts of themfelves and 
 others, which fo generally appear among us, 
 loudly proclaim the contrary. So that one would 
 imagine upon this View, that Thoufands and 
 Ten Thoufands thought the Negle5i^ and even 
 the Contempt of Religion^ were a Glory, rather 
 than a Reproach. And where is the Neighbour- 
 hood, where is the Society, where is the happy 
 Family, (confiding of any confiderable Num- 
 ber, ) in which, on a more exadl Examination, 
 we find Reafon to fay, *' Religion fills even this 
 " little Circle?" There is, perhaps, a Freedom 
 from any grofs and fcandalous Immoralities, an 
 external Decency of Behaviour, an Attendance 
 on the outward Forms of Worfhip in Publick, 
 and (here and there) in the Family •, yet amidft 
 all this, there is nothing which looks like the 
 genuine A<5lings of the Spiritual and Divine 
 Life. There is no Appearance of Love to God, \ 
 no Reverence for his Prefence, no Defire of his 
 Favour as the higheft Good: There is no cordial 
 Belief of the Gojpel of Salvation ; no eager Soli- 
 citude to efcape that Condemnation which we have 
 incurred by Sin ;. no hearty Concern to fecure ^ 
 that Eternal Life^ which Chrift has purchafed and 
 fecured for his People, and which he freely pro- 
 mifes to all who will receive him. Alas ! what- 
 ever the Love of a Friend, or even of a Parent, j 
 can do ; whatever Inclination there may be, to 
 hope all ThingSy and believe all Things the moft fa- 
 vourable ; Evidence to the contrary will force 
 itfelf upon the Mind, and extort the unwilling 
 Conclufion i that, whatever clfe may be amiable 
 
 B 2 in 
 

 I 
 
 I:'. 
 
 : k 
 
 4 The fFanl of Religion to be gr fatly lamented. Ch. i . 
 in this dear Friend, in that favourite Child, 
 " Religion dwells not in its Breaft.'* 
 
 §. 3. To a Heart that firmly believes theGof 
 feU and views Perfons and Things in the Light 
 of Eternity, this is one of the mod mournful 
 Confiderations in the World. And indeed to 
 fuch a one, all the other Calamities and Evils 
 of Human Nature appear Trifles, when com- 
 pared with this •, the Ahjence ^/ Re a l R e l i g ion, 
 and that Contrariety to it which reigns in fb many 
 Thoufands of Mankind. Let this be cured, and 
 all the other Evils will eafily be borne •, nay. 
 Good will be extrafted out of them : But if this 
 continue, it bringeth forth Frtitl unto Death (a) ; 
 and in confequence of it. Multitudes, who fhare 
 the Entertainments of an indulgent Providence 
 with us, and are at leafl allied to us by the Bond 
 of the fame common Nature, muff in a few Years 
 be fwept away into utter Deflru5!ion^ and be 
 plunged beyond Redemption into everlafting 
 
 Burnings, 
 
 §. 4. I DOUBT not, but there are many, un- 
 der thofe various Forms of Religious Profeflion, 
 which have fo unhappily divided us in this Na- 
 tion, who are not only lamenting this in Pub- 
 lick, if their Oi^ce in Life calls them to an Op- 
 portunity of doing it-, but are Hkewife mourn- 
 ing before God in Secret, under a Senfe of this 
 fad State of Things •, and who can appeal to 
 him that fearches all Hearts^ as to the Sincerity 
 of their Dcfires to revive the languifhing Caufe 
 of vital Chriftianity and fubftantial Piety. And, 
 among the refl, the Author of this Treatife may 
 with Confidence fay. It is this which animates 
 him to the prefent Attempt, in the Midft of fo 
 
 ' many 
 
 (a) Rom. vii 5. 
 
 i J- 
 
 41 
 
 Ch. I. The Author'* s Beftgn to remedy this Evil 5 
 
 many other Cares and Labours. For this, he 
 is willing to lay afide many of thofe curious 
 Amufements in Science, which might fuit his 
 own private Tafle, and perhaps open a Way 
 to fome Reputation in the Learned World. For 
 this, he is willing to wave the laboured Orna- 
 ments of Speech, that he may, if pofTible, de- 
 fcend to the Capacity of the loweft Part of Man- 
 kind. For this, he would endeavour to con- 
 vince the Judgment, and to reach the Heart of 
 every Reader: And, in a Word, for this, with- 
 out any Dread of the Name of an Enthufiaft^ 
 whoever may at random throw it out upon the 
 Occafion, he would, as it were, enter with you 
 into your Clojet^ from Day to Day ; and, with 
 all Piainnefs and Freedom, as well asSerioufnefs, 
 would difcourfe to you of the great Things 
 which he has learnt from the Chriftian Revela- 
 tion, and on which he afTuredly knows your 
 everlafting Happinefs to depend : That if you 
 hitherto have lived without Religion, you may 
 be now awakened to the Confideration of it, and 
 may be inflrucled in its Nature and Importance; 
 or that if you are already, thro' Divine Grace, 
 experimentally acquainted with it, you may be 
 aflifled to make a greater Progreis. 
 
 §. 5. But he earneflly intreats this Favour of 
 you, that, as it is plainly a ferious Bufinefs we 
 are entering upon, you would be pleafed to give 
 him a ferious and an attentive Hearing. He 
 intreats, that thefe AddrefTes, and thefe Medi- 
 tations, may be perufed at Leifure, and be 
 thought over in Retirement; and that you would ^ 
 do him and yourfelf the Juffice to believe, the 
 Reprefentations which are here made, and the 
 Warnings which are here given, to proceed 
 
 B 3 from 
 
m 
 
 
 6 The Author'' s Beftre tofucceed in this JVork^ Ch . i . 
 
 from Sincerity and Love •, from an Heart, which 
 would not defignedly give one Moment's un- 
 neceffary Pain to the meaneft Creature on the 
 Face of the Earth, and much lefs to any Human 
 Mind. If he be importunate, it is, becaufe he 
 at lead imagines, that there is juft Reafon for it ; 
 and fears, left amidft the Multitudes, who are 
 undone by the utter Negledl of Religion, and 
 among thofe who are greatly damaged for Want 
 of a more refolute and conftant Attendance to 
 it, this may be the Cafe of fome into whofe 
 Hands this Treanfe may fall. 
 
 §. 6. He is a Barbarian, and deferves not to 
 be called a Man, who can look on the Sorrows 
 of his Fellow-Creatures without draiti7tg out his 
 Soul unto them, and wifhing, at Icaft, that it 
 were in the Power of his Hand to help tiiem. 
 Surely Earth would be an Heaven to that Man, 
 who could go about from Place to Place Matter- 
 ing Happinefs wherefoever he came, tho' it were 
 only the Body that he were capable of relieving, 
 and tho' he could impart nothing better than the 
 Happinefs of a mortal Life. But the Happinefs 
 fifes, in Proportion to the Nature and Degree 
 of the Good which he imparts. Happy, are 
 we ready to lay, were thofe honoured Servants 
 of Chrift, who, in the early Days of his Church, 
 were the benevolent and fympathizing Inftru- 
 ments of conveying miraculous Healing to thofe 
 whofe Cafes feemcd defperate ; who poured in 
 upon the Blind and the Deaf the Pleafures of 
 Light and Sound, and called up the Dead to 
 the Powers of Aftion and Enjoyment. But this 
 is an Honour and Happinefs, which it is not fit 
 for God commonly to beftow on mortal Men. 
 Yet there have been in every Age, and, blefled 
 
 be 
 
 
 Ch. I . as what will lead to the higbejl Happinefs, 7 
 
 be his Name, there ftill are thofe, whom he has 
 condefccnded to make his Inftruments in con- 
 veying nobler and more hfting Blcffings than 
 thefe to their Eel low- Creatures. Death hath long 
 fince veiled the Eyes, and flopped the Ears of 
 thofe, who were the Subjeds of miraculous Heal- 
 ing, and recovered its Empire over thofe who 
 were once recalled from the Grave. But the 
 Souls who are prevailed upon to receive the Gof- 
 pel, live for ever. God has owned the Labours 
 of his faithful Minifters in every Age, to pro- 
 duce thefe blefled Efledls ; and fome of them 
 being dead^ yet fpeak (b) with Power and Succefs 
 in this important Caufe. Wonder not then, if. 
 Jiving and dying, I be ambitiousof this Honour-, 
 and if my Mouth be freely opened^ where I can 
 truly fay. My Heart is enlarged (c). 
 
 §. 7. In forming my general Plan I have been 
 felicitous, that this little Treatife might, if pof- 
 flble, be ufeful to all its Readers, and contain 
 fomething fui table to each. I will therefore take 
 the Man^ and the Chriflian^ in a great Variety of 
 Circumflances. I will firft fuppofe myfelf addref- 
 fing to one of the vaft Number of thoughtlefs 
 Creatures^ who have hitherto been utterly uncon- 
 cerned about Religion -, and will try what can 
 be done, by all Plainnefs and Earneflnefs of Ad- 
 drefs, to awaken him from this fatal Lethargy, 
 to a Care J (Chap. 2.) an affeftionate and an im- 
 mediate Care about it. (Chap. 3.; I will labour 
 to fix a deep and awful Convi^ion of Guilt upon 
 his Confcience, {Chap, 4.) and to ftrip him of 
 his vain Excufes and his flattering Hopes. {Chap. 5.) 
 I will read to him, Oh ! that I could fix on his 
 Heart, that Sentence., that dreadful Sentence, 
 
 B 4 which 
 
 (b) Heb. xi. 4. (c) 2 Cor. vi. 11. 
 
i 
 
 *^4 
 
 m 
 
 8 the general Plan of this M^ork. Ch. i. 
 
 which a Righteous and an Almighty God hath 
 denounced againft him as a Sinner; (Cbap. 6.) 
 and endeavour to fhew him, in how helplefs a 
 State he lies under this Condemnation, as to any 
 Capacity he has of dehvering himfelf. {Chap. 7.) 
 But I do not mean to leave any in fo terrible a 
 Situation: I will joyfully proclaim the glad Tid- 
 ings of Pardon and Salvation by Chrijl Jefus our 
 Lord^ which is all the Support and Confidence 
 of my own Soul: [Chap. 8.) And then 1 will 
 give fome general View of the H^a)\ by which 
 this Salvation is to be obtained*, [Chap. 9.) urg- 
 ing the Sinner to accept oj it^ as affedtionately as 
 I can ; {Chap. 10.) tho' nothing can be fuffici- 
 ently pathetick, where, as in this Matter, the 
 Life of an immortal Soul is in queflion. 
 
 §. 8. Too probable it is, that feme will, af- 
 ter al] this, remain infcnfible\ and therefore, that 
 their fad Cafe may not incumber the following 
 Articles, I fhall here take a folemn Leave of them : 
 {Chap. II.) And then fhall turn and addrefs 
 myfelf, as compaffionately as I can, to a moll 
 contrary Chara<fler ; I mean, to a Soul over- 
 whelmed mth a Senfe of the Greatnefs of its Sins, 
 and trembling under the Burthen, as if there 
 were 7to more Hope for him in GOD. {Chap. 12. ) 
 And that nothing may be omitted, which may 
 give folid P^acc to the troubled Spirit, I fhall 
 endeavour to guide its Enquiries as to the Evidences 
 of fincere Repentance and Faith \ {Chap, i-^.) 
 which will be farther illuftrated by a more par- 
 ticular View of the feveral Branches of the Ch'i- 
 Jlian Temper^ fuch as may ferve at once to afTiil 
 the Reader in judging "juhat he is, and to fliew 
 him *ii'hat he fhoidd labour to he, {Chap. 14.) 
 This will naturally lead to a View of the Need wc 
 
 have 
 
 Ch . I . The general Plan of this Work, 9 
 
 have of the Influences of the Bleffed Spirit, to afTift 
 us in the important and difficult Work of the 
 true Chriftian \ and of the Encouragement we have 
 to hope tor thefe Divine Affiflances. (Chap. 15.; 
 In an humble Dependance on which, I (hall 
 then enter on the Confideration of feveral Cafes 
 which often occur in the Chriftian Life, in which 
 particular Addreffes to the Confcience may be rev 
 quifite and ufeful. 
 
 §.9. As fome peculiar DifKculties and Dif- 
 couragements attend the firft Entrance on a Re- 
 ligious Courfe, it will here be our firft Care to 
 animate the ;'^«w^ C^»x;^r/ a gain ft. them. {Chap, 16.) 
 And, that it may be done more efFedlually, I 
 fhall urge a folemn Dedication of himfelf to God ; 
 {Chap. 17.) to be confirmed by entering into 
 the full Communion of the Church by an Ap- 
 proach to the facred Table. { Chap, 18.) That thefe 
 Engagements may be more happily fulfilled, we 
 fhaH endeavour to draw a more particular Plan 
 of that devout, regular, and accurate Courfe, 
 which ought daily to be attended to: {Chap, 19.) 
 And becaule the Idea will probably rife fo much 
 higher, than what is the general Practice, even of 
 Good Men, we (hall endeavour to perfuade the 
 Reader to make the Attempt, hard as it may feem •, 
 {Chap, 20.) and fhall caution him againft various 
 Temptations, which might otherwife draw him aftde 
 to Negligence and Sin. {Chap. 21.) 
 
 §. 10. Happy will it be for the Reader, if 
 thefe Exhortations and Cautions be attended ta 
 with becoming Regard -, but as it is, alas, too 
 probable, th^t notwithftanding all, the Infir- 
 mities of Nature will fometimes prevail, we 
 fhall con fid er the Cafe of Deadnefs and Languor 1 
 jn Religion, which often fteals upon us by infen- / 
 
 fibb 
 
J o The general Plcm of this mrk. Ch. i . 
 
 'fible Degrees; {Chap. 22.) from whence there 
 is too eafy a Paflage to that terrible one of a Re- 
 turn into known and deliberate Sin. (Chap. 23.; And 
 as the one or the other of thefe tends, in a pro- 
 portionable Degree, to provoke the Blefled Goi> 
 to hide his Face^ and his injured Spirit to with- 
 drawy that melancholy Condition will be taken 
 into a particular Survey. {Chap. 24.) I fhall 
 then take Notice alfo of the Cafe of great and 
 heavy Afflimons in Life; {Chap. 25.) a Difcipline 
 which the bed of Men have reafon to exped, 
 efpecially when they hackjlide from God, and 
 yield to their Spiritual Enemies. 
 
 §. II. Instances of this Kind will, I fear, 
 be too frequent ; yet, I truft, there will be many 
 others, whofe Path^ like the dawning Light, will 
 Jhine more and more until the perfe^ Day (d). And 
 therefore we fhall endeavour, in the bell: Man- 
 ner we can, to aflifl the Chrijiian in pajjing a true 
 Judgment on the Growth of Grace in his Heart, 
 {Chap. 26.) as we had done before in judging 
 of its Sincerity. And as nothing conduces more 
 to the Advance of Grace, than the lively Ex- 
 ercife of Love to God, and a holy Joy in him, 
 we fhall here remind the real Chrijiian of thofe 
 Mercies^ which tend to excite that Love and Joy ; 
 (Chap. 27.; and, in the Views of them, to ani- 
 mate him to thofe vigorous Efforts of Ufefulnefs in 
 Life, which fo well become his Character, and 
 will have fo happy an Efficacy on brightning his 
 Crown. (Chap. 28J Suppofing him to ad ac- 
 cordingly, we fhall then labour to illuftrate and 
 affift the Delight, with which he may look for- 
 ward to the awful Solemnites oi Death and Judg- 
 ment: {Chap. 29.) And fhall dole the Scene by 
 
 accompany- 
 
 (d) Prov. iv. 18. 
 
 -tj 
 
 Ch.i.The Freedom with which it will he executed. 1 1 
 accompanying him, as it were, to the neareft 
 Confines of that dark Valley, thro' which he is to 
 pafs to Glory ; giving him fuch Dire5lions, as 
 may fcem moft fubfervient to his honouring 
 God, and adorning Religion, by his dying 
 Behaviour. {Chap. 30.) Nor am I without a 
 pleafing Hope, that, through the Divine Blef- 
 fing and Grace, I may be in fome Inflances fo 
 fuccefsful, as to leave thofe trimnphing m the 
 Views of Judgment and Eternity, and glorify- 
 ing God by a truly Chrijiian Life and Death, 
 whom I found trembling in the Apprehenfions of 
 future Mifery ; or, perhaps, •in a much more 
 dangerous and miferable Circumflance than that; 
 I mean, entirely forgetting the Profpeft, and 
 funk into the mofl flupid Infenftbility of thofe J 
 Things, for an Attendance to which the Hunrian 
 Mind^was formed, and in Comparifon of which 
 all the Purfuits of this tranfitory Life are emptier, 
 than Wind, and lighter than a Feather, 
 
 §. 12. Such a Variety of Heads mufl, to be 
 fure, be handled but briefly, as we intend to 
 bring them within the Bulk of a moderate Vo- 
 lume! I fhall not, therefore, difcufs them, as 
 a Preacher might properly do in Sermons \ in 
 which the Truths of Religion are profeffedly to 
 be explained and taught, defended and improv- 
 ed, in a wide Variety, and long Detail of Pro- 
 pofitions, Arguments, Objeftions, Replies, and 
 Inferences, marfhall'd and numbered under their 
 diftindl Generals. I fhall here fpeak in a loofer 
 and freer Manner, as a Friend to a Friend ; jufl 
 as 1 would do, if I were to be in Perfon ad- 
 mitted to a private Audience, by one whom I 
 tenderly loved, and whofe Circumflance and 
 Charafter I knew to be like that, which the "Title 
 
 of 
 
 ii 
 
I;. 
 
 12 A Prayer that this IFork may be fucceeded Ch. i. 
 
 of one Chapter or another of this Treatife de- 
 fcribes. And when 1 have difcourfed with him 
 a little while, which will feldom be lb long as 
 Half an Hour ; 1 fhall, as it were, ftep afide, 
 and leave htm to meditate on what he has heard, 
 or endeavour to afTift him in fuch fervent Ad- 
 drejjes to God, as it may be proper to mingle 
 with ihok Meditations. In the mean time, I will 
 here take the Liberty to pray, over my Reader, 
 and my Work ; and to commend it folemnly 
 to the Divine Blefling, in Token of my deep 
 Conviftion of an entire Dependance upon it. 
 And I am well peffuaded, that Sentiments like 
 thefe are common, in the general, to every faith- 
 ful Miniftery to every real Chrijlian, 
 
 A Prayer for the Succefs of this Work^ in 
 promotmg the Rile and Progrefs of Religion. 
 
 c& 
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 OH Thou great Eternal Original, and 
 ** Author, of all created Being and 
 Happincfsl I adore Thee, who haft made 
 Man a Creature capable of Religion, and 
 haft beftowed this Dignity and Felicity upon 
 our Nature, that it may be taught to fay„ 
 JVbere is GOD our Maker (e) ? I lament that 
 Degeneracy fpread over the whole Human 
 Race, which has turned our Glory into Shame {^\ 
 and has rendered the Forgetfulnels of Gop 
 (unnatural as it is,) fo common, and fo uni- 
 verfal a Difeafe. Holy Father, we know it 
 is Thy Prefence, and Thy Teaching alone, 
 that can reclaim thy wandring Children •, can 
 imprefs a Senfe of Divine Things on the 
 Heart, and render that Senfe lafting and ef- 
 
 fcdtual. 
 
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 (c) Job XXXV. 1 0. 
 
 (f) Hof. iv. 7. 
 
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 to promote Religion in the Soul J 3 
 
 feciual. From Thee proceed all good Pur- 
 pofes and Defires •, and this Defire above all, 
 of diff-ufing Wifdom, Piety, and Happinefs 
 in this World, which (tho' funk in fuch deep 
 Apoftacy,) Thine infinite Mercy has not ut- 
 
 terly forfaken. , rr . r *u. 
 
 *' Thou knowefi, O Lord, the Hearts of the 
 Children of Men (g) i and an upright Soul, 
 in the Midft of all the Cenfures and Sulpici- 
 ons it may meet with, rejoices in Thine inti- 
 mate Knowledge of its moft fecret Senti- 
 ments and Principlesof A6lion. Thou knoweft 
 the Sincerity and Fervency, with which Ihine 
 unvcorthy Servant deGres to fpread the Know- 
 ledee of Thy Name, and the Savour of Ihy 
 Gofpel, among all to whom this Work may 
 reach. Thou knoweft, that hadftThou given 
 him an Abundance of this World, it would 
 have been, in his Eftecm, the nobleft Plea- 
 fure that Abundance could have afforded, to 
 have been Thine Almoner, in diftributing 
 Thy Bounties to the Indigent and Neceflitous, 
 and fo caufing the forrowful Heart to rejoice 
 in Thy G'oodnefs, difpenfed through his 
 Hands Thou knoweft, that hadft Thou 
 given him, either by ordinary or extraordi- 
 nary Methods, the Gifts of Healing, it 
 would have been his daily Delight, to re- 
 lieve the Pains, the Maladies, and the Inhr- 
 mities of Mens Bodies i to have feen the 
 languiftiing Countenance, brightened by re- 
 turning Health and Chearfulnefs -, and much 
 more, to have beheld the roving diftraded 
 Mind, reduced to Calmnefs and Serenity, in 
 the Exercife of its rational Faculties. Yet 
 
 ^\ happier, 
 
 (g) 2 Chron. vi. 30. 
 
 i: i 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
i» 4 
 
 t 
 
 II- 
 
 14 yf Pr^rr /)&tf/ /i/J Work may be fucceeded Ch. i. 
 
 ** happier, far happier will he think himfelf, in 
 " thofc humble Circumftances, in which Thy 
 " Providence hath placed him, if Thou vouch- 
 «* fefe to honour thcfe his feeble Endeavours, as 
 ♦* the Means of relieving and enriching Mens 
 ** Minds ; of recovering them from the Mad- 
 " ncfs of a finful State, and bringing back 
 ** Thy reafonable Creatures to the Knowledge, 
 ** the Service, and the Enjoyment of their God ; 
 •' or of improving thofe, who are already re- 
 *' duced. 
 
 " O nf AY it have that bleffcd Influence on 
 ** the Perfon, whofoever he be, that is now) 
 ** reading thefe Lines, and on all who may 
 *« read or hear them! Let not rny LORD be an- 
 ** SO^ if I prefumc to aik, That however weak 
 ** and contemptible this Work may feem in the 
 *' Eyes of the Children of this World, and 
 •* however imperfed: it really be, as well as the 
 *' Author of it unworthy, it may neverthelefs 
 •* Ivve before nee\ and through a Divine Power, 
 ** be mighty to produce the Rise and Pro- 
 *' cress of Religion in the Minds of Mul- 
 ** titudes, in diftant Places, and in Generations 
 *' yet to come ! Impute it not, O God, as a 
 ** culpable Ambition, if I dcfire, that what- 
 ** ever becomes of my Name^ about which I 
 *« would not lofe one Thought before Thee, 
 ** that Work, to which I am now applying 
 *' myfelf in thy Strength, may be compleated, 
 ** and propagated far Abroad ; that it may 
 " reach to thofe that are yet unborn, and teach 
 *« them Tky Name and Thy Praife^ when the 
 ** Author has long dwelt in the Duft : That fo 
 ** when he fhall appear before Thee in the great 
 " Day of final Account, kis Jeymx^ be increafed, 
 
 " and 
 
 Ch. f. to promote Religion in the SouL 15 
 
 and his Crown brightened, by Numbers before 
 unknown to each other, and to him ! But if 
 this Petition be too great to be granted to one, 
 who pretends no Claim, but Thy Sovereign 
 Gracfy to hope for being favoured with the 
 lead, give him to be in Thine Almighty 
 Hand the blefled Inftrument of Converting 
 and Saving one Soul: And if it be but one^ and 
 that the wcakefl and meaneft of thofe who 
 are capable of receiving this Addreis, it fhall 
 be moft thankfully accepted as a rich Recom- 
 pence for all the Thought and Labour it 
 may coil j and, tho* it fhould be amidft a 
 Thoufand Difappointments with refped to 
 others, yet it fhall be the Subjeft of immor- 
 tal Songs of Praife to Thee, Oh BlefTed God, 
 for and by every Soul, whom, through the 
 Blood of Jefus and the Grace of Thy Spirit^ 
 Thou halt faved ; and everlafling Honours 
 fhall be afcribed to the Father^ to the Son^ 
 and to the Holy Spirit^ by the innumerable Com- 
 pany of Angels^ and by the General AJJembly and 
 Church of the Firjl-born in Heaven, Amen J 
 
 ft 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 til'! 
 
^^m 
 
 i6 
 
 Many are Carelefs SirirterS, 
 
 th. 
 
 2} 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Carelefs Sinner awakened. 
 
 // is too fuppofable a Cafe^ that this Treatife may 
 come into fuch Hands: §. i, 2. Since many^ 
 not grofsly vicious^ fall under that CharaBer, 
 §. 3, 4. A more particular Illujiration of this 
 Cafcy with an Appeal to the Reader whether it 
 be not his own. §. 5, 6. Expojlulation with 
 fuch i §. 7, — 9. more particularly^ (i.) From 
 acknowledged Principles^ relating to the Nature of 
 GOD, his Univerfal Prefence^ Ag(^^cy, and Per- 
 fe5fions. §. i o, — 12. (2 .) From a View of Per^ 
 fonal Obligations to him. §. 13. (3.) From the 
 Danger of this Neglecl, when conftdered in its 
 Afpe5l on a Future State. §.14. An Appeal to 
 the Confcience , as already convinced. §. 15. 
 Tranjition to the Suhje5l of the next Chapter* 
 §. 16. The Meditation of a Sinner, who having 
 been long thoughtlefs begins to be awakened. 
 
 §. I. Q H AMEFULLY and fatally as Re- 
 ^5 ligion is negledted in the World, yet 
 bleffed be God it has fome fincere Difciplcs ; 
 Children of Wifdom, by whom, even in this foolilh 
 and degenerate Age, it is juftified (a) -, who hav- 
 ing, by Divine Grace, been brought to the 
 Knowledge of GOD in Chrifly have faithfully de- 
 voted 
 
 (a) Matth. xi. 19. 
 
 ; h 
 
 
 m 
 
 th. 2. who are not grofsly vicious, 17 
 
 voted their Hearts to him, and by a natural 
 Confequence are devoting their Lives to his Ser- 
 vice. Could I be fure this Treatife would fall 
 into no Hands but theirs, my Work would be 
 ihorter, eafier, and pleafanter. 
 
 §. 2. But among the Thoufands that negleft 
 Religion, it is more than polTible, that fome of 
 my Readers may be included : And I am fo 
 deeply affedled with their unhappy Cafe, that 
 the Temper of my Heart, as well as the pro- 
 per Method of my Subjedl, leads me in the firft 
 Place to addrefs myfelf to fuch; to apply to 
 every one of them •, and therefore to you. Oh 
 Reader, whoever you are, who may come under 
 the Denomination of a carelefs Sinner. 
 
 §. 3. Be not, I befeech you, angry at the 
 Name. The Phyficians of Souls muft fpeak 
 plainly, or they may murther thofe whom they 
 fhould cure. I would make no harfh and un- 
 reafonable Suppofition. 1 would charge you 
 with nothing more, than is abfolutely neceflary 
 to convince you, that you are the Perfon to 
 whom I fpeak. I will not, therefore, imagine 
 you, to be a prophane and abandoned Profli- 
 gate. I will not fuppofe, that you allow your- 
 fclf to blafpheme God, to difhonour his Name 
 by cuftomary Swearing, or grofsly to violate his 
 Sabbath, or commonly to negledf the Solemni- 
 ties of his Publick Worfhip : I will not imagine, 
 that you have injured your Neighbours, in their 
 Lives, their Chaftity, or their PofTeflions, either 
 by Violence, or by Fraud -, or that you have 
 fcandaloudy debafed the Rational Nature of 
 Man, by that vile Intemperance, which trans- 
 forms us into the word Kind of Brutes, or fome- 
 thing beneath them. 
 
 C §. 4. In 
 
4. 
 
 Be- 
 
 
 1 9 yfo ^/j/frt/ /<? ihe Reader , Ch. 2. 
 
 §. 4. In Oppofition to all this, I v/ill fuppofe, 
 that you believe the Exiftence and Providence 
 of God, and the Truth of Chriftianity, as a 
 Revelation from him : Of which, if you have 
 any Doubt, I mult defire, that you would im- 
 mediately feek your Satisfadion elfewhere *. 
 I fay. Immediately: Becaufe not to believe it, is 
 in Effcdl to difbelieve if, and will make your 
 Ruin equally certain, tho' perhaps it may leave 
 it lefs aggravated, than if Contempt and Oppo- 
 fition had been added to Sufpicion and Negled. 
 But fuppofing you to be a nominal Chrillian, 
 and not a Dcift, or a Sccptick -, I will alfo fup- 
 pofe your Condudl among Men to be not only 
 blamclefs, but amiable ; and that they, who 
 know you moft intimately, mud acknowledge, 
 that you are juft and fober, humane and cour- 
 teous, companionate and liberal: Yer, with all 
 this, you may lack that one Thing (b), on which 
 your Eternal Happinefs depends. 
 
 §. 5. I BESEECH you. Reader, whoever you 
 are, that you would now look ferioufly into your 
 own Heart, and afl^ it this one plain Queftion, 
 / Am I truly religious? Is the Love of Geo the 
 governing Principle of my Life ? Do I walk 
 under a Senfe ot his Prefencc ? Do I converfe 
 with him from Day to Day, in the Exercife of 
 Prayer and Praife ? And am I, on the whole, 
 
 making 
 
 • In fuch a Cnfc, I beg Leave to refer the Reader to my 
 Three Sermons on the E'vidence of Chrijiianity ; the lafl of 
 the Ten on the Poiver and Grace of Chriji ; in which he 
 may fee the hitherto unfliaken Foundations of my own Faith, 
 in a ihort, and, I hope, a clear View, 
 (b) Mark x. 21. 
 
 Iijj 
 
 Ch. 2. whether he he not Carelefs. 19 
 
 making his Service my Bufinefs and my Delight, 
 recrarding him as my Mailer and my Father ? 
 
 \ 6 It is my prefent Bufinefs, only to ad- 
 drcfs myfclf to the Perfon, whofe Confcience 
 anfvvers in the Negative. And I would addrefs 
 with equal Plainnefs, and equal Freedom, to 
 High and Low, to Rich and Poor: To you, 
 who (as the Scripture with a dreadful Propriety 
 expreffes it) live without GOV in the IVorld {c) -, 
 and while, in Words and Forms, you own GOD, 
 deny him in your Actions (d), and behave your- 
 iclves in the main, (a few external Ceremonies 
 only excepted,) juft as you would do, if you 
 b-lieved, and were fure, there was no UUD, 
 Unhappy Creature, whoever you are ! your own 
 Heart condemns you immediately •, and how much 
 more that GOD, 'who is greater than your Heart, 
 and knowetb all Things (e). He is in Secret (t), 
 as well as in Publick •, and Words cannot exprefs 
 the Delight, with which his Children converfe 
 with him°^/^;/^: But in Secret you acknowledge htm 
 not', you neither pray to him, nor praife him, 
 in your Retirements. Accounts, Correfponden- 
 cies, Studies may often bring you into your Clofet ; 
 but if nothing but Devotion were to be tranladted 
 there, it would be to you quite an unfrequented 
 Place' And thus you go on from Day to Day, 
 in a continual Forgetfulnefs of God •, and are 
 as thoughtlefs about Religion, as if you had 
 long fince demonftrated it to yourfelf, that it 
 was a mere Dream. If, indeed, you are fick, 
 you will perhaps cry to God for Health ; m any 
 extreme Danger, you will lift up your Eyes and 
 Voice for Deliverance : But as for the Pardon 
 
 C 2 of 
 
 (c)Eph.ii. 12. (d)Tit.i. 16. (e) f John ai. 20. 
 (f) Matth. vi. ^ 
 
 
 I 
 
20 
 
 
 Li-. 
 
 the Negk5l of Religion Ch. 2. 
 
 of Sin, and the other Bleflings of the Gofpcl, 
 you are not at all inwardly felicitous about thcnv, 
 tho' you profefs to believe, that the Gofpel is Di- 
 vine, and the BlelTings of it Eternal. ^ All your 
 Thoughts, and all your Hours, are divided be- 
 twcen^the Bufinefs and the Amufements of Lite : 
 And if, now and then, an awful Providence, 
 or a ferious Sermon or Book, awakens you, it 
 is but a few Days, or it may be a few Hours, 
 and you arc the fame carelefs Creature you ever 
 were before. On the whole, you ad, as if you 
 were refolved to put it to the Venture, and at 
 your own Expence to make the Experiment, 
 whether the Confequences of negleding Religion 
 be indeed as terrible, as its Minitlers and Friends 
 have reprefented. Their Remonftrances do in- 
 deed fometimes force themfelves upon you, as 
 (confidering the Age and Country in which you 
 live,) it is hardly poiTible entirely to avoid them •, 
 but 'you have, it may be, found out the Art of 
 Ifaiah's People, Hearing to hear, and not under- 
 Jiand; and feeing to fee, and not perceive: Tour 
 Heart is waxed grof, your Eyes are clofed, and your 
 Ears heavy (g). Under the very Ordinances of 
 Worfnip, your Thoughts are at the Ends of the 
 Earth (h). Every Amufement of the Imagina- 
 tion is welcome, if it may but lead away your 
 Mind from fo infipid, and fo difagrceablc a Sub- 
 jea:, as Religion. And probably the very laft 
 Time you were in a worshipping Affembly, you 
 managed, juft as you would have done, if you 
 had thought God knew nothing of your Beha- 
 viour ; or as if you did not think it worth one 
 fingle Care, whether He were pleafed or dif- 
 
 with it. 
 
 §. 7. Alas! 
 
 pleafed 
 
 (g) Ifai. vi. 9, 10. (h) Prov. xvii. 24. 
 
 1 %. 
 
 %i 
 
 Ch. 2. is unworthy a Rational Creature. 21 
 
 §. 7. Alas ! Is it then come to this, with all 
 your 5^//^/ of God, and Providence, and Scrip- 
 ture ! That Religion is not worth a Thought ! That 
 it is not worth one Hour's lerious Confideration 
 and Refledion, '' What GOD and Chrifl are •, 
 *' and what you yourfelves are, and what you 
 «' muft hereafter be.?" Where then are all your 
 Rational Faculties? How are they employed? 
 Or rather, how are they ftupitied and be- 
 numbed ? 
 
 §. 8. The Certainty and Importance of the 
 Things of which 1 fpeak are io evident, from 
 the Pnnciples which you yourielves grant, that 
 one might almoft fet'a Child or an Idiot to rea- 
 fon upon them. And yet they are negleded by 
 thofe, who are grown up to Underftanding, 
 and perhaps fome of them to fuch Refinement 
 of Underftanding, that they would think them- 
 felves greatly injured, if they were not to be 
 reckoned among the Politer, and the more 
 Learned Part of Mankind. 
 
 §. 9. But it is not your Negledl, Sirs, that 
 can deftroy the Being or Importance of fuch 
 Things as thefe. It may indeed deftroy you, 
 but it cannot in the leaft afTed them. Permit 
 me therefore, having been myfelf awakened, to 
 come to each of you, and fay, as the Mariners 
 did to Jonah, while afleep in the Midft of a much 
 lefs dangerous Storm, M^hat meaneft thou. Oh 
 Sleeper? Jrife, and call upon thy GOD (\). Po 
 you doubt as to the Reafonablenefs, or Ncceffity, 
 of doing it? / will demand, and anfwer me (k): 
 Anfwer me to your own Confcience, as one that 
 muft, 'ere long, render another Kind of Ac- 
 count. 
 
 C 3 §. 10. You 
 
 (i) Jon. i. 6. (k) Job. xxxviii. 3. 
 
 I 
 
ffti 
 
 ft! 
 
 2 2 Expojlulation with the Carelefsj Ch. 2. 
 
 §. 10. You own, that ihere is a GOD: And 
 well you may : For you cannot open your Eyes, 
 but you muft fee the evident Proofs of his Being, 
 his Prefence, and his Agency. You behold him 
 around you in every Objecfl. You feel him within 
 you, if I may fofpeak, in every Vein, and in every 
 Nerve. You fee, and you feel, not only that 
 He has formed you with an exquifite Wifdom, 
 which no mortal Man could ever fully explain 
 or comprehend •, but that He is continually near 
 you, wherever you are, and however you arc 
 employed, by Day, or by Night •, in Him you 
 livcy end move^ and have your Being (I). Com- 
 mon Senfe will tell you, that it is not your own 
 Wifdom, and Power, and Attention, that caufes 
 your Heart to beat, and your Blood to circulate •, 
 that draws in, and fends out that Breath oiUi^^y 
 that precarious Breath of a mod uncertain Life, 
 that ts in ycur Nojlrih (m). Thefc Things are 
 done when you flcep, as well as in thofc waking 
 Moments, when you think not of the Circu- 
 lation of the Blood, or of the NeccfTity of Breath- 
 ing •, nor fo much as recolle(5l, that you have a 
 Heart and Lungs. Now what is this, but the 
 Hand of God, perpetually fupporting and ac- 
 tuating thofc curious Machines that He has 
 made ? 
 
 §. II. Nor is this His Care limited to you; 
 but, if you look all around you, far as your 
 Views can reach, you fee it extending itfelf on 
 every Side: And Oh how much farther than you 
 can trace it! Reflcifl on the Light and Heat, 
 which the Sun every where difpenfes ; on the 
 Air, which furrounds all our Globe, on the 
 right Temperature of which the Life of the 
 
 whole 
 
 (1) Aas xvii. 2'^. 
 
 (m) Ifai. ii. 22. 
 
 Ch. 2. from the Care and Prefence of GOD. 23 
 whole Human Race depends, and that of all 
 the inferior Creatures which dwell on the Earth. 
 Think of the fuitable and pentiful Provi/wn made 
 for Man and Beaji •, the Grafs, the Grain, the 
 Variety of Fruits, and Herbs, and Flowers ; 
 every Thing that nourillics us, every Thing that 
 delights us •, and f;iy, whether it do not fpeak 
 plainly and loudly, that our Almighty Maker 
 is near, and that he is careful of us, and kind 
 to us. And while all thefe Things proclaim 
 His Gcodiiefs^ do they not alfo proclann His Pow- 
 er? For what Power is any Thing comparable 
 to that, which furnifhes out thefe Gifts ol Royal 
 Bounty •, and which, unwearied and unchanged, 
 produces continually, from Day to Day, and 
 from Aae to Age, fuch adonifliing and magni- 
 ficent Effects over the Face of the whole Earth, 
 and through all the Regions of Heaven ? 
 
 §. 12. It is then evident, that GOD is pre- 
 fent^ prefent with you at this Moment-, even 
 GOD your Creator and Preferver, GOD the 
 Creator and Preferver of the whole vifible and 
 invifible World. And is he not prefent as a 
 mod obfervant and attentive Being ? He that 
 formed the Eye, fhall not He fee ? He that planted 
 the Ear, fhall not He hear ? He that teaches Man 
 Knowledge, that gives him his Rational Faculties, 
 and pours in on his opening Mind all the Light 
 it receives by them, floall not He know (n)F He 
 who fees all the Necefiities of his Creatures, fo 
 feafonably to provide for them, fhall He not fee 
 their Acftions too; and feeing, fhall He not judge 
 of them ? Has He given us a Senfe and Dis- 
 cernment of what is good and evil, of what is 
 true and falfe, of what is fair and deformed ia 
 
 C 4 Temper 
 
 (n) Pfal. xciv. 9, 10. 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 h 
 
1 
 
 24 Expojlulalion with fuch^ Ch. 2. 
 
 Temper and Conduct ; and has He himfelf no 
 Dircrrnmcnt of thefe Things? Trifle not with 
 your Confcience, which tc'Is you at once, thiu He 
 judges of it, and approves or condemns, as it is 
 decent or indecent, reafonablc or unreafonable •, 
 and that the Judgment which He pviflcs, is of 
 infinite Importance to all his Creatures. 
 
 §. i:^. And now, to apply all this to your 
 own Cafe, let me rerioufly af1>: you. Is it a decent 
 and rcafonable Thing, that this great and glo- 
 rious Benefactor fnouid be neglected by his Rati- 
 onal Creatures ? by thole that are capable of at- 
 taining to ibme Knowledge of him, and pre- 
 fenting to him fome Homage ? Is it decent and 
 reafonablc, that He fiiould be forgotten and 
 negle(5tcd h you? Are you alone, of all the 
 Works of his Hands, forgotten and negletfted 
 by Him ? Oh Sinner, thoughtlefs as you are, 
 you cannot dare to fay that, or even 'to think 
 it. You need not go back to the hclplefs Days 
 of your Infancy and Childhood, to convince 
 you of the contrary. You need not, in order 
 to this, to recolledl the remarkable Deliverances, 
 which, perhaps, were wrought out for you many 
 Years ago. The Repofe of the laft Night, the 
 Refrefhment and Comfort you have received this 
 Day 5 yea, the Mercies you are receiving this 
 very Moment, bear witnefs to him ; and yet 
 you regard him not. Ungrateful Creature that 
 you are ! Could you have treated ai>y Human 
 Bencfaftor thus ? Could you have borne to neg- 
 ledt a kind Parent, or any generous Friend, 
 that had but for a few Months adted the Part of 
 a Parent to you ? To have taken no Notice of 
 him, while in his Prefence ? To have re- 
 turned him no Thanks, to have had no Con- 
 trivances 
 
 '^•1 
 
 Ch. 2 . from Perfonal Obligations to GOD. 25 
 
 trivances to make fome little Acknowledgment 
 for all his Goednefs? Human Nature^ bad as it 
 is, is not fallen fo low. Nay, the Brutal Nature 
 is not lo low as this. Surely every Domeftick 
 Animal around you muft fhame fuch Ingratitude. 
 If you do but for a few Days take a little kind 
 Notice of a Dog, and feed him with the Refufe 
 of your Table, he will wait upon you, and love 
 to be near you ; he will be eager to follow you 
 from Place to Place ; and when, after a little 
 Abfence, you return Home, will try, by a thou- 
 flind fond tranfported Motion?, to tell you how 
 much he rejoices to fee you again. Nay, Brutes, 
 far lefs fagacious and apprehenfive, have fome 
 Senfe of our Kindnefs, and cxprefs it after their 
 Way : As the blclTed God condefcends to ob- 
 ferve, in this very View in which I mention it, 
 "The dull Ox knows his Owner ^ and the ftupid Afs 
 his Mallcr^s Crib (o) ; What lamentable Degene- 
 racy, therefore, is it, that you do not knoza^ that 
 \ou^ who have been numbered among GOD's 
 profefTing People^ do not^ and will not confider your 
 numberlefs Obligations to him ? 
 
 §. 14. Surely, if you have any Ingenuity 
 of Temper, you muft be afliamed and grieved 
 in the Review : But if you have not, give me 
 leave farther to expoftulate with you on this Head, 
 by fetting it in fomething of a difierent Light. 
 Can you think yourfelves fafe, while you are 
 acting a Part like this ? Do you not in your 
 Confcience believe, there will be a future Judg- 
 ment ? Do you not believe, there is an invifible and 
 eternal World .? As profeflTed Chriftians, we all be- 
 lieve it •, for it is no controverted Point, but dif- 
 play'd in Scripture with fo clear an Evidence, 
 
 that, 
 
 (o) Ifai. i. 3* 
 
Il- 
 
 26 51?^ View of a Future State Ch. 2. 
 
 that, fubtile and ingenious as Men are in Error, 
 they have not yet found out a Way to evade ir. 
 And believing this, do you not fee, that while you 
 are thus wandering from God, Deftruchon end 
 Mifery are in your H^ays (p)/' Will this Indolence, 
 and Negligence of Temper, be any Security to 
 you? Will it guard you from Dtratii ? Wiil it 
 excufe you from Judgment? You might much 
 more reafonably expe^l, that fhutting your 
 Eyes would be a Defence againft the Rage ot a 
 devouring Lion ; or that looking another Way 
 Ihould fecure your Body from being pierced by 
 a Bullet or a Sword. When God fpeaks of the 
 extravagant Folly of fome thoughtlcfs Creatures, 
 who would hearken to no Admonition now, he 
 adds, in a very awful Manner: /;/ the latter Day 
 they Jhall confider it perfcBly (q). And is not this 
 applicable to _>w^.^ Mull you not, fooner or later, 
 be brought to think of thcfe I'hings, whether 
 you will or no? And, in the mean time, do 
 you not certainly know, that timely and ferious 
 Reflection upon them is, through Divine Grace, 
 the only Way to prevent your Ruin ? 
 
 §.15. Yes, Sinner, I need not multiply 
 Words on a Subjed: like this. Your Confcicncc 
 is already inwardly convinced, tho* your Pride 
 may be unwilling to own ir. And, to prove it, 
 let me afk you one Qjeftion more : Would you, 
 upon any Terms and Confiderations whatever, 
 come to a Refolution, abfolutcly to dilmifs all 
 farther Thought of Religion, and all Care about 
 ir, ffom this Day and Hour, and to abide by 
 the Confequences of that Negled ? I believe, 
 hardly any Man living would be bold enough 
 to determine upon this. I believe, moft of my 
 
 Readers 
 
 (p) Rom. ill. 1 6. (q) Jer. xxiii. 20. 
 
 Ch. 2. P^iould awaken the Carelefs. 27 
 
 Readers would be ready to tremble at the 
 
 Thought of it. y r ^X.' r, 
 
 & 16 BuTifitbenecefTarytotakethefeThings 
 into Confideration at all, it is neceffary to do it 
 auickh ' for Life itfelf is not fo very long, nor lo 
 fertain, that a wife Man fl.ould rifque much 
 upon its Continuance. And I hope to convince 
 YOU, when I have another Hearing, that it is 
 necefTary to do it immediately •, and that next to 
 the Madnefs of refolving, Tou will not think cf 
 Reunion at all, is that of faying. You wtllthtnkof, 
 it hereafter. In the mean Time, paufe on the 
 Hints which have been already given, ^nd they 
 will prepare you to receive what is to be added 
 on that Head. 
 
 ^be Meditation of ^Sinner, who was once 
 thoughtlefs, but begins to be awakened, 
 
 AW A KE, Oh my forgetful Soul, awake 
 " from thefe wandering Dreams. Turn 
 thee from this Chace of Vanity, and for a 
 Httle while be perfuaded, by all thefe Confi- 
 derations, 10 look forward, ^nA to look upward, 
 at leaft for a few Moments. Sufficient are 
 the Hours, and Days, given to the Labours 
 and Amufements of Life. Grudge not a 
 fhort Allotment of Minutes, to view thyfelf, 
 and thine own more immediate Concerns ; to 
 reflea, who, and what thou art •, how it comes 
 to pals, that thou art here, and what thou 
 muit quickly be ! . 
 
 i' It is indeed, as thou haft now feen it re- 
 prefented. Oh my Soul, thou art /*^ Creature 
 of GOD', formed and furnifhed by Him> 
 and lodged in a Body, which He provid^ed. 
 
 &( 
 cc 
 <c 
 
 c( 
 (( 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 &( 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 ■I 
 

 w 
 
 28 7'he Meditation of a Sinner^ Ch. 2. 
 
 ** and which Hefupports; a Body, in which He 
 " intended thee only a tranfitory Abode. Oh, 
 think how loon this Tabernacle mud he dijfolv- 
 ed fr), and thou mufl: return to GOD (s). 
 And fhall He, the One, Infinite, Eternal, 
 Ever-blelTcd, and Ever-glorious Being, (hiW 
 He be leaji of ail re^^arded by thee? Wilt ihou 
 live and die with this Character, faying^ by 
 *' every Adion of every Day, unto GOD^ De- 
 part from me^ for I defire not the Knowledge of 
 Thy IVays (t) ? The Morning, the Day, the 
 Evening, the Night, every Period of Time, 
 has its Excufes for this Ncgledl. Bur, Oh 
 my Soul, what will thefe ExcuUs appear, when 
 examined by His penetrating Eye ! They may 
 delude me \ but they cannot impofe upon Him, 
 *' Oh Thou injured, negledled, provoked 
 ** Benefador! When I think but for a Moment 
 «' or two, of all Thy Greatnefs, and of ali Thy 
 *' Goodnefs, I am aftonifhed at this Infcnfibi- 
 lity, which hath prevailed in mine Heart, 
 and even flill prevails. I hlufh^ and am con- 
 founded^ to lift up my Face before Thee (u). On 
 " the mod tranfient Review, I fee, that / have 
 played the Fool^ that I have erred exceedingly (x). 
 And yet this (lupid Heart of mine would 
 
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 make its having negleded Thee to long, a 
 " Reafon for going on to ncgleft Thee. I Ovvn, 
 it might juftly be expelled, that, with regard 
 to Thee, every one of Thy Rational Crea- 
 " tures fhouid be all Duty and Eove : That 
 «' each Heart fhouid be full of a Scnfe of Thy 
 '' Prefence ; and that a Care to pleafe Thee 
 " fliould fwallow up every other Care. Yet 
 
 " Thou 
 
 (r) 2 Cor, V. I. (s) E.cclef. xii. 7. 
 (u) Ezr. ix. 6. (x) i Sam, xxvi. 21. 
 
 Ch. 2. "echo begins to be avcahned, 29 
 
 Thou haft not been in all my Thoughts (y) ; and 
 Religion, the End and Glory of my Nature, 
 has been fo ftrangely over-looked, that I have 
 hardly ever feriouQy afked my own Heart, 
 
 what it is. 1 know, if Matters reft here, 
 
 I perilli. And yet, I feel in my perverfe 
 Nature, a fecrct Indifpofition to purfue thefe 
 Thoughts •, a Pronenefs, if not entirely t6 
 difmilfthem, yet to lay them afide for ^^^ 
 prefenr. My Mind is perplexed and divided ; 
 but I am fure. Thou, who madeft me, knowell 
 what is beft for me. I therefore befeech Thee, 
 that Thou wilt, for Thy 'Names' s fake, lead we 
 and guide me (z). Let me not delay, till it is \ 
 for ever too late. ?luck me as a Brand out of the 
 Burning (a). Oh break this fatal Enchant- 
 ment, that holds down my Affedions to Ob- 
 jeds, which my Judgment comparatively de- 
 fpifes! And let me, at length, come into fo 
 happy a State of Mind, that I may not be 
 afraid to think of Thee, and of myfelf-, and 
 may not be tempted to wifh, that Thou hadft 
 not made me, or that Thou couldft for ever 
 forget me *, that it may not be my beft Hope, 
 to perifh like the Brutes! 
 '' If what I ftiall farther read h^re, be agree- 
 able to Truth and Reafon •, if it be calculated 
 to promote my Happinefs, and is to be re- 
 garded as an Intimation of Thy Will and 
 Pleafure to me •, Oh God, let me hear and 
 obey! Let the IVords of thy Servant, when 
 pleading Thy Caufe, be like Goads to pierce 
 into my Mind •, and let me rather feel, and 
 fmart, than die! Let them be as Nails faftened 
 
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 in 
 
 (t) Job xxi. 14. 
 
 (y) Pfal. X. 4. (z) Pfal. xxxi. 3. (a) Amos iv. 
 
 II. 
 
 hJ i 
 
 -**''**-«'°'«*»-»-mifiifrfiiifng 
 
hi"; 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 30 ^be Mediation of an awakened Sinner. Ch. 2. 
 
 in a jure Place (b); That, whatever Myfteries 
 as yet unknown, or whatever Difficulties there 
 be in Religion, if it be neceffary, I may not 
 finally negleft it ; and that if it be expedient 
 to attend immediately to it, I may no longer 
 delay that Attendance ! And, Oh let Thy 
 Grace teach me the Leflbn, I am fo flow to 
 learn •, and conquer that flrong Oppofition, 
 which I feel in my Heart, againft the very 
 Thought of it! Hear thefe broken Cries, for 
 the Sake of Thy Son, who has taught and 
 faved many a Creature as untradlable as I, 
 and can out of Stones raife up Children to Abra- 
 ham (c) / Amen. 
 
 (b) Ecclef. xii. 11 
 
 (c) Mat. iii. 9. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 ■m 
 
 Ch. 3. ^bc Sinner cautioned againfl Delay, 31 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The Awakened Sinner urged to immediate 
 Confidcration, and cautioned againfl: Delay. 
 
 Sinners^ wbcn a'wakened^ inclinable to difmifs Con^ 
 vitlions for the prefent, §. i . An immediate Re- 
 gard to Religion urged , §.2. (i.) From the Ex- 
 cellency and Plcafure of the Thing it f elf. §.3. 
 (2.) From the Uncertainty of that future Time on 
 which Sinners prefume^ compared with the fad 
 Confequences of being cut off in Sin. §.4. (3.) From 
 the Immutability of GOD^s prefent Demands. §.5. 
 (4.) From the Tendency which Delay has, to make 
 a Compliance with thefe Demands more difficult 
 than it is at prefent. §. 6. (5.) From the Dan- 
 ger of GOD*s withdrawing his Spirit, compared 
 with the dreadful Cafe of a Sinner given up by it : 
 §.7. IV hie h probably is now the Cafe of many, 
 §.8. Since therefore, on the whole, whatever 
 the Event be. Delays mufi prove Matter of La- 
 mentation, §.9. The Chapter concludes with an 
 Exhortation againfl yielding to them: §. 10. And 
 a Prayer againfl Temptations of that Kind, 
 
 §. I. T HOPE my laft Addrefs fo far awak- 
 J[ ened the Convidtions of my Reader, 
 as to bring him to this Purpofe, " That fome 
 *' Time or other he would attend to Religious 
 " Confiderations.'* But give me leave to afk 
 
 earneftly 
 
hti 
 
 I 
 
 k 
 
 
 32 Jn immediate Regard to Religion urged^ Ch. 3, 
 
 earneftlyandpundlually, '' When that fliall be ?*' 
 Go thy iVay for this Time^ and at a more convenient 
 Seafon I will fend for thee, was the Language, 
 and the Ruin, of unhappy Felix (a), when he 
 trembled under the Reafonings and Expoftulations 
 of the Apoftle. The Tempter prefumed not to 
 urge. That he (hould give up all Thoughts of 
 Repentance and Reformation ; but only that, 
 confidering the prelent Hurry of his Affairs, (as 
 no Doubt they were many,) he fhould defer it 
 to a longer Day. The Artifice fucceeded, and 
 Felix was undone. 
 
 §.2. Will you. Reader, difmifs me thus? 
 For your own Sake, and out of tender Compaf- 
 fion to your perirtiing immortal Soul, I would 
 not willingly take up with fuch a DifmifTion and 
 Excufe. No, not tho' you iliould fix a Time ; 
 tho' you fhould determine on the next Tear, or 
 Month, or Week, or Bay, I would turn upon 
 you, with all the Eagernefs and Tcndernefs of 
 friendly Importunity, and intreat you to bring 
 the Matter to an Iffue even now. For if you fay, 
 ** I will think on thefe Things To-morrow,^* I 
 fhall have little Hope •, and (hall conclude. That 
 all that 1 have hitherto urged, and all that you 
 have read, hath been offered and viewed irr 
 vain. 
 
 §. 3. When I invite you to the Care and 
 Pradice of Religion, it may feem llrange, that 
 it fhould be neceffary for me, affedlionately to 
 plead the Cafe with you, in order to your im- 
 mediate Regard and Compliance. What I am 
 inviting you to, is fo noble and excellent in it- 
 felf, fo well worthy the Dignity of our Rational 
 Nature, fo fuitable to it, fo manly, and fo wife, 
 
 that 
 
 (a) A£ls xxiv, 25. 
 
 Ch. 3. from the Excellent of the Thing itfelf ? 
 
 that one would imagine, you fhould take Fire, 
 as it were, at the firit Hearing of it •, yea, that 
 fo delightful a View fhould prefently poffefs your 
 whole Soul with a Kind of Indignation againft 
 yourfelf, that you purfued it no fooner. " May 
 I lift up mine Eyes, and my Soul, to God ? 
 May I devote myfelf to Him ? May I even now 
 commence a Fricndfhip with Him ? A Friend- 
 fliip, which (lull laft for ever, the Security, 
 the Delight, the Glory of this immortal Na- 
 ture of mine ?" And fhall I draw back and 
 fay, " Neverthelefs let me not commence this 
 Fricndfliip too foon : Let me live at Icaft a few 
 Weeks, or a few Days longer, without GOD 
 in the fForld F*' Surely it would be much more 
 rcafonable to turn inward, and fay, '' Oh my 
 Soul, on what vile Hujis hafl thou been feeding, 
 while thine Heavenly Father hsiS been forfakeii 
 and injured ? Shall I defire to multiply the 
 Days of my Poverty, my Scandal, and my 
 Mifery ?" On this Principle, furely, an im- 
 mediate Return to God fhould in all Reafon be 
 chofen -, rather than to pl^ the Fool any longer, 
 and go on a little more to difpleafe God, and 
 thereby to ftarve and to wound your own Soul ; 
 even tho' your Continuance in Life were ever 
 fo certain, and your Capacity to return to God 
 and your Duty ever fo entirely in yt)ur own 
 Power, now, and in every future Moment, thro* 
 Scores of Years yet to come. 
 
 §4. But who, or what are You, that you 
 fhould lay your Account for Tears, or for Months 
 to come ? I'Fhat is your Life? Is it not even as a 
 Vapour, that appeareth for a little Time, and then 
 vanifheth away (b) ? And what is your Security, 
 or what is your peculiar Warrant, that you fhould 
 
 D thus 
 
 (b) Jam. iv. 14. 
 
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 34 TheUncertahity of Life fhould quicken toil ^ Ch. 3. 
 
 thus depend upon the Certainty of its Continu- 
 ance ? and that fo abfolutely, as to venture, as 
 it were, to pawn your Soul u|X)n it ? Why, you 
 will perhaps fay, " I am young, and in all my 
 Bloom and Vigour : I fee Hundreds about 
 me, who are more than double my Age •, and 
 not a few of them, who feem to think it too 
 
 " foon to attend to Religion yet." You view 
 
 the Living, and you talk thus. But I befeech 
 you, think of the Dead. Return, in your 
 Thoughts, to thofe Graves, in which you have 
 left fome of your young Companions, and your 
 Friends. You faw them a while ago gay and ac- 
 tive ; warm with Life, and Hopes, and Schemes. 
 And fome of them would have thought a Friend 
 ftrangely importunate, that Ihould have inter- 
 rupted them in their Bufinefs, and their Plea- 
 fures, with a folemn Ledlure of Death and Eter- 
 nity. Yet they were then on the very Borders 
 of both. You have fince feen their Corpics, or 
 at lead their Coffins; and probably carried about 
 with you the Badges of Mourning, which you 
 received at their Funerals. Thofe once vigor- 
 ous, and perhaps beautiful Bodies of theirs, now 
 lie mouldering in the Duft ; as fenfelefs, and 
 helplefs, as the moft decrepid Pieces of Human 
 Nature, which Fourfcore Years ever brought 
 down to it. And, what is infinitely more to be 
 regarded, their Souls, whether prepared for this 
 great Change, or thoughdefs of it, have made 
 their Appearance before God, and are, at this 
 Moment, fixed either in Heaven, or in Helh 
 Now let me ferioufly afk you. Would it be mi- 
 raculous, or would it beftrange, if fuch an Event 
 fhould bcfal you ? How are you fure, that fome 
 fatal Difeafe ihall not this Day begin to work in 
 
 your 
 
 eh. 3 . and the Banger of dying unprepared, 3 ^ 
 your Veins? How are you fure, that you fliaU 
 ever be capable of reading or thmkmg any more, 
 if you do not attend to what you now read, and 
 purfue the Thought which is now ofifermg itfelf 
 fo your Mind ? This fudden Alteration may at 
 lead poffibly happen -, and if it d^es ic will be 
 to you a terrible one indeed. To be thus fur- 
 prized into the Prefence of a forgotten God •, to 
 to be torn away, at once, from a World, to 
 which your whole Heart and Soul has been ri- 
 vetted •, a World, which has engrofled all your 
 Thoughts and Cares, all your Defires and Pur- 
 fuits; and be fixed in a State, which you could, 
 never be fo far perfuaded to think of, as to fpend 
 fo much as one Hour in ferious Preparation tor 
 it: How muft you even (hudder at the Appre- 
 henfion of it, and with what Horror muft ic fill 
 you ? It feems Matter of Wonder, that, in ft^ch 
 Circumftances, you are not almoft diftrafted 
 with the Thoughts of the Uncertainty ofLifr, 
 and are not even ready to die for F^arof Deadi 
 To trifle with God any longer, after fo folemn 
 an Admonition as this, would be a Circumftance 
 of additional Provocation, which, alter ail tne 
 reft mieht be flital : Nor is there any Thmg 
 you can fxpeft in fuch a Cafe, but that He (hould 
 cut you ofiT immediately, and teach other 
 Thoughtlefs Ci'-atures, by your Ruin, what a 
 hazardous Experiment they make, when they adt 
 
 rateRifque? For what imaginable P^^po^^ ^^^^ 
 you do It? Do you think, the Bufinefs of Rehgton 
 will become lefs neceffary. or more eafy^ by your 
 Delay ? You know, that it will not. You know, 
 that whatever the Bleffed God demands now, he 
 
 D 2 ^^^^ 
 
m0 
 
 I V 
 
 3 6 Del^ will fnake the IVcrk more difficult . Ch . 3 . 
 
 will alfo demand Twenty or Thirty Years hence, 
 if you (hould live to fee the Time. God hath 
 fixed the Method, in which he will pardon and 
 accept Sinners, in His Gofpel. And will He 
 ever alter that Method ? Or if He will not, can 
 Men alter it ? You like not to think of repent- 
 ing, and humbling yourfelf before God, to re- 
 ceive Righteoufnelsand Life from his free Grace 
 in Chrilt ; and you above all diflike the Thought, 
 of returning to God in the Ways of Holy Obe- 
 dience. But will He ever difpenfe with any of 
 thefe, and publifh a new Goipel, with Promifes 
 of Life and Salvation to impenitent^ unbelieving 
 Sinnersy if they will but call themfehes Chriflians^ 
 and fubmit to a few external Rites ? How long, 
 do you think, you might wait for fuch a Change 
 in theConftitution of Things? You know. Death 
 will come upon you -, and you cannot but know, 
 in your own Confcience, that a general Diflblu- 
 tion will come upon the World, long before 
 GOD can thus deny him/elf ^ and contradicS all 
 his Perfedlions, and all his Declarations. 
 
 §. 6. Or if his Demands continue the fame, 
 as they affuredly will, do you think, any Thing, 
 which is now difagreeable to you in them, will 
 be lefs difagreeable hereafter, than it is at prc- 
 fent ? Shall you love Sin lefs, when it is become 
 more habitual to you, and when Confcience is 
 yet more enfeebled and debauched ? If you are 
 running with the Footmen siud fainting^ fhall you 
 be able (0 contend wi.h the Horfemen (c)? Surely 
 you cannot imagine it. You would not fay, in 
 any Dijlempcr which threatened your Life, 
 " I will ftay till I grow a little worfe^ and then 
 *« I will apply to a Phyfician : I will let my 
 *' Difeafe get a little more Rooting in my 
 
 *' Vitals, 
 
 (c) Jer. xii. 5. 
 
 Ch.3. Ton may be left to Hardnefs of Heart. 3 7 
 '* Vitals, and then I will try what can be done 
 " to remove it." No, it is only where the Life 
 of the Soul is concerned, that Men think thus 
 wildly : The Life and Health of the Body ap- 
 pear too precious, to be thus trifled away. 
 
 §. 7. If after fuch defperate Experiments you 
 are ever recovered^ it muft be by an Operation of 
 Divine Grace on your Soul, yet more powerful 
 and more wonderful, in Proportion to the in- 
 creafing Inveteracy of your Spiritual Maladies 
 And can you exped, that the Holy Spirit fhould 
 be more ready to affift you, in Confequence of your 
 having fo fhamefully trifled with him, and af- 
 fronted him ? He is now, in fome Meafure, 
 moving on your Heart: If you feel any fecret 
 Relentings in it upon what you read, it is a 
 Sign you are not yet utterly iorfaken : But who 
 can tell, whether thefe are not the lafi Touches he 
 will ever give, to a Heart fo long hardened 
 againft him ? Who can tell, but God may this 
 D^yfwcar in his Wrath, that you flmll not enter in- 
 to his Reft (d).? i have been telling you, that 
 you may immediately die. You own it polTible, 
 you may. And can you think of any Thing 
 more terrible? Yes, Sinner, I will tell you of one 
 Thing more dreadful^ than immediate Death and 
 immediate Damnation, The BlefTed God may fay, 
 *^ As for that wretched Creature, who |jas fo 
 " long trifled with me, and provoked me, let 
 *« him Hill live : Ixt him live in the Midftof 
 Profperity and Plenty : Let him live under 
 the purert, and mod powerful Ordinances of 
 the Gofpel too; that he may abufe them, to 
 aggravate his Condemnation, and die under 
 « fevenfold Guilt, and a fevenfold Curfe. I 
 
 D 2 " will 
 
 (d)Hcb.iii. 18. 
 
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 38 Dtlays willcome to be lamented. Ch. 3. 
 
 will not give him the Grace to think of his 
 Ways for one ferious Moment more ; but he 
 fhall go on from bad to worfe, filling up the 
 Meafure of his Iniquities^ till Death and De- 
 ftrudion feize him in an unexpcdled Hour, 
 and Wrath come upon him to the uttermojl (ej." 
 §. 8. You think this an uncommon Cafe •, 
 but, I fear, it is much otherwife. 1 fear, there 
 are few Congregations, where the Word of God 
 has been faithfully preached, and where it has 
 been loijgdefpifed, efpecially by thofe whom it 
 had once awakened, in which the Eye of God 
 does not fee a Number of fuch wretched Souls •, 
 tho' it is impoflible for us to pronounce upon the 
 Cafe, who they are. 
 
 §.9. I PRETEND not to fay, how He will 
 ^ealwith you, Oh Rt;i:ler; whether He will im- 
 mediately cut you ofi, or feal you up under final 
 Hardnefs and Impenitency of Heart *, or whether 
 His Grace may, at length, awaken you, to con- 
 fider your Ways, and to return to Him, even 
 when your Heart is grown yet more obdurate 
 than it is at prefent : For to his Almighty Grace 
 nothing is hard, not even to transform a Rock of 
 Marble into a Man and a Saint. But this I will 
 confidently fi\y. That if you delay any longer, 
 the Time will come, when you will bitterly repent 
 of that Delay *, and either lament it before God 
 in the Anguifh of your Heart here, or curfe your 
 own Folly and Madnefs in Hell-, yea, when you 
 will wi(h, that, dreadtul as Hell is, you had ra- 
 ther fallen into it fooner, than have lived in the 
 Midft of fo many abufed Mercies, to render the 
 Degree of your Puniflinient more infupportable, 
 
 and 
 
 (c) I ThefT. ii. 16. 
 
 Ch. 3. Exhortation againji yielding to them, 39 
 and your Senfe of it more exquifitely torment- 
 
 ing. 
 
 % 10. I DO therefore earneftly exhort you, in 
 the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift and by /^^ 
 /r.r//.,and, if I may lofpeak by ^^'/^^^^ 
 your immortal andperi/hing Soul, that you delay not 
 i Day, or an Hour longer. ^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^-^^ f 
 Sleep to your Eyes, or Slumber to your ^y^'[^^^^^^^ 
 the continued Neglect o\ this important Concern 
 take with you even no^ Words, and turn unto the 
 LORD(^)\ and before you quit the f lace 
 where you now are, fall upon your Knees in his 
 Sacred Prefence, and pour out Y^^^^* Heart m 
 iuch Language, or at lead to fome fuch Purpofe, 
 ^s this. 
 
 y? Prayer for one, who is tempted to delay ^/)- 
 plying to Religion, tho' under fome Convi^tons of 
 its Importance, 
 
 OH Thou Righteous and Holy Sove- 
 " reign of Heaven and Earth ! Thou 
 GOD in 'whtfe Hand my Breath is, and whofe are 
 all my Ways (h)/ I confefs I have been far 
 from glorifying Thee, or condudling myfelf ac 
 cording to the Intimations, or the Declara- 
 tions of Thy Will. I have therefore Reafon 
 to adore Thy Forbearance and Goodnefs, that 
 Thou haft not long fince flopped my Breath 
 and cut me off from the Land of the Living. I 
 adore Thy Patience, that I have not, Months 
 and Years ago, been an Inhabitant of Hell, 
 where Ten Thoufand delaying Sinners are 
 now lamenting their Folly, and will be la- 
 
 D 4 " menting 
 
 (f) Prov. vi. 4: (g)Hof,xiv.2. (h)Dan.v.i3. 
 
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 40 A Vr oyer for one under Convi nitons ^ Ch. 3, 
 
 menting it for ever. Bat, Oh God, how pof- 
 fible is it, that this trifling Heart of mine 
 may, at length, betray me into the fame 
 Ruin ! and then, alas, into a Ruin aggravated 
 by all this Patience and Forbearance of Thine! 
 " I am convinced, that, fuoner or later, Reli- 
 " gion mud be my ferious Care, or I am un- 
 *< done. And yet, my fcoli(h Heart draws 
 " back from the Yoke : Yet I Uretch myfelf 
 upon the Bed oF Sloth, and cry out for a lit- 
 tle more Sleeps and a little mere Slumber^ a Utile 
 more folding of the Hands tofltcp (i). Thus does 
 my corrupt Heart plead for its own Indul- 
 gence, againfi the Convidions of my better 
 Judgment. What (hall I fay? Oh Lord, 
 " fave me from mfelf I Save me Irom the Arti- 
 *' ficcs and Deceitfulnefs of Sin : Save me from 
 ** the Treachery of this pervcrle and degenerate 
 *' Nature of mine, and fix upon my Mind what 
 *' I have now been reading ! 
 
 "Oh Lor d, I am not now inftru(5led 
 in Truths, which were before quite unknown. 
 Often have I been warned of the Uncertaii\'y 
 of Life, and of the greater Uncertainty of 
 the Day of Salvation: And I have formed 
 fomc light Purpoles, and have begun to take 
 a few irrefolute Steps in my Way towards a 
 Return unto Thee. But, alas, I have been 
 ** only, as it were, fluttering about Religion^ and 
 *' \i2LVt ntWQT fixed upon it. All my Refolutions 
 *' have been fcattered, like Smoke ; ordifperfed, 
 ** like a cloudy Vapour before the Wind. Oh 
 *' that Thou wouldft now bring thefe Things 
 •* home to my Heart, with a more powerful 
 
 Con- 
 
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 (i) Prov. vi. 10. 
 
 Ch. 3. agiiinfl his being tempted to delay. 41 
 
 " Conviftion than it hath ever yet felt! Oh that 
 " Thou wouldft purfue me with them, even 
 *« when 1 flee from them -, if I ftiould ever grow 
 mad enough to endeavour to efcape them any 
 more ! May Thy Spirit addrefs me, in the 
 Language of effeaual Terror ; and add all 
 '< the "moft powerful Methods, which Thou 
 " knoweft to be neceflfary, to awaken me from 
 " this Lethargy, which muft otherwife be mor- 
 tal! May the Sound of thefe Things be in 
 mine Ears, when I go out, and when I come in ^ 
 when I lie down, and when I rife up (k) / And 
 if the Repofe of the Night, and the Buflnefs 
 of the Day, be for a while interrupted by the 
 Imprefiion, be it fo. Oh God ! if I may but 
 thereby carry on my Bufinefs with Thee to 
 better Purpofe, and at length fecure a Re- 
 ^« pofe in Thee, inftead of all that Terror which 
 I now find, when I think upon GOD, and am 
 
 troubled {\). 
 
 "Oh Lord, my Flejb tremileth for Fear of 
 Thee, and I am afraid of Thy Judgments (m). I 
 am afraid, )eft even now, that I have begun 
 to think of Religion, Thou ihouldft cut me 
 off, in this critical and important Moment, 
 before my Thoughts grow to any Ripenefs ; 
 and blaft in Eternal Death, the firft Buddings 
 and Openings of it in my Mind. But Oh 
 '* fpare me, I carneftly intreat Thee ; for Thy 
 Mercy's fake fpare me, a little longer! It may be, 
 thro' thy Grace, IJhall return. It may be, if 
 Thou continued Thy Patience towards me a 
 while longer, there may be fome better Fruit 
 produced by this Cumberer of the Ground (n). 
 ^ '' And 
 
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 (k) Deut. VI. 7. (1) Pfal. bcxvii. 3. (m) Pfal. cxix. 120. 
 (r) Luke xiil 7, 8. 
 
i f" 
 
 i 1 
 
 42 A Prayer againft being tenrpted to delay. Ch. 3. 
 
 <' And may the Remembrance of that long 
 
 *' Forbearance, which Thou haft already exer- 
 
 " cifed towards me, prevent my continuing to 
 
 *^ trifle with Thee, and with my own Soul 1 
 
 ^« From this Day, Oh Lord, from this Hour, 
 
 ** from this Moment, may I be able to date 
 
 " more lafting Impremons of Religion, than 
 
 *' have ever yet been made upon my Heart, by 
 
 *« all that I have ever read, or all that 1 have 
 
 ♦< heard 1 Amen. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 C!i . 4. ^f^^ Sinner charged with Guilt, 
 
 43 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The Sinner arraigned and convided. 
 
 ConviSfion of Guilt necejfary. §. J. A Charge of 
 Rebellion againjl G OD advanced. § 2. Where it 
 is ffoewn., ( i .) That all Men are born under GOD's 
 Law. f. 3. (2.) That no Man hath perfectly kept 
 it. §. 4. An Appeal to the Reader's Confcience on 
 this Head, that he hath not. §. 5. (3:) ^^^^ ^^ 
 have broken it, is an Evil inexprejftbly great : §. 6. 
 Illuftrated by a more particular View of the Ag- 
 gravations of this Guilt, ari/mg,[i.] From Know- 
 pledge. §. 7. [2.] From Divine Favours received, 
 §8. [3.] From Convi^ions of Confcience over- 
 borne. §. 9. [4.] From the Strivings of GOUs 
 Spirit refined. §. 10. [5.] From Vows and Re- 
 folutions broken. <^. 11. The Charge fummed up, 
 and left upon the Sinner's Confcience. §.12. The 
 Sinner's Confeffwn under a general ConviSlion of 
 Guilt. 
 
 §• 
 
 A 
 
 S I am attempting to lead you to true 
 Religion, and not meerly to fome 
 fuperficial Form of it, I am fenfible, I can do it 
 no otherwife, than in the Way of deep Humilta- 
 tion And therefore, fuppofing you are perfuad- 
 ed, thro' the Divine Blefling on what you have 
 before read, to take it into Confideration, I 
 would now endeavour, in the firft Place, with all 
 the Serioufnefc I can, to make you heartily fen- 
 
 fibk 
 
 I'fi, 
 
■| Mh 
 
 ,4'? 
 
 I I 
 
 I 'si' 
 
 1 . 
 
 H^ ?- 
 
 Y. 
 
 44 jin Appeal to the Sinner's Confciencey Ch. 4. 
 
 Jihie o^your Guilt before God. For I well know, 
 that unlefs you are convinced of this, and affeft- 
 ed with the Convidion, all the Provifions of 
 Gofpel Grace will be flighted, and your Soul in- 
 fallibly deftroyed, in the MiJft of the noblelt 
 Means appointed for its Recovery. I am fully 
 perfuaded, that Tnoufands hve and die in a Courfc 
 of Sin, without feelir.g upon their Hearts any 
 Senie that they are Sinners ; tho* they cannot, 
 for Shame, but own it in Words. And thcre- 
 ioie, let me deal faithfully with you, tho' I 
 may feem to deal roughly •, for Complaidince is 
 not to give Law to Addredes, in which the 
 Life of your Soul is concerned. 
 
 §.2. Permit me therefore, Oh Sinner, to 
 confider my felf at thisTime, as an Advocate o/GODi 
 as one employed in his Name, to plead againft 
 thee, and to charge thee with nothing lefs, than 
 being a Rebel and a Traitor^ againft the Sove- 
 reign Majefty of Heaven and Earth. How- 
 ever thou mayeft be dignified or diftinguidied 
 among Men ; if the noblefi Blood ran in thy 
 Veins ; if thy Seat were among Princes, and 
 thine Arm were the "Terror of the Mighty in the 
 Land of the Uving (a) ; it would be neccffary, 
 thou fliouldft be told, and told plainly, Thou 
 haji broken the Law of the King of Ktngs^ and by 
 the Breach of it art become obnoxious to his 
 righteous Condemnation. 
 
 §. 3. Your Confcience tells you, that you 
 were born the natural Subjedl of God ; born un- 
 der the indifpenfable Obligations of his Law. 
 For it is moft apparent, that the Conftitution of 
 your Rational Nature, which makes you capa- 
 ble of receiving Law from God, binds you to 
 
 obey 
 
 (a) Evk. xxxii. 27. 
 
 I- 
 
 Ch. 4. whether he has not broke the Law of GOD, 45 
 
 obey it. And it is equally evident and certain, 
 that you have not exadly obeyed this Law ; nay, 
 that you have violated it in many aggravated In- 
 ftances. 
 
 §.4. Will you dare to deny this.^* Will you 
 dare to aflert your Innocence? Remember, it 
 muft be a compleat Innocence: Yes, and a per- 
 fc(5l Righteoufncfstoo; or it can (land you in no 
 (lead, further than to prove, that, tho* a con- 
 demned Sinner, you are not quite fo criminal as 
 fome others, and will not have quite fo hot a 
 Place in Hell, as they. And when this is con- 
 fidered, will you plead Not Guilty to the Charge ? 
 Search the Records of your own Confcience ; 
 for God fcarcheth them : Aik it ferioufly, " Have 
 '* you never in your Lives finned againft God ?'* 
 Solomon declared, that in his Day, there was not 
 a jujl Man upon Earthy who did gcod^ and fmnei 
 not(b): And the Apoftle P^«/, that all had fm- 
 ned^ and come fhort of the Glory of GOD (c); that 
 both Jews ana Gentiles^ (which, you know, com- 
 prehended the whole Human Race,) were all un- 
 der Sin {d). And can you pretend any imagin- 
 able Reafon, to believe the World is grown fo 
 much better fince their Days, that any fhould 
 now plead their own Cafe as an Exception ? Or 
 will you, however, prefume to arife, in the Face 
 of the Omnifcient Majefty of Heaven, and fay, 
 I am the Man ? 
 
 §.5. Supposing, as before, you have been 
 free from thofe grofs Ads of Immorality, which 
 are fo pernicious to Society, that they have ge- 
 nerally been punifliable by Human Laws •, can 
 you pretend, that you have not, in fmaller In- 
 ftanccs, violated the Rules of Piety, of Tt^mpe- 
 
 ranee, 
 
 (b) Ecclef. vii. 20. (c) Rom. iii. 13. (d) Rom. iii. 9, 
 
n 
 
 
 46 Tbe many Injlances of bis tranfgr effing it: Ch. 4; 
 
 ranee, and of Charity ? Is there any one Per- 
 fon, who has intimately known you, that would 
 not be able to teftify, you had faid, or done 
 fomething amifs? Or if others could not convidt 
 you, would not your own Heart do it ? Does it 
 not prove you guilty of Pride, of Paflion, of 
 Senfuality; of an excefTive Fondnefs for the 
 World, and its Enjoyments ; of murmuring, 
 or at leaft of fecretly repining, againft God, 
 under the Strokes of his afflictive Providence ; 
 of mifpending a great deal of your Time ; of 
 abufing the Gifts of God's Bounty, to vain, if 
 not (\n fome InftancesJ to pernicious Purpofes ; 
 of mocking him, when you have pretended to 
 engage in his VVorfhip, drawing near to him with 
 your Mouth and your Ups, while your Heart has been 
 far from him (e)? Does not Confcience condemn 
 you of fome one Breach of the Law at leaft ? 
 And by one Breach of it you are in a Senfe, a 
 Scriptural Senfe, become guilty of all {^) y and are 
 as incapable of being juftified before God by any 
 Obedience ot your own, as if you had commit- 
 cd Ten Thoufand Offences. But, in Reality^ 
 there are Ten Thoufand, and more, chargeable 
 to your Account. When you come to reflefl 
 on all your Sins of Negligence, as well as on 
 thofe of Commifflon -, on all the Inftances, irt 
 which you h?iwt failed to do Good^ when it was in 
 the Power of your Hand to do it (%) \ on all the 
 Inftances, in which Ads of Devotion have been 
 omitted, efpecially in Secret •, and on all thofe 
 Cafes, in which you have ftiewn a ftupid Difre- 
 gard to the Honour of God, and to the Tem- 
 poral and Eternal Happinefs of your Fellow- 
 Creatures : When all thefe, I fay, are reviewed, 
 
 the 
 
 (c) Ifai. xxix. 13. (0 Jam. ii. 10. (g) P'oy. iii. 27- 
 
 Ch. 4. ^e great Evil of offending GOD. 47 
 
 the Number will fwell beyond all PofTibility of 
 Account, and force you to cry our. Mine Ini- 
 quities are more than the Hairs of my Head(h). They 
 will appear in fuch a Light before you, that your 
 own Heart will charge you with countlefs Mul- 
 titudes; and how much more then that GOD, 
 who is greater than your Hearty and knoweth all 
 things (\)! 
 
 §.6. And Hiy, Sinner, Is it a littkThing^ that 
 you have prefumed to fet light by the Authority 
 of the God of Heaven, and to violate his Law, 
 if it had been by meer Careleflhefs and Inatten- 
 tion ? How much more heinous, therefore, is 
 the Guilt, when in fo many Inftances you have 
 done it knowingly, and wilfully ? Give me Leave 
 fcrioufly to afk you, and let me intreat you to 
 afk your own Soul, Againfl whom haff thou jnagni- 
 fied thyfelf? Againfl whom hafl thou exalted thy 
 Voice f kj, or lifted up thy rebellious Hand ? On 
 whofe Law, Oh Sinner, haft thou prefumed to 
 trample ? and whofe Friendftjip, and whofe En* 
 mity, haft thou thereby dared to affront ? Is it 
 a Man like thylrlf, that thou haft infulted ? Is it 
 only a Temporal Monarch ? Only one, who can 
 kill thy Body^ and then hath no more that he can do (1) ? 
 Nay, Sinner, thou wouldft not have dared to 
 treat a Temporal Prince, as thou has treated the 
 King Eternal^ Immortal^ and Invifible (m). No 
 Price could have hired thee, to deal by the Ma- 
 jefty of an Earthly Sovereign, as thou haft dealt 
 by that GOD^ before whom the Cherubim and Se- 
 raphim are continually bowing. Not one oppo- 
 firig or complaining, difputing or murmuring 
 Word is heard among all the Celeftial Legions, 
 
 whsn 
 
 (h)Pral.xl 12. (i) I John ii'i. 20. (k) 2 Kingsxix. 22. 
 (Ij Luke xii. 4. (mj i Tim. i. 17. 
 
f 
 
 48 7Z^ heinous Aggravalms of Sin, Ch. 4, 
 
 when the Intimations of his Will are publifhcd 
 to them. And wbo art tbou^ Oh wretched 
 Man *, who art thou, that thou fhouldft 0[> 
 pofe Him ? That thou fhouldft oppofe and pro- 
 voke a GOD of infinite Power and Terror, who 
 needs but exert one fingle Ad of his Sovereign 
 Will, and thou art in a Moment ftripped of 
 every PoffefTion •, cut off from every Hope ; de- 
 ftroyed and rooted up from Exiftence, if that 
 were his Pleafure ; or, what is inconceivably 
 worfe, configned over to the fevereft and mofl: 
 lafting Agonies ? Yet, This is the God, whom 
 thou had offended ; whom thou haft affronted to 
 his Face, prefuming to violate hisexprefs Laws 
 in his very Prefence: This is the God, before 
 whom thou ftandeft as a convidled Criminal ; 
 convicted, not of One or Two particular Offen- 
 ces, but of Thoufands and Ten Thoufands -, oi 
 a Courfe and Series of Rebellions and Provoca- 
 tions, in which thou haft perfifted, more or lefs, 
 ever fince thou waft born ; and the Particulars of 
 which have been attended, with almoft every 
 conceivable Circumftance of Aggravation. Re- 
 flcft on Particulars ; and deny the Charge, if 
 you can. 
 
 §.7. If Kno'Vijkdge be an J^r aval ion of Guilt, 
 thy Guilt, Oh Sinner, is greatly aggravated : For 
 thou waft born in Emmanuel* s Land, and God 
 hath written to thee the great things of His Law^ 
 yet thou haft accounted them as a ftrange Thing (n). 
 Thou haft iknown to do Good, and haft not done 
 it (o) ; and therefore to thee the Omiffion of it 
 has been Sin indeed. Haft thou not known? Haft 
 thou not heard (p) ? Wait thou not early taught 
 the Will of God, in thine Infant Years ? Haft 
 thou not fince received repeated Leffons, by 
 
 which 
 
 (n)Hof.viii, 12. ^o) Jam . iv. 1 7, (pjlfai. xl. 28. 
 
 Gh. 4. as commuted againft Ught and Mercy. 49 
 which it has been inculcated again and again, 
 in publick, and in private, by preaching and 
 reading the Word of God .? Nay, hath not 
 thy Duty been, in fome Inftances, fo plain, that 
 even without any Inftrudion at all thine own 
 Reafon might eafily have inferred it ? And haft 
 thou not alfo been warned of the Confequences of 
 Difobedience ? Haft thou not known the righteous 
 Judgment of GOD, that they who commit fuch 
 'Things, are worthy of Death (q) ? Yet thou haft, 
 perhaps, not only done the fame, but haft taken Plea- 
 fure in thofe that do them •, haft chofen them for 
 thy moft intimate Friends and Companions ; fo 
 as thereby to ftrengthen, by the Force of Exam- 
 ple and Converfc, the Hands of each other \n your 
 
 Iniquities. 
 
 §. 8. Nav more. If Divine Love and Mercy 
 be any Aggravation of the Sins committed againft 
 it, thy Crimes, Oh Sinner, are heinoufly aggra- 
 vated. Muft thou not acknowledge it. Oh foolifh 
 Creature, andunwife? Haft thou not been nouriftoed 
 and brought up by him as his Child, and yet haft re- 
 belled againft him (r)? Did not God take you out 
 of the Womb (s) .? Did he not watch over you in 
 your Infant Days, and guard you from a Mul- 
 titude of Dangers, which the moft careful Parent 
 or Nurfe could not have obferved, or warded 
 off? Has he not given you your Rational Powers? 
 and is it not by Him you have been favour'd 
 with every Opportunity of improving them? 
 Has he not every Day fupplied your Wants, 
 with an unwearied Liberality -, and added, 
 with Refped to many who will read this, the 
 Delicacies of Life, to its neceffary Supports ? Has 
 he not heard your Cry, when Trouble came upon 
 
 E y^^ 
 
 (q) Rom. i. 32. W ^^^'''' ^ (») Pfal. xxii. 9. 
 
-"^-w^^gS^sStei^r^. " 
 
 B' -. 
 
 n'i* 
 
 
 
 50 The Sinner a5ls againft his Confiience^ Ch. 1. 
 
 ycu (t) ; and frequently appeared for your Deli- 
 verance, when in the Diltreffcs of Nature you 
 have called upon him for Help ? Has he not 
 refcued you from Ruin, when it fcemed jull 
 ready to fwallow you up •, and healed your Dif- 
 eafes, when it feemed to all about you, that the 
 Refidue of your Days was cut off in the Mdji (u) ? 
 Or if it have not been fo, is not this long con- 
 tinued and uninterrupted Health, which you 
 have enjoyed for io many Years, to be acknow- 
 ledged as an equivalent Obligation ? Look round 
 upon all your Pofieflions, and fay. What one 
 Thing have you in the World, whijzh. his Good- 
 nefs did not give you, and whiclf*it' hath not 
 thus far preferved to you ? Add to all this, the 
 kind Notices of his Will which he hath fent you; 
 the tender Expoftulations which he hath uied 
 with you, to bring you to a wifer and a better 
 Temper ; and the Difcoveries and gracious In- 
 vitations of his Gofpel^ which you have heard, 
 and which you have defpifed : And then fay, 
 whether your Rebellion has not been aggravated 
 by the vilell Ingratitude, and whether that Ag- 
 gravation can be accounted fmall ? 
 
 §. 9. Again, If it be any Aggravation of Sin 
 to be committed againfi Ccnfcience^ thy Crimes, 
 Oh Sinner, have been fo aggravated. Confult 
 the Records of it ; and then difpute the Fadl, 
 if you can. There is a Spirit in Man^ and the 
 Infpiration of the Almighty givetb him Underjiand- 
 ing (w) •, and that Underftanding will a6l, and 
 a fecret Convidion of being accountable to its 
 Maker and Preferver, is infeparable from the 
 Adings of it. It is eafy to object to Human 
 
 Remon- 
 
 ' (t) Job xxvii. 9. 
 f wj Job xxxii. 8, 
 
 (w) Pfal. cii. 24. Ifai. xxxyiii. 10. 
 
 Ch. 4. and refills the Strivings of the Spirit. 51 
 
 Remonftrances, and to give Things falfc Colour- 
 ings before Men: But the Heart often con- 
 demns, while the Tongue cxcufes. Have you 
 not often found it fo ? Has not Confcience re- 
 monftrated againft your paft'ConduS, and have 
 not thefe Remonftrances been very painful too ? 
 I have been aflfured by a Gentleman of undoubt- 
 ed Credit, that when he was in the Purfuit of 
 all the gayeft Senfualitles of Life, and was reck- 
 oned one of the happieft of Mankind, he has 
 feen a Dog come into the Room where he was 
 among his merry Companions, and has groaned 
 inwardly, and faid, " Oh that I had been that 
 *' DogT*' Arid haft thou. Sinner, felt nothing 
 like this ? Has thy Confcience been fo fiupified^ ^ Jo 
 feared "jcith a hot Iron (x), that it has never cried 
 out of any of the Violences which have been 
 done it ? Has it never warned thee of the fatal 
 Confequences of what thou haft done in Oppofi- 
 tion to it ? Thefe Warnings are, in EfFedl, tbt 
 Voice of GOD \ they are the Admonitions which 
 he oave thee by his Vicegerent in thy Breaft. 
 And when his Sentence for thy Evil Works is ex- 
 ecuted upon thee in everlafting Death, thou 
 (halt hear that Voice fpeaking to thee again, 
 in a louder Tone, and a feverer Accent than 
 before : And thou (halt be tormented with its 
 Uphraidings thro' Eternity^ becaufe thou wouldft 
 not, in Time^ hearken to its Admonitions, 
 
 %. 10. Let me add further. If it be any Ag- 
 gravation^ that Sin has been committed after GOD 
 has been moving by his Spirit on the Mind, furely 
 your Sin has been attended with that Aggrava- 
 tion too. Under the Mofaic Difpcnfation^ dark 
 and imperfect as it was, the Spirit firove with 
 
 E 2 the 
 
 (y.) I Tim. iv. 2- 
 
 .MmlL 
 
itl 
 
 -■tT 
 4*r 
 
 
 
 
 52 // ^^gravates the Sinner's Guilty Ch. 4* 
 
 the 7^te;j •, elfe Siephen could not have charged 
 it upon them, that, through all their Genera- 
 tions, ibey had alway rejijled bim (y). Now iurely 
 we may much more reafonably apprehend, that 
 he Itrives with Sinners under the Gofpel. And 
 have you never experienced any Thing of this 
 Kind, even when there has been no external 
 Circumftance to awaken you, nor any pious 
 Teacher near you ? Have you never perceived 
 Ibme fecret Impulfe upon your Mind, leading 
 you to think of Religion, urging you to an im- 
 mediate Confideration of it, fweetly inviting 
 you to make Trial of it, and warning you that 
 you would lament this fbupid Neglec^l ? Oh Sin- 
 ner, why were not thefe happy Motions attended 
 to ? Why did you not, as it were, fpread out 
 all the Sails of your Soul, to catch that heavenly, 
 that favourable Breeze P But you have carelefsly 
 negleded it : You have overborne thefe kind 
 Influences : How reafonably then mi<^ht ihe Sen- 
 tence have ^one forth in righteous Difpleafure, 
 My Spirit /hal! no more ftrive (z) ? And indeed, 
 who can iay, that it is not already gone forth ? 
 If you feel no fecret Agitation of Mind, no Re- 
 morfe, no Awakening, while you read fuch a 
 Remonftrance as this, there will be Room, great 
 Room to fufpe6l it. 
 
 §. 1 1. There is indeed one Aggravation more^ 
 which may not attend your Guilt ; I mean that 
 of being committed againfi folemn Covenant-En- 
 gagements: A Circumftance, which has lain heavy 
 on the Confciences of many, who, perhaps, in 
 the main Series of their Lives, have ferved God 
 with great Integrity. But let me call you to 
 think, To what is this owing ? Is it not, that you 
 
 have 
 
 (y) Afts vii. 51. (z) Gen. vi. 3. 
 
 isk; 
 
 *4 
 
 1. 1.? 'Is 
 
 Ch . 4. that he has broke thro* Vows and Promifes. 5^ 
 
 have never perfonally made any folemn ProfeC- 
 fion of devoting yourfelf to God at all? have 
 never done any Thing, which has appeared to 
 your own Apprehenfion an Aftion by which you 
 made a Covenant with Him ; though you have 
 heard fo much of His Covenant, though you have 
 been fo folemnly and fo tenderly invited into it ? 
 And in this View, how monftrous muft this Cir- 
 cumftance appear, which at firft was mentioned 
 as fome Alleviation of Guilt ? Yet I muft add, 
 that you are not, perhaps, altogether fo free from 
 Guilt on this Head, as you may at firft imagine. 
 I will not infift on the Covenant, which your 
 Parents made in your Name, when they devoted 
 you to God in Baptifm \ though it is really a 
 weighty Matter, and by calling yourfelf a Chri- 
 fiian you have profefled to own and avow what 
 they then did. But I would remind you, of what 
 may have been more perfonal and exprefs. Has 
 your Heart been, even from your Youth, hard- 
 ened to fo uncommon a Degree, that you have 
 never cried to God in any Seafon of Danger and 
 Difficulty? And did you never mingle ^^t£;j with 
 thofe Cries? Did you never promife, that if God 
 would hear and help you in that Hour of Extre- 
 mity, you would forfake your Sins, and ferve 
 him as long as you lived ? He heard and helped 
 you, or you had not been reading thefe Lines \ 
 and, by fuch Deliverance, did, as it were, bind 
 down your Vows upon you ; and therefore your 
 Guilt in the Violation of them remains before 
 Him, tho' you are ftupid enough to forget them. 
 Nothing is forgotten, nothing is overlooked by 
 Him •, and the Day will come, when the Record 
 ftall be laid before you too. 
 
 E 3 §, 12. And 
 
 

 I 
 
 54 The Charge fumtned up agaittfl the Sinner. Ch. 4. 
 
 §. 12. And now, Oh Sinner, think ferioufly 
 with thyfelf, ii'hal Defence thoa wilt make to all 
 this ! Prepare thine Apology •, call thy W itneflb; 
 make thine Appeal, from Him whom thou hall 
 thus offended, to fomc fuperior Judge, if fuch 
 there be. Alas, thofe Apologies are fo weak 
 and vain, that one of thy Fellow-Worms may 
 eafdy dcteiH: a*nd confound them -, as I will en- 
 deavour prefently to fhew thee. But thy forebo- 
 ding Confcience already knows the Iffue. Thou 
 art convUled ; convi6led of the mod aggravated 
 Offences. Thou haft not humhled thine Heart., but 
 lifted up thyfelf againfl the LORD cf Heaven (d) \ 
 and thy Sentence fhall come forth from his Prefence (b). 
 Thou haft violated his known Laiv -, thou haft de- 
 fpifed :in(i abufed his numberlefs Mercies -, thou haft 
 affronted Confcience^ his Vicegerent in thy Soul \ 
 thou haft refifled and grieved his Spirit *, thou haft 
 trifled with him in all thy pretended SubmifTions j 
 and in one Word, and that his own, thou hafi 
 done Evil Things as thou couldff (c), Thouiimds 
 are, no doubt, already in Hell, whofe Guilt ne- 
 ver equalled thine •, and 'tis aftonifhing, that God 
 has fpared thee to read this Reprefentation of the 
 Cafe, or to make any Paufe upon it. Oh, wafte 
 not fo precious a Moment, but enter, as atten- 
 tively, and as humbly as thou canft, into thofq 
 Jlefle(5tions, which fuit a Cafe fo lamentable, an^ 
 fo terrible as thine ! 
 
 [a) Dan. V. 22, 33. (b) Pfal. xvii. 2. (c) Jer. iii. ^. 
 
 n^ 
 
 Ch. 4. The Confejficn of a convinced Sinner. 55 
 
 The Confession of a Sinner., convinced in general 
 
 of his Guilt, 
 
 OH God ! Thou injured Sovereign., Thou 
 all -penetrating and almighty Judge \ 
 What fhall I fiy to this Charge ? Shall I pre- 
 tend, I am wronged by it, and ftand on the 
 Defence in thy Prefence.? I dare not do it \ 
 for Thou knowcH: my Foolifhnefs^ and none of my 
 Sins are hid from Thee (d). My Confcience 
 tells me, that a Denial of my Crimes would 
 only increafe them, and add new Fuel to the 
 Fire of Thy deferved Wrath. If Ijufiifymy- 
 fclf^ mine ozvn Mouth will condemn me •, // / Jay^ 
 I am perfe&y it will alfo prove me perverfe (c). 
 For innumerable Evils have compajjed me about : 
 Mine Iniquities have taken hold upon me^ fo that I 
 am not able to look up : They are, as I have been 
 told in Thy Name, more than the Hairs of my 
 Head', and therefore my Heart faileth me {f). I 
 am more guilty, than it is poffible for another 
 to declare or reprefent. My Heart fpeaks 
 more, than any other Accufer. And Thou, 
 Oh LORD, art much greater than my Heart, and 
 knozveji all Things (g). 
 
 " What has my Life been, but a Courfe of 
 Rebellion againft Thee ? It is not this, or that 
 particular Adtion alone, I have to lament. 
 Nothing has been right, in its Principles, and 
 Views, and Ends. My whole Soul has been 
 difordered. All my Thoughts, my AfFe6t:ionS| 
 my Defires, myPurfuits, have been wretched- 
 ly alienated from Thee. 1 have adled, as if 
 
 E 4 
 
 «c 
 
 I had 
 
 ('djPfal.lxix.s, 
 (g) I John iii. io. 
 
 (e) Jobix. 20. (f)PfaI. xl. 12. 
 
i 
 
 f-. % 
 
 V 
 
 56 'T/je C^nfijfion of a Simcr, Ch. 4. 
 
 I had hated Thee, who art infinitely the love- 
 lieft of all Beings ; as if I had been contriv-r 
 ing, how I might tempt Thee to the uttermofl, 
 and weary out Thy Patience, marvellous as it 
 is. Myyl^ions have been Evil ; ntyJVords yet 
 more Evil than they; and, Oh Blefled God, 
 my Hearty how much more corrupt than ei- 
 ther! What an inexhaufted Fountain of .S/«has 
 there been in it? A Fountain of Original Cor- 
 ruption^ which mingled its bitter Streams with 
 the Days of early Childhood-, and which, 
 alas, flows on even to this Day, beyond what 
 Aciions^ or V/ords could exprels. 1 fee this to 
 have been the Cafe, with Regard to what I 
 can particularly furvey. But oh, how many 
 Months, and Years, have I forgotten ? con- 
 cerning which I only know this, in the gene- 
 ral, that they are m.uch like thofc I can remem- 
 ber 5 except it be, that 1 have been growing 
 worfe and ijcorfe^ and provoking Thy Patience 
 more and more, tho* every new Exercile of it 
 was more and more wonderful. 
 " And how am I aftoniftied, that Thy For- 
 bearance is dill continued ! It is, becaufe Thou 
 art GOD, and not Man(h), Had I, a finfui 
 Worm, been thus injured, I could not have 
 endured it. Had I been a Prince, I had Ions 
 fince done Jullice on any Rebel, whofe Crimes 
 had borne but a difl:ant Refemblance to mine. 
 Had I been a Parent, I had Jong fince caft oft"' 
 the ungrateful Child, who had made me fuch 
 a Return, as 1 have all my Life long been 
 " making to Thee, Oh Thou Father of my Spi- 
 *' rill The Flame of natural AfFedion would 
 have been extinguifhed ; and his Sight, and 
 
 *' his 
 
 (h) Hof. xi. 9. 
 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
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 Ch. 4. convinced in general of his Guilt. 57 
 
 *' his very Name, would have become hateful to 
 «' me. Why then. Oh LORD^ am I not caji out 
 « from thy Prefence (i) ? Why am I not fealed up 
 *« under an irreverfible Sentence of Deftrudlion! 
 *< That I live, I owe to Thine Indulgence. But, 
 " Oh, if there be yet any Way of Deliverance, 
 *« if there be yet any Hope for fo guilty a Crea- 
 *' ture, may it be opened upon me by Thy Gof- 
 " pel, and Thy Grace ! And if any farther A- 
 " larm, Humiliation, and Terror, be neceflary 
 ** to my Security and Salvation, may I meet 
 " them, and bear them all! Wound mine Heart, 
 *' Oh Lord, fo that thou wilt but afterwards 
 heal it ; and break it in Pieces^ if thou wilt but 
 at length condefcend to bind it up!'* 
 
 (i) Jer. lii. 3. 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 .5 
 
58 ^be Sinmr SI ripped of the vain Pleas ^ Ch. 5. 
 
 
 %% 
 
 I! |5*. 
 
 !i 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 The Sinner ftripped of his vain Picas. 
 
 The Vanity of thofe Pleas ^ which Si>mers may fecretly 
 confide irty fo apparent^ that they wili be ajhamed 
 at la ft to mention them before GOD. §. i , ? . Such 
 asy {i.) That they defended from pious Parents, 
 ^. 3. (2. J That they had attended to the fpeculative 
 Part of Religion. §.4. {?.) That they had en- 
 tertained found Notions. §. 5. (4.) That they had 
 expreffed a zealous Regard to Religion^ and attended 
 the outward Forms of IVcrfhip with thofe they ap- 
 prehended the pur efl Churches. %. 6, 7. (c^)That 
 they had been free from grofs Immoralities. §.8. 
 (6.) That they did not think the Conf queue e of neg- 
 letling Religion would have been fo fatal. §.9. 
 (7.) That they could not do other wife than they did. 
 §. 10. Conclnfion^ §• n- '^ith the Meditation of 
 a convinced Sinner^ gi'^i^Z *(? hfs vain Picas before 
 GOD. 
 
 &. I, ^ yC Y lail Difcourfe left the Sinner in ^ 
 I Y I very alarming, and a very pitiable 
 Circumftance ; a Criminal convi5led at the B.ir of 
 God, difarmed of all Pretences to perfed Inno- 
 cence and finlefs Obedience, and confequently 
 obnoxious to the Sentence of a Holy Law, which 
 can make no Allowance for any Tranfgrefnon, 
 no, not for the lead ; but pronounces Death, and 
 z Curfc, againft every Aft of Difobcdience : 
 
 How 
 
 - 
 
 Ch. 5. «?///& which be would excufi himfelf. 59 
 How much more then againft thofe numberlcfs 
 and aggravated Ads of Rebellion, of which, 
 Oh Sinner, thy Confcience hath condemned thee 
 before God ? I would hope, fome of my Readr 
 ers will ingenuouOy fall under the Gonviftion, 
 and not think of making any Apology: For 
 fure I am, that humbly to plead Guilty at the Di- 
 vine Bar, is the moft decent, and, all Things 
 confidcred, the moft prudent Thing that can be 
 done in fuch an unhappy Circumftance. Yet I 
 know the Treachery, and the Self-flattery, of 
 a finful and corrupted Heart. I know what 
 Excufes it makes, and how, when it is driven 
 from one Refuge, it flies to another, to fortify 
 itfclf againft full Conviftion, and to perfwade, 
 not merely another, but itfelf, '' That, if it has 
 .*' been in fome Inflances to blame, it is not quite 
 *' fo criminal as was reprefented : That there 
 *« are at leaft Confiderations that plead in its 
 *« Favour, which, if they cannot juftify, will in 
 «' fome Degree excufe.'^ A fecret Referve of 
 this Kind, fometimcs perhaps fcarce formed into 
 a diftinft Refledion, breaks the Force of Con- 
 yiftion, and often prevents that deep Humilia- 
 tion before God, which is the happieft Token 
 of approaching Deliverance. I will therefore 
 examine into fome of thefe Particulars •, and for 
 that Purpofe would ferioufly afk thee. Oh Sinner, 
 "What thou haft to offer in Ar reft of Judgment? 
 What Plea thou canft urge for thy Self, why the 
 Sentence of GOD (bould not go forth againft thee^ 
 and why thou fhouldft not fill into the Hands of 
 
 his Juftice ? ' , , ^ r 
 
 §. 2. But this I muft premife, that the Quel- 
 tion isnot. How thou wouldft anfwer tome, a 
 weak finful Worm like thyfelf, who am ihortly 
 to ftand with thee at the fanie Bar : {The LORD 
 
 grant. 
 
 \l 
 
rw'j.iKsffiit^^'s,^. k«w«-45^^^^siK*'t'' 
 
 r*i- 
 
 ft 
 
 dpi' 
 
 60 The Plea of a Be/cent from pious Parents^ Ch. 5. 
 
 ^rant^ that I w^j /«^ Mercy of the LORD in that 
 Day (a) !) But, what thou wilt reply to thy Judge ? 
 What couldft thou plead, if thou waft now ac- 
 tually before his Tribunal ; where, to multiply 
 vain Words, and to frame idle Apologies, would 
 be but to increafe thy Guilt and Provocation? 
 Surely the very Thought of His Prefencc mull: 
 fuperfede a Thoufand of thofe trifling Excufcs, 
 which now fometimes impofe on a Generation that 
 are pure in their own Eyes^ tho' they are not wajhed 
 from their Filthinefs (b) \ or, while they are con^ 
 fcious of their own Impurities, tru^l in Wordi 
 that cannot profit (c), and lean upon broken Reeds (d). 
 §.3. You will not to be fure, in fuch a Cir- 
 cumftance, plead, " that yo\Ji:iXit defended from pi- 
 <« ous Parents^ That was indeed your Privilege i 
 and Woe be to you, that you have abufcd it, and 
 forfaken the GOD of your Fathers (e). Iflmiael was 
 immediately defcended from Abraham the Friend 
 of GOD y and Efau was the Son of Ifaac^ who 
 was born according to the Promife : Yet you 
 know, they were both cut off from the Bleffing, 
 to which they apprehended they had a Kind of 
 hereditary Claim. You may remember, that 
 our Lord does not only fpeak of one, Vv^ho 
 could call Abraham Father^ who was tormented m 
 Flames (f) •, but exprefsly declares, that many of 
 the Children cf the Kingdom fhall be fhut out of it \ 
 and when others come from the moft diftant Parts 
 to fit down in it^ fliall be diftinguiflied from their 
 Companions in Mifcry only by louder Accents of 
 Lamentation^ and more furious Gnafhing of th^ 
 Teeth (g;. 
 
 §. 5. Nor 
 
 (a) i Tim. i. 18. (b) Prov. xxx. 1 2. (c) Jer. vii. 8. 
 
 (d) Ifai. xxxvi. 6. (c) 2 Chron. vii. 22. (f ) Luke xvi. 34. 
 (g)Matt. viii. i u 12. 
 
 Ch. 5. or of an orthodox: Judgment ^ will not avail. 6t 
 
 §. 4. Nor will you then prcfume to plead, 
 *' that you had exercifed your Thoughts about 
 *' the fpeculative Part of Religion:** For to what 
 End can this ferve, but to increafe your Condem- 
 nation? Since you have broken God's Law,fince 
 you have contradicted the moft obvious and ap- 
 parent Obligations of Religion, to have enquired 
 into it, and argued upon it, is a Circumftance 
 that proves your Guilt more audacious. What ? 
 did you think Religion was merely an Exercife of 
 Men's Wit, and the Amufement of their Curiofity? 
 If you argued about it, on the Principles of com- 
 mon Senie, you muft have judged and proved it 
 to be a pradical Thing -, and if it was f:\ why 
 did not you pradtife accordingly .? You knew 
 the particular Branches of it -, and why then did 
 you not attend to every one of them ? To have 
 pleaded an unavoidable Ignorance, would have 
 been the happieft Plea that could have remained 
 for you : Nay, an adual, tho' faulty Ignorance, 
 would have been fome little Allay of your Guilt. 
 But if, by your own ConfefTion, you have known 
 your Majier*s Will^ and have not done it^ you bear 
 Witnefs againft yourfelf, that you deferve to be 
 beaten with many Stripes (h). 
 
 §. 5. Nor yet again, will it fuffice to fay, 
 " that you have had right Notions., both of the 
 *' DoBrines., and the Precepts of Religion** Your 
 Advantage for pra5fifing it was therefore the 
 greater: But underftanding, and afting right, 
 can never go for the fame Thing, in the Judg- 
 ment of God, or of Man. In believing there is 
 One GOD, you have done well-, but the Devils alfo 
 believe .^ and tremble (i). In acknowledging Chrifl to 
 be the Son of GOD, and the Holy One, you have 
 done well too -, but you know, the unclean Spirits 
 
 made 
 
 (h) Lukcxii. 47. (i) Jam. ii 19. 
 
 !iiiifiiBiiiini>iiiiiiriift¥jfiii a 
 
 iiiiMirriia'MiMiM^ 
 
T*f ■« rf!-^^ 
 
 ii 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 ft 
 
 62 // is in vaifiy io plead a Zeal for Forms ^ Cb. 5. 
 
 made this very orthodox ConfefTion (k), and yet 
 they are referved in everlajiing Chains under Dark- 
 nefs unto the Judgment of the great Day (1). And 
 will you place any iecret Confidence in /^t//,which 
 might be pleaded fcy the Infernal Spirits, as well 
 as by you ? 
 
 §. 6. But perhaps you may think of pleadings 
 *' that you have actually done fome thing in Religion,^* 
 Having iudged what Faith was the Ibundcft, and 
 whatWorfhip the pureft, " You entered your- 
 fclves into thofe Societies, where fuch Articles 
 of Faith were profefled, and luch Forms of 
 Worlhip were pradiled ; and among thefc you 
 have fignalized yourfelves, by the Exaftnefs 
 of your Attendance, by the Zeal with which 
 you have elpouled their Caufe, and by the 
 Earneftnefs with which you have contended 
 for fuch Principles and Pradlices." — Oh Sin- 
 ner, I much fear, that this Zeal of thine, about 
 the Circumftantials of Religion, will fwell thine 
 Account, rather than be allowed in Abatement 
 of it. He that fearches thine Heart, knows 
 from whence it arofe, and how far it extended; 
 Perhaps He fees, that it was all Hypocrify •, an 
 artful Veil, under which thou waft carrying on 
 thy mean Defigns for this World \ while the Sa- 
 cred Names of GOD and Religion were profaned 
 and proftitutcd in the bafelt Manner : And if 
 fo, thou art curfed with a diftinguifhed Curfe, 
 for fo daring an Infult, on the Divine Omnifci- 
 ence, as well as Jullice. Or perhaps the Earned- 
 nefsy with which you have been contending for the 
 Faith and Worfhip, which was once delivered to the 
 Saints (m), or which 'tis pofliblc you may ralhly 
 
 have 
 
 (k) Lukciv. 34, 41. (1) ]\jA,<ver. 6. (m) Jud. ver. 3. 
 
 «c 
 
 «c 
 
 
 «€ 
 
 «( 
 
 (C 
 
 «c 
 
 ^ 
 
 Ch. 5. or to urge the IVorksyou have done. 63 
 
 have concluded to be that, might be mere Pride 
 and Bitterneis of Spirit : And all the Zeal you 
 have exprels'd might poflibly arife from a Confix 
 dcnce in your own Judgment, from an Impati- 
 ence of Contradidion, or from a fecret Maligni- 
 ty of Spirit, which delighted itfelf in condemn- 
 ing and even in worrying others ; yea, whicli (if 
 I may be allowed the Exprcflion,) fiercely preyed 
 upon Religion, as the Tyger upon the Lamb, to 
 turn it into a Nature moft contrary to its own. 
 And fhall this fcreen you before the Great Tribu- 
 nal ? Shall it not rather awaken the Difpleafure, 
 it is pleaded to avert ? 
 
 §. 7. But fay, that this your Zeal for Notions 
 and Forms has been ever fo well intended, and fo 
 far as it has gone, ever fo v/ell co7tdu5ied too \ whac 
 will that avail towards vindicating thee in fo ma- 
 ny Inllances of Negligence and Difobedience, as 
 are recorded againft thee in the Book of GOD^s 
 Remeinbrance ? Were the Revealed Dodrines of 
 the Gofpel to be earneftly maintained, (as indeed 
 they ought,) and was the great Pradlical Purpofe 
 for which they were revealed to be forgot? Was 
 the very Mint^ and Annife^ and Cummin to be tith- 
 ed^ and were the weightier Matters of the Law to 
 he omitted (n) \ even that Lev? to GOD^ which is 
 ksf rjl and great Command (o) ? Oh how wilt thou 
 be able to vindicate even the jufieft Sentence thou 
 haft paffed on others for their Infidelity^ or for their 
 Difobedience^ without being cofidenmed out of thine 
 own Mouth (p)/ 
 
 §. 8. Will you then plead *' your fair moral 
 *' Charapcr^ your Works of Righteoufnefs and of 
 ** Mercy /"' Had your Obedience to the Law of 
 God been compleat, the Plea might be allow- 
 ed, 
 
 ■(n)Mar. xxiii. 2-3. (o) Mat. xxii. 38, (p) Luke xix. zz 
 
 '^°^'*«^ immiritiffi iTniiMiiiiii 
 
r 
 
 f 1 
 
 *>■ 
 
 I 
 H 
 
 64 A Freedom from grofs Immoralities, Ch. ^.■ 
 
 cd as important and valid. But I have fup- 
 pofed and proved above, that Confiience tefitfies to 
 the contrary ; and you will not now dare to con- 
 tradift it. I add farther. Had thefe Works of 
 yours, which you now urge, proceeded from a 
 fincere Love to God, and a genume Faith m the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, you would not have thought 
 of pleading them, any otherwile than as an Evi- 
 dence of your Intereft in the Gofpel-Covenant, 
 and in the Bleflings of it, procured by the Rtghte- 
 oufnefs and Blood of the Redeemer: And that 
 Faith, had it been fincere, would have been at- 
 tended with fuch deep Humility, and with luch 
 folemn Apprehenfions of the Divine Ho inels 
 and Glory, that inftead of pleading any Works 
 of your own before God, you would rather have 
 implored his Pardon, for the Mixture of finful 
 Imperfeftion attending the very beft of them. 
 Now, as you are a Stranger to this humbling 
 and fanaifying Principle, (which here, in this 
 Addrefs, I fuppofe my Reader to be,) it is ablo- 
 lutely neceflliry you (hould be plainly and faith- 
 fully told, that neither Scbriety, nor llonefty, nor 
 Humanity will jullify you before the Tribunal of 
 God, when he lays Judgment to the Lm, and 
 Rizhteoufnefs to the Plummet (q), and examines all 
 your Aftions, and all vour Thoughts, with the 
 ftriaeft Severity. You have not been a Drunk- 
 ard, an Adulterer, or a Robber. So far it is 
 ■well You ftand before a righteous God, who 
 will do you ample Juftice ; and therefore will 
 not condemn you for Drunkenneis, Adultery, 
 or Robbery. But you have forgotten him, your 
 Parent, and your Benefaftor -, you have cajt ojf 
 Fear, and rejlrained Prayer before him (r) ; you 
 
 (q) Ifai. xxviii. 17- (r) Job. xv. 4. 
 
 Ch. 5. cr tVant of Thought^ will he no Flea, &5 
 
 have defpifed the Blood of his Son, and all the 
 immortal BlelTings that he purchafed with it* 
 For this therefore you are judged, and condemn- 
 ed. And as for any Thing that has looked like 
 Virtue and Humanity in your Temper and Con- 
 duft, the Exercife of it has in a great Meafure 
 been its own Reward, if there were any Thing 
 more than Form and Artifice in it ; and the vari- 
 ous Bounties of Divine Providence to you, amidft 
 all your numbcrlefs Provocations, have been a 
 thoufand Times more than an Equivalent for 
 fuch dcfedive and imperfeft Virtues as thefe. 
 You remain therefore chargeable with the Guilt 
 of a Thoufand Offences, for which you have no 
 Excufe at all, tho' there are fome other Inftances 
 in which you did not grofsly offend. And thofe 
 good Works, in which you have been fo ready 
 to truft, will no more vindicate you in his awful 
 Prefence, than a Man's Kindnefs to his poor 
 Neighbours would be allowed as a Plea in Arreji 
 of Judgment^ when he flood convi^ed of High 
 Treafon againft his Prince. 
 
 §. 9. But you will, perhaps, be ready tofay^ 
 ** You did not expeB all this : You did not think the 
 *' Confequences of negleding Religion would 
 *' have been fo fatal. ^' And why did you not think 
 it ? Why did you not examine more attentively, and 
 more impartially ? Why did you fuffef the Pride 
 and Folly of your vain Heart to take up with fucli 
 fuperficiai Appear afices^ and truft the light Suggeflions 
 of your own prejudiced Mind againft the exprefs 
 Declaration of the Word of GOD? Had you re- 
 fledted on His CharacSer, as the Supreme Go- 
 vernor of the World, you would have feen the 
 Neceflity of fuch a Day of Retribution, as we 
 are now referring to. Had you regarded the 
 
 F Scripture, 
 
L«*t-- 
 
 Ij 
 
 66 It ziili k no fiifficient Plea to fay ^ Ch. 5.- 
 
 Scripture, the Divine Authority of which you 
 profefled to beheve, every Page might have 
 taught you to cxpc6l it. " You did net think of 
 '' Religion.''^ And of v.-hat were you thinking, 
 when you forgot, or negleded it ? Had you too 
 much Employment of another Kind ? Of what 
 Kind, I befcech you ? What End could you pro- 
 |X)fe by any Thing elle, of equal Moment ? Nay, 
 with all your Engagements, Conl'cience will tell 
 you, that there have been Seafons, when, for 
 Want of I'houghr, Time and Life have been a 
 Burden to you :Yct you guarded againlt Thought 
 as an Enemy, and call up (as it were) an In- 
 trenchment of Inconfideration around you on 
 every Side, as if it had been to defend you from 
 the moft dangerous Invafion. God knew ycu 
 m:erc thoughtkfs \ and therefore he lent yc\} Line 
 upon Linc^ mtd Precept upon Precept (3), in fuch 
 plain Language, that it needed no Genius or 
 Study to underlland it. He tried you too with 
 Afflidions, as well as with Mercies, to awaken 
 you out of^ your fatal Lethargy : And yet, ivhen 
 awakened^ you would lie down again upon the 
 Bed of Sloth. And now, pleafmg as your Dreams 
 might be, you rnufl lie do'-ujn in Sorrow (t). Re- 
 flection has at lafl: overtaken you, and muft be 
 heard as a Tornientor, fince it might not be 
 heard as a Friend. 
 
 §. 10. But ibmc may perhaps imagine, that 
 one important Apology is yet unheard, and that 
 there may be Room to fiy, *' You were, by the 
 <' Neceffity of your Nature^ impelled to thole 
 *« Things, which are now charged upon you as 
 *' Crimes; whereas // ivas not in jour Poaer to 
 *' have avoided them, in the Circumttances in 
 
 " which 
 
 (sJUsii. xxviii. xo. (tj Ifai. 1. 11. 
 
 Gil. 5. that you could not do ctherzvife, 6y 
 
 " which you were placed." If this will do any 
 Things it indeed promiles to do much -, fo much, 
 that it will amount to nothing. If I were dif- 
 pofed to anfwer you upon the Folly and Madnefs 
 o^ your own Principles^ I might fay, that the fame 
 Con flier alien ^ which proves it vj-xs neceffary iov you 
 to offend^ proves alfo that it is 7icccfjary for God to 
 pumfhyou\ and that indeed, he cannot hut do it:' 
 And I might farther lay, with an excellentWrit- 
 (T of our own Age*, " that the fmie Principles, 
 " which deftroy the Injujlice of Sins^ deftroy the 
 " Lyiillice of Punifloments too.'* But if you can- 
 not admit this, if you fhould ftill -reply in fpight 
 of Principle, that it muft be unjufi to punifh you 
 for an Adion utterly and abfolutely unavoidable; 
 I really think, you would anfwer right. But in 
 that Anfwer you will contradi6t your own 
 Scheme, (as I obferved above ;j and I leave 
 your Confcience to judge what Sort of a Scheme 
 that muft be, which would make all Kind of Pu- 
 ni foment unjufi: For the Argument will on the 
 whole be the fame, whether with Regard to Hu- 
 man Punijhment^ or Divine. 'Tis a Scheme full of 
 Confufion and Horror. You would not, I am 
 fure, take it from a Servant, who had robbed 
 you, and then fired your Houfe : You would ne- 
 ver inwardly believe, that he could not have 
 helped it, or think, that he had tairly excufed 
 himlelf by fuch a Plea. And I am perfuaded, 
 you would be fo far from prefuming to offer it 
 to God at the great Day, that you would not 
 venture to turn it intorz P;wreven now. Ima- 
 gine, that youfaw a Malefa6lor dying, with fuch 
 Words as thcfe in his Mouth : " Oh God, it is 
 " true, I did indeed rob and murther my Fel- 
 " low-Creatures ; but Thou knoweft, that, as 
 
 F 2 '' my 
 
 * Bp. of BriftoT.' Anah^-^ l^c. p. 135. Oaauo Edit. 
 
f 
 
 ' l4 1 
 
 68 The Sinner muft ewn his Guilt inexcufabk. Ch.5, 
 
 " my Circumftances were ordered, I could not 
 *' dootherwife : My Will was irrefiftibly deter- 
 *' mined by the Motives which thoudidlt fctbe- 
 *' fore me -, and I could as well have fhaken the 
 ** Foundations of the Earth, or darkened the 
 *' Sun in the Firmament, as have refilled the 
 •' Impulfe which bore me on." I put it to j^wr 
 Confcience^ whether you would not look on fuch 
 a Speech as this with Deteftation, as one Enormi- 
 ty added to another. Yet if the Excufe would 
 have any Weight in your Moutn, it would have 
 equal Weight in his *, or would be equally appli- 
 cable to any the mod fhocking Occafion. But 
 indeed, it is fo contrary to the plaineft Principles 
 of common Reafon, that I can hardly perfuade 
 myfelf, any one could feriouHy and thoroughly 
 believe it j and fhould imagine my Time very ill 
 employed here, if I were to fet myfelf to com- 
 bat thofe Pretences to Argument, by which the 
 Wantonnels of Human Wit has attempted to 
 varnifh it over. 
 
 §. II. You fee then, on the whole, the Va-- 
 nity of all your Pleas ^ and how eafily the mod 
 plaufible of them might be filenced, by a mortal 
 Man, like yourfeli : How much more then by 
 Him ^Yiofearches all Hearts^ and can, in a Mo- 
 ment, flalh m upon the Conicience a moft pow- 
 erful and irrcfiflible Convidion ? What then 
 can you do, while yoi: ffand coJtvicfed in the Pre- 
 fence of God ? What Ihould you do, but hold 
 your Peace under an inward Scnfe of your inex- 
 cufabk Guilt, and prepare yourfelves to hear the 
 Sentence which His Law pronounces againft 
 you .? You muft feel the Execution of it, if the 
 Gofpel does not at length deliver you •, and you 
 
 muft 
 
 Ch.5. The Meditation of one giving up his Pleas. 6^ 
 
 muft kd fomething of the Terror of it, before 
 you can be excited to feek to that Gofpel for 
 Deliverance. 
 
 The Meditation of a Convinced Sinner, giv- 
 ing up his vain Pleas before GOD. 
 
 DEPLORABLE Condition, to which 
 1 am indeed reduced ! I have fin- 
 7ied\ and ijubat ftjall I Jay unto Thee ^ Oh Thou 
 Preferver of Men (u)? What (hall I dare to 
 fay? Fool that I was, to amufe myfelf with 
 fuch trifling Excufes as thefc, and to imagine, 
 they could have any Weight in Thy tre- 
 mendous Prefence •, or that I fhould be able 
 fo much as to mention them there ! I cannot 
 prefume to do it. I am filent and confound- 
 ed. My Hopes, alas, are flain ; and my Soul 
 itfelf is ready to die too; fo far as an immor- 
 tal Soul can die : And I am almoft ready to 
 fay. Oh that it could die entirely! I am indeed a 
 Criminal in the Hand of Juftice, quite difarm- 
 ed, and ftrippcd of the Weapons in which I 
 trufted. Diffimulation can only add Provoca- 
 tion to Provocation. I will therefore plainly 
 and freely own it. I have adted, as if I 
 thought GoD ijcas altogether fuch a one as myfelf : 
 Rut He hath faid, / will reprove thee \ 1 iJoill 
 fet thy Sins in Order before thine Eyes (x), 
 will marfhal them in Battle Array. And Oh, 
 what a terrible Kind of Hoft do they appear } 
 and how do they furround me beyond all 
 Poftibility of Efcape! Oh my Soul, they have, 
 as it were, taken thee Prifoner •, and they are 
 bearing thee awav to the Divine Tribunal. 
 
 ' F 3 *' Thou 
 
 (u) Job. vii. 20. (x) Pfal. 1. 21. 
 
^"i 
 
 The Meditation cfa Sinner Ch. 5. 
 
 " Thou mnll: appear before it! Thou mult 
 fee the awful Eternal Judge^ who tries the very 
 Rein^ (y) ; and who needs no other Evidence, 
 for He has hiwfi/f ken Witnefs (z) to all thy 
 Rebellion. Thou muft fee Him, Oh my Soul, 
 fitting in Judgment upon thee; and when He 
 is ffritl to mark Iniquity (a), hov/ wilt thou an- 
 
 V fvjerhinifor cm of a Thoufand (h) ! And if thou 
 canll not anfwer Him, in what Language will 
 He fpcak to thee! Lord, as Tilings at prelent 
 (land, I can exped no other Language than 
 that of Condemnation. And v/hat a Con- 
 
 '' demnation is it! Let me reficdl upon it! Let 
 me read my Sentence, before I hear it final- 
 ly and irreverfibly pafied I I know. He has 
 
 "' recorded it in His Word •, and 1 know in the 
 general, that the Reprefentarion is made with 
 a gracious Defign. 1 know, that He would 
 have us alarmed, that wc may not be dcftroy- 
 ed. Speak to mc therefore. Oh God, while 
 Thou Ipeaked: not for the laft Time, and in 
 Circumrtanccs when Thou wilt hear me no 
 more. Speak in the Language of cileiflual 
 Terror, io that it be not to fpeak me into fi- 
 nal Delpair. And let Thy IVcrd^ however 
 
 *i« painful in its Operation, be quick and pczverful^ 
 
 " and jharper than any two-cdgcd Sword (c). Let 
 me not vainly flatter myleif : Let me not be 
 left azvretchedPrey to thofe who would prophe- 
 jy [mooth Things to me (d), till I am fealed up 
 under Wrath, and feel Thy Juftice piercing 
 my Soul, and thePoifon of thtne Arrows drinking 
 
 up all my Spirits (e). 
 
 *^ Before 
 
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 (y) |er. xvii. ic. 
 (b) Job. ix. 3. 
 (t) Job. vi. 4. 
 
 (z) ler. xxix. 23. (a) Ffal.cxxx. 3. 
 (c) Heb i\\ 12. ^djlfai.xxx. 10. 
 
 cc 
 
 Ch. 5. gi'ving up his Pleas before GOD. 7 1 
 
 " Before I enter upon the particular F/ew^ I 
 know in the general, that it is a terrible Thing to 
 ^' fall into the Hands of the livingGOD (f). Oh Thou 
 *' living God, in one Senfe I am already fallen into 
 •' thine Hands, I am become obnoxious to Thy 
 '' Difplcafure, juflly obnoxious to its and what- 
 *' ever Thy Sentence may be, when it comes 
 ' forth from thy Prefence (g), I mud condemn rny- 
 felf, and jullify Thee. Thou canft not treat 
 me with more Severity, than mine Iniquities 
 have deferved: And how bitter foever that Cup 
 of Trembling may be (h), which Thou fhalt 
 " appoint for me, I give Judgment againft my- 
 '' felf, that I deferve to ivring out the very Dregs 
 ^' of it (i)." 
 
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 (f) Hcb. X. 31. (g) Pfal'Xvii. 
 (\) Pfal. Ixxv. S. 
 
 (h)irai. Ii.i7. 
 
 F4 
 
 CHAP. 
 
72 ne Sinner called to hear bis Smence. Ch. 6 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The Sinner Sentenced. 
 
 p:ie Sinner called upon to hear his Sentence. §. i, 2. 
 GOD^s Law does nozv in general pronounce a Curje: 
 §. 3. It pronounces Deaths §. 4. and being turn- 
 ed into Hell. § 5. The Judgment-Day fhall come. 
 §.6. 57v Solemnity of that grand Procefs dc- 
 fcrihed^ according to Scriptural Reprefentaticns of 
 ^^t §• 7^ S- ""^^^^ ^ particular llluftration of the 
 Sentence^ Depart Accurfcd, &c. §. 9. The Ex- 
 ecution zvill certainly and immediately follow. §. 10. 
 The Sinner warned to prepare for enduring it, §. 11. 
 The Reflexion of a Sinner ft) nek 'with the Terror 
 of this Sentence, 
 
 §. I- JLJ EARj Oh Sinner, arid I '•^vill fpeak (a) 
 Xx yet once more, as in the Name of GODy 
 of GOD^ thine Almighty Judge •, who, 
 if thou doll not attend to his Servant?:, will 'ere 
 long fpeak unto thee in a more immediate Man- 
 ner, with an Energy andTerror which thou flult 
 not be able to refift. 
 
 §. 2. Thou haft been cciroi5fedy as in his Prc- 
 fence. Thy Pleas have been over-ruled \ or ra- 
 ther, they have been filenced. It appears before 
 4|G^D, it appears to thine own Conlcience, that 
 rfiou haft nothing more to offer in Arreft of Judg- 
 ment \ 
 
 (a) Job xlii. 4. 
 
 Ch. 6. The Law pronounces a Curfe, 73 
 
 ment \ therefore hear thy Sentence, and fummon 
 up, if thou canft, all the Powers of thy Soul to 
 bear the Execution of it. // is indeed a very 
 fmall Thing to be judged of Man's Judgment \ but 
 he that now judge th thee, is the Lord (b). Hear 
 therefore, and tremble, while I tell thee, how he 
 will fpeak to thee \ or rather, while I (hew thee, 
 from exprefs Scripture, how he doth even now 
 fpeak, and what is the authentick and recorded Sen- 
 tence of his Word', even of His Word, who hath 
 faid. Heaven and liar th fh all pafs away \ but not one 
 Tittle of my IVord fhall ever pafs away (c). 
 
 §.3. The Law of God fpeaks, not to thee 
 alone. Oh Sinner, nor to thee by any particular 
 Addrefs ; but, in a moft univerfal Language, it 
 fpeaks to all Tranfgreflbrs, and levels its Terrors 
 againft all Offences ; great or fmall, without any 
 Exception. And this is its Language : Curfed is 
 every one, that continueth not in all Things which are 
 written in the Book of the Law to do them (d). This 
 is its Voice to the whole World ; and this it fpeaks 
 to thee. Its awful Contents are thy perfonal Con- 
 cern, Oh Reader-, and thy Confcience knows it. 
 Far from continuing in all Things that are written 
 therein to do them, thou canft not but be fenfible, 
 that innumerable Evils have compaffed thee about (e). 
 It is then manifeft. Thou art the Man, whom it 
 condemns ; thou art even now curfed with a Curfe^ 
 as God emphatically fpeaks (f) ; with the Curfeoi 
 the Moft High God : Yea, all the Curjes which 
 are written in the Book of the Law^ are pointed 
 againjl thee (g). God may righteoudy execute 
 any of them upon thee in a Moment ; and tho* 
 thou at prefent feeleft none of them, yet, if inr 
 
 finite 
 
 (b) 1 Cor. iv. 3,4. (c) Matt. v. 18. (d) Gal. iii. 10. 
 ^e) Pikl. xl 12. (f) Mal.iii. 9. (g) Deut. xxix. 20. 
 
 i- 
 
 ^gttUliluyaiMM 
 
74 I^^'^th and Uelt vj'ui JgUow Sin. Ch. 6. 
 
 finite Mercy cloth not prevent, it is but a little 
 while, and they will corne into thy Bou^^ls like IVa- 
 Ui\ till thou art burfl afunder with them, and 
 ihall penetrate like Oil into thy Bones (h). 
 
 §. 4. Thus faith the Lord, The Soul that finneth^ 
 fiall die (\). But thou bajl fwned^ and therefore 
 thou art under a Sentence of Death. And, Oh 
 unhappy Creature, of what a Death ! What will 
 the End of thefc Things be ? That the Agonies 
 of dilTolving Nature fiiall feize thee ? That thy 
 Soul fhallbe torn away from thy languiroing Body, 
 and thou return to the Dnjl from zvhence thou zvajl 
 taken (k) ? I'his is indeed one awful Effetl of Sin. 
 In thefe afTe(fling Charaders has God, through 
 all Nations and all Ages of Men, written the 
 awful RegiRer and Memorial of his holy Abiior- 
 rcnce^of it, and righteous Difplcafure againfi: it. 
 But alas, all this folemn Pomp and Horror of 
 dying is but the Opening of the dreadful Scene. 
 It IS but a rough Kind of Stroke, by which the 
 Fetters are knocked off, when the Criminal is 
 led out to Torture and Execution. 
 
 §. 5. Thus faith the Lord, The JVickcd fjjall 
 he^ turned into IhJl, even all the Nations that forget 
 GOD (I). Tho' there be ivhole Nations of them, 
 their Multitudes and their Power fiiall be no De- 
 fence to them. They fliall be driven into Uell 
 together ; into that flaming Prifon^ which Divine 
 Vengeance hath prepared ; into Topbet, which is 
 ordained of old y even iov Royal Sinners as well as 
 for others, fo little can any Human Diilinaion 
 proted : He hath made it deep and large -, the Pile 
 thereof is Fire and much IFood -, the Breath of the 
 Lord like a Stream of Brmfione fJjall kindle it (m), 
 and the flaming Torrent iliall flow in upon it fo 
 
 fafl, 
 
 (h) Pfal. clx. I 8. (i) Kzek. xviii. 4. (k) Pfal. civ. 20, 
 '}) Pfil. ix. ,7. cm) Ifii.xxx. 53. '•' 
 
 Ch. 6. The Judgment-Day will come. jc 
 
 ix?(^ that it (hall be turned into a Sea of liquid 
 Fire ; or, as the Scripture alio exprefTes k^ a Lake 
 burning with Fire and Brimfione for ever and ever (n). 
 This is the Second Death ; and the Deaths to which 
 thou. Oh Sinner, by the Word of God art 
 doomed. 
 
 §.6. And fhall this Sentence (land upon Re- 
 cord in vain ? Shall the Law fpeak it, and the 
 Gofpel fpeak it } And fhall it never be pronounced 
 more audibly ? and will God never require and 
 execute the Punifliment .^ He will, Oh Sinner, 
 require if, and He will execute it ; tho' he may 
 ieem for a while to delay. For well doft thou 
 know, that he hath appointed a Day in which he will 
 judge the whole World in Righteoufnefs^ by that Man 
 whom he hath ordained.^ of which he has given Ajjur- 
 cince in having raifed him from the Dead (o). And 
 when GoDJudgeth the World, Oh Reader, who- 
 ever thou art. He will judge thee. And while I 
 remind thee of it, I would alfb remember, that 
 He will judge me. And knowing the Terror of the 
 L:rd (p), that 1 may deliver my own Soul (q), I 
 would with all Plainnefs and Sincerity labour to 
 deliver thine. 
 
 §. 7. I THEREFORE repeat the folemn Warn- 
 ing : Thou, Oh Sinner, ^\\\x.fl and before the Judg- 
 ment Scat of Chrift (r). Thou flialt fee that pom- 
 pous Appearance ; the Defcription of which is 
 grown io familiar to thee, that the Repetition of 
 It makes no ImprefTion on thy Mind. But furely, 
 Uupid as thou now art, the fhrill Trumpet of the 
 Arch-Angel Ihall fliake thy very Soul : And if 
 nothing elfe can awaken and alarm thee, the 
 
 Convul- 
 
 (n) Rev. xxi. 8. (0) Ads xvii. 31. (p) 2 Cor. v. 11. 
 (q) Ezek. xxxiii. 9. (r) 2 Cor. v. 10. 
 
76 T!he great Importance of that awful T>a}\ Ch. 6. 
 
 Conviilfions and Flames of a diflblving World 
 fhall do it. 
 
 §. 8. Dost thou really think, that the Intent 
 of Chrift's final Appearance is only to recover 
 his People from the Grave, and to raife them to 
 Glory and Happinefs ? Whatever Affurance 
 thou haft, that there (hall be^ Refurre^fion of the 
 JuSi \ thou haft the fame, that there ftiall alio be 
 a Refurreriion of the Uf?Jnn(s): That he fhall fepa- 
 rate the rifing Dead one from another^ as a Shep- 
 herd divideth his Sheep from the Goats (t), with 
 equal Certainty, and with infinitely greater Eafe. 
 Or can you imagine, that He will only make an 
 Example of fome flagrant and notorious Sinners, 
 when it is faid, that all the Dead, both fm all and 
 greats fliall fl and before GOD(u) ; and that even 
 he who knew not his Mafier's IFill^md confcquently 
 feemsof all others to have had the faireft Excufe 
 for his Omiftion to obey it, yet even he, for that 
 very Omiftion, fhall be beaten, though with fewer 
 Stripes (w) ? Or can you think, that a Sentence 
 to be delivered with fo much Pomp and Majcfiy, 
 ^ Sentence, by which the righteous Judgment 
 of God is to be revealed, and to have its moft 
 confpicuous and final Triumph, will be incon- 
 fidcrable •, or the Punifiiment to v/hich it ftiall 
 confign the Sinner, be flight or tolerable? There 
 would have been little Reafon to apprehend that, 
 even if we had been left barely to our own Con- 
 jedtures, what that Sentence ftiould be. But this 
 is far from being the Cafe : Our lj)rdfefiisClmfl, 
 in his infinite Condefcenfion and Compaftion, has 
 been pleafcd to give us a Copy of the Sentence, and 
 no doubt, a mo^ exacl Copy j and the Words which 
 
 contain 
 
 (s) Aflsxxlv. I,-, (t) Mitt. XXV. 32. (u)Rev. xx. la. 
 (w) Luke xii. 48, 
 
 Ch . 6. and of the Sentence that will then he paffed. 7 *f 
 
 contain it, are worthy of being infcribed on every 
 Heart. The King, amidft all the Splendor and 
 Dignity in which he fhall then appear, fhall fay 
 unto thofe on his Right-Hand, Come, ye Blejfed of my 
 Father^ inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from 
 the Foundation of the IVorld (x) / And where the 
 IVord of a King is, there is Power indeed (y). And 
 thefe Words have a Power, which may juftly ani* 
 mate the Heart of the humble Chriftian, under 
 the moft overwhelming Sorrow, and may fill him 
 v;ith Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory (z). To be 
 pronounced the Bleffed of the Lord I to be called to 
 a Kingdom! to the immediate, the everlafting /«- 
 heritance of it ! and offuch a Kingdom ! fo well pre- 
 pared, fo glorious, fo compleat, fo exquifitely fitted 
 for the Delight and Entertainment of fuch Crea- 
 tures fo formed and fo renewed, that it fliall ap- 
 pear worthy the eternal Counfels of God to have 
 contrived it, worthy his eternal Love to have 
 prepared it, and to have delighted itfelf with the 
 Views of beftowing it upon his People : Behold, 
 a blejfed Hope indeed ! a lively glorious Hope, to 
 which we are begotten again by the Refurre^ion of 
 Chr iff from the Dead (a), and formed by the fandli- 
 fying Influence of the Spirit of God upon our 
 Minds. But it is a Hope, from which thou. Oh 
 Sinner, art at prefent excluded ; and methinks, 
 that might be grievous : To refleft, " Thefe 
 *' gracious Words fliall Chri/i fpeak to fome •, to 
 " Multitudes, but not to me: On me there is no 
 " Blefjednefs pronounced : For me there is no 
 '* Kingdom prepared.*' But is that all .? Alas, 
 Sinner, our Lord hath given thee a dreadful 
 Counterpart to this. He has told us, what He will 
 
 fay 
 
 (x) Matt. XXV. 34. (y) Ecclcf. vlii. 4. (2) i Pet.i. 8. 
 (a) I Pet. i. 3, 
 
; 8 The dreadful Purport of the Sentence, Ch . 6. 
 Cay to thee, if thou continued what thou art •, to 
 thee and all the Nations of the impenitent and 
 unbelieving World, be they ever^ numerous, 
 be the Rank ot particular.Cnminals ever lo great. 
 He (hall lliy it to the Kings of the Earth, who have 
 been Rebels againft him, lo the Great and Rich 
 Men, and the chief Captains , and the mighty M^n, 
 as well to every Bondman, and every Freeman, of m- 
 ferior Rank (b) : Depart from me Accur- 
 
 SED, INTO EVERLASTING FiRE, PREPARED 
 
 for' THE Devil and his Angels (c). Oh, 
 paufe upon thefe weighty JVords, that thou mayeft 
 enter intofomethingof the Importance of them! 
 §.9. He will fay. Depart : You (hall be 
 driven 'from his Pre fence, with Difgrace and In- 
 famy : From Him, the Source ot Lite and 
 Bleftednefs, in a Nearnefs to whom all the Inlia- 
 bitants of Heaven continually rejoice. You fhall 
 depart Accursed: You have broken God's 
 Law, and its Curfe flills upon you •, and you are, 
 and fhall be, under that Curfe, that abiding Curfe : 
 From that Day forward you fliall be re- 
 garded by God, and all his Creatures, as an ac- 
 curfed and abominable Thing -, as the mod de- 
 tellable, and the mod miierable Part ot^ the 
 Creation. You Ihall go into Fire : And Oh 
 confider, into what Fire ! Is it merely into one 
 fierce Blaze, which (hall confume you in a Mo- 
 ment, tho' with exquifite Pain ? That were ter- 
 rible. But Oh, fuch Terrors arc not to be named 
 with thefe. Thine, Sinner, is everlasting 
 Fire : It is that, which our Lord hath in fuch 
 awful Terms defcribed, as prevailing there, 
 where their IForm dkth not, and the Fire ts not 
 quenched •, and then lays it a fecond Time, where 
 ^ their 
 
 (b) Rev. vi. 15. (c) Matt xxv.4i. 
 
 Cli. 6, zvhich will be furely executed, 7 a 
 
 their Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched ; 
 and again, in wonderful Compaflion, a third 
 Time, where their Worm dkth not, and the Fire is 
 not quenched (Ci). Nor was it originally prepared, or 
 principally intended for you : It was prepared 
 for the Devil and his Angels ; for thofe 
 firfl grand Rebels, who were immediately upon 
 their Fall doomed to it : And fince you have 
 taken Part with them in their Apoftacy, you muft 
 link with thtm into that flaming Ruin ; and fink 
 io much the deeper, as you have defpiled a Sa- 
 viour, who v,MS never offered to them. Thefe 
 mull: be your Companions, and your Tormen- 
 tcrs, with whom you mult dwell for ever. And 
 7S it /, that fay this ? or fays not the Law, and the 
 Gcjpel, the iame ? Does not the Lr.rdjefus Chrjff 
 ex'preCly fiy it, who is the faithful and true Wit- 
 nefs (e), even He who himfelf is to pronounce the 
 Sentence ? 
 
 §. 10. And when it is thus pronounced, and 
 pronounced by Him, fhall it not alio be executed? 
 Who could imagine the contrary ? Who could 
 imagine, there fiiould be all this pompous De- 
 claration, to till the Mind only with vain Terror ; 
 and that this Sentence fhould vanifh into Smoak ? 
 You may eafily apprehend, that this would be a 
 greater Reproach to the Divine Auminiftration, 
 than if Sentence were never to be pafled. And 
 therefore, we might eafily have inferred the 
 Execution of it, from the Procefs of the pre- 
 ceding Judgment. But Icil: the treacherous 
 Heart of a dinner fi-ould deceive him with fo 
 vain a Hope, the Ailurance of that Execution is 
 immediately added in very memorable Terms. 
 It fliall be done : It fliall immediately be done. 
 
 Jhcny 
 (dj Mark ix. 44, 46, 48. (e) Rev. iii. 14. 
 
go ne Sinner warned to prepare for it. Ch. 6. 
 Then, on that very Day, while the Sound of it is 
 yet in their Ears, the Wicked Jhall go away into 
 everlafttng Pumjhment (f ) : And thou. Oh Reader, 
 whoever thou art, being found in their Number, 
 Jhahgo awtr/ with them -, (halt be driven on, among 
 all thefe wretched Multitudes, and plunged with 
 them into eternal Ruin. The wide Gates of Hell 
 fcall be opened to receive thee •, they (hall be 
 fhut againft thee for ever to inclofc thee ; and be 
 faft barred, by the Almighty Hmd of Divine 
 Juftice, to prevent all Hope, all PofTibility of 
 
 Efcape for ever. 
 
 §. II. And now, prepare thyk\i to meet the 
 Lord thy GOD (g) : Summon up all the Refolu- 
 tion of thy Mind, to endure fuch a Sentence, fuch 
 an Execution as this : For He will not meet thee as 
 a Man (h) ; whofe Heart may fomeiimes fail him^ 
 when about to exert a needful Aft of Severity^ 
 fo that Compaffion may prevail againft Reafon 
 and Juftice. No, He will meet thee as a GOD, 
 whofe Schemes and Purpofes are all immoveable 
 as his Throne. I therefore teftify to thee in his 
 Name this Day, that if GOD he true, he will tlm 
 fpeak \ and that // he he ahle, he will thus acf. 
 And, on Suppofition of thy Continuance in thine 
 Impenitence and Unbelief, thou art brought into 
 this miferable Cafe \ that if GOD he not either 
 falfe or weak, thou art undone, thou art eternally 
 undone, 
 
 (f) Matt. XXV. 46. (g) Amos iv. 12. (h) Ifai.xlvii. 3. 
 
 rhe 
 
 Ch. 6. His Refl^^ion on hearing this Sentence, 8 1 
 
 The Reflections?/^ Sinner, Jlruck with the 
 
 Terror of this Sentence, 
 
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 WRETCH that I am! What (hall I 
 do? or whither ihall I flee? lam 
 weighed in the Balance, and am found wanting (i). 
 This is indeed my Doom ; the Doom I am to 
 expea from the Mouth oi Chrifi himfelf ; from 
 the Mouth of Him, that died for the Redem- 
 ption of Men. Dreadful Sentence! and fo 
 much the more dreadful, when confidered in 
 that View ! To what fhall I look to fave me 
 from it ? To whom ihall I call ? Shall I fay 
 to the Rocks, Fall upon me, and to the Htlls^ 
 Cover me (k) ? What fhould I gain by that ? 
 Were I indeed overwhelmed with Rocks and 
 Mountains^ they could not conceal me from 
 th^ Notice of His Eye ; and His Hand could 
 reach me with as much Eafe there, as any 
 where clfe. 
 
 " Wretch indeed that I am ! Oh that I had 
 never been born ! Oh that I had never known 
 the Dignity and Prerogative of the Rational 
 Nature ! Fatal Prerogative indeed, that ren- 
 ders me obnoxious to Condemnation and 
 Wrath ! Oh that I had never been inftrufted 
 in the Will of God at all, rather than' that 
 being thus inftruded, I fhould have difre- 
 gardcd and tranfgrefled it ! Would to God, 
 1 had been allied to the meaneft of the Hu- 
 man Race, to them that come neareft to the 
 State of the Brutes, rather than that I fhould 
 have had my Lot in cultivated Life, amidft fo 
 many of the Improvements of Reafon, and 
 
 ^ ** (dreadful 
 
 (i) Dan. V. ly, (k) Lukcxxiii. 30. 
 
82 
 
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 tl^e Refiecl'm of a Sinner under Ch . 6. 
 (dreadful Refleaion!) amidft fo many of the 
 Advantages of Religion too ! and thus to have 
 perverted all to my own Dcftrudion -Oh 
 [hat God would take away t\^\s Rattonal Soul! 
 But alas, it will live for ever -, will live to feel 
 the Agonies oUternal Death. -^\^y }^v>c I leen 
 the Beauties and Glories of a World like this, 
 to exchange it for that flaming Prifon ! Why 
 have I tafled fo many of my Creator s Boun- 
 ties, to wring out at laft the Dregs of His 
 Wrath ' Why have I known the Delights ot 
 focial Life and friendly Converfe, to exchange 
 them for the horrid Company of Devils and 
 damned Spirits in Tophet ' On -xho can dweL 
 with them in devouring Flames ! who can lie down 
 with them in everkjiing, evcrlafltng, everlapn- 
 
 Burnings (1) ■' . • n ,■ u.,- 
 
 " But whom have I to blame in all this, but 
 mvfelf ? What have I to accule, but my own 
 ftupid incorrigible Folly ? On what is all 
 this terrible Ruin to be charged, but on this 
 one fatal curfed Caufe, that having broken 
 GO Us Law, lTt]t&edHisGofpettooJ 
 « Yet Jta^, Oh my Soul, in the Midft of all 
 thefe doleful, foreboding Complaints Can 1 
 foy, that I have finally reje^ed the Gofpel? Am 
 I not to this Day under the Sound of it ? 1 he 
 Sentence is not yet gone forth againfi me, m io 
 determinate a Manner as be to utterly irrever- 
 fible Thro' all this gloomy Profpeft one 
 Ray of Hope breaks in, and it is poffible I may 
 
 yet be delivered. • • /-.u „ 
 
 " Reviving Thought '. Rejoice in it, Oh my 
 Soul, tho' it be with Trembling •, and turn im- 
 mediately to that God, who, tho' provoked by 
 
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 [\) IkJ. XXxiii. 14, 
 
 th. 6. fhe Terror of this Sentence, 83 
 
 Ten Thoufand Offences, has not yttfworn in 
 His IVratb^ that ihou Jhah never be permitted, 
 to hold farther Intercourfe with Him, or to 
 enter into His Reft (m). 
 
 'M do then, Oh BlefTed Lord, proftrate my- 
 fclf in the Dufl before Thee. I own, I am 
 
 " a condemned and miferable Creature. But 
 my Language is that of the humble Publican^ 
 GOD he merciful to me a Sinner (n) / Some 
 general and confufed Apprehenfions I have of 
 a Way, by which I may pojfihly efcape. Oh 
 God, whatever that Way is, Ihew it me, I 
 befeech thee ! Point it out fo plainly, that I 
 may not be able to miftake it ! And Oh, re- 
 concile my Heart to it, be it ever fo humbling, 
 be it ever fo painful ! 
 
 " Surely, Lord, I have much to learn •, but 
 be Thou my Teacher ! Stay for a little Thine 
 up-lifted Hand ; and in Thine infinite Com- 
 pafTion ^elay the Stroke^ till I enquire a little 
 
 *' farther, how I may finally avoid it!'* 
 
 u 
 
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 (m) Pfal. xcv. 1 1 
 
 (n) Luke xviii. 13. 
 
 G 2 
 
 CHAP. 
 
H 
 
 (the Sinner urged to ctnfider, Ch. % 
 
 i 
 
 W \ 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The helplefs State of the Sinner under Con- 
 demnation. 
 
 rte Sinner ur.ed ioeo^der h.^he -^^ /-^/:; 
 this impending Rmn. §. i, 2- (.'•) iX'^'Jl / 
 ihing hecan offer. %. 3- (^-) ^'"•^,'"'-^f '"^j! 
 
 em endure. %. ,. (3-) ^^- ^ '''^^'■'Xt Tvij 
 in the Courfe of future Duty. §• 5-M ^"^ '^^^l 
 Mianee with Fellow-Sinners, oh Earth, or tnHe 
 4 6 — 8. r?.) Norbyanylnterpofition, cr Inter ce}- 
 fm ' of Angels or Saints in his Favour §• 9- ^'«/, 
 .? ]h only Method, to be afterwards more largely 
 %lained.lh\d. The Lamentation of a Smner ;« 
 this miferaUe Condition. 
 
 & , r-» INNER, Thou haft heard /i^5^«/«;« 
 r> of GOD, as it ftands upon Record in His 
 facrehnd immutable Word. And wilt thou he 
 down under it in e.erlafting Defpa^r ? W.lt thou 
 n.ake no Attempt to be delivered f-m u when 
 it fpeaks nothing lefs than Eternal Death to 
 thvSouP If a Criminal, condemned by Human 
 K has but the leaft Shadow of Hope, that 
 he my poflibly efcape, he is all Attention to rt^ 
 If there be a Friend, who he thinks can help 
 him, with what ftrong Importunity does he in- 
 treat the Interpofition of that Friend ? And, even 
 Se he is beWe the Judge, how difficult is it 
 of«n to force him away from the Bar, while^e 
 
 Ch . 7 . zvhich JVay he can be faroedfrom Ruin, 8 5 
 
 Cry of Mercy^ Mercy, Mercy, may be heard' 
 tho* it be never fo unfeafonable ? A meer Pojfihi' 
 lity that it may make fome Impreffion, make^ 
 him eager in it, and unwilling to be filenced and 
 
 removed. 
 
 §. 2. Wi LT thou not then, Oh Sinner, 'ere 
 yet Execution is done, that Execution which may 
 perhaps he done this very Day, wilt thou not 
 call about in thy Thoughts, what Meafures may 
 be taken for Deliverance ? Yet what Meafures 
 can be taken ? Confider attentively, for it is an 
 Affair of Moment. Thy Wifdom, thy Power, 
 thy Eloquence, or thine Intereft, can never be 
 exerted on a greater Occafion. If thou canft 
 help thyfelf, do. If thou haft any fecret Source 
 of Relief, go not out of thy felf for other AfTiftance. 
 If thou haft any Sacrifice to offer •, if thou haft any 
 Strength to exert -, yea, if thou haft any Allies on 
 Earth, or in the Invifible World, who can de- 
 fend and deliver thee •, take thine own Way, fo 
 that thou mayeft but be delivered at all, and we 
 may not fee thy Ruin. But fay. Oh Sinner, in 
 the'Prefence of God, what Sacrifice thou wilt 
 prefent, what Strength thou wilt exert, what Al- 
 lies thou wilt have Recourfe to, on fi) urgent, fo 
 hopelefs an Occafion : For hopelefs I muft indeed 
 pronounce it, \f fi^ch Methods are taken. 
 
 §.3. The Jufiiceof god is injured: Haft 
 thou any Atonement to make to it? If thou waft 
 brought to an Enquiry and Propofal like that of 
 the awakened Sinner, JVherewith Jhall I come be- 
 fore the Lord, and bow my felf before the high GOD? 
 Shall I come before him with Burnt-Offerings, with 
 Calves of a Tear old? mil the Lord be pleafed with 
 Thoufands of Rams , or with Ten Thoufands of Rivers 
 
 G 3 of 
 
86 He las no Sacrifice to atone for Sin : Ch. 7. 
 cfOil (a).? Alas, wert thou as great a Prince as 
 Solonjon himfelt, and couldft thou indeed pur- 
 chafe Rich Sacrifices as thcfe, there would be no 
 Room to mention them. Lehnon would not be 
 fiifficient to burn, nor all the Beafis thereof for a Burnt- 
 Offering (b). Even under that Difpenlation, 
 which admitted and required Sacrifices in fome 
 Cafes, the Blood of Bulls and of Goats, tho' it ex- 
 empted the OflTcnder from farther Temporal Pu- 
 nilhment, could not take away Sin (c), nor prevail 
 by any Means io purge the Confcieme in the Sight 
 of Go D. And that Soul, that had done ought pre- 
 fumptuoti/Iy, was not allowed to bring any Sin-Of- 
 fering or "Trefpafs-Offcring at all, but was con- 
 demned to die without Mercy fd). Now God 
 and thine own Confcience know, that thme Ot- 
 fenceshave not been merely the Errors of Igno- 
 rance and Inadvertency, but that thou hofl finned 
 with a high Hand in repeated aggravated Circum- 
 llances, as thou haft acknowledged already. 
 
 Shouldft thou add, with the wretched 
 
 Sinner defcribed above. Shall I give my Firfl-born 
 for r.ry Tranfgreffion, the Fruit of my Body for the Stn 
 of my Soul (ej ? What could the Blood of a be- 
 loved Child do in fuch a Cafe, but dye thy 
 Crimes fo much the deeper, and add a yet un- 
 known Horror to them ? Thou haft offended a 
 Being of Infinite Majefty •, and if that Ofifence is 
 to be expiated by Blcod, it muft be by another Ktnd 
 cf Blood, than" that which flows in the Veins gf 
 thy Children, or in thine own. 
 
 §.4. Wilt thou then fuffer thyfelf, till thou 
 halt made full Satisfadion? But where ftiall that 
 Satisfaftion be made ? Shall it be by any Calami- 
 ties 
 
 (a) Mic. vi. 6, 7. (b) Ifai. xl. 16. (c) Heb. x. \' 
 (dj Numb. XV. 30. (e) Mic. vi. 7. 
 
 Ch. 7. Nor any Sufferings of bis ozvn can do it. 87 
 
 ties to be endured in this mortal momentary Life ? 
 Is the Juftice of God thep efteemed fo little a 
 Thing, that the Sorrows of a few Days (hould 
 fuffice to anfwer its Demands? - — - Or doft 
 thou think of future Sufferings, in the Invifible 
 World ? If thou doft, that is not Deliverance •, and 
 with Regard to that I may venture to fay. When 
 thou halt made full Satisfa5iion, thou wilt be re- 
 leafed: When thou haft paid the utmvfl Farthing oi 
 that Debt, thy Prifcn Doors fhall be opened. In 
 the mean time, thou muft 7nake thy Bed in Hell (f); 
 And, Oh unhappy Man, wilt thou lie down 
 there, with a lecret Hope, that the Moment 
 v;ill come, when the Rigour of Divine Juftice ' 
 will not be able to inflidt any Thing more than 
 thou haft endured, and when thou mayeft claim 
 thy Difcharge as a Matter of Right .? It would 
 indeed be well for thee, if thou couldft carry 
 down with thee fuch a Hope, falfe and flattering 
 as it is: But alas, thou wilt fee Things in fo juft 
 a Light, that to have no Comfort but this, will be 
 eternal Defpair. That one Word of thy Sentence, 
 Everlasting Fire-, that one Declaration, ne 
 IVorm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched-, will 
 be fufficient to ftrike fuch a Thought into blank 
 Confufion, and to overwhelm thee with hopelefs 
 Agony and Horror. 
 
 §. 5. O R do you think, that ^o\iX future Re- 
 formation, and Diligence in Duty for the Time to 
 come, will procure your Difcharge from this Sen- 
 tence? Take heed. Sinner, what Kind of Obe- 
 dience thou thinkeft of offering to an holy God. 
 That muft be fpotlefs and compleat, which his 
 Infinite San6^ity can approve and accept, if he 
 ^pnfider thee in thyfelf alone : There muft be no 
 
 G 4 Incon- 
 
 (fj Pfai, cxxxix. S. 
 
i 
 
 i 
 
 
 88 His own Obedience cannot faroe him : Ch. 7. 
 
 Inconftancy, no Forgetfulnefs, no Mixture of 
 Sin attending it. And wilt thou, enfeebled as 
 thou art, by fo much Original Corruption, and 
 fo many finful Habits con traded by innumerable 
 a6lual Tranfgrefiions, undertake to render fuch 
 an Obedience, and that for all the Remainder 
 of thy Life? In vain wouldfl: thou attempt it, 
 even for one Day. New Guilt would immedi- 
 ately plunge thee into new Ruin. But if it did 
 not ; if from this Moment to the very End of 
 thy Life all were as compleat Obedience as the 
 Law of God required from yldam in Paradife, 
 would that be fufficient to cancel paft Gitih ? Would 
 it difcharge an old Debt, that thou hadft not 
 con traded a new one? Offtr this to thy Neigh- 
 bour^ and fee if he will accept it for Payment •, and 
 if he will not, wilt thou prcfume to offer it to. 
 thy God! 
 
 V 6. B u T I will not multiply Words on fo 
 plain a Subjeft. While I fpeak thus. Time is 
 pairing away, Death prefTes on, and Judgment is 
 approaching. And what can fave thee from 
 thefe awful Scenes, or what can protect ihee in 
 them ? Can the World fave thee ? that vain delu- 
 five Idol of thy Wifhes and Purfuits, to which 
 thou art facrificing thine Eternal Hopes? Well 
 doft thou know, that it will utterly forfike thee, 
 when thou needeft it moft *, and that not one of 
 its Enjoyments can be carried along with thee 
 into the Invifible State: No, not fo much as a 
 Trifle to remember it by •, it thou couldft defire 
 to remember fo inconftanr, and \o treacherous a 
 Friend, as the World has been. 
 
 §.7. An D when you are dead, or when you 
 are dying, can your ftnful Companions [o^^e you ? h 
 there any one of them, if he were ever fodefirous 
 
 of 
 
 Ch. 7. Nor can his Fellow-Creatures help him. 89 
 
 of doing it, that can give unto GOD a Ranfom for 
 you (g), to deliver you from going down to the 
 Grave ^ or from going down to Hell? Alas, you 
 will probably be fo fenfible of this, that when 
 you lie on the Border of the Grave, you will be 
 unwilling to fee, or to converfe with thofe, that 
 were once your favourite Companions.- They will 
 afBi(5l you, rather than relieve you, even then : 
 How much lefs can they relieve you before the 
 Bar of God, when they are overwhelmed with 
 their own Condemnation } 
 
 §.8. As for the Powers of Darknefs^ you are 
 fure, they will be far from any Ability, or Incli- 
 nation to help you. Satan has been watching 
 and labouring for your Deftru6lion, and he will 
 triumph in it. But if there could be any thing 
 of an amicable Confederacy between you, what 
 would that be, but an AfTociation in Ruin ? For 
 the Day of Judgment of ungodly Men will alfo be 
 the Judgment of thefe rebellious Spirits ; and the 
 Fire into which thou, 0!i Sinner, vjufl depart^ is 
 that which was prepared for the Devil and his An- 
 gels (h). 
 
 §.9. Wi L L the Celeflial Spirits ih^n fave thee? 
 will they interpofe their Power, or their Prayers, 
 in thy Favour ? An Intcrpofition of Power, when 
 Sentence is gone forth againft thee, were an Aft 
 of Rebellion againft Heaven, v/hich thefe holy 
 and excellent Creatures would abhor. And when 
 the final Pleafure of the Judge is known, inftead 
 of interceding in vain for the wretched Criminal, 
 they would rather, with ardent Zeal for the 
 Glory of their Lord, and cordial Acquiefcence 
 in the Determination of his Wifdom and Ju- 
 ftice, prepare to execute it. Yea, difficult as it 
 
 may 
 
 (%) Pfkl. xlix." 7. (h) Matt, xxv. 41. 
 
 P 
 
90 ISIoneof the Saints <willinterpofe for him. Ch. 7. 
 muy at prefent be to conceive it, it is a certain 
 Truth, that the Servants of Cbrifl, who now 
 moft tenderly love you, and moft affcdion^tely 
 feek your Salvation ; not excepting thofe, who 
 are allied to you in the ncareft Bonds ot Nature, 
 or of Friendfhip; even they fliall put ihtw Amen 
 to it. Now indeed their Botvels yearn over you, 
 •and their Eye poureth out Tears on your Account : 
 Now they expoftulate with you, and plead with 
 God for you, if by any Means, while yet there 
 is Hope, you may be plucked as a Fircbnmd out of 
 the Burning (i). But alas, their Remonarances 
 you will not regard •, and as for their Prayers, 
 what Ihould they ask for you? What but this, 
 that you may lee yourfelves to be undone ? and 
 that, utterly defpairing of any Help irom your 
 felves, or from any created Power, you may lie 
 before God in Humility and Brokennefs ot 
 Heart ; that fubmitting yourfelves to his righte- 
 ous Judorment, and in an uUer Renunciation ot all 
 Self-Deplndance, and of all Creature-Dependance, 
 you may lift up an humble Look towards Him, 
 as almoft/m;; the Depths of Hell, if peradventure 
 He may have CompalTion upon you, and may 
 Himfelf direft you to that only Method of Rel- 
 cue, which, while Things continue as in preljnt 
 prcumftances they are, neither Earth, nor Hull, 
 nor Heaven can afford you. 
 
 the Lamentation of a Sinner in this mife- 
 
 rable Condition, 
 
 cc ^-X H doleful, uncomfortable, helplefsState! 
 <c \^ Oh Wretch that I am, to have redq- 
 « cedmyfelfto it! Poor, empty, miferable, a- 
 
 ** bandoii'4 
 
 (1) Amos iy. 1 1 . 
 
 «c 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 C( 
 
 Ch. 7. ^e Sinner^ s Lamentation in his Mifery, 91 
 
 ** bandon'd Creature ! Where is my Pride, and 
 " the Haughtinefs of my Heart ? Where arc 
 ** my Idol Deities, whom I have loved, andfervedy 
 «* after whom I have walked, and whom I have 
 fought (k), whilft I have been multiplying my 
 
 Tranfgreflions againft the Majefty of Heaven ? 
 ,*' Is there no Heart to have Compaflion upon 
 .^' me ? Is there no Hand to fave me ? Have Pity 
 *' upon me, have Pity upon me. Oh my Friends, for 
 .«* the Hand cf GOD hath touched me {}), hath 
 ." feized me I I feel it prefling me hard, and 
 " and what /hall I do? Perhaps they have Pity 
 
 upon me : But alas, how feeble a Compaffion! 
 
 Only, if there be any where in the whole Com- 
 *' pafs of Nature arty Help, tell me where it may be 
 *' found! Oh point it out; diredl me towards it; 
 '' or rather, confounded and aftonifhed as my 
 *' Mind is, take me by the Hand, and lead me 
 " to it! 
 
 " Oh ye Miniflers of the Lord, whofe Office ic 
 
 is to guide and comfort diftrefled Souls, take 
 ' Pity upon me! I fear, 1 am a Pattern of many 
 
 other helplefs Creatures, who have the like 
 *' Need of your Affiftance. Lay afide your 
 V other Cares, to care for my Soul ; to care for 
 
 this precious Soul of mine, which lies as it 
 
 were bleeding to Death, (if that Exprefliori 
 
 may be ufcd,) while you perhaps hardly afford 
 " me a Look *, or glancing an Eye upon me, 
 ** pafs over to the other Side (m). Yet alas, in a 
 *' Cafe like mine, what can your Interpofition 
 " avail, if it be alone? If the LORD do not 
 *' help me, how can ye help me (n)? 
 
 " Oh GOD of the Sprits of all Flefh (o), I lift 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 (k) Jcr.viii. 2. (1) Job xix. 21. (m) Lukex. 31. 
 
 (n) 2 Kings vi. 27. (0) Numb. xvi. 2. 
 
ii 
 
 <c 
 
 <c 
 
 C( 
 
 «c 
 
 <4 
 
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 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 92 72^^ S/««^r'j Lamentation in his Mifery. Ch. 7. 
 up mine Eyes unto thee, and cry unto Thee as 
 oiit of the Belly of Hell (p). I cry unto Thee at 
 lead from the Borders of it. Vet while I he 
 ** before Thee in this infinite Diftrefs, I know 
 ** that Thine Almighty Power and boundlefs 
 •* Grace can ftill find out aWay for my Recovery. 
 " Thou art He^ whom I have mod of all in- 
 ^' jured and affronted', and yet from Thee alone 
 muft I now feek Redrefs. Againjl Thee, Thee only 
 have I finned, and done Evil in thy Si^ht (q) ; fo 
 that Thou mighteft bejuftijied when Thou fpeakeji, 
 and be clear when Thou judgefl, tho' Thou 
 fhouldft this Moment adjudge me to Eternal Mi- 
 fery. And yet I find fomething that fecretly 
 draws me to Thee, as if I might find Rejcue 
 there, where I have deferved the moft aggra- 
 «* vated DepuBion. Bleflcd God, 7 han)e de- 
 « Jlroyedmyfelfs but inThee is my Help (r), if there 
 can be Help at all. 
 
 « I know in the general, that Thy IVays are 
 not as our Ways, nor thy Thoughts as cur Thoughts -, 
 but are as high above them, as the Heavens are 
 *' above the Earth (s). Have Mercy therefore 
 upon me. Oh GOD, according to thy Loving 
 Kindnefs, according to the Multitude of Tljy tender 
 Mercies (t)! Oh point out the Path to the City 
 of Refuge! Oh lead me Thyfelf /;/ the IFay ever- 
 lafting(\i)! 1 know in the general, that Thy 
 Gofpel is the only Remedy : Oh teach Thy Ser- 
 vants to adminifter it! Oh prepare mine Heart 
 to receive it! and fuffer not, as in many In- 
 ftanccs, that Malignity which has fpread iticlt 
 thro* all my Nature, to turn that noble Me- 
 ** dicine into Poifon!" 
 
 (p) Jonah ii. 2. (q) Pfal. li. 4. , (0 Ho^- ^''' 9- 
 
 Is) Ifai. Iv. 8, 9- N f^' ^'' ' ' (^) ^^^- u '^ A ■ 't^* 
 
 Ly ti A )f- 
 
 «C 
 
 CC 
 
 C£ 
 
 i« 
 
 <i 
 
 iC 
 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 Ch. S. Thefe Things are not de/gned to grieve. 93 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 News of Salvation by Christ brought to 
 the convinced and condemned Sinner. 
 
 The awful Tilings which have hitherto been faid, in- 
 tended, not to grieve, but to help. §. i. After fome 
 Refleoiion on the Pleafure with which a Minifler 
 of the Gofpel may deliver the Meffage with which 
 be is charged, §.2. and fome Reafons for the Re- 
 petition of what is in Speculation fo generally known^ 
 §. 3. The Author proceeds briefly to declare the Sub- 
 Jiance of thefe glad Tidings \ viz. That GOD, ha- 
 ving in his Irifinite Compqffwn fent his Son to die for 
 Sinners, is now reconctleable thro* Him: §. 4, — 6. 
 So that the mofl heinous Tranfgreffwns (hall be en- 
 tirely pardoned to Believers, and they made com- 
 pleatly and eternally happy. §. 7,8. The Sinner* s 
 Reflexion on this good News. 
 
 §. I. TWTY dear Reader! It is the great De- 
 iVX fign of the Gofpel, and where-ever it 
 is cordially received, it is the glorious EfFed: of 
 it, to fill the Heart with Sentiments of Love ; 
 to teach us to abhor all unneceflary Rigour and 
 Severity, and to delight, not in the Grief, but 
 in the Happinefs of our Fellow- Creatures. I 
 can hardly apprehend, how he can be a Chrifli- 
 an, who takes Pleafure in the Diftrefs which ap- 
 pears even in a Brute ; much lefs in that of a Hu- 
 man Mind i and efpecially, infuch Diflrefs as the 
 
 Thoughts 
 
■■* 
 
 Hi 
 
 ill 
 
 94 ^je News of Salvation puUipjed. Ch. 9: 
 
 Thoughts I have been propofing mud give, if 
 there be any due Attention to their Weight and 
 Energy. I have often felt a tender Regret, 
 while I have been reprefenting thefe Things 5 
 and I could have wijhed from mine Heart, that 
 it had not been necejjary to have placed them in 
 fo fevere, and fo painful a Light. But now I am 
 addrefling myfelf to a Part of my Work, which 
 I undertake with* unutterable Pleafure •, and to 
 that, which indeed I had in View, in all thofe 
 awful Things which 1 have already been laying 
 before you. I have been (hewing you, that, if 
 you hitherto have lived in a State of Impenitency 
 and Sin, you are condemned by God's righte- 
 ous Judgment, and have in yourfelf no Spring of 
 Hope, and no Poffibility of Deliverance : But I 
 mean not to leave you under this fad Apprehen- 
 fion, to lie down and die in Defpair, complain- 
 ing of that cruel Zeal, which has tormented you 
 
 before the 'Time (a). 
 
 §.2. Arise, Oh thoudejefted Soul, that art 
 proftrate in the Duft before God, and trem- 
 bling under the Terrors of His Righteous Sen- 
 tence -, for I am commifTioned to tell thee, that 
 tho' thou haff deftroyed thyfelf^ in GOD is thine 
 Help (b;, I bring thee good Tidings of great Joy (c), 
 which delight my own Heart, while I proclaim 
 them, and will I hope reach, and revive thine ; 
 even the Tidings of Salvation, by the Blood^ and 
 Rightecufnefs of the Redeemer. Andl give it 
 thee, for thy greater Security, in the Words of 
 a gracious and forgiving God, that /i^ is in 
 Chrift reconciling tl^e World unto himfelf, and not im- 
 puting to them their Trefpajfes (d). 
 
 § 3. This 
 
 (a) Matt. viu. 29. (bj Hof. xiii. 9. (c) Luke ii. 10. 
 (dj z Cor. V. 19% 
 
 Ch. 8. ^he Need there is to repeat it, 95 
 
 §. 3. This is the belt News that ever was 
 heard, the moft important Mcffage which G o d 
 ever icnt to his Creatures : And tho' I doubt not 
 at all, but living, as you have done, in a Chri- 
 ftian Country, you have heard it often, perhaps 
 a Thoufand and a Thoufand Times ; I will, with 
 all Simplicity and Plainnefs, repeat it to you 
 again, and repeat it as if you had never heard it 
 before. If thou, Oh Sinner, fliouldft now for 
 the firft Time feel it, then will it be as a New 
 Gojpel unto thee, tho' fo familiar to thine Ear ; 
 nor (hall it bt grievous for vie to fpeak what is fo 
 common, Jince to you it is fafe and neceflfary (t). 
 They who are moft deeply and intimately ac- 
 quainted with it, inftead of being cloyed and fa- 
 tiated, will hear it with diftinguilhed Pleafure ; 
 and as for thofe who have hitherto flighted it, I 
 am fure they had Need to hear it again. Nor is 
 it abfolutely impoflible, that fome one Soul at leaft 
 may read thefe Lines, who hath never been 
 clearly and fully inftruded in this important 
 Dodrine, tho' his everlafling All depends on 
 knowing and receiving it. 1 will therefore take 
 Care, that fuch a one Ihall not have it to plead 
 at the Bar of God, tnat tho* he lived in a 
 Chriifian Country, he was never plainly and 
 faithfully taught the Dofliine of Salvation by Je- 
 sus Christ,, the Way, the Truth, and the Ufe^ 
 by whom alone 'uuC come unto the Father (f). 
 
 §. 4. I do therefore teftify unto you this Day, 
 that the holy and gracious Majefty of Heaven 
 and Earth, forefeeing the fatal Apcflacy into 
 which the whole Human Race would fall, did 
 not determine to deal in a Way of ftrift and ri- 
 gorous Severity with us, fo as to confign us over 
 
 to 
 
 (q) Phil. iii. I. (f) John xiv. 6. 
 
I 
 
 96 God has fent his Son to die for Sinners, Ch. 8. 
 to miverfal Ruin and inevitable Damnation: But on 
 the contrary, he determined to enter into ^a 
 Treaty of Peace and Reconcihation, and to pub- 
 ]ifh to all, whom the Gofpel Ihould reach, //^^ 
 exprefs Offers of Life and Glory, in a certam Me- 
 thod, which his Infinite Wifdom judged fuitable 
 to the Purity of his Nature, and the Honour ot 
 his Government. This Method was indeed a 
 moft aftoniOiing one, which, familiar as it is to 
 our Thoughts and our Tongues, I cannot recol- 
 lea and mention without great Amazement He 
 determined to fend His own.Son into the World, 
 the Brtghtnefs of his Glory, and the exprefs Image of 
 his Perfon CgJ, Partaker of his own Divme Per- 
 fedions and Honours, to be not merely a Teacher 
 ofRic^hteoufnefs, and a Meffenger of Grace, but 
 alfo ^Sacrifice for the Sins of Men -, and wou d 
 confent to his faving them, on no other Condi- 
 tion but this, that he ihould not only labour, 
 
 but die in the Caufe. r. • i r 
 
 § 5 Accordingly, at fuch a Period o\ 
 Time as Infinite Wifdom law moft convenient, 
 the Lord Jefus Chrtjl appeared in Human Flelh ; 
 and after he had gone thro' inceffant, and long 
 continued Fatigues, and borne all the preceding 
 Injuries, which the Ingratitude and Malice ot 
 Men could inflia, he volunt^vWy fuhmtted htmfeif 
 to Death, even the Death of the Crofs (h) •, and ha- 
 ving been delivered for our Offences, was raijed a- 
 gain for our Jufiifcation (i). Attcr his Refur- 
 redion, he continued long enough on Earth to 
 give his Followers moft convincing Evidences ot 
 it, and then afcended into Heaven in their Sight (k; ; 
 and fent down his Spirit from thence upon his A- 
 •^ poflles, 
 
 (g) Heb. i. 3. (^) Phil. ii. 8. (\) Rom. iv. 15- 
 
 Ch. 8. and isnowreconcikable thro* him, 97 
 
 poflles, to enable them, in the mod perfuafive 
 and authoritative Manner, to preach the Gofpel (\) : 
 And he has given it in Charge to them, and to 
 rhofe who in every Age fucceed them in this 
 Part of their Office, that it ihould be publifhed 
 to every Creature (m) •, that all who believe in it 
 may be faved, by Virtue of its abiding Energy, 
 and the immutable Power and Grace of its Di- 
 vine Author, who is the fame Tefterday, To-day^ 
 and for Ever (n). 
 
 §.6. This Gofpel do I therefore now preachy 
 and proclaim unto thee. Oh Reader, with the fin- 
 cereft Defire, that, thro' Divine Grace, it may 
 this very Day be Salvation to thy Soul (o). Know 
 therefore, and confider it, whofoever thou art, 
 that as furely as thefe Words are now before 
 thine Eyes, fo fure it is, that the Incarnate Son 
 of God was made a Spectacle to the World, and to 
 Angels, and to Men {^) \ his Back torn with 
 Scourges, his Head with Thorns, his Limbs 
 ftretched out as on a Rack, and naiPd to the ac- 
 curfcd Tree •, and in this miferable Condition he 
 was hung up by his Hands and his Feet, as an 
 Objed of publick Infamy and Contempt. Thus 
 Hid he die, in the Midft of all the Taunts and 
 Infults of his cruel Enemies, who thirfted for his 
 Blood •, and, which was the faddeft Circumftance 
 of all, in the Midll of thefe Agonies, with which 
 he clofed the moft innocent, pcrfet^, and ufeful 
 Life that was ever Ipent upon Earth, he had not 
 thole Supports of the Divine Prefence, which 
 finful Men have often experienced, when they 
 have been fuffering for the Teftimony of their 
 Confcience. They have often burft out into 
 
 H Tranfports 
 
 (1) Luke xxiv. 40. (m) Mark xvi. 15. (n)Heb. xiii. 8' 
 (q) Luke xix. 9. (^) i Cor. iv. 9. 
 
k 
 
 it- 
 
 I. 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 98 "fbe Sufferings that Chrift endured Ch. iv 
 
 Tranfports of Joy and Songs of Praife, while 
 their Executioners have been glutting their hel- 
 lilh Malice, and more than favage Barbarity, by 
 making their Torments artificially grievous •, but 
 the crucified J efus cried out, in the Diftrefs of his 
 fpotlefs and holy Soul, My GOD, my GOD, ^ly 
 bafi thou forfaken me (c\) ? 
 
 §. 7. Look upon our dear Redeemer! Look 
 up to this mournful, dreadful, yet in one View, 
 delightful Spe<5tacle •, and then ask thine own 
 Heart, Do 1 believe that Jefus fuffered and died 
 thus? And why did he fuffcr and die? Let me 
 anlwer in God's own Words, He was wounded 
 for our Iranfgreffwns, he was bruifedfor our Iniqui- 
 ties, and the^ChaJiifement of our Peace was upon him, 
 that by his Stripes we might be healed : It pieafed the 
 Lord to bruife lAm, and to put him to Grief, when he 
 wade his Soul an Offering for Sin ; for the Lord laid 
 en him the Iniquity cf us all (r). So that I may 
 addrefs you in the Words of the Apoftle, Be it 
 known unto you therefore, that through this Man is 
 preached unto you the Forgivenefs of Sins (s) •, as it 
 was his Command, juft after he rofe from the 
 Dead, that Repentance and Remiffwn of Sins fhould 
 he preached in his Name unto all Nations, beginning 
 at Jerufalem(i) •, the very Place, where his Blood 
 had fo lately been fhed in fuch a cruel Manner. 
 I do therefore teftify to you, in the Words of 
 another infpired Writer, that Chrifl was made 
 Sin, that is, a Sin.Offering,/^r us, tho' he knew no 
 Sin, that we might be made the Righteoufnefs of 
 GOD in him (u) •, that is, that thro' the Righte- 
 oufnefs he has fulfilled, and the Atonement he 
 has made, we might be accepted by God as 
 
 righteous, 
 
 (q) Matt, xxvii. 46. (r) Kai. liii. <;, 6, 10. 
 
 (s) Adsxiii. 38. (i) Lukexxiv.47. fu; 2 Cor. v. 21. 
 
 Ch. 8. were defigned to atone for Sin, pg 
 
 righteous, and be notonly pardoned, but received 
 into his Favour. To you is the JVord of this Salvation 
 fent (x) ; and to you. Oh Reader, are the Blef- 
 fmgs of it even now offered by God ; fincerely 
 offered •, fo that, after all that I have faid under 
 the former Heads, it is not your having broken 
 the Law of God, that fhall prove your Ruin, if 
 you do not alfo rejedl his Gofpel. It is not all 
 thofe Legions of Sins, which rife up in Battle 
 Array againft you, that fliall be able to deftroy 
 you, if Unbelief do not lead them on, 2ind final 
 Lnpenitency do not bring up the Rear. I know, 
 that Guilt is a timorous Thing •, I will therefore 
 fpeak in the Words of God himfelf -, nor can 
 any be more comfortable: He that believeth on the 
 Son, hath everlafting Life (y) ; and he fhall never 
 come into Condemnation (z) : There is therefore now 
 no Condemnation, no Kind or Degree of it, to 
 them, to any one of them, who are in Chrifl Je^ 
 fus, who walk not after the Flefh, but after the Spi- 
 rit fa). You have indeed been a very great 
 Sinner, and your Offences have truly been at- 
 tended with molt heinous Aggravations ; never- 
 thelefs ycu may rejoice in the Affurance, that 
 where Sin hath abounded, there fhall Grace much 
 more abound (b) ; that where Sin hath reigned unto 
 Death, where it has had its mofl unlimited Sway, 
 and moft unrefifted Triumph, there fiiall Righ- 
 teoufnefs reign to eternal Life thro* Jefus Chrifl our 
 Lord (c). That Righteoufnefs, to which on klie- . 
 ving in him thou wilt be intitled, Ihall not only 
 break thofe Chains, by which Sin is fas it were^ 
 dragging thee at its Chariot Wheels with a fu- 
 rious Pace to Eternal Ruin ; but it (hall clothe 
 
 H 2 thee 
 
 (x) Afls xiii. 26. (y ) John iii. 36. (z) John v. 24. 
 fa} Rom. viii. i. (bj Rom. v. 20. (c) Rom. v. 21. 
 
"4 
 
 1 oo IVhofoever believes, /hall be faved. Ch . % . 
 thee with the Robes of Salvation, (hall fix thee 
 on a Throne of Glory, where thou {halt live and 
 relEn for ever among the Princes of Heaven ; 
 rtialt reisn in immortal Beauty and Joy, without 
 one remaining Scar of Divine Difpleafure upon 
 thee ; without any fingle Mark, by which it 
 could be known, that thou hadft ever been ob- 
 noxious to Wrath, and a Curfe •, except it be an 
 Anthem of Praife, to the Lamb that «"">'«;/"'' 
 has wajhed thee from thy Sins in his own Blood {d). 
 
 & 8. Nor is it neceffary, in order to thy be- 
 incrreleufed from Guilt, and intitled to this high 
 and compleat Felicity, that thou Ihouldft, before 
 thou wilt venture to apply to Jefus, bring any ^^^^ 
 mrks of thine own to. recommend thee to his Ac- 
 ceptance. It is indeed true, that if thy F.uth 
 be fincere, it will certainly produce them : But 
 I have the Authority of the Word of Goo to 
 tell thee, that if thou this Day (it^cert\ybelm,ejt 
 in the Name of the Sen of GOD, thou fhalt th,s 
 Day be taken under his Care, and be numbered 
 among thofe of bis Sheep, to whom, he hath gra- 
 ciouny declared, that he will give Eternal Ufe, 
 and that they fball never perifh (e). Thou haft no 
 Need therefore to fay. Who fhall go up tnto Heaven, 
 or who (hall defcend into the Deep for me ? tor the 
 Word is nigh thee, in thy Mouth, and tn thme 
 Heart (1). With this joyful Meflage I leave 
 thee V with this faithful Saying, indeed wr/^ of 
 all Acceptation (g) •, with this Gofpel, Oh Sinner, 
 which is my Ufe ; and which, if thou doft not 
 rejeft it, will be thine too. 
 
 (d) Rev. i. 5- (e) John x. 28. (0 Rom- »• ^' 7' ^• 
 (g) I Tim. i. 15. 
 
 Ch. 6. The Sinner*! RefleUion on this good News. 10 1 
 the Sinner's Reflection c» this good Neivs. 
 
 • 
 
 OH my Soul, how aftonifliing is the Mcf- 
 fage, which thou haft this Day receiv'd! 
 I have indeed often heard it before •, and it is 
 grown fo common to me, that the Surprize is 
 not fenfible. But refled. Oh my Sou), what 
 it is thou haft heard •, and fay, whether ihe 
 Name of the Saviour, whofe Meffage it is, 
 may not well be called Underfill, Counjellor (h), 
 when he difplays before thee fuch JVonders of 
 Love, and propofes to thee fuch Counfeh of 
 
 Peace ! 
 
 *' Blefled Jefus, is it indeed thus! Is it not 
 the Ficlion of the Human Mind ? Surely it is 
 not! What Human Mind could have invent- 
 ed or conceived it ? Is it a plain, certain Fadl, 
 that Thou didft leave the Magnificence and 
 Joy of the Heavenly World, in Compaffion 
 to fuch a Wretch as I ! Oh hadft Thou, from 
 that Height of Dignity and Felicity, only 
 looked down upon me for a Moment, and 
 fent fome gracious Word to me for my Di- 
 region and Comfort, even by the leaft of Thy 
 Servants, juftly might I have proftrated my- 
 felf in grateful Admiration, and have killed 
 ibe very Footjleps of him, that publifhed the Sal- 
 vation (i). But didft Thou condefcend to be 
 Thyfelf the MefiTenger! What Grace had that 
 been, tho' Thou hadft but once in Perfon 
 made the Declaration, and immediately re- 
 turned back to the Throne, from whence 
 Divine Compafiion brought Thee down ! But 
 this is not all the Triumph of Thine illuftnous 
 
 H 3 '' Gwe. 
 
 (h) Ifa. ix. 6. (i) Ka. Ui. 7- 
 
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 ,02 "Tfce Sinner's Refl^fiicn Ch. 8. 
 
 cc Grace. If not only brought Thee down to 
 " Earth, but kept Thee here, in a frail and 
 
 - wretched- Tabernacle, for long fuccemve 
 
 - Years: And at length, it coft Ihee thy Life, 
 cc and ftretched Thee out as a Maletaftor upon 
 " theCrols, after Thou hadft borne Infuk and 
 " Cruelty, which it may jumy wound my Heart 
 « fo much as to think of. And thus Thou haft 
 
 - atoned injur'd JuiVice, and redeemed me to 
 *c GOB with Thine own Blood (k). 
 
 " What (hall I fay .? Lord, I believe ', help Thou 
 cc niine Unbelief {\) I It feems to put Faith to the 
 <' Stretch to admit, what it indeed exceeds the 
 
 - iitmoO. Stretch of Imagination to conceive. 
 *c Blefled, for ever bleffcd be Thy Name Oh 
 " Tno\x Father of M:ycies, that Thou haft con- 
 « trivedtheWay! Eternal Thanks to /kp^«/' 
 « that was pin, and to that kind Providence 
 
 that >/ the JVord of this Salvation lo me! Uh 
 let me not, for Ten Thoufand WorWs /.. 
 ceive the Grace of GOD m vain fm) / Oh im- 
 ^- prefsthis Gofpel upon my Soul, til its faving 
 *' Virtue be diffufed over every Faculty ! Eet it 
 <' not only be heard, and acknowledged, and 
 *' profeffed, but felt! Make it Thy Power to my 
 " eternal Salvation (n) ; and raile me to that 
 " humble tender Gratitude, to that adive un- 
 *' wearied Zeal in Thy Service, which becomes 
 one to whomfo much is forgiven (o), and forgi- 
 ven upon fuch Terms as thefe ! 
 *' I feel a fudden Glow in mine Heart, while 
 ** thefe Tidings are founding in mine Ears : Bur, 
 *' Oh, let it not be a llight fuperficial Trant- 
 " Dort' Oh let not this, which I would fain call 
 
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 (( 
 
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 (k) Rev. V. 9. (1) Mark Ix. 24. 
 
 (nJRom. i. 16. ^o) Luke vii. 47 
 
 (m) zCor.vi. \ 
 
 iCh. 8. on the good News of a Saviour. 103 
 
 vny Chrijiianjoy, be as thztfooli/h Laughter, with 
 which I have been fo madly inchanted, like 
 the crackling Blaze of Thorns under a Pot (p) I Oh 
 teach me to fecure this mighty Bleffing, this 
 glorious Hope, in the Method which Thou 
 haft appointed ! and preferve me from mifta- 
 king the Joy of Nature, while it catches a 
 Glimpfe of its Refcue from Deftrucflion, for 
 that Confent of Grace, which embraces and in-*- 
 fures the Deliverance ''* 
 
 jCp) Ecclef. vii. 6. 
 
 H4 
 
 CHAP. 
 
,F 
 
 b.-..a»--weaeBi*^i*^'*^-a "^'^-^ '^ 
 
 04 ne Sinner enquiring what be Jhall do, C\i,g, 
 
 l| 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 A more particular Account of the Way, by 
 which this Salvation is to be obtained. 
 
 An Enquiry into the Way of Salvation hy Chrift bcivg 
 fuppofed^ §. I . ^hc Sinner is in general dire^l'J to 
 Repentance and Faith, §. 2. and urged to give up 
 allSelf'Dependance, §. 3. and to feek Salvation by 
 Free Grace. §.4. A Summary of more particular 
 Di regions is propofed : §.5. (ij "That the Sin- 
 ner fhould apply to Chrijt, §. 6. with deep Abhor- 
 rence of bis former Sins, §. y. and a firm Refolu- 
 tion of for faking them. §.8. (2.) "that he folemn/y 
 commit bis Soul into the Hands of Chrifl, the s^real 
 vital A^ of Faith., §.9. 'iJohich is exemplified at 
 large. §. 10. (3.) "That be make it in Fa^ the go- 
 verning Care of his future Life to obey and imitate 
 Chrifi. §. 1 1. This the only Method of obtaining 
 Gofpel-Salvation. §.12. The Sinner deliberating 
 on the Expediency of accepting it. 
 
 §. I. T NOWconfider you, my dear Reader, 
 
 J[ as coniing to me with the Enquiry, 
 
 which the Jews once addrefied to our Lord v 
 
 PFhat Jhall we do, that we may work the Works of 
 
 GOD (a).? What Method (hall I take, to fecure 
 
 that Redemption and Salvation, which I am told 
 
 Chriji has procuredJjpr his People? I would an- 
 
 fwer it as feriouflyvand carefully as pofTible •, as 
 
 one that knows, of what Importance it is to you 
 
 to 
 
 (a) John vi. 28. 
 
 Ch. 9. All Self'Dependance muft be given up. 105 
 
 to be rightly informed ; and that knows alfo, 
 how (Iriftly he is toanfwer to God, for the Sin- 
 cerity and Care with which the Reply is made. 
 May 1 be enabled to fpeak as bis Oracle (b), that 
 is, in fuch a Manner, as faithfully to eccho back 
 what the facred Oracles teach ! 
 
 §. 2. And here, that I may be fure to follow 
 the fafell Guides, and the faireft Examples, I 
 mud preach Salvation to you, in the Way of Re^ 
 pentance toward GOD, and o^ Faith in our Lord 
 Jefus Chriji (c) ; That good old Doftrine, which 
 the Apoftles preached, and which no Man can 
 })rctend to change, but at the Peril of his own 
 Soul, and of theirs who attend to him. 
 
 §.3. I SUPPOSE, that you are, by this Time, 
 convinced of your Guilt and Condemnation, and 
 of your own Inability to recover yourfelf. Let 
 me neverthelefs urge you to feel that Conviclion 
 yet more deeply, and to imprefs it with yet 
 greater Weight upon your Soul ; that you have 
 undone yourfelf, and that in yourfelf is not your Help 
 found (d). Be perfuaded therefore, exprefsly, and 
 folemnly, and fincerely to give up all Self-Depen- 
 dance ; which, if you do not guard againft it, 
 will be ready to return fecretly, before it is ob- 
 ferved, and will lead you to attempt building up 
 what you have juji been dejiroying. 
 
 §.4. Be aflured, that if ever you are faved, 
 you muft afcribe that Salvation entirely to the 
 Free Grace of GOD. If, guilty and miferable 
 as you are, you are not only accepted, but crown- 
 ed, you muft lay down your Crown with all hum- 
 ble Acknowledgment before the Throne (e). No 
 Flefh muft glory in bis Prefence ; but be that glorietby 
 muft glory in the Lord : For of him are we in Chriji 
 
 J^f^Sy 
 (b)iPct.iv,ii.(c) Adsxx. 21. (d) Hof.xiii.9, (e) Rcv.iv. 10, 
 
 I 
 
C"=4?i-« - '■-■^**«»5s%.^ 
 
 J . 
 
 106 fhe Sinner mttjl apply to ChriJ}, Cli. 9. 
 Jefus,whocfGODis made unto usmfdcm, and 
 Rizhteoufncfs, and. Sanmficalion, and Redemption (f). 
 And you muft be fenfible, you are in fuch a State 
 as, having none of thefe in yourlelf, to need 
 them in another. You muft therefore be fenfi- 
 ble, that you are ignorant and gu.lty, polluted 
 and inflaved ; or, as our Lord expreffes u, with 
 regard to fome who were under a Chriftian Pro- 
 felon, that as a Sinner, yon are zvretched, and mi- 
 ferable, and poor, and blind, and naked (g). 
 
 & c If thefe Views be deeply imprelTed upon 
 your Mind, you will be prepared to receive what 
 I am now to fay. Hear therefore in a few Words 
 your Duty, your Remedy, and yo"^ Safety -, 
 which confifts in this, " That you muft apply to 
 •' CbriSi, with a deep Abhorrence of your former 
 ♦' Sins, and a firm Refolution of forfak.ngthtm ;, 
 forming that Refolution in the Strength otHis 
 Grace, and fixing your Dependance on Him 
 for your Acceptance with Gou, even while 
 you are purpofing to do your very beft, ana 
 when you have aftually done the beft you ever 
 will do in Confequence of that Purpole 
 & 6 The firft and moft important Advice 
 that I can give you in prefent Circumftances is 
 that yoH look to Chijh ^nd apply yourfelflo him. And 
 hi, fay not in your Heart, fFbo JhalUfif mto 
 HecrJn, to bring him down to me{h) ? or who fhall 
 raife me up thither, to prefent me before H.m ? 
 The bkfled Jefus, by whom all^ings conjift (i), by 
 whom the whole Syftem of them is l^PF"^^ 
 " forgotten as he is by moft that bear his Name, 
 " is not far from arry of us (k) :" Nor could he 
 have promifed to have been, wbere-ever Two or 
 Three are met together in his Name (1), ^ut^^'" ^on- 
 
 X.? '>^C^l%' A^"-^7^ (1) Matt. xvin. z.. 
 
 «C 
 
 <c 
 
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 Ch. 9. refolving to for fake all Sin, 107 
 
 fequence of thofe truly Divine Perfe^lions by which 
 he is every where prefent. Would you there- 
 fore, Oh Sinner, defire to be faved ? Go to the 
 Saviour. Would you defire to be delivered ? 
 Look to that great Deliverer : And tho' you (hould 
 be fo overwhelmed with Guilt, and Shame, and 
 Fear, and Horror, that you Ihould be incapable 
 of fpeaking to him, fall down in this fpeechlefs 
 Confufion at his Feet ; and behold him^ as the Lamb 
 of GOD, that taketh away the Sin of the World {m). 
 
 §. 7. Behold him therefore with an attentive 
 Eye, and fay. Whether the Sight does not touch, 
 and even melt thy very Heart ! Doft thou not 
 feel, what a foolifh, and what a wretched Crea- 
 ture thou haft been ; that for the Sake of fuch 
 low and fordi'd Gratifications and Interefts, as 
 thofe which thou haft been purfuing, thou fliouldft 
 thus kill' the Prime of Life (n) ? Behold the deep 
 IVounds, which he bore for thee. Look on him 
 whom thou hajl pierced^ and furely thou muft 
 mourn (o), unlefs thine Heart be hardened into 
 Stone. Which of thy paft Sins canft thou re- 
 fle6l upon, and fay, *' For this it was worth my 
 *' while, thus to have injured my Saviour, and 
 ** to have expofed the Son of God to fuch Suf- 
 *' ferings } " And what future Temptations can 
 arife fo confiderable, that thou fhouldft fay, " For 
 f the Sake of this, I will crucify my Ij)rd 
 *' again (p) ^ " Sinner, thou muft repent ; thou 
 muft repent of every Sin ; and muft forfake it : 
 But if thou doeft it to any Purpofe, I well know 
 it muft be as at the Foot of the Crofs, Thou muft 
 facrifice every Luft, even the deareft -, tho' it Ihould 
 be like a Right Handy or a Right Eye (q) ; And 
 
 therefore 
 
 (m) Johni. 29. (n) Aflsiii. 15. (o)Zech.xii. 10. 
 (p) Heb. vi. 6. (^) Matt. v. 29, 30. 
 
. i 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 2i\ 
 
 ^ fe 
 
 1 08 He muft not only purpofe, hut aa, Ch . 9 , 
 therefore that thou mayeft, if polTible, be ani- 
 mated to it, I have led thee to that Altar on 
 which Chnii hmfdf yN2.^famficed for thee, anOJfer- 
 ing of a fJeet^fmelling Sc^our (r). Thou muft^^ 
 JthyfelftoGOD, as one altve from the Dead (s) , 
 And therefore 1 have (hewed thee at what a Price 
 he purchafed thee ; for thou waft not referr^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 corruptible ^rngs, as Silver and Gold but with tie 
 
 ^ecL Blood of the Son of GOD ^^^^^-f^fl 
 cut Blemifh and without Spot (t). And now I 
 tould afk thee, as before the Lord, What does 
 thine own Heart fay to it ? Art thou grieved ^r 
 thy former Offences ? Art thou willing to for- 
 fake thy Sins ? Art thou willing to become the 
 chearful thankful Servant of him, who hath pur- 
 chafed thee with his own Blood ? 
 
 is I WILL fuppofe fuch a Purpofe as this 
 rifingin thine Heart. How determinate it is 
 and how effeftual it may be, 1 know not : What 
 different Views may arife hereafter or ho w^^^^^^^ 
 the prefent Senfe may wear oft. But this I affured- 
 ly know, that thou wilt never lee Reafon to 
 rhan^e thefe Views •, for however thou mayft al- 
 Jer fhe Lord Jefus Chn^ is the fame Tefterday. 
 mI and for Ever (u). And the Reafons that 
 now r;commend Repentance and Faith as fit and 
 as necefiary, will continue invariable, as long as 
 tL Perfeaions of 'the Blefled God are the lame, 
 and as lona as his Son continues the fame. 
 
 t Q B ^ T while you have thefe Views and 
 thefe Purpofes, I muft remind you that this is not 
 Xhich is neceffary to your Salvation. You 
 muAnot only purpofe, but, as God gives Oppor- 
 [tlnity youVufti asthofe who are convinced 
 
 /r) Eph.v. 1. (sj Rom.vi. IS- 
 18,19. (^J Hcb.xiii.S. 
 
 (t) I Pet.i, 
 
 Ch . 9 . and folemnly commit his Soul to Chrift . 109 
 of the Evil of Sin, and of the Neccflity and Ex- 
 cellence of Holinefs. And that you may be en- 
 abled to do fo in other Inftances, you muft in the 
 firft Place, and as the firft gxtitJVork of GOD, (as 
 our Lord himfelf calls it,) believe inhim whom GOD 
 hathfent (x): You muft confide in him •, " muft 
 *' commit your Soul into the Hands of Chriff, to be 
 " faved by him in his own appointed Method ofSalva- 
 " tion:' This is the great A5f of faving Faith ; and 
 I pray God, that you may experimentally know 
 what it means -, fo as to be able to fay, with the 
 Apoftle Paul, in the near Views of Death itfelf, I 
 know whom I have believed, and am perfuaded that he 
 is able to keep that which I have committed to him un- 
 til that Day (y) \ that great decifive Day, which, 
 if we are Cbriftians, we have always in View. To 
 this I would urge you •, and Oh that I could be 
 fo happy as to engage you to it^ while I am lUu- 
 ftrating it in this, and the following Addrefles ! 
 Be aflured. you muft not apply yourfelves imme- 
 diately to God, as abfolutely or in himfelf con- 
 fidered, in the NeglecT: of a Mediator. It will 
 neither be acceptable to him, nor fafe for you, to 
 ru(h into his Prefence, without any Regard to his 
 own Son, whom he hath appointed to introduce 
 Sinners to him. And if you come otherwife, 
 you come as one who is not a. Sinner. The very 
 Manner of prefenting the Addrefs will be inter- 
 preted as a Denial of that Guilt, with which he 
 knows you are chargeable : And therefore he 
 will not admit you, nor fo much as look upon 
 you. And accordingly, our Lord, knowing how 
 much every Man living was concerned in this, 
 fays in the moft univerlal Terms •, No Man cometb 
 
 unto the Father but by me fz). 
 
 §. 10. 
 
 (x) John vi. 29. (y) I Tim. i. 12. (zj John xiv.6. 
 
u 
 
 it 
 
 i! 
 
 no "The Language of one Ch. 9; 
 
 6 10 Apply therefore to this glorious Re- 
 deemer; amiable ^as he will appear to every be- 
 lieving Eye; in the Blood which he (hed upon 
 the dofs, and in the Wounds which he received 
 there. Go to him, Oh Sinner, this Day, this 
 Moment, with all thy Sins about thee Go jujt 
 as thou art •, for if thou wilt never apply to hini, 
 till thou art firft righteous and holy, thou wilt 
 never be righteous and holy at all ; nor canlt be 
 fo on this Suppofition, unlefs there were fome 
 Way of being fo without him •, and then, there 
 would be no Occafion for applying to him tor 
 Ricrhteoufnefs and Holinefe. It were indeed as 
 if ft fhould be faid, that a fick Man fcoiild de- 
 fer his Application to a Phyfician, till his Health 
 be recovered. Let me therefore repeat it with- 
 out Offence, Go to him Jul as thou art, and lay, 
 rOh that thou mayeft this Moment be enabled to 
 lay it from thy very Soul!; " Bleffed 7f>i, I am 
 c^ furely one of the moft finful, and one of the 
 ** moft miferable Creatures, that ever fell prof- 
 ** trate before thee : Neverthelefs I come, be- 
 •* caufe I have heard that Thou didft once fay, 
 i' Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are hc(rvy 
 i* laden, and I 'will give you Refi fa;. I come, 
 .c becaufe I have heard. Thou didft gracioudy 
 »* fay Him that cometb unto me, I will tn no wife 
 ^' cad out (b). Oh diou Prince of Peace, Oh thou 
 « King of Glory. I am a condemned miferable 
 *' Sinner. I have ruined my own Soul, and I 
 *' am condemned for ever, if Thou doft not 
 ** help me, and fave me. I have broken thy 
 « Father's Law, and thine, for Thou art one 
 *' with him (c). 1 have deferved Condemnation 
 *' and Wrath •, and I am, even at this very 
 
 *' Moment, 
 
 (a) Matt. xi. 28. (b) John vi. 37- W J°^« ^- ^^• 
 
 th. 9. fulmitting to Chri§i, 1 1 1 
 
 ** Moment, under a Sentence of everlafting 
 «' Deftrudion : A Deftrudion, which will be ag* 
 ** gravated by all the Contempt which I have 
 *' caft upon Thee, Oh thou bleeding Lamb of 
 *' GOD : For I cannot, and will not diflem- 
 *' ble it before thee, that 1 have wronged 
 *' Thee, moft bafcly and ungratefully wronged 
 *' Thee, under the Charader of a Saviour, as 
 '* well as of a Lord. But now, I am willing to 
 " fubmit to Thee •, and I have brought my poor 
 " trembling Soul, to lodge it in Thine Hands, 
 *' if Thou wilt condefcend to receive it •, and if 
 " Thou doft not, it muft perifh. Oh Lord, I 
 *' lie at ihy Feet : Stretch out thy golden Sceptre, 
 *< that I may Irje (d) ! Yea, // // pleafe the King, let 
 " the Lfe cf my Scul be given -me at my Petition (e; / 
 " I have no Treafurc, wherewith to purchafe it : 
 *' I have no Equivalent to give thee for it: But 
 " if that compafilonate Heart of thine can find 
 '' a Pleafure in faving one of the moft diftreffed 
 *' Creatures under Heaven, that Pleafure thou 
 '' mayft here find. Oh Lord, I have foohftily 
 *' attempted to be mine own Saviour •, but it will 
 *' not do. I am fenfible the Attempt is vain -, 
 " and therefore I give it over, and look unto Thee, 
 *' On Thee, blejfed Jcfus, who art fure andfledfaft, 
 *' do I defire to/;t' my Anchor, On Thee, as the 
 " only fure Foundation, would I build my eter- 
 *' nal Hopes. To thy Teaching, Oh Thou un- 
 *' erring Prophet of the Lord, would I fubmit : 
 *' Be thy Dodrines ever fo myfterious, it is 
 " enough for me, that Thou thykhhaff faid it. 
 *' To thine Atonement, Obedience, and Inter- 
 *' cefllon. Oh Thou holy and ever-acceptable 
 *' High-Pneff, v/ould I truft. And to thy Go- 
 
 ' " vernmenty 
 
 (d) Efth. iv. II. (e) EHh. vii. 3. 
 
m^ 
 
 % 
 
 I 
 
 ill 
 
 112 The Life niuft be an Imitaticn of him. Ch . 9 . 
 
 •c vernment. Oh Thou exalted Sovereign, would 
 
 «« I yield a willing, delightful Subjeftion. In 
 
 « Token of Reverence and Love, I kifs the 
 
 « Son (i) -, I kifs the Ground before his Feet. I 
 
 « admit thee. Oh my Saviour, and welcome thee 
 
 *' with unutterable Joy, to the Throne m my 
 
 *' Heart. Afcend it, and reign there for ever! 
 
 " Subdue mine Enemies, Oh Lord, for they are 
 
 '' thine •, and make me thy faithful, thy zealous 
 
 '' Servant •, faithful to Deaths and zealous to Eter- 
 
 § II. Such as this muft be the Language of 
 your very Heart before the Lord. But then re- 
 member, that in Confequence hereof, it muft be 
 the Language of your Life too. The unmean- 
 ing; Words of the Lips would be a vain Mockery. 
 The moft affedionare Tr.^nfport of the Paflions, 
 fhould it be tranfient and ineffeftual, would be 
 but like a Blaze of Straw, prefented inftcad of In- 
 cenfe at his Altar. With fuch Humility, with 
 fuch Love, with fuch cordial Self-Dedication and 
 SubmiiTion of Soul, muft thou often proftrate 
 thyfelf, in the Prefence of Chrin ; and then thou 
 muft cTO away, and keep him in thy View •, muft 
 go away, and live unto God thro' him, denying 
 Ungodlinefs and wordly Luffs, and behaving thyfelf 
 foberly, rtghteoufly, and godly, in this v^'m infnaring 
 fVorld (g). You muft make it your Care, ta 
 fhew your Love by Obedience ; by forming your- 
 felf as much as poflible, according to the Tem- 
 per and Manner of Jefus, in whom you believe. 
 You muft make it the great Point of your Am- 
 bition, fanda nobler View you cannot entertain,; 
 to be a living Image of Chriif ; that fo far as Cir- 
 cumftances will allow, even thofe who have heard 
 
 and 
 
 (f) Pfal. ii. 12. (g) Tit. ii. 12. 
 
 Ch. 9. 77jis the only Way of Salvation, 113 
 
 and read but little of him, may, by obferving you, 
 in fome Meafure fee and know what Kind of a Life 
 that of the Bleffed Jefus was. And this muft be 
 your conftant Care, your prevailing Charadler, 
 as long as you live. You muft/^//i?ze; him, whi- 
 thcrfoever he leads you ; m\\^ follow, with a Crofs 
 on your Shoulder, when he commands you to 
 take it i(p (h) ; and fo muft he faithful even to the 
 Death, expecting the Crown of Life (i). 
 
 §.12. Th IS, fo fiir as I have JDeen able to 
 learn from the Word of God, is the PFay to 
 Safety and Glory ; the fureft, the only Way you 
 can take. *Tis the IVay, which every faithful 
 Minifter of Chrift has trod, and is treading ; and 
 the Way, to which, as he tenders the Salvation 
 of his own Soul, he muft direft others. We 
 cannot, we would not alter it, in Favour of 
 ourfclves, or of our deareft Friends. It is the 
 Way, in which alone, fo far as we can judge, it 
 becomes the Bleffed GOD to fave his Apofiate Crea- 
 tures. And therefore, Reader, I befeech and in- 
 treat you ferioufly to confider it ; and let your 
 own Confcience anfwer, as in the Prefence of 
 God, whether you are willing to acquiefce in it, 
 or not. But know, that to rejeft it is thine Eter- 
 nal Death. For as there is no other Name under 
 Heaven given among Men whereby we can be 
 faved (k), but this of Jefus of Nazareth, fo there 
 is no other Method but this, in which Jefus 
 himfelf will fave us. 
 
 (h) Matt. xvi. 24. (i) Rev. ii. 10. (k) Aflsiv. 12. 
 
 I 
 
 The 
 
 
 ^s'i 
 
114 
 
 ^e Sinner deliberating en 
 
 Ch. 9 
 
 
 A 
 
 If 
 
 "The Sinner deliberating on the Expediency of falling 
 in vjitb this Method of Salvation, 
 
 <c 
 
 CONSIDER, Oh my Soul, what Anfwer 
 wilt thou return to fuch Propofals as 
 *« thele! Surely, if I were to fpeak the firft 
 " Didbate of this corrupt and degenerate Heart, 
 *< it would be, This is a hard Sayings and who 
 *« can bear it (I) ? To be thus humbled, thus 
 *< mortified, thus rubje(5led 1 To take fuch a l^oke 
 ** upon mc and to carry it as long as 1 live ! To 
 ** give up every darling Luft, tho' dear to mc 
 *« as a Right Eye^ and feemingly neceflary as a 
 " Right Hand I To fubmir, not only my Life, 
 " but my Heart, to the Command and Difci- 
 *' pline of another 1 To have a Mafler there^ and 
 " fuch a Mafter^ as will controul many of its fa- 
 *' vourite AfFedtions, and diredl them quite into 
 « another Channel ! A Mafler^ who himfelf re- 
 prefents His Commands, by taking up the Crofs 
 and following Him I To adhere to the ftridleft 
 " Rules of Godlinefs and Sobriety^ of Rightcoufnefs 
 " and Truth •, not departing from them, in any 
 *' allowed Inftance, great or fmall, upon any 
 *' Temptation, for any Advantage, to efcape 
 ^* any Inconvenience and Evil, no, not even for 
 ** the Prefervation of Life itlelf ; but, upon a 
 *' proper Call of Providence, to ai5l as if 1 hated 
 •' even my own Ufe (m) / Lord, it is hard to Flefli 
 *' and Blood : And yet I perceive and feel, there 
 *^ is one Demand yet harder than this. 
 
 " With all thefe Precautions, with all thefe 
 *' Mortifications, the Pride of my Nature would 
 ** find fome inward Recourfe of Pleafure, might 
 
 ^' I but 
 
 (1) John vi. 6o. (m) Luke xiv. 26. 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 <« 
 
 Ch . 9 . the Fitnefs of this Way of Salvation, 1 1 5 
 
 '' I but fecretly think, that / had been my own 
 " Saviour \ that my own Wifdom, and my own 
 *' Refolution, had broken the Bands and Chains 
 of the Enemy ; and that I had drawn out of 
 my own Treafures, the Price with which my 
 Redemption was purchafed. But muft I lie 
 " down before another, as guilty and condemn- 
 *' ed, as weak and helplels ? And muft the Obli- 
 " gation be multiplied, and muft a Mediator have 
 ** His Share too ? Muft I go to the Crofs for my 
 *' Salvation, and feek my Glory from the Infamy 
 " of that? Mufti beftrip*d of every pleafing 
 " Pretence to Righteoufnels, and ftand in this 
 *' Refped upon a Level with the vileft of Men ? 
 *' fiand at the Bar among the greateft Criminals, 
 *' pleading guilty with them, and feeking Deli- 
 " verance by that very A51 of Grace, whereby they 
 *' have obtained it ? 
 
 *' I dare not deliberately fay. This Method is 
 " unreafonable. My Confcience teftifies, that I 
 " have finned, and cannot be juftified before 
 *' God, as an innocent, and obedient Creature. 
 '"• My Confcience tells me, that all thefe hum- 
 '' blmg Circumftances are fit : That it is fit, a 
 « convicfled Criminal fhould be brought upon 
 " his Knees : That a captive Rebel (hould give 
 " up the Weapons of his Rebellion, and bow 
 " before his Sovereign, if he expedl his Life. 
 *' Yea, my Reafon, as well as my Confcience, 
 " tells me, that it is fit and neceflary, that if I 
 " am fived at all, I (hould be faved from the 
 " Power and Love of Sin, as well as from the 
 " Condemnation of it ; and that if Sovereign 
 '' Mercy gives me a New Life, after having de- 
 '' fcrved Eternal Death, it is moftfit, I fhould 
 
IS 
 
 « ♦ 
 
 II 
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 6 The Sinner drfires to fall in ivttb it. Ch. g- 
 yield nn-felfto GOD, as alive from the Dead {n). 
 But, Oh zvretched Man that I am, 1 fed a Law 
 in my Members, that fvars againfl the Law of my 
 Mind (o), and oppofcs the Conviaion of my 
 Reafon and Confcience. IVho fhall deliver me 
 from this Bondage ? Who (hall make me 
 willino- to do that, which I know in my own 
 Soul to be moa expedient ? Oh Lord, lubdue 
 my Heart, and let it not be drawn fo ftrongly 
 one Way, while the nobler Powers of my 
 Mind would direft it another! Conquer every 
 licentious Principle within, that ic may be my 
 Toy to be fo wifely governed, and reftramed 1 
 Efpecially, fubdue my Pride, that Urdly 
 Corruption, which fo ill fuits an impoveriflied 
 and a condemned Creature •, that Thy Way 
 of Salvation may be amiable to me, in Propor- 
 tion to the Degree in which it is humbling! I 
 feel a Difpofition to liiger in Sodom, but Oh be 
 merciful to me, and pull me out of it (p), before 
 the Storms of Thy flaming Vengeance fall, 
 and there be no more Efcapmg! '* 
 
 (n) Rom.vi. 13. (o)Rom.vii. 23, 24. (p)Gcn.xix. 16. 1 
 
 «6> , •- , C^^f 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ''^ 
 
 C II A P. 
 
 Ch. 10. Conv:5Iions frequently ''jocar off, 117 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The Sinner ferioufly urged and intreated to 
 accept of Salvation in this Way. 
 
 Since many who have been inrpreffedwiih thefe "Things, 
 fuffer the Imprc£ion to wear off in vain, §. i. 
 Strongly as the Cafe fpeaks for itfdf^ Sinners are 
 to be intreated to accept this Sak.iiion. §. 2. Ac- 
 cordingly the Reader is intreated, ( 1 .) By the Ma- 
 jejly and Mercy of GOD: §.3. (2.) By the dy- 
 ing Love of our Lord fefus Chrijl : §. 4. ('^.) 
 By the Regard due to Fellow-Creatures : §. 5. (^,) 
 By the Worth of his own Immortal Soul, §. 6. The 
 Matter is folemnly left with the Reader^ as before 
 GOD. §.7. The Sinner yielding to thefe Intrea- 
 tiesy and declaring his Acceptance of Salvation by 
 Chrijl. 
 
 §. i.^ I ^ HUS far have I often known Con- 
 J^ vi6lions and Imprcfiions to arife, (if 
 I might judge by the ftrongelt Appearances,) 
 which after all have worn off again. Some un- 
 happy Circumftanceof external Temptation, ever 
 join'd by the inward Reluftance of an unfandti- 
 fied Heart to this holy and humbling Scheme of 
 Redemption, has been the Ruin of Multitudes. 
 And through the Deceitfulnefs of Sin, they have been 
 hard^ied fa), till they fcem to have been utterly 
 
 I 3 dejlroyed^ 
 
 (a) Hsb. iii. i 3. 
 
.5}' 
 
 i 
 
 
 118 lie Sinner intmied to accept Salvation, Ch . i o , 
 dellmed, and that without Remedy {h). And there- 
 fore; Oh thou immortal Creaure, who art now 
 reading thefe Lines, I befecch thee, that while 
 Affairs are in this critical Situation, while there 
 are thefe Balancings of Mind between accepting 
 and rejefting that glorious Gofpel, which, in the 
 Integrity of my Heart, 1 have now been laying 
 before you, you would once more give nrie an 
 attentive Audience, while 1 plead, in God s Be- 
 half, ((hall I fay ?) or rather in your own ; 
 while as an Embaffador for Cbrijl, and as though 
 GOD did befeech you by me, 1 pay you '« W ■? 
 Stead, that you would be reconciled to OVV (c) i 
 and would not, after thefe Awakenings and 
 thefe Enquiries, by a Madnefs which it wi U 
 furely be the doleful Bufmefs of a miferable E.ter- 
 nity to lament, rejcH this companionate CounfeloJ 
 
 GOD towards you. . , n. aa 
 
 S 2 One would indeed imagine, there fhouM 
 
 be no Need of Importunity here. One would 
 conclude, that as foon as penrtiing Sinners arc 
 told, that an offended God is ready to be recon- 
 ciled i that he offers them a full Pardon for all 
 their aggravated Sins; yea, that he is willing to 
 adopt fhem into his Family now, that he may a 
 length admit them to his Heavenly Prefence -, all 
 fhould with the utmoft Rcadinefs and Pleafure 
 embrace fo kind a Meffage, and fall at his Feet 
 in fpeechlefs Tranfports of Aftonidimcnt, J^rati- 
 tude, and Joy. But alas, we find it much other- 
 wife We fee Multitudes quite unmoved, and 
 the Impreffions which are made on many more 
 are feeble and tranfient. Left it Ihould be thus 
 with you. Oh Reader, let me urge the MtHage 
 with which I have the Honour to be charged : 
 
 :n> Provi xxlx. I 
 
 (c) 2 Cor. V. 2< 
 
 Ch . I o. By the Majejly and Mercy of GOD : 119 
 
 Let me intreatyou to be reconciled to GODy and to 
 accept of Pardon and Salvation in the Way in 
 which it is fo freely offered to you. 
 
 §. 3. I iNTREAT you, *' by i\it Majejly of * 
 " that GODy in whofe Name 1 come •," whofe 
 Voice fills all Heaven with Reverence and Obe- 
 dience. He fpeaks not in vain to Legions of 
 Angels -, but if there could be any Contention 
 among thofe bleffed Spirits, it would be, who 
 fhould be firft to execute his Commands. Oh 
 let him not fpeak in vain to a wretched Mortal ! 
 I intreatyou, *' by the Terrors of His IVrath^'* 
 who could fpeak to you in Thunder ; who could, 
 by one fingle Aft of his Will, cut off this preca- 
 rious Life of yours, and fend you down to Hell. 
 I befeech you " by His Mercies^ by His tender 
 *' Mercies '^ by the Bowels of His Compaffion, 
 which ftill yearn over you; as thofe of a Parent 
 over a dear Son^ over a tender Child^ whom, not- 
 withftanding his former ungrateful Rebellions, 
 be earneftly remembers Jlill (d). I befeech and m- 
 treat you, *' by all this paternal Goodnefs** that 
 you do not (as it were) compel him to lofe the 
 Charadter of the gentle Parent, in that of the 
 righteous Judge-, fo that, (as He threatens with 
 Regard to thofe whom He had juft called his 
 Sons and his Daughters,) a Fire fhould be kindled in his 
 Anger y <which floould burn unto the lowefi HeU{t). 
 
 §. 4, I BESEECH you farther, " hytht Name 
 *' and Love of our dying Saviour r I befeech 
 you, by all the Condefcenfion of his Incarna- 
 tion •, by that Poverty, to which He voluntarily 
 fubmitted, that you might be inriched with Eter- 
 nal Treafures (f) •, by all the gracious Invita- 
 tions which he gave, which flill found in his 
 
 I 4 Word, 
 
 (d) ]cr. XX xi. 20. CO Dcuv.xxxn. 19. 22. (0 2 Cor.vni 9, 
 
r 
 I" 
 
 
 1 20 By the Name and Love ofChrift, Ch. lo. 
 Word, and ftill coming (as it were) warm 
 from his Heart, are fweeter than Honey, or the 
 Honey-Comb (g). I befeech you, by the Memory 
 of the mod benevolent Perfon, and the mod ge- 
 nerous Friend. I befeech you, by the Memory 
 of what he fuffered, as well as of wiiat he iaid and 
 did •, by the Agony which he endured in the Gar- 
 den, when his Body was covered ivith a D^vj of 
 Blood (h). I befeech you, by all that tender Di- 
 ftrefs which he fek, when his deareft Friends 
 forfook him and fled (i), and his Blood-thirfty Ene- 
 mies dragged him away, like the meaneft of 
 Slaves, and like the. vilell of Criminals. I be- 
 feech you by the Blows and Bruifes, by the 
 Stripes and Ladies, which this injured Sovereign 
 endured while in their rebellious Hands; by the 
 Shame of Spijting, from which he hid not that 
 kind and venerable C^««/^/w«rf (k). I befeech 
 you, by the Purple Robe, the Sceptre of Reed, and 
 the Crown of Thorns, which this King of Glory 
 wore, that he might fet us among the Princes of 
 Heaven^ (1). I befeech you, by the heavy Bur- 
 then of the Crofs, under which he panted, and 
 toiled, and fainted, in the painful Way to Gol- 
 gotha (m), that he might free us from the Bur- 
 then of our Sins. I befeech you, by the Re- 
 membrance of thofe rude Nails, that tore the 
 Veins and Arteries, the Nerves and Tendons of 
 his Sacred Hands and Feet ; and by that invinci- 
 ble, that triumphant Goodnefs, which while the 
 Iron pierced his Flefh, engaged him to cry out. 
 Father, forgive them, for they know not what 
 they do (x\), I befeech you, by the unutterable 
 
 Anguifh 
 
 (g) Pfai. xix. 10. (h) Luke xxii. 44. (i) Mat. xxvi. 56. 
 (k) Ifai.l. 6. (1) Pf:i^ cxiii. 8. (m) John xix. 17. 
 
 (n) Lukexxiii. 34. 
 
 Ch . I o . and by all that He did and fuffered : 121 
 
 Anguifli which he bore, when lifted up upon the 
 Crofs, and extended there as on a Rack, for Six 
 painful Hours, that you open your H^art to 
 thofe attradive Influences, which have drawn to 
 hi}n Thoufands and Ten Thouliinds (o). I be- 
 feech you, by all that Infult and Drrifion, which 
 the Lord of Glory bore there (p) ; by that parch- 
 ing Thirfl, which could hardly obtain the Relief 
 of Vimgar (q) *, by that doleful Cry, fo aftonifli- 
 ing in the Mouth of the only Begotten of the Fa- 
 ther, Aly GOD, my GOD, why hafl thou for- 
 faken me {r)F I befeech you, by the Grace that 
 fubdued and pardoned a dying Ivfalef(?^or (s) •, by 
 that CompafTion for Sinners, by tlKit Compafljon 
 for you, which wrought in his Heart, long as 
 its vital Motion continued, and which ended not 
 when he bowed his Head, faying, // is fimfljed, 
 and gave up the Ghcfi (z). I befeech you, by the 
 Triumphs of that Refurre^ion, by which he was 
 declared to be the Son of GOD with Power, by the 
 Spirit of Holinefs which wrought to accomplifli 
 it (\^) \ by that gracious Tendernefs which at- 
 tempered all thofe Triumphs, when he faid to 
 her out of whom he had cafi Seven Devtls, concern- 
 ing his Difiiples who had treated him fo bafcly. 
 Go, tell my Brethren, I afcend unto my Father and 
 your Father, unto my GOD and your GOD (x), 
 I befeech you, by that Condefccnfion, with 
 which he faid to Thomas, when his Unbelief had 
 made fuch an unreafonable Demand, Rcachhither 
 thy Finger, and behold my Hands, and reach hither 
 thine Hand, and put it to my Side-, and be not faith- 
 
 lefs, 
 
 • 
 
 (o) John xii. 32. (p) Mat. xxvli. 39, 44. (q) John xix. 
 28, 29. (r) Mat. xxvii. 46. (s) Luke xxiii. 42, 43, 
 (tj John xix. 30. (u) Rom. i. 4. (x) John xx. 17. 
 
 ■MA 
 
122 By the Regard that is due to others : Ch. i o. 
 lefs, but Mteving (y). T beieech you by that 
 generous and faithful Care of his People, which 
 he carried up with him to the Regions of Glory, 
 and which engaged him to fend down bis Spirit, 
 in that rich Protufion of miraculous Gifts, to 
 fpread the Progrefs of his faving Word (z) I be- 
 feech you, by that Voice of Sympathy and Pow- 
 er with which htfaid to Saul, while injuring his 
 Church, Saul, Saul, wiy ferfecuteft thou me{^)f 
 by that generous Goodnefs, which fpared that 
 proftrate Enemy, when he lay trembhng at his 
 Feet, and raifed him to fo high a Dignity as to 
 be not inferior 'to the very chief eft Apoftles(hy 1 
 befeech you, by the Memory of all that Chrijt 
 hath already done, by the Expedation of all he 
 will farther do for his People. I befeech you, at 
 once, by the Sceptre of his Grace, and by that 
 Sword of his Juftice, with which all his incorri- 
 gible Enemies fhall be Jlain before him (c), that 
 you do not trifle away thefe precious Moments, 
 while his Spirit is thus breathing upon you •, that 
 you do not lofc an Opportunity which may ne- 
 ver return, and on the Improvement of which 
 
 your Eternity depends. , 'i r, ; r 
 
 §. 5. 1 BESEECH you, " by all the Bowels of 
 *' ^CompoJTion which you owe to \.\\t faithful Mini- 
 ** Iters ofCbrift\' who arc ftudying and kibour- 
 ina', preaching and praying, wearing out their 
 Tune, exhauaing their Strength, and, very pro- 
 bably, fhortening their Lives, tor the Salvation 
 of your Soul, and of Souls like yours. 1 beieech 
 you, by the Afteaion, with which all that love 
 cur Lord Jcfus ChriH in Sincerity, long to fee you 
 brouc^ht back to him. 1 befeech you, by the 
 "^ Friend- 
 
 (V^ lohn XX-. :^- ^) Aftsii. 53. (n) Aas ix. 4. 
 
 i D y Z Cor. xL, II. i -y LuKC XIX 27. 
 
 Cii. I o. And by the Worth of his cnvn Soul, 1 1 3 
 
 Friendlhip of the Living, and by the Memory 
 of the Dead ; by the Ruin of thofe who have 
 trifled away their Days, and arepcrifhed in their 
 Sins, and by the Happinefs of thofe who have* 
 embraced the Gofpel, and are faved by it. I 
 befeech you, by the great Expedation of that 
 important Day, when the Lord J efus fhall be revealed 
 from Htcr^en(d)', by the Terrors of a dijfohing 
 World (c) -, by the Sound of the Arch- Angel's Trum- 
 pet (f), and of that infinitely more awful Sentence^ 
 Come, ye Bleffed, and Depart, ye Curfed, with 
 which that Grand Solemnity flull clofe (g). 
 
 §. 6. I BESEECH you finally, *' hy your own 
 *' precious and immortal Soul -'' by the furc Profpeft 
 of a dying Bed, or of a fudden Surprize into the 
 Invifible State •, and as you would feel one Spar- 
 kle of Comfort, in your departing Spirit, when 
 your Flefh afid your Heart are failing. 1 befeech you, 
 by your own Perfonal Appearance before the 
 Tribunal of Chrift, (for a Perfonal Appearance 
 it muft be, even to them who now fit on 
 Thrones of their own-,; by all the Tranfports of 
 the Bleffed, and by all the Agonies of the 
 Damned, the one or the other of which muft: be 
 your cverlafting Portion. I afi^edionately intreat 
 and befeech you, in the Strength of all thefe uni- 
 ted Confiderations, as you will anfwer it to me, 
 who may in that Day be fummoned to teftify a- 
 ^ainft you -, and, which is unfpeakably more, 
 as you will anfwer it to your own Confcience, as 
 you will anfwer it to the Eternal Judge; that 
 you difmifs not thefe Thoughts, thefe Medita- 
 tions, and thefe Cares, till you have brought 
 
 Matters 
 
 (6) 2 Their, i. 7. (e) 2 Pet. iii. 10. (f) 1 Theff. iv. 16. 
 (g) Mat. XXV. 34, 41. 
 

 m 
 
 I -.4 the Matter is left with the Reader. Ch. 10. 
 Matters to a happy Iffue •, till you have made a 
 Refolute Choice of Chrift, and his appointed 
 Way of Salvation, and till you have folcmnly 
 devoted yourfclf to God in the Bonds of an Ever- 
 
 laftine Covenant. ^ , - 
 
 T? And thus I leave the Matter before you, 
 and before the Lord. I have to'd you my Er- 
 rand : I have difcharged my Embaffy. Scronger 
 Arguments I cannot ufe •, more endearing and 
 n,o?e awful Confiderations I cannot fuggeft. 
 Chufe, therefore, whether you w.h go out (as . 
 were) clothed in Sackcloth, to caft yourfclt at 
 the Feet of him who now fends you thefe equita- 
 ble and gracious Terms of Peace and Pardon •, 
 
 whether you w.U hold it out till he appears 
 Sword in Hand, to reckon with you for your 
 Trealons and your Crimes, and for this negleft- 
 ed Embaffy among the reft ot them. F'"" J""!^ 
 
 1 hope the beft-, nor can 1 believe that/^u L^- 
 lovrofLove (hall be fo entirely unfuccefsful, that 
 not one Soul (hall be brought to the Foot of 
 Chrift in cordial Submiffion and humble Faith. 
 Take with you theretore IVords, and turn unto the 
 Urd f h) ; 'and Oh that thole which follow might, 
 in Effeft at leaft, be the genuine Language ot 
 every one that reads them ! 
 
 The Siuncr yielding to thcfe hureaiks and declaring 
 bis Acceptance of Salvation by Chritt. 
 
 BLESSED Lord, It is enough! It is 
 too much ! Surely there needs not this 
 -- Variety of Arguments, this LTiportunity ot 
 " P.-rfuarion, to court me to ht happy, to pre- 
 vail upon me to accept of Pardon, of Dfe,^ot 
 
 (h) Hof. xiv. 2. 
 
 4C 
 
 fc( 
 
 iC 
 
 cc 
 
 Ch. 10. The Sinner yielding to thefe Intrcaties, 125 
 Eternal Glory. Companionate Saviour, my 
 Soul isfubdued ; fo that I truft, the Language 
 of Thy Grief is become that of my Peni- 
 tence, and I may fay. My Heart is melted like 
 Wax in the Midfl of my Bowels (i) / 
 *' Oh gracious Redeemer ! I have already neg- 
 ledled Thee too long. I have too often in- 
 jured Thee •, have criicijied Thee afrefh by my 
 Guilt and Impenitence, as if I had taken 
 Pleafure in putting Thee to an open Shame (k). 
 But my Heart now bows itfcli before Thee, 
 in humble unfeigned SubmiiTion. I defire 
 to make no Terms with Thee but thefe, — 
 that I may be entirely Thine. 1 chearfully 
 prefent Thee with a Blank, intreating Thee, 
 that Thou wilt do me the Honour to fignify 
 upon it, what is Thy Pleafure. Teach me. 
 Oh Lord, what Thou wouldjl have me to do! For 
 I defire to learn the Leffon, and to learn it 
 that I may pradlife it. If it be more than my 
 feeble Powers can anlwer. Thou wilt, I hope, 
 give me more Strength -, and in that Strength 
 I will ferve Thee. Oh receive a Soul, which 
 Thou haft made willing to be Thine ! 
 « No more, oh bleffed Jefus, no more is it 
 necefTiry to befeech and intreat me. Permit 
 me rather to addrefs myfelf to Thee^ with all 
 the Importunity of a perifhing Sinner, that, 
 at length, fees and knows, there is Salvation 
 in no %kr (1)/ Permit me now. Lord, to 
 come, and throw myfelf at thy Feet, like a 
 helplefsOutcaft, that has no Shelter but in 
 Thy generous CompafTion! like one /)f^r/«^^ 
 l?y thT Avenzer of Blood, and feeking ear- 
 •^ *" -^ ^' neftly 
 
 (i) Pfal. xxli. 14. 
 (m) Jolh. x-x. 2, 3. 
 
 (k)Heb. vl. 6. (1) Aasiv. 12, 
 
i: 
 
 ii6 ne Sinner 'Willing to accept of Chrifl. Ch.io. 
 « neflly an Admittance into the City of Re- 
 
 *' » I wait for the Lord, my Soul doth ■wait ; and 
 *« inThymrddol hope{n), that Thou wilt re- 
 « ceiveme gracmfly {o). My Soul conhdes m 
 •' Thy Goodnefs, and adores it. I adore the 
 " Patience, which has borne with me fo long •. 
 and the Grace, that now makes me heartily 
 willing to be Thine •, to be Thine on Th.nc 
 own Terms, Thine on any Terms Oh fe- 
 cure this treacherous Heart to Thyfelt! Oh 
 " unite me to Thee in fuch inleparable Bonds 
 « that none of the Allurements of Flefh and 
 « Blood, none of the Vanities of an mfnaring 
 « World, none or" the Solicitations of fintul 
 Companions, may draw me back from Thee, 
 and plunge me into new Gu.lt and Ruin ! Be 
 Surety, Oh Lord, for thy Servant for Good {f) , 
 that 1 may Rill keep my Hold on Thee, and 
 fo on Eternal Life -, till at length I know 
 more fully, by joyful and cverlaft.ng Lxperi- 
 ence, how compleat a Saviour 1 hou art ! 
 " Amen" 
 (n) Plal. exxx. 5. (o) Hof. xiv. z. (p) n^\. cxix. .22. 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . A parting Aidrefs to the hardened Sinner. 127 
 
 «( 
 
 
 «( 
 
 tc 
 cc 
 « 
 
 (C 
 
 <( 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 A Solemn Addrefs to thofe, who will not be 
 perfuaded to fall in with the Defign of the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 Unherjal Succefs not to be expelled: §. i. Tet^ as 
 unwilling absolutely to give up any^ the Author ad- 
 drejjes^ (i.) 'To thofe who doubt of the Truth of 
 Chriflianit)\ urging an Enquiry into its Evidences^ 
 and directing to proper Methods for that Purpofe, 
 §. 2, — 4. (2.) To thofe who determine to give it 
 up without further Examination^ §.5. and pre- 
 fume to fet thcmfelves to opppfe it. §.6. (3.) To 
 thofe who fpeculatively affent to Chriflianity as true^ 
 and yet will fit down without any practical Regard 
 to its important and acknowledged Truths, Such 
 are difmijjed with a Reprefentation of the Abfurdity 
 of their Conduct on their own Principles *, §. 7, 8. 
 with a folemn JVarnijig of its fatal Confequences •, 
 §.9, 10. and a compaffwnate Prayer^ (introduced 
 §. I I.J which concludes the Chapter^ and this 
 Part of the PFork. 
 
 §. I. T WOULD humbly hope, that the pre- 
 j[ ceding Chapters will be the Means of 
 awakening feme ftupid and infenfible Sinners ; 
 the Means of convincing them of their Need of 
 Gofpel-Salvation, and of engaging fome cordi- 
 ally to accept it. Yet, I cannot flatter myfelf fo 
 far, as to hope this Ihould be the Cafe with re- 
 gard 
 
-^1."- ■ ' 
 
 . ,?' 
 
 5 k. 
 
 in 
 
 128 He is once more called to conftder, Ch. i r. 
 gard to all, into whofe Hands this Book fholl 
 ?ome What am /, alas, better than ivy Fa^ 
 Z [a), or better than my Brethren, who have 
 rail Ages been repeating their Compaint with 
 re-a d to Multitudes, that they have ftretched out 
 ibiir Hands all the Day long to a difotedient and gam- 
 fayin^ People (b) ?. Many fuch may, perhaps, be 
 loii in the Number of my Readers: Many 
 IXh^m, neither Confderations of T^^^^^^^ 
 Love, will make any deep and lalling I^^F^^^" ' 
 Man^, who, as our Lord learnt by Lxpenence to 
 T^Ji it, ^^hcn we pipe to them^^M not dance and 
 Jen we mourn unto them, will not lament (c). I 
 o::W ;. more to periuade them .they ma. 
 lieht of what 1 have already dud. Here thtre 
 S we mul^ part, in this ChapteA muft take 
 n.y Leave ol them : And, Oh that I could do it 
 Tn^ich a Manner, as to fix at parting fome Con^ 
 virion upon their Hearts; that tho em to 
 
 leave them for a little while, and lend them back 
 o rev e^^ again the former Chapters, asthofe m 
 Ih h alone^hey have any prelent Concern they 
 Height foon, as it were, overtake me again and 
 find a Suitablenefs in the remaining Part ot dus 
 Sfcourfe, which at prefent they cannot polTi. 
 bly find. Unhappy Creatures! 1 quit you as a 
 PhVician quits a Patient whom ^e loves n^^^ 
 iuft about to give over as incurable : He eturn 
 Sn and a|ain, and re-examines the leveral 
 Sfmptoms, to obierve whether there be not lon.c 
 on^of them more favourable than the reft, 
 which may encourage a renewed Application^ 
 
 ^ . So would I once more return to you. 
 You do not find in yourfelf any Difpofition to 
 eiace the Gofpel, to apply yourlelt to ttn^ 
 
 (a) I Kings xix. 4. (b) Rom. x. zi. (c) Mat. 
 
 XI. I 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . what is the Reafon of his Unbelief, 129 
 
 to give yourfelf up to the Service of God, and 
 to make Religion the Bufinefs of your Life. But 
 if I cannot prevail upon you to do this, let me 
 engage you, at leaft, to anfwer me, or rather to 
 anfwcr your own Confcience, *' Why you will 
 *' not do it ?" Is it owing to any fecret Disbe- 
 lief of the great Principles of Religion ? If it be, 
 the Cafe is different from what I have yet confi- 
 dered, and the Cure muft be different. This is 
 not a Place to combat with the Scruples of Infi- 
 delity. Neverthelefs I would defire you ferioufly 
 to enquire, how far thofe Scruples extend. Do 
 they affeft only fome particular Doftrines of the 
 Gofpel, on which my Argument hath turned ? 
 or do they affedl the whole Chriftian Revelation ? 
 Or do they reach yet farther, and extend them- 
 felves to Natural Religion, as well as Revealed, 
 fo that it Ihould be a Doubt with you. Whether 
 there be any GOD, and Providence, and Future 
 State, or not? As thcfe Cafes are all different, fo 
 it will be of great Importance to diftinguifh the 
 one from the other ; that you may know, on 
 what Principles to build as certain, in the Exa- 
 mination of thofe concerning which you are yet 
 in Doubt. But whatever thefc Doubts are, I 
 would farther ask you. How long have they con- 
 tinued, and what Method have you taken to get 
 them refolved ? Do you imagine, that in Mat- 
 ters of fuch Moment, it will be an allowable 
 Cafe for you to trifle on, neglefting to enquire 
 into the Evidence of thefc Things, and then 
 plead your not being fatisfied in that Evidence, 
 as an Excufe for not ading according to them? 
 Muft not the Principles of common Senfe affure 
 you, that if thefe Things be true, (as when you 
 talk of doubting about them, you acknowledge 
 
 K it. 
 
'ii 
 
 i 
 
 II 
 
 , 30 How be may bcnje bis Dcuhts refched. Ch. u. 
 k, at kaft, pomble they may,) they are of infi- 
 n tely -reatcr Importance than any of the At- 
 E of Life, whe'therofBuf.nefs or Figure, for 
 fbeSak7of which you negleft them ? Why then 
 do YOU continue indolent and unconcerned, from 
 Week to Week, and from Month to Month, 
 Xh probably Confcience tells you is the Cafe ? 
 ^ & / Do you ask, mat Method you ihould 
 take ?4 be refolved? It is no hard Queftion Open 
 vour Eves- Set yourfelf to think: Let Confci- 
 IZ ib k •, a^verily do 1 beheve, that .t u 
 S n« fear;d in an uncommon Degree you wU 
 find (brewd Forebodings of ^^e Certainty, both 
 pf Natural and Revealed Rehg.on and o the 
 aWoluce NecefDty of Repentance, F^f^"'^ "^^^ 
 linefs to a Life of future Felicity. If you arc a 
 Son of any Learniog, you^cannot but know 
 K what Writers, and in what Treatilcs, thefe 
 arJt rrutbs are defended. And if you are not, 
 fou mirfind' '" ^''"^^ every Town and Neigh- 
 bourhood, Perlbns capable of in ormmg yon in 
 tbemSn Evidences of Chritt.anity, and of an- 
 -wering iuch Scruples againft it as unlearned 
 mS may have met with. Set yourlelf then, 
 btheNameofGoD, immediate y to confider 
 tL Matter If you ftudy at all, bend your 
 SudSfe this >lay ; and trifle not ..^.Alatb. 
 mttcks, or Poetry, or H>Pry,_ or I^, or P^- 
 Jck (which are all comparatively light as a Fea- 
 ther, while you negieft this. Study the Argu- 
 inent as for your Life ; for much more than Life 
 depends on it. Sei how far you are fatisfied 
 and why that Satisfadion reaches no far her. 
 Compare Evidences on both Sides. And above 
 Si c^^ider the.Dcfign and Tendency of the 
 fjljicment. See to what it would lead you 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . The Gofpel cannot be a Forgery, i ? t 
 
 and all them that cordially obey it ; and then 
 fay, whether it be not good. And confider, 
 how naturally its Truth is connefted with its 
 Goodncfs. Trace the Charafter and Sentiments 
 of its Authors^ whofe living Image (\[ I may be 
 allowed the Expreffion,) is ftill preferved in their 
 Writings. And then, ask your own Heart, 
 Can you think this was a Forgery ; an impious^ 
 cruel Forgery f For fuch it muft have been, if it 
 were a Forgery at all ; a Scheme to mock God, 
 and to ruin Men, even the beft of Men, fuch as 
 reverenced Confcience, and would abide all Ex- 
 tremities for what they apprehended to be Truth. 
 Put the Queftion to your own Heart, Can I in 
 my Confcience believe it to be fuch an Impo. 
 fturc .? Can I look up to an Omnifcient GOB, and 
 fay, " Oh Lord, Thou knoweft, that it is in 
 ^^ Reverence to Thee, and in Love to Truth 
 " and Virtue, that I rejedt this Book, and the 
 •' Method to Happinefs here laid down P*' 
 
 §. 4. But there are Difficulties in the Way ~ 
 And what then ? Have thofe Difficulties never 
 been cleared P Go to the living Advocates for 
 Chriftianity, to thofeof whofe Abilities, Candor, 
 and Piety, you have the beft Opinion ; if your 
 Prejudices will give you Leave to have a good 
 Opinion of any fuch: T^ell them your Difficul- 
 ties: Hear their Solutions: Weigh them fcri^ 
 ouny, as thofe who know they muft anfwer it to 
 God : Arid while Doubts continue, follow the 
 Truth as far as it will lead you, and take Heed 
 that you do not imprifon it in Unrighteoufnefs (i) 
 Nothing appears more inconfiftent and abfurd, 
 than for a Man folemnly to pretend DifTatisfacflion 
 in the Evidences of the Gofpel, as a Reafon 
 
 K 2 why 
 
 (JJ Rom. i. 18. 
 
 f ■ 
 
 I 
 
fr 
 
 1 3 1 Ti^ Folly and Banger of [itch Ch. 1 1 . 
 
 why he cannot in Confcicnce be a thorough Chri- 
 ftia'n j when yet at the fame Time he violates the 
 mofl: apparent Diiflates of Reafon and Confcience, 
 and Hvcs in Vices condemned even by the Hea- 
 thens. Oh Sirs, Chrijl has judged concerning 
 fuch, and judged mod righteoufly and molt 
 wifely : They do Evil^ and therefore they hate the 
 Light y neither come they to the Lights lejl their Deeds 
 fhculd he made manifeft^ and be reproved (e). But 
 there is a Lights that will make manifejl and re- 
 prove their IVorks^ to which they ftall be compelled 
 to come^ and the painful Scrutiny of which they 
 fhall be forced to abide. 
 
 §. 5. In the mean Time, if you are determi- 
 ned to enquire no farther into the Matter now, 
 give me Leave at lead, from a fincere Concern, 
 that you may not heap upon your Head more 
 aggravated Ruin, to intreat you, that you would 
 be cautious how you expofe yourfelf to yet great- 
 er Danger, by what you muft yourfelf own to be 
 unneceffary, I mean Attempts to pervert others from 
 believing the Truth of the Gofpei Leave them, for 
 God's Sake, and for your own, in PodefTion of 
 thofe Pleafures, and thofe Hopes, which nothing 
 but Chriftiaiiity can give them ; and a6l not as if 
 you were folicitous to add to the Guilt of an Infi- 
 del the tenfold Damnation, which they, who 
 have been the Pcrverters and Deftroyers of the 
 Souls of others, muft txpcdl to meet, it that 
 Gofpei which they have fo adventuroufly oppo- 
 led Ihould prove, as it certainly will, a ferious, 
 and to them a dreadful Truth. 
 
 (n. 6. If I cannot prevail here, but the Pride 
 of difplaying a Superiority of Undcrflanding fhould 
 bear on fuch a Reader, even in Oppofirion to his 
 
 own 
 
 (e) John iii. 20. 
 
 C( 
 
 cc 
 
 «( 
 
 <( 
 
 oh. 1 1. <t3 dare to oppofe the Gofpei 1 33 
 
 own favourite Maxims of the Innocence of Error ^ 
 and the Equality of all Religi6ns conftftent withfo€ial 
 Virtue^ to do his utmoft to trample down the 
 Gofpei with Contempt ; I would however dif- 
 mifs him with one Propofal, which I think the 
 Importance of the Affair may fully juftify. If 
 you hav« done with your Examination into Chri- 
 ftianity, and determine to live and conduft your- 
 felf as if it were affuredly falfe, fit down then, 
 and make a Memorandum of that Determination. 
 Write it down ; "On fuch a Day of fuch a 
 Year, I deliberately rcfolved, that I would 
 live and die rejefting Chriftianity myfelf, and 
 doing all I could to overthrow it. This Day 
 I determined, not only to renounce all Sub- 
 " jeftion to, and Expeftation from, Jefus of 
 ** Nazareth ; but alfo to make it a ferious Part 
 of the Bufinefs of my Life, to deftroy, as far 
 as I pofTibly can, all Regard to him in the 
 Mind of others, and to exert my moft vigo- 
 rous Efforts, in the Way of Reafoning or of 
 Ridicule, to fink the Credit of his Religion, 
 and if it be poffible to root it out of the 
 ** World ; in calm fteady Defiance of that Day, 
 when his Followers fay. He fliall appear in fo 
 much Majefty and Terror to execute the Ven- 
 geance threatened to his Enemies." Dare 
 you write this, and fign it? I firmly believe, 
 that many a Man, who would be thought a Deijl^ 
 and endeavours to increafe the Number, would 
 not. And if You in particular dare not do it, 
 whence does that fmall Remainder of Caution 
 arife ? The Caufe is plain. There is in your 
 Confcience fome fecret Apprehenfion, that this 
 rejeded, this oppofcd, this derided Gofpei may 
 after all provt true. And if there be fuch an 
 
 K 3 Appre- 
 
 <s 
 
 (C 
 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 i< 
 
 cc 
 
 
J-; 
 
 II 
 
 134 ^^ Madtiefs of a5lingai if it were falje, Ch. ii. 
 
 Apprehenfion, then let Confcience do its Office, 
 and convift you of the impious Madnels of a<fl- 
 ing, as if it were mofl certainly and demonflrably 
 falfe. Let it tell you at large, how poffible it is 
 that haply you may be fouTid fighting agaift/i GOD (f) : 
 That, bold as you are in defying the Terrors of 
 the Lord, you may poflibly fall into his Hands-, 
 may chance to hear that defpifed Sentence, which 
 when you hear it from the Mouth of the Eternal 
 Judge, you will not be able to defpife : 1 will 
 repeat it again, in Spight of all your Scorn, you 
 may hear the King i\y TO YOU, Depart accurfedy 
 into Everlajiing Fire, prepared for the Devil and his 
 Angels (g). And bow, go and pervert and bur» 
 lefque the Scripture, go and lampoon the Cha- 
 rader of its Heroes, and ridicule the fublimc 
 Difcourfes of its Propliets and its Apoftles •, as 
 fome have done, who have left little behind 
 thqm but the fhort lived Monuments of their Ig- 
 norance, their Profanenefs, and their Malice. 
 Go and fpread like them the Banners of Infide- 
 lity, and pride thyielf in the Number of credu- 
 lous Creatures liiUd under them. But take 
 Heed, left the infulted, Galilean diredl a fecret Ar- 
 row to thine Hear?, and (lop thy licentious 
 Breath before it has finiftcd the next Sentence 
 thou vvouldft utter, agamft Inm, 
 
 % J. I WILL now turn myfelf from the Deift 
 or the Sceptick, and direct my Addrefs to the 
 Nominal ChrifUar^'i ii; he may upon any Terms be 
 called a Chnflioii^ who feels not, after all I have 
 pleaded, a Difpofition to fubjed himfelf to the 
 Government and' the Grace of that Saviour, 
 whofe^ Name he bears. Oh Sinner, thou art 
 turning away from ray Lord, in whofc Caufe I 
 
 fpeak ; 
 
 (0 A<5ts V. 39. (g) Mat. XXV. 41. 
 
 Ch. II. Ah Addrefs to the Nominal (^hriftian, 135 
 
 fpeak ; but let me carneftly intreat thee feri- 
 oufly to confider, why thou art turning away, 
 and to whom thou wilt go^ fr^m him, whom thou 
 acknowledges to have the Words of Eternal Life (hj. 
 You call yourfelf a Chrifiian^ and yet will not by 
 any Means be perfuaded to fcek Salvation in good 
 Earneft from and thro* Jefus Chrift^ whom you 
 call your Mafter and your Lord. How do you 
 for a Moment excufe this Negligence to your 
 own Confcience? If I had urged you on any 
 controverted Point, it might have altered the 
 Cafe. If I had laboured hard to make you the 
 Difciple of any particular Party of Chriftians., 
 yourDelay might have been more reafonable: Nay, 
 perhaps, your refufing to acquiefce might have 
 been an Ad of apprehended Duty to our common 
 Mafter. But is it Matter of Controverfy amongft 
 Chriftians, whether there be a great, holy, and 
 righteous God ; and whether fuch a Being, 
 whom we agree to own, fhould be reverenced 
 and loved, or negle(5led and difhonoured .? Is it 
 Matter of Controverfy, whether a Sinner (hould 
 deeply and ferioufly repent of his Sins, or whe- 
 ther he ftiould go on in them ? Is it a difputed 
 Point amongft us, whether Jefus became incar- 
 nate, and died upon the Crofs, for the Redemp- 
 tion of Sinners, or no ? And if it be not, can it 
 be difputed by them who believe him to be the 
 Son of GOD and the Saviour of Men, whether a 
 Sinner ftiould feek to him, or negledl him ? or 
 whether one who profefles to be a Chrijlian, fliould 
 depart from Iniquity^ or give himfelf up to the 
 Practice of it? Are the Precepts of our great Ma- 
 fter written fo obfcurely in his Word, that there 
 fhould be Room ferioufly to queftion, whether 
 
 K4 he 
 
 (h) John vi. 68. 
 
 
. 
 
 
 t|| 
 
 
 136 He does not a^ as he profejfes^ Ch. ix 
 
 he require a devout, holy, humble, fpiritual, 
 watchful, felf-denying Life, or whether he allow 
 the contrary ? Has Chriji^ after all his Preten- 
 fions of bringing Life and Immortality to Lights left 
 it more uncertain than he found it, whether 
 there be any future State of Happinefs and Mi- 
 fery, or for whom thefe States are refpedively 
 intended ? Is it Matter of Controverfy, whether 
 God willy or will not, bring every JVork into 
 Judgment^ with every fecret Things whether it be 
 Goody or whether it be Evil (i)? or whether, at 
 the Conclufion of that Judgment, the IVicked 
 (hall go away into EverlaHing Punijhmenty and the 
 Righteous into Life Eternal (kj ? You will not, I 
 am fure, for very Shame pretend any Doubt a- 
 bout thefe Things, and yet call yourfclf ^ Chri- 
 ffian. Why then will you not be perfuaded to 
 lay them to Heart, and to adl as Duty and Inte- 
 reft fo evidently require ? Oh Sinner, the Caufe 
 is too obvious ; a Caufe indeed quite unworthy 
 of being called a Reafon. It is becaufe thou art 
 blinded and befotted with thy Vanities and thy 
 Lufts. It is becaufe thou haft fome perifliing 
 Trifle, which charms thy Imagination and thy 
 Senfes, fo that it is dearer to thee than God and 
 Chriffy than thine own Soul and its Salvation. 
 'Tis in a Word, becaufe thou art ftill under the 
 Influence of that carnal Mindy which, whatever 
 pious Forms it may fometimcs admit and pretend, 
 is Enmity again fl GODy and is not fubje^ to the Law 
 of GODy neither indeed can be (\). And therefore, 
 thou art in the very Cafe of thofe Wretches, con- 
 cerning whom our Lord faid in the Days of his 
 Flefh, I'e will 7wt come unto mcy that ye might 
 
 have 
 (i) Ecclcf. xii. 14. (V) Mat. xxv, 46. (\) Rom^ 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . and fights the mojl faithful Warnings. 137 
 
 have Life (m), and therefore ye fhall die in your 
 Sins (n). 
 
 §.8. In this Cafe, I fee not what it can fignify, 
 to renew thofe Expoftulations and Addrefles, 
 which I have made in the former Chapters. As 
 our bleifed Redeemer fays, of thofe who rejefted 
 his Gofpel, Ye have both feeny and hatedy both me 
 and my Father (o) ; fo may I truly fay with regard 
 to you, I have endeavoured to fhew you in the 
 plaineft and the cleareft Words both Chrifi and the 
 Father •, I have urged the Obligations you arc 
 under to both ; I have laid before you your 
 Guilt, and your Condemnation ; I have pointed 
 out the only Remedy ; I have pointed out the 
 Rock, on which I have built my own Eternal 
 Hopes, and the Way, in which alone I expeft 
 Salvation. I have recommended thofe Things 
 to you, which, if God gives me an Opportunity, 
 I will with my dying Breath earneftly and affec- 
 tionately recommend to my own Children, and 
 to all the deareft Friends that I have upon 
 Earth, who may may then be near me ; efteem- 
 ing it the higheft Token of my Friendfhip, 
 the fureft Proof of my Love to them. A^d 
 if believing the Gofpel to be truCy you refolve to rejeS 
 ity I have nothing farther to fay, but that you 
 
 muft abide by the Confequence. Yet, as Mofes^ 
 
 when he went out from the Prefence of Pharaoh for 
 the laft Time, finding his Heart yet more har- 
 dened by all the Judgments and Deliverances 
 with which he had formerly been exercifed, de- 
 nounced upon him GOD*s pajfmg thro" the Land 
 in Terror to fmite the Ftrft-born with Deatby and 
 warned him of that great and lamentable Cry which 
 the Sword of the dejlroying Angel fhould raifc through- 
 out 
 
 (m) John vi. 40. (n) John viii. 24. (0) Jchnxv. 24. 
 
:|l 
 
 f 
 
 'I 
 
 
 138 H^ is once more told the terrible End, Ch. u . 
 
 €Ul alibis Realm (p) : So will I, Sinner, now when 
 I am quitting thee, fpeak to thee yet again, whe- 
 ther thou wilt heoTy or whether thou wilt forbear (q), 
 and denounce that much more terrible Judg- 
 ment, which tb£ Sword of Divine Vengeance^ already 
 t^hetted and drawn, and bathed as it were in Hea- 
 ten (rj, is preparing againft thee ; which fhall end 
 In a much more doleful Cry^ tho' thou wcrt greater and 
 fftore obftinate than that haughty Monarch. Yes, 
 Sinner, that I may, with the Apoftle Paul^ when 
 turning to others who are more like to hear me, 
 Jbake fjry Raiment end fay^ I am pure from your 
 Blood (<) ; I will once more tell you, what the 
 End of tbefe "Things will be, And^ Oh that I could 
 ^eak to Purpofe ! Oh that I could thunder in 
 iliine Ear fuch a Peal of Terror, as might awaken 
 thee, and be too loud tobedrown'd in all theNoife 
 6f carnal Mirth, or to be deaden'd by thole dan- 
 gerous Opiates, with which thou art contriving 
 to ftupify thy Confcience ! 
 
 §. 9. Seek what Amufements and Entertain- 
 ments thou wilt. Oh Sinner, I tell thee, if thou 
 wert equal in Dignity, and Power, and Magni- 
 ficence, to the ^reat Monarch of Baliylon^ Thy Pomp 
 f}oall be brought down to the Grange,, and all the Sound 
 of thy fiols ; the IForm fijall be fpread under thee^ 
 and the Worm fhall cover thee (t). Yes, Siniicr, 
 the End of thefe Things is Death {u) -^ Death in its 
 inbfl: terrible Senle to thee, if this continue thy 
 governing Temper. Thou canft not avoid it ; 
 ahd, if it be pofTible for any Thing that I can 
 lay to prevent, thou fhalt not forget it. Your 
 Strength is not the Strength of Stones^ nor is your 
 
 Flefh 
 
 fpy TrtxJ. XI. 4,-6. (q) Ezek. ii. 7. (r) Ifai. xxxiv. 5. 
 • (8^ Act? xviii. 6. (t) Ifai. xiv. 11. (u) Rom. vi. 2 1 . 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . His Cafe will be dreadful at Death. 1 3^ 
 
 flejh ofBrafs (x). You are acceflible to Difeafes, 
 as well as others *, and, if fome fudden Accident 
 do not prevent it, we fhall foon fee, bow heroi- 
 cally you will behave yourfelf on a dying Bed, 
 and in the near Views of Eternity. You, that 
 now defpife Chriff^ and trifl-e with his Gofpel, we 
 fliall fee you droop and languifh j fliaJl fee all 
 your Relifh for your carnal Recreations, and 
 your vain Companions, loft. And if perhaps 
 one and another of them bolt in upon you, and 
 is brutifh and defperate enough to attempt to 
 entertain a dying Man, with a gay Story, or a 
 prophane Jeft, we fhall fee how you will relilh it. 
 We Ihall fee, what Comfort you will have in re- 
 fleding on what is paft, or what Hope in look- 
 ing forward to what is to come. Perhaps trem* 
 bling and aftonifhed, you will then be enquiring 
 in a wild Kind of Conflernation, what you fhall 
 do to befaved ; calling for the Miniflers of Chritfy 
 whom you now defpile for the Earneflncfs with 
 which they would labour to fave your Soul -, and 
 it may be, falling into a Delirium, or dying Con- 
 vulfions, before they can come. Or perhaps we 
 may fee you, flattering yourfelves, thro* a long 
 lingering Illnefs, that you fhall ftill recover, and 
 putting off any ferious Refleftion and Converfa- 
 tion, for Fearitfhould over-fet your Spirits. And 
 the cruel Kindnefs of Friends and Phyficians, as 
 if they were in League with Satan to make the 
 Deftrudion of your Soul as fure as pofTible, may 
 perhaps abet this fatal Deceit. 
 
 §. ID. And if any of thefe probable Cafes 
 happen, that is, in fhort, unlefs a Miracle of 
 Grace fnatch you as a Brand out of the Burnings 
 when the Flames have as it were already taken 
 
 hold 
 
 (x) Job vi. 12. 
 
i .-if 
 
 ! I' 
 
 i ' 
 
 t I: 
 i" i. 
 
 '-1 40 The Cafe of the hardened Sinner Ch . 1 1 . 
 
 hold of you ; all thefc gloomy Circumftances, 
 which pafs in the Chambers of Illnefs and the 
 Bed of Death, are but the Fore-runners of infi- 
 nitely more dreadful Things. Oh, who can de- 
 fcribe them ! who can imagine them ! When 
 furviving Friends are tenderly mourning over the 
 breathlels Corpfe, and taking a fond Farewell of 
 it before it is laid to confume away in the dark 
 and filent Grave, into what Hands, Oh Sinner, 
 will thy Soul be fallen ! What Scenes will open 
 upon thy feparate Spirit, even before* thy deferred 
 Flefh be cold, or thy fightlefs Eyes are clofed ! 
 It ftiall then know, what it is to return to GOD^ 
 to be rejedled by him, as having rcjeded his Gof- 
 pel and his Son, and defpifed the only Treaty of 
 Reconciliation -, and that fuch a one, fo amazing- 
 ly condefcending and gracious. Thou (halt know, 
 what it is to be difowned by Chriff^ whom thou 
 haft refufed to entertain ; and what it is, as the 
 certain and immediate Confequence of that, to 
 be left in the Hands of the malignant Spirits of 
 Hell. There will be no more Friendfhip then : 
 None to comfort, none to alleviate thy Agony 
 and Diftrefs : But on the contrary, all around 
 thee labouring to aggravate and increafe them. 
 Thou ihalc pafs away the intermediate Years of 
 the feparate State, in dreadful Expeftation, and 
 bitter Outcries of Horror and Remorfe. And 
 then, thou /halt hear the Trumpet of the Arch- 
 Angel, in whatever Cavern of that gloomy 
 World thou art lodged. Its Sound fhall pene- 
 trate thy Prifon, v/here, doleful and horrible 
 as it is, thou (halt neverthelefs wifli, that 
 thou mightcft ftill be allowed to hide thy guilty 
 Head, rather than fhewit before the Face of that 
 awful Jud^c;, before whom Heaven and Earth are 
 
 feeing 
 
 Ch. 1 1 . is ftill more dreadful after Death. 141. 
 
 fleeing away (y). But thou muft come forth, and 
 be reunited to a Body, now formed for ever to 
 endure Agonies, which in this mortal State would 
 have difTolved it in a Moment. You would not 
 be perfuaded to come to ChriSi before : You 
 would ftupidly negledl him, in Spight of Reafon, 
 in Spight of Confcience, in Spight of all the 
 tendereft Solicitations of the Gofpel, and the re- 
 peated Admonitions of its moft faithful Minifters. 
 But now, Sinner, you (hall have an Interview 
 with him •, if that may be called an Interview, in 
 which you will not dare to lift up your Head to 
 view the Face of your tremendous and inexorable 
 Judge. There at leaft, how diftant foever the 
 Time of our Life and the Place of our Abode 
 may have been, there fhall we fee, how coura- 
 giouQy your Heart will endure^ and how [irong your 
 Hands will k, when the Lord doth this (z). There 
 fliall 1 fee thee. Oh Reader, whoever thou art 
 thatgoeft on in thine Impenitency, among Thou- 
 landsand ten Thoufandsof defpairing Wretches, 
 trembling and confounded. There (hall I hear 
 thy Cries among the reft, rending the very Hea- 
 vens in vain. The Judge will rife from the Tri- 
 bunal with Majeftick Compofure, and leave thee 
 to be hurried down to thofe Everiafting Burn- 
 nigs, to which his righteous Vengeance hath 
 doomed thee, becaufe thou wouldeft not be faved 
 from them. Hell (hall (hut its Mouth upon thee 
 for ever, and the fad Eccho of thy Groans and 
 Outcries (hall be loft amidft the Hallelujahs of 
 Heaven to all that fnd Mercy of the Lord in that 
 Day. 
 
 §. 1 1. Th IS will moft afluredly be the End of 
 thefe Things .: And thou, as a Chriftian, profefTeft 
 
 to 
 
 (y) Rev. XX. 11. 
 
 (z) Ezek. xxii. 14. 
 
 11% 
 
142 Pily now leads to pray for fuck Ch. 11, 
 
 to know, and to believe it. It moves my Heart 
 ar lead, if it moves not thine. I firmly believe^ 
 that every one, who himfdf obtains Salvation 
 and Glory, will bear fo much of his Saviour's 
 Image in Wifdom and Goodnefs, in Zeal for 
 God, and a fteady Regard to the Happinefs of 
 the whole Creation, that he will behold this fad 
 Scene with calm Approbation, and without any 
 painful Commotion of Mind. But as yet I am 
 Flefh and Blood *, and therefore my Bowels are 
 troubled^ and mine Eyes often overflow with Grief, 
 to think, that wretched Sinners will have no 
 more CompafTion upon their own Souls •, to think, 
 that in Spight of all Admonition, they will ob- 
 ftinatcly run upon final Everlafting Deftrudtion. 
 It would fignify nothing here, to add a Prq\er, 
 ova Meditation^ for your Ufe. Poor Creature! you 
 will not meditate ! you will not pray ! Yet as I 
 have often poured out my Heart in Prayer over 
 a dying Friend, when the Force of his Diftem* 
 per has rendered him incapable of joining with 
 me ; fo will I now apply myfelf to God for you. 
 Oh unhappy Creature I And if you difdain fo 
 much as to read what my CompalTion didlates ; 
 yet I hope, they who have felt the Power of the 
 Gofpel on their own Souls, as they cannot but 
 pity fuch as you, will join with me in fuch cor- 
 dial, tho* broken Peddons, as thefe. 
 
 A Pr A Y E R in behalf of an Impenitent Sinner ^ in the 
 
 Cafe defer ibed above, 
 
 " A LMIGHTY G0D\ with Thee all Tbings 
 
 " JLJL ^re poffible (a) : To Thee therefore do 
 
 ♦* I humbly apply myfelf in Behalf of this Dear 
 
 *^ Immortal Soul, which Thou here fccft perifh- 
 
 ** ing 
 (a) Matt. xix. 26. 
 
 Ch . 1 1 . ^ Prayer for the Impenitent Sinner, 143 
 
 «* ing in its Sins, and hardening itfelf againft 
 •' that everlafting Gofpel, which has been the 
 »' Power of GOD to the Salvation of fo many 
 «' Thoufands and Millions. Thou art Witnefs, 
 ** Oh BlefTed God, Thou art Witnefs to the 
 «« Plainnefs and Serioufnefs, with which the 
 *' MeiTage has been delivered. It is in Thy 
 «* Prefence that thefe awful Words have been 
 •* written ; and in Thy Prefence have they been 
 «' read. Be pleafed therefore to record it in the 
 " Book of Thy Remembrance, that fo // this 
 «* wicked Man dieth in his Iniquity^ after the Warn- 
 *' ing has l?een fo plainly and fo folemnly given 
 " him^ his^loodmaykot be required at my Hand (b), 
 ♦' nor at the Hand of that Chriftian Friend, 
 ** whoever he is, by whom this Book has been 
 *« put into his, with a fincere Defire for the Sal- 
 *' vation of his Soul. * Be Witnefs, Oh Blcffed 
 ** Jefus,, in the piy in which Thoufhalt judge the 
 «' Secrets of all Hearts (c), that Thy Gofpel hath 
 «* been preached to this hardened Wretch, and 
 *' Salvation by Thy Blood hath been offered 
 •* him, tho' he continue to defpife it. And may 
 «' Thine unworthy Meffenger be unto GOD a 
 *' fweet Savour in Chrijl^ in this very Soul, even 
 " tho' it Ihould at laft perijh (d) / 
 
 " But, Oh that, after all his Hardncfs and 
 " Impenitence, Thou wouldft ftilj be pleafed, 
 •* by the Soverei^ Power of Thine efficacious 
 " Grace, to awaken and convert him ! Well 
 " do we know, Oh Thou LORD of univerfal 
 " Nature, that He who made the Soul, can caufe 
 *• the Sword of Convi^ion to come near and enter into 
 " it. Oh that, in Thine Infinite Wifdom and 
 •* Love, Thou wouldft find out a Way to inter- 
 
 " pofe, 
 
 (b) Ezek. xxxiii. 8, 9. (c) Rom. ii. 16. (d) 2 Cor. ii. 1 5. 
 
 
iC 
 
 Ci 
 
 4i 
 
 C( 
 
 (C 
 
 i( 
 
 44 
 
 144 ^ Prater in behalf of Ch. i f , 
 
 ^* pofe, and favc this Sinner from Death, from 
 *• EternaJ, Death ! Oh that, if it be Thy blefled 
 " WiU, Thou wouldfl immediately do it ! Thou 
 " knoweft, Oh God, he is a dying Creature : 
 ** Thou knovreft, that if any Thing be done for 
 him, it muft be done quickly : Thou feed, in 
 the Book of Thy wife and gracious Decrees, a 
 Moment marked, which muft fcal him up in 
 *' an unchangeable State : Oh that Thou wouldft 
 lay hold on him, while he is ytt joined to the 
 Living, and h^uh Hope (e) / Thy immutable 
 ** Laws in the Difpenfation of Grace forbid, that 
 ** a Soul fhould be converted and renewed after 
 ** its Entrance on the Invifible World : Oh let 
 Thy Sacred Spirit work, while he is yet as it 
 were within the Sphere of His Operations ! 
 *' Work, Oh God, by whatever Method Thou 
 " pleafeft •, only have Mercy upon him ! Oh 
 " Lord, have Mercy upon him, that he fink 
 *' not into thofe Depths ot Damnation and Ruin, 
 " on the very Brink of which, he fo evidently 
 " appears ! Oh that Thou wouldft bring him, 
 " if that be neceffary, and feem to Thee moft 
 *' expedient, into any Depths of Calamity and 
 *' Diftrefs ! Oh that, with Manejfeh, he may be 
 taken in the Thorns , and laden 'with the Fetters cf 
 AffUBion, if that may but caufe him tofeeii the 
 GOD of his Fathers (f ) / 
 " But I prefcribe not to Thine Infinite Wif- 
 dom. Thou haft difplayed Thy Power in glo- 
 " rious and aftoniftiing Inftances ; which I thank 
 " Thee, that I have fo circumjiantially known, and 
 " by the Knowledge of them have been forti- 
 *' fied againft the rafh Confidence of thofe, who 
 *' weakly and arrogantly pronounce that to be im- 
 
 *' poffibky 
 (e) Ecclef. ix. 4. (0 2 Chron. xjcxiii. 11,12. 
 
 (C 
 
 iC 
 
 4( 
 
 44 
 
 44 
 
 <C 
 
 <C 
 
 Ch. II. the Impenitent Simter. 145 
 
 «* poffible, which is aElually done. Thou haft, I 
 *' know, done that by a fingle Thought in Re- 
 <* tirement, when the happy Man reclaimed by 
 *' it hath been far from Means, and far from 
 Ordinances, which neither the moft awful Ad- 
 monitions^ tior the moft tender Intreaties, nor 
 the moft terrible Afflidions, nor the moft won- 
 " derful Deliverances had been able to efFeft. 
 ** Glorify Thy Name, Oh Lord, and glorify 
 Thy Grace, in the Method which to Thine 
 Infinite Wifdom (hall feem moft expedient !' 
 Only grant, I befeech Thee, with all humble 
 SubmifTion to Thy Will, that this Sinner may- 
 be faved ! or if not, that the Labour of this 
 Part may not be altogether in vain 5 but that 
 if fome rejed: it to their aggravated Ruin, 
 others may hearken and live ! That thofe Thy 
 Servants, who have laboured for their Deli- 
 verance and Happinefs, may view them ia 
 the Regions of Glory, as the Spoils which 
 *' Thou haft honoured them as the Inftruments 
 of recovering ; and may join with them in the 
 Hallelujahs of Heaven, to Hinr, who hath loved 
 us, and wajhed us from our Sins in His own Blood, 
 and hath made us of condemned Rebels, and 
 accurfcd polluted Sinners, Kings and Priejls 
 unto GOD \ to Him be Glory and Doininionfor 
 ever attd ever I " ^)i€n (g). 
 
 (g) Rev.i- 5'^- 
 
 14 
 
 44 
 
 4C 
 
 44 
 
 14 
 
 44 
 
 44 
 
 4( 
 
 44 
 
 4C 
 
 <( 
 
 44 
 
 4C 
 
 44 
 
 44 
 
 (4 
 
 4C 
 
 4C 
 
 CHAP. 
 
X46 "fhe Cafe of a Deje^fed Soul, Ch. 1 2. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 An Addrcfs to a Soul fo overwhelmed with 
 a Senfe of the Greatnefs of its Sins, that it 
 chares not apply itfelf to Christ with any 
 Hope of Salvation. 
 
 The Cafe defcribed at large, §. i, — 4. as it frcf.iently 
 occurs, §.5. Granting all that the DejeBed Soul 
 charges on itfelf^ §.6. the Invitations and Promifes 
 ofChrifl give Hope, §.7. The Reader urged, wider 
 all his Burthens and Fears, to an humble applica- 
 tion to Him : §.8. Which is accordingly exemplified 
 in the concluding Rcflc5iion and Prayer,, 
 
 §. i.THAVE now done with thofe unhappy 
 -■' Creatures who defpifc the Gofpef, and 
 with thof:; who negleft it. With Pleafure do I 
 now turn myfelf to thofe, who will hear me with 
 more Regard. Among the various Cafes, which 
 now prefent themfelves to my Thoughts, and de- 
 mand my tender, affedionate, rcfpedful Care, 
 there is none more worthy of Compaffion, than 
 that which I have mentioned in the Tide of this 
 Chapter •, none which requires a more immediate 
 Attempt of Relief. 
 
 §.2. It is very polTible, fome afflifted Crea- 
 ture may be ready to cry our, " It is enough ; 
 " Aggravate my Grief, and my Diftrefs, no 
 " more. The Sentence you have been fo aw- 
 
 «^ fully 
 
 iC 
 
 (C 
 
 
 Ch. 1 2 : Cverwh^Wd with a Senfe of its Sins, 1 47 
 
 " fully dcfcribing, as what fhall be pafTed and 
 " executed on the Impenitent and Unbelieving, 
 ♦* is my Sentence •, and the Terrors of it are my 
 " Terrors, For mine Iniquities are gone up unto the 
 HeavenSi and my Tranfgreffions have reached unto 
 the Clouds (a). My Cafe is quite fingular. 
 Surely there never was fo great a Sinner as I. 
 I have received fo many Mercies, I have en- 
 ** joyed fo many Advantages, I. have heard fo 
 ** many Invitations of Gofpel Grace •, and yet 
 ** my Heart has been fo hard, and my Nature 
 *' is fo exceeding finful, and the Number and 
 aggravating Circumftances of my Provoca- 
 tions have been fuch, that / dare not hope. 
 It is enough, that God hath fupported me 
 thus long -, it is enough, that after fo many 
 Years of Wickedncfs, I am yet out of Hell. 
 Every Day's Reprieve is a Mercy, at which 1 
 *« am aftonifhed. I lie down, and wonder, that 
 '' Death and Damnation have not feized me in 
 my Walks the Day paft. 1 arife, and won- 
 der, that my Bed hath not been my Grave ; 
 wonder, that my Soul is not feparaced from 
 Flefh, and furrounded with Devils and Damned 
 Spirits. 
 
 §.3. "I HAVE indeed heard the Meffage of 
 ** Salvation •, but alas, it fcems no Mclfage of 
 " Salvation to me. There are happy Souls that 
 ** have Hope •, and their Hope is indeed in Chrijl, 
 ^' and the Grace of God manifefted in him. But 
 *' then they feel in their Hearts an Encourage- 
 '' ment to apply to him -, whereas I dare not do 
 ^' it. Ckrijt and Grace are Things, in which, I 
 ** fear, i have no Part, and mult expect none. 
 '^ There are exceeding rich and precious Pro- 
 
 <( 
 
 «( 
 
 (4 
 
 C( 
 
 <( 
 
 «c 
 
 iC 
 
 C( 
 
 C( 
 
 
 L 2 
 
 mifes 
 
 (a) Rev. xviii. 5. 
 
149 HowiTer bad the Cafe of fuch may le^ Ch. 1 2. 
 
 ^ mifcs in the Word of God ; but they are to 
 ** me as afcaled Book, and are hid from me as to 
 " any perfonal Ufe. I know, Chrift is able to 
 " fiFve : I know, he is willing to fave fome. But 
 •* that he fhould be willing to fave mr, fuch a 
 ^* pollutedj fuch a provoking Creature, as God 
 ** Knows, and asConfcience knows, I have been, 
 " and to this Day am ; this I know not how to 
 ** believe ; and the utmoft that I can do to- 
 ** wards believing it, is to acknowledge that it 
 ** is not abfolutely impofTible, and that I do not 
 ** yet lie down in complcat Defpair •, tho' alas, 
 *« I feem upon the very Borders of it, and ex- 
 •' peft every Day and Hour to fall into it." 
 
 §.4. I SHOULD not perhaps have entered fo 
 fully into this Cafe, if I had not feen many in it ; 
 and I will add. Reader, for your Encourage- 
 ment, if it be your Cafe, fevcral who are now 
 in the Number of the mod ellablifhed, chearful, 
 and ufeful Chriftians. And I hope. Divine Grace 
 will add you to the reft, if ^^/ of tbeje Depths you 
 be enabled to cry unto GOD (b) *, and tho', like 
 Jonah^ you may feem to be cqft out from his Pre- 
 fencey yet ftill, with Jonaby you look towards bis 
 holy Temple (c). 
 
 §. 5. Let it not be imagined, that it is in any 
 Neglccl of that BlefTcd Spirit, whofe Office it is 
 to be the great Comforter^ that I now attempt to 
 reafon you out of this difconfolate Frame : For 
 it is as the great Source of Reafon, that he deals 
 with Rational Creatures -, and it is in the Ufe of 
 Rational Mean's and Confiderations, that he may 
 moft juftly be expedled to operate. Give me 
 Leave therefore, to addrefs myfelf calmly to 
 you, and to afk you, What Reafon you have for 
 
 all 
 
 (b) Pfal. cxxx. I. 
 
 (c) Jonah ii. 4. 
 
 Ch. 1 2 . Nothing is too hard for the Lord, 149 
 all thefe paflionate Complaints and Accufatipns 
 againft yourfelf ? What Reafon have you to fug- 
 gcft, that your Cafe is fingular, when fo many 
 have told you, they have felt the fame ? What 
 Reafon have you to conclude fo hardly againft 
 yourfelf, when the Gofpel fpeaks in fuch favour- 
 able Terms ? Or what Reafon to imagine, that 
 the gracious Things it fays are not intended for 
 you"? You know indeed more of the Corrup- 
 tions of your own Heart, than you know of the 
 Hearts of others •, and you make a Thoufand 
 charitable Excufes for their vifible Failings and 
 Infirmities, which you make not for your own. 
 And it may be fome of rhofe, whom you admire 
 as eminent Saints when compared with you, are 
 on their Part humbling themfelves in the DuU 
 as unworthy to be numbered among the leaft of 
 God's People, and wifhing themfelves like you, 
 in whom they think they fee much more Good, 
 and much lefs of Evil, than in tliemfelves, 
 
 §. 6. But to fuppofethe worfl. What if you 
 were really the vileft Sinner that ever lived upon 
 Che Face of the Earth ? What if your Iniquities 
 had gone up unto the Heavens every Day, and yaur 
 Tranfgrejfions had reached unto the Clouds (d) ; reach- 
 ed thither with fuch horrid Aggravations, that 
 Earth and Heaven fhould have had Reafon to 
 deteft you, as a Monfler of Impiety ? Admitting 
 ail this. Is any thing too bard for the Lprd (e) ? Arc 
 any Sins, of which a Sinner can repent, of fo deep 
 a Dye, that the Blood of Chrift cannot wafh them 
 away ? Nay, tho' it would be daring Wicked- 
 nefs and monftrous Folly, for any to fin that Grace 
 might abound (f ), yet had you indeed raifed your 
 Account beyond all that Divine Grace has ever 
 
 L3 yet 
 
 (i Rcv.xviii. 5. (c) Gen.XYul 14. (f)Kom.vi.i. 
 
150 Chrijl is able and willing to fave, Ch. 12. 
 
 yet pardoned, who fhould liwil ibe Holy One of 
 ]frael{^) ? or who (hould pretend to fay, that it was 
 impofftble that God might for your very Wretch- 
 ednefs chufe you out from others, to make you 
 a Monument of Mercy, and a Trophy of hitherto 
 unparalleJled Grace? The ApoftJe PWftrongly 
 intimates this to have been the Cafe, with Re- 
 gird to himfelf ; And why might not you like- 
 wife, if indeed the Chief of Sinners^ obtain Mercy ^ 
 that in you, as the Chiefs Jefus Chriji might Jhew 
 forth all Long-Sufferings for a Pattern to them who 
 fhall hereafter beluve (h) ? 
 
 §. 7. Gloomy as your Apprehenfions are, I 
 would afk you plainly, Do you in your Confcience 
 think, that Chrift is not able to fave you? What, is 
 He not able to fave even to the uttermcfl^ them that 
 come unto GOD by him (i) ? Yes, you will fay, 
 abundantly able to do it ; bqt I dare not 
 imagine, that Ho will do ir. And how do you 
 know, that He will not ? He has helped the 
 very greatefl: Sinners of all that have yet applied 
 themlelves to him : And he has made the Offers 
 of Grace and Salvation in the mod engaging 
 and encouraging Terms. If any Man thirjt^ let 
 him come unto me^ and drink (k): Let him that is 
 athirji^ come ; and whofoever will^ let him take of the 
 Water of Life freely (I) ; Qome unto me^ all ye that 
 labour and are heavy laden^ and I will give you 
 Rejl(m): And once more, ///;;; that Qometh unto 
 tne^ I will in no wife cafl out (n). True, will you 
 fay. None that ^rc given him by the Father : Could 
 I know, I were of that Number, 1 could then 
 apply chearfully to him. Bur, dear Reader, let 
 
 me 
 
 {%) Pfal. Ixxviii. 41. (h) I Tim. 1. 15, 16. (i) Heb. 
 vii. 2?. (k) John vii. 37. (I) Rev. xxii. 17. (mj Matt. 
 \u 28, (n) John vi. 37. 
 
 Ch . 1 2 . The Soul is urged to apply to Him, 1 5 1 
 me intreat you to look into the Text itfclf: and 
 fee, whether that Limitation be exprefsly added 
 thea\ Do you there read. None of them whom 
 the Father hath given me^ floall be caft out ? The 
 Words are in a much more encouraging Form : 
 And why fliould you fruflrate his Wifdom and 
 Goodnefs, by fuch an Addition of your own? 
 Acid not to his Words, lefi he reprove thee (o) : Take 
 them as they ftand, and drink in the Confolation 
 of them. Our Lord knew into what Perplexity 
 fome ferious Minds might poflibly be thrown by 
 what he had before been faying, M that the Fa- 
 thcr hath given me, pall come unio me \ and there- 
 fore as if it were on Purpofe to balance it, he 
 adds thofe gracious Words, Htm that cometh unto 
 me, I will in no wife, by no Means, on no Confi- 
 deration whatfocver, caft out, 
 
 § 8. If therefore you are already difcouraged 
 
 and terrified at the Greatnefs of your Sins, do 
 not add to their Weight and Number that cm 
 greater and worfe than all the re(V, a Diftruft of 
 the Faithfulnefs and Grace of the Bleffed Re- 
 deemer. Do not, fo far as in you lies, oppofe 
 all tlie Purpofes of his Love to you. Oh diftrei- 
 fed Soul, whom doft thou dread ? To whom doft 
 thou tremble to approach ? Is there any Thmg 
 fo terrible, in a crucified Redeemer, in the Lamb 
 that was Jlain ? If thou carried thy Soul almoft 
 finking under the Burthen of its Guilt, to lay it 
 down ar his Feet, what doft thou offer him, but 
 ^he Spoil which he bled and died to recover and 
 poffels? And did he purchafe it fo dearly, that 
 he might rejea: it with Difdain ? Go to him 
 diredly, and fall down in his Prefence, and plead 
 that Mifery of thine, which thou haft now been 
 
 L 4 -pleading 
 
 (o) Prov. XXX. 6, 
 
 'ff«i 
 
X 52 Reflexion on thefe Encouragewents, Ch . 1 2 . 
 pleading in a contrary View, as an Engagement 
 to your own Soul to make the Application, and 
 as an Argument with the companionate Saviour 
 to receive you. Go, and be aflured, xhTH where 
 Sin hath abounded, there Grace jhall much wore 
 abound (p). Be aflured, that if one Sinner can 
 promife himfelf a more cert4in Welcome than 
 anoilier, it is not he that is leaft guilty and 
 miferable, but he that is moft deeply humbled 
 before God under a Senfe of that Mifery and 
 Guilt, and lies the lowed in the Apprehenfion 
 pf It, 
 
 Reflection on thefe Encouragements, endhig 
 in an humble and earned Application to Chrift for 
 Mercy. 
 
 *' C\ H my Soul, what fayeft thou to thefe 
 *' Vy Things? Is there not at lead a Pofli- 
 *' bility of Help from Chrin? And is there a 
 
 * Pofllbility of Help any other Way ? \^a)ry other 
 ' Name given under Heaven^ whereby zve may be 
 ^ favcd? I know, there is none (q). I mu(t then 
 
 *' fay, like the Lepers of Ifrael (r). If I fit here, I 
 
 *« pri/h ; and if I make my Application in vain, I 
 
 * can but die. But perad venture. He way fave my 
 ** Soul alive, I will therefore ^r//t', and go unto 
 " Him\ or rather, believing Him here by Hi^ 
 " Spiritual Prefence, finful and miferable as I 
 " am, I will this Moment fall down on my Face 
 V before Him, and pour out my Soul unto 
 •* Him. 
 
 *' Blessed Jefus, I prefent myfclf unto Thee, 
 " as a wretched Creature, driven indeed by Ne- 
 " ceflity to do it. For furely were not that Ne- 
 
 " Ceflity 
 (p) Rom. V. 20. (q) Ads iv. 12. (r) i King^ vii. 4. 
 
 <c 
 c 
 
 c 
 < 
 c 
 < 
 <c 
 
 f:h. 1 2 . wi^h an Application to Chrijifor Mercy, 1 5 3 
 
 *' ceflity urgent and abfolute, I fliould not dare 
 for very Shame to appear in Thine Holy and 
 Majeftick Prefence. I am fully convinced, 
 that my Sins and my Follies have been inex- 
 cufably great -, more than I can exprefs, more 
 than I can conceive. I feel a Source of Sin in 
 my corrupt and degenerate Nature, which 
 pours out Iniquity, as a Fountain fends out 
 its Water, and makes me a Burthen and a 
 Terror to myfelf Such Aggravations have 
 attended my Tranfgreflions, that it looks like 
 Prefumption, fo much as to ask Pardon for 
 them. And yet, would it not be greater Pre- 
 fumption to fay^ that they exceed Thy Mercy, 
 and the Efficacy of Thy Blood ? to fay, that 
 Thou haft: Power and Grace enough to pardoa 
 
 *' and fave only Sinners of a lower Order, while 
 fuch as I lie out of thy Reach ? Preferve me 
 from that blafphemous Imagination ! Preferve 
 me from that unreafonable Sufpicion! Lord, 
 ^jou canfl do all Things, neither is there any Tljought 
 of mine Heart withholden from Thee{s). Thou 
 art indeed, as Thy Word declares, able to 
 fave unto the uttermofl (t). And therefore, 
 breaking thro' all the Oppofitions of Shame and 
 Fear, that would keep me from Thee, I come 
 and lie down as in the Duft: before Thee. 
 Thou knoweft. Oh Lord, all my Sins, and aU 
 my Follies (u). I cannot, and I hope I may 
 fay, I would not, difguife them before Thee, 
 or fct myfelf to find out plaufible Excufes. 
 Accufe me. Lord, as thou pleafeft; and I 
 will ingenuoufly plead guilty to ail Thine Ac- 
 cufations. I will own myfelf as great a Sinner, 
 as Thou called me : But I am dill a Sinner, 
 
 *' that 
 (s) Job xUi. 2. (t) Heb. vii. 25. (u) Pfal. Ixix. 5. 
 
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 154 The Said humbly applies to CbriJI^ CJi. 12, 
 
 *' that comes unto Thee for Pardon. If I muil 
 die, it Ihall be fubmitting, and owning the 
 Juftice of the fatal Scrolvc. Ir I pcrilh, it 
 fhall be laying hold as it were, on the Horns cf 
 *' the AUar-y laying myfelf down at Thy Foor- 
 *' ftool, tho* I have been fuch a Rebel aizainfi: 
 *' Thy Throne. Many have received a full Par- 
 *' don there; have met with Favour even be- 
 yond their Hopes. And are all Thy Com- 
 pafTions, Oh bleffed Jejus^ exhaulled ? And 
 wilt Thou now begin to rejcd an humble 
 Creature, who flies to Thee for Life, and 
 pleads nothing but Mercy and Free Grace ? 
 Have Mercy upon »y. Oh mod gracious Re- 
 " deemer, have Mercy ttpon me^ and let my Life 
 be precious in Tljy Sight (x)/ Oh do not refolvc 
 to fend me down to that Scare of final Mifery 
 and Defpair, from which it was Thy gracious 
 Purpofe to deliver and fave fo many ? 
 '' Spurn me not away, Oh Lord, from Thy 
 Prefence, nor be offended when I prtkime to 
 lay hold on Thy Royal Robe, and fay, that 
 I cannoty and "juill not let 'thee go^ till my Suit 
 is granted (y) ! Oh remember, that my E er- 
 nity is at Stake! Remember, 0!i Lord, that 
 all my Hopes of obtaining Eternal Happinefji, 
 and avoiding Everladir.g, helplefs, hopelels 
 Deftruftion, are ancliored upon Thee: They 
 hang upon Thy Sm.les, or drop at Thy 
 Frown. Oh have Mercy upon me^ for the Sake 
 *' of this immortal Soul of mine! Or if not for 
 *' the Sake of mine alone, for the Sake of many 
 *' others, \yho may, on the one Hand, be en- 
 " couraged by Thy Mercy to me, or on the 
 " other, may be greatly wounded and difcou- 
 
 " raged 
 
 ^ (^) i Kings i. 14. (y) Gen. xxxii. 26. 
 
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 iqii . 1 2 . ani earnejily legs for Mercy. 1 5 5 
 
 raged by my helplefs Defpair ! I bcfeech Thee, 
 Oh Lord, for Thine own Sake, and for the 
 Difplay of Thy Father's rich and fovereign 
 Grace ; I befeech Thee by the Blood Thou 
 didft (hed on the Crofs -, I befeech Thee by 
 the Covenant of Grace and Peace, into which 
 the Father did enter with Thee for the Salva- 
 tion of believing and repenting Sinners, fave 
 me ! Save me. Oh Lord, who earneftly defire 
 to repent and believe ! I am indeed a Sinner, 
 in whofe final and everlafling Deftrudion Thy 
 Juftice might be greatly glorified : But Oh, 
 if Thou wilt pardon me, it will be a Monu- 
 ment raifed to the Honour of Thy Grace and 
 the Efficacy of Thy Blood, in Proportion to 
 the Degree in which the Wretch, to whom 
 Thy Mercy is extended, was mean and mife- 
 rable without it. Speak, Lord, by Thy Bleffed 
 Spirit, and banifh my Fears! Look upon me 
 with Love and Grace in Thy Countenance, 
 and fay to me, as in the Days of Thy Flefh 
 Thou didft to many an humble Suppliant, 
 Thy Sins are forgiven thee, go in Peace l^* 
 
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 CHAP. 
 
i§6 ^ (berg is Danger ofmiftakim its Cafe^ Ch. 
 
 CHAP. xiir. 
 
 The doubting Soul more particuUrly affifted 
 in its Enquiries as to the Sincerity of its 
 Faith and Repentance. 
 
 Trafjfient Imprejftons liable to be mijiaken for Conver- 
 fion^ which would be a fatal Error. §. i . Gene- 
 ral Scheme for Self' Examination. §. 2. Particu- 
 lar Enquiries ; ( i .) fVhat Views there hdve been 
 of Sin? ^. ^. (2.) JVhat Views there have been 
 cf Chriji ? §. 4. As to the Need the Sotd has of 
 him: §.5. And its lVilling}ufs to receive him 
 with a due Surrefider of Heart to His Service. §.6. 
 Nothing fhort of this^ fuficient. §. 7, l^he Soul 
 fubmitting to Divine Examination tlx Simerity cf 
 its E^aitb and Repentmue, 
 
 §. I. TT N Confcquence of all the fcrious Things 
 Jl^ which have been faid in the former 
 Chapters, I hope it will be no falfe Prefumption 
 to imagine, that fome Religious Impreffions may 
 be made on Hearts which had never felt them 
 before ; or may be revived, where they have for- 
 merly grown cold and languid. Yet 1 am very 
 fenfible, and I defirc that you may be fo, how 
 great Danger there is of Stlf- Flattery on this im- 
 portant Head -, and how neceflary it is to caution 
 Men, againft too hafty a Conclufion that they 
 are really converted, becaufe they have felt fome 
 warm Emotion on their Minds, and have re- 
 formed 
 
 Ch. X J^ the Soul is called to examine itfelf 1 57 
 
 formed the grofs Irregularities of their former 
 Conduct. A Miftake here might be infinitely 
 fatal: It may prove theOccafion of that falfe 
 Peace, which (hall lead a Man to blefs himfelf in 
 his own Hearty and to conclude himfelf fecure, 
 while all the Ihreatnings and Curfes of GOD's 
 Larj:) are founding in his Ears, and lie indeed di- 
 redlly againft him (a): While in the mean Time 
 he applies to himfelf a Thoufand Promifes, in 
 which he has no Share ; which may prove there- 
 fore like generous Wine to a Man in an high 
 Fever, or Itrong Opiates to one in a Lethargy. 
 The Stony Ground received the Word with Joy^ and 
 a promifing Harveft feemed to be fpringing up; 
 yet it foon withered away fb), and no Reaper filled 
 jfiis Arms with it. Now th.it this may not be the 
 Cafe with you, that all my Labours and yours 
 hitherto may not be loft, and that a vain Dream 
 of Security and Happinefs may not plunge you 
 deeper m Mifery and Ruin, give me Leave to 
 lead you into a ferious Enquiry into your own 
 Heart •, that fo you may be better able to judge 
 of your Cafe, and to diftinguilh between what is 
 at moft being only near the Kingdom of Heaven^ 
 and becoming indeed a Member of it. 
 
 §. 2. Now this depends upon the Sincerity of 
 your Faith in Chrift, when Faith is taken in its 
 largeft Extent, as explained above ; that is, as 
 comprehending Repentance^ and that Jieady Pur- 
 pofe of new and univerfal Obedience^ of which, 
 wherever it is real, Faith will affuredly be the 
 vital Principle. Therefore to aflift you in judg- 
 ing of your State, give me Leave to ask you, or 
 rather to intreat you to ask yourfelf, What 
 F/>a>j you have had, and now have, of Sin^ and 
 
 (a) Dcut. xxix. 19, 20. (b) Matt, xiii, 5, 6. 
 
158 The Soul Jljould feriotiffy enquire Ch. 15/ 
 
 ofChriJl ? And vih^t your future Purpofes are, withf 
 Regard to your Conducft in the Remainder of 
 Life that may lie before you ? I (hall not reafon 
 largely upon the feveral Particulars I fuggefl: un- 
 der thefe Heads, but rather refer you to your 
 own Reading and Obfervation^ to judge how a^ 
 greeable they are to the Word of God, the great 
 Rule, by which our Chara6lers mufl: quickly be 
 tried, and our Eternal State unalterably deter- 
 mined. 
 
 §. 3. Enquire ferioufly, in the firft Place, 
 What Views you have had of Sin^ and what Sen- 
 timents you have felt in your Soul with Regard 
 to it ? There was a Time, when it wore a flat- 
 tering Afpeft, and made a fair inchanting Ap- 
 pearance, fo that all your Heart was charmed 
 with it, and it was the very Bufinefe of your Life 
 to praftife it. But you have fince been unde- 
 ceived. You have felt it bite like a Serpent^ and 
 Jiing like an Adder (c). You have beheld it with 
 an Abhorrence, far greater than the Delight 
 which it ever gave you. So far it is well. It is 
 thus with every true Penitent, and with fome I 
 fear, who are not of that Number. Let me 
 therefore enquire farther. Whence arofe this Ab- 
 horrence ? Was it merely from a Principle of 
 Self-love } Was it merely becaufe you had been 
 wounded by it } Was it merely becaufe you had 
 thereby brought Condemnation and*Ruin upon 
 your own Soul? Was there no Senfe of its 
 Deformity, of its Bafenefs, of its Malignity, as 
 committed againft the Blefled God, confidered 
 as a Glorious, a Bountiful, and a Merciful Be- 
 ing .? Were you never pierced by an Apprchen- 
 fion of its vile Ingratitude ? And as for thofe 
 
 Purpofes 
 (c) Prov. xxiii. 32, 
 
 Ch. 1 3« into its Views of Sin. 1 55 
 
 Purpofes which have arifen in your Heart againft 
 it, 1ft me bcfeech you to reflcd:, how they have 
 been formed, and how they have hitherto been 
 executed. Have they been univerfal .? Have 
 they been refolute? And yet, amidft all that 
 Relblution, have they been humble? When you 
 declared War with Sin, was it with every Sin ? 
 And is it an irreconcileable War, which you de- 
 termine, by Divine Grace, to pufhon till you 
 have entirely conquered it, or die in the Attempt ? 
 And are you accordingly adlive in your Endea- 
 vours to fubdue and dcl^roy it? If fo, what are 
 the Fruits worthy, of Repentance which you bring 
 forth (d) ? It docs not, I hope, all flow away in 
 Floods of Grief: Have you ccafd to do Evil? Are 
 you learning to do well (e) F Doth your Reforma- 
 tion fhew, that yoii repent of your Sins; or do 
 your renewed Relapfes into Sin prove, that you 
 repent even of what you call your Repentance F^ 
 Have you an inward Abhorrence of all Sin, and 
 an unfeigned Z^al againft it.^ And doth that 
 produce a Care to guard againft the Occafions of 
 it, and Temptations to it ? Do you watch againft 
 the Circumflances that have infnared you ? And 
 do you particularly double your Guard againft 
 that Sin which does moft eafily befet you (f) ? Is that 
 laid afide^ that the Chrifiian Race may be run \ laid 
 afide with a firm Determination, that you will 
 return to it no more, that you will hold no more 
 Parley with it, that you will never take another 
 Step towards it ? 
 
 §. 4. Permit me alfo farther to enquire. 
 What your Views of Chrijl have been ? JVlMt you 
 think of Him^ and of your Concern with Him.? 
 Have you been fully convinced, that there muft 
 be a Correfpondence fettled between Him and 
 
 your 
 
 (d) Luke iii. 8. (e) Ifai. i. 16, 17. (f) Heb. xii. i. 
 
l^ i 
 
 
 1 60 It Jhould enq^uire into its Fiews ofCbriJl^ Ch. i j ; 
 
 your Soul ? And do you fee and feel, that you 
 are not only to pay Him a Kind of diftant Ho- 
 mage, and tranfient Compliment, as a very 
 wife, benevolent, and excellent Perfon, whofe 
 Name and Memory you have a Reverence tor ^ 
 but that, as He lives and reigns, as He is ever 
 near you, and always obferving you, fo you 
 muft look to Him, muft approach Him, mud 
 humbly tranfadl Bufinefs with Him, and that, 
 Bufinels of the higheft Importance, on which 
 your Salvation depends. 
 
 §. 5. You have been brought to enquire. 
 Wherewith Jhall I come before the Ijordy and brjj itj)- 
 felf before the mofi High GOD fg) ? And once per- 
 haps you were thinking of Sacrifices, which your 
 own Stores might have been fufficient to furniih 
 out. Are you now convinced, they will not fut- 
 fice ; and that you muft have Recourfe to tha 
 Lamb which GOD hath provided ? Have you had a 
 View of Jefus^ as taking away the Sin of the 
 World {K) ? as made a Sin-Offering for us^ tho^ He 
 knew no Sin, that we might be made the RJghte- 
 oufnefs of GOD in Him (\) ? Have you viewed 
 him, as perfeftly righteous in himfelf j and de- 
 fpairing of being juftified by any Righteoufnefs 
 of your own, have you fubmitted to the Righteouf- 
 nefs of GOD(k)P Has your Heart ever been 
 brought to a deep Convidbion of this important 
 Truth, that if ever you are faved at all, it muft 
 he thro* Chri/l', that if ever God extend Mercy 
 to you at all, it muft be for his Sake ; that if ever 
 you are fxed in the Temple of GOD above, you muft 
 ftand there as an everlafting Trophy of that 
 Viftory which Chriji has gained over the Powers 
 
 of 
 
 (g) MIc. vi. 6. (h) John i. 29. 
 fk/Rom. X. 3, 
 
 (i) 2 Cor. V. 2 1 
 
 Ch . 13. and its Willingnefs to receive him, 1 6 x 
 
 of Hell, who would otherwifc have triumphed 
 over you ? 
 
 §. 6. Our Lord fays. Look unto me, and be ye 
 faved (1) : He fays. If I be lifted up, I fhall draw 
 all Men imto me (m). Have you looked to Him, as 
 the only Saviour? Have you been drawn unto 
 Him, by that facred Magnet, the attradlive In- 
 fluence of His dying Love ? Do you know what 
 it is, to come to Chriji, as a poor, weary, and heavy 
 laden Sinner, that you may Jind Rejl (n) ? Do you 
 know what it is in a fpiritual Senfe," to eat the 
 FleJIo, and drink the Blood of the Son of Man (o) ; 
 that is, to look upon Chrijt crucified as the great 
 Support of your Soul, and to feel a Defire after 
 Him, earneft as the Appetite of Nature after its 
 neceffwiry Food ? Have you known what it is, 
 cordially to lurrender yourfe If to Ci^r//^, as a poor 
 Creature whom Love has made his Property ? 
 Have you committed your immortal Soul to 
 Him, that he may purify and fave it ; that he 
 may govern it by the Dictates of his Word, and 
 the Influences of his Spirit; that he may ufe it 
 for His Glory -, that he may appoint it to what 
 Exercife and Diicipline he pleaies, while it dwells 
 here in Fiefli •, and that he may receive it at 
 D^ath, and fix it among thofe Spirits, who with. 
 perpetual Songs of Praife furround His Throne, 
 and are His Servants for ever ? Have you hear- 
 tily confented to this? And do you, on this Ac- 
 count of the Matter, renew your Confent? Do 
 you renew icdehberately and determinately, and 
 feel your whole Soul, as it were, faying AMEN^ 
 while you read this ? If this be the Cafe, then I 
 can with great Pleafure give you (as it were^ the 
 
 M Right 
 
 (\) Ifa. xlv. 22. (m) Johnxii. 32. (n) Matt. xi. 28. 
 (o) John vi. 53. 
 
1 62 "The Scul that has recekedClriJl isfafe : Ch. i '$. 
 Right Hand of Fellowpoip^ and falute and embi^ce 
 you as a iincere Dilciplc oF the I jor A J efusChrifly 
 as one who is delivered from the Power of Darknefs, 
 and is tranjlated into the Kingdom of the Son of 
 GOD (p). I can then falute you in the Lord^ as 
 one to whom^ as a Miniller of Jefus^ I am com- 
 miflloncd and cliarged to fpeak comfortably, and to 
 tell you, not that 1 abfolve you from your Sins, 
 for // is a finall Matter to be judged of Man^s 
 Judgment, but that the blelTed GOD himfelf ^- 
 fokahyou\ that you are one, to whom he hath 
 jaid in his Gofpel, and is continually faying, Tour 
 Sms are forgiven yon (q); therefore go in Peace ^ 
 and take the Comfort of it. 
 
 §. 7. But if you are a Srranger to thefc Ex- 
 periences, and to this Temper, which I have 
 now defcribed, the great Work is yet undone ; 
 you are an impenitent and unbelieving Sinner, 
 and the IVrath cf GOD dideth on yen (r). How- 
 ever you may have been awakened and alarmed, 
 whatever Refolutions you may have formed for 
 amending your Life, how right foever your 
 Notions may be, how pure foever your Forms 
 ofWorfhip, how ardent foever your Zeal, how 
 fevcre foever your Mortification, how humane 
 foever your Temper, how iiioffcnfive foever your 
 Life may be, I can fpcak no Comfort to you. 
 Vain are aH your Religious Hopes, if there has 
 not been a cordial Humiliation before the Pre- 
 fence of God for ail your Sins i if there has not 
 been this avowed War declared againft every 
 Th>ng difpleafing to God v if there has not been 
 this Senfe of your Need of Chrijl, and of your 
 Ruin without Him ; if there has not been this 
 tarneft Application to Him, this Surrender of 
 
 your 
 
 Cp; Col. i. 13. (qj Luke vii. 48. (rj John iii. 36. 
 
 Ch. 1^. But nothing Jhort of this isfufflcient. 163 
 
 your Soul into his Hands by Faith, this Renun- 
 ciation of yourfelf, that you might fix on Him 
 the Anchor of your Hope ; if there has not been 
 this unreferved Dedication of yourfelf to be at 
 all Times, and in all Refpeds, the faithful Scr- 
 van of God through him •, and if you do not 
 with all this acknowledge, that you are an unpro- 
 fitable Servant, who have no other Expedation of 
 Acceptance, or of Pardon, but only thro* His 
 Righteoufriefs and Blood, and thro' the Riches 
 of Divine Grace in Him -, I repeat it again, that 
 all your Hopes are vain, and you are building on 
 the Sand{s), The Houfe you have already raifed 
 muft be thrown down to the Ground, and the 
 Foundation be removed and laid anew, or you 
 and all your Hopes will (hortly be fwcpt away 
 with it, and buried under it in Everlafting Ruin. 
 
 The Soul fubmitting to Divine Examination the Since- 
 rity of its Repentance and Faith 4 
 
 OH LORD GOD, Thou fearcheji all 
 Hearts, and trie/l the Reins of the Chil- 
 dren of Men (t). Search me^ Oh Lard, and 
 know my Heart ; try me, and know my Thoughts % 
 and fee if there be any wicked Way in me, and lead 
 me in the Way everlafting (u). Doth not my 
 Confcience, Oh Lord, teftify in Thy Prefence, 
 that my Repentance and Faith are fuch as have 
 been defcribed, or at leaft that it is my earneffc 
 Prayer, that they may be fo ? Come therefore. 
 Oh Thou Bkjfed Spirit, who art the Author of 
 all Grace and Confolation, and work this 
 Temper more fully in my Soul! Oh reprefent 
 
 Ml " Sin 
 
 (i) Matt. vH. 26. (i) Jcr. xvii. 10. (^) PW. 
 
 cxxxix. 13, 24. 
 
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164 ^he Sml fubnulttng us Repenianfe Ch. 1 3 
 
 ** Sin to mine Eyes in all its odious Colours, that 
 *• I may feel a mortal and irreconclleablc Ha- 
 *' tred to it! Oh repreient the Majefly aii(3 
 *' Mercy of the Blefied God in fuch a Manner, 
 *' that my Heart may be alarmed, and that ic 
 *' may be melted ! Smile the Rocky that the IVa- 
 " ters may fiow (xj; Waters of genuine, undif- 
 *' femblcd, and filial Repentance! Convince me y 
 " Oh Thou Blcllal Spirit, of Sin, of Righieouf 
 *' «(/.% and of Judgment {y)l Shew me, that / 
 " have undoie my f elf, but that my Help is found in 
 *' GOD alcnc(z) ; in God thro' Chrift, in whom 
 *' alone Ms will extend CompalTion and Help 
 •" to me! According to I'hy peculiar Office, take 
 *' of Cbriji, andjheiv it unto me(di) ! Shew me Hts 
 '' Po-jvcr to fcTve! Shew me Hts IVillingnefs to cx- 
 *' crt that Power! Teach my Faith to behold 
 *' Him, as extended on the Crofs, with open 
 *' Arms, and with a pierced bleeding Side ; and 
 *' fo telling me in the mod forcible Language, 
 *' what Room there is in His very Heart for me f 
 *' May I know what it is, to have my whole 
 ** Heart fubdued by Love ; fo fubdued, as to 
 *' bd crucified zaith Him(b); to be dead to Siny 
 *' and dtad to the World, but alive unto GOD 
 *' tbro^ Jcfiis Chrifi (c) .' In His Power and Love 
 " may 1 confide! 'To Him may I without any 
 ** Relerve commit my Spirit i His Image may I 
 *' bear ! His Laws may I obfbrve ! His Service 
 *' may I purfue! And may I remain, thro* 
 " Time and Eternity, a Monument of the Effi- 
 *' cacy of his Golpel, and a Trophy of His vidlo- 
 " rious Gracs ! 
 
 ^^ Oh 
 
 ^x^ Pfal. Ixxviii. to. (y ) John xvi. 8. (z) HoC. 
 xiii. 9. (2i) Jehu xvi. 15. (h) Rom. vi. 6. (^c)Roin. 
 VI. 11. 
 
 r 
 D 
 
 Ch. 13. and Faith to the Divine Examination. 16 
 
 " Oh Blefled God ! If there be any Thing 
 *< wanting tow^ards cbnftituting me a fiiicerc 
 ** Chriftian, difcoVcr it ro me, and WttVk It in 
 " me! Beat down, I befeech Thee, every fallc 
 *' and prefumpcuous Hope, how coftly Ibever 
 *' that Building may have been which is thus laid 
 *' in Ruins, and how proud foevcr 1 may have 
 " been of its vain Ornaments! Let me know the 
 *' word of my Cafe, be that Knowledge ever fo 
 *' diftrefsful ; and if there be remaining Dan- 
 ^' ger. Oh let my Heart be fully fcnftblc K>\ it, 
 •*' fenfible while yet there is Remedy 1 
 
 " If there be any fecrct Sin yet litt-king in 
 *' my Soul, which I have not fincerely renoun- 
 *' ced, difcover it to me, and rend it out of tiiy 
 <« Heart, tho^ it fhould Have (hot its Roots ever 
 *' fo deep, and (hould have wrap'd them all a- 
 ** round it, fo that every Nerve fhould bepain'd 
 *' by the Separation ! Tear it away, Oh Lord, 
 ** by a Hand gracioufly fevere! And by Degrees^ 
 ^' yea. Lord, by fpeedy Advances, go on, I 
 *' befeech Thee, to perfe^ what is Hill lacking in 
 »« my Faith (d)! Accomplifh in me all the good 
 ^' Pleafure of Thy Goodnefs (e); In rich me. Oh 
 *' Heavenly Father, with all the Graces of Thy 
 *' Spirit: Form me to the compleat Image of 
 *' Thy dear Son: And then, for His Sake, ^c;;/^ 
 ^' unto me, and manifcfi Thy gracious Pre fence iri my 
 *' Soul ((), till it is ripened for that State of Glo- 
 " ry, for which all thefe Operations are intended 
 *' to prepare it ! Amen ! " 
 
 (d) I Theff. iii. 10. (cj zThefT. i. 1 1. (f) John xiv. 
 21, 23. 
 
 M3 
 
 CHAP. 
 
i66 f[le Reader is called to enquire^ Ch. 14, 
 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 A more particular View of the feveral 
 Branches of the Ch R I s T I A N Temper; 
 by which the Reader may be farther af- 
 fifted, in judging what he is, and what 
 he (hould endeavour to be. -f 
 
 *The Importance of the Cafe engages to a more particu- 
 lar Survey^ what Manner of Spirit we are of 
 §. I, 2. Accordingly the Chrijlian Temper is de^ 
 fcriiedy (1.) By fome general Views of it \ as a 
 New and Divine Temper ^ §.3. As refembling 
 that of Cbrifl^ §. 4. And as engaging m to be 
 fpiritually-minied^ and to walk by Faith. § 5. A 
 Plan of the Remainder : §. 6. In which the Cbri- 
 fiian Temper is more particularly conftdered^ (\\.) 
 IVith Regard to the Blejfed GOD-, as including 
 Fear^ Affe^ion^ and Obedience., §. 7. Faith and 
 Love to Chriji, §. 8, ^. Joy in Him., §. 10. 
 And a proper Temper toward the Holy Spirit^ par- 
 ticularly as a Spirit of Adoption., and of Courage. 
 §. II, — 13. (III.) IVith Regard to ourfelves -, as 
 including Preference of the Soul to the Body., Hu- 
 nMtyj Purity^ §. 14. Temperance., §. 15. Con- 
 tinmenty §. 16. And Patience. §. 17, \vW.)lVith 
 Regard to our Fellow Creatures -, as including 
 
 Love, 
 
 + N.B. This Chapter is almoft an Abridgment of that excel- 
 lent Book of I)r. E'vans, xntitled, The Chrijiian Temper, To 
 Ut as it relates to the Defcription of it. For particular Ar- 
 guments, to inforcc each Part of this Temper^ I mull refer the 
 Reader to the Book itfclf. ' 
 
 Ch. J 4. 'O^hat Manner of Spirit he is of 167 
 
 Love, §. 18. Meeknefs, §.19. PeaceaUenejs^ 
 4. 2G. Mercy^ §. 21. Truth., yj. 22. And Can- 
 dour in judmg. §. 2,^ (V.; General (^alifica^ 
 tions of each Branch: §. 24. Such as Sincerity, 
 §. 25. Corjjlancy, §. 26. Tenderncfs, §. 27. 
 Zeal, §. 28. And Prudence, §. 29. Thefe Things 
 fl:iould frequently be recollected. §.30. A Review 
 of allin a Scriptural Prayer. 
 
 §•'• ^\ rHEN I confider the infinite Irnpor- 
 V V tance of Eternity, I find it exceed- 
 ingly difficult to fatisfy myfelf in any Thing which 
 I can fay to Men, where their Eternal Interefls 
 are concerned. I have given you a View, I hope 
 I may truly fay, a ju(i, as well as faithful View, 
 of a truly Chrijlian Temper already. Yet for your 
 farther Affiftance, I would offer it to your Con- 
 fideration in various Points of Light, that you 
 may be a^ifted in judging of what you are, and 
 of what you ought to be. And in this I aim, 
 not only at your Convi6lion, if you are yet a 
 Stranger to real Religion, but at your farther 
 Edification, if by the Grace of God you are by 
 this Time experimentally acquainted with it. 
 Happy will you be, happy beyond ExprefTion,' 
 if as you go on from one Article to another, 
 you can fay, *' This is my Temper and Cha^ 
 " ra^er." Happy in no inconfiderable De- 
 gree, jf you can fay, " This is what / dejire, 
 " what / prc^for, and what I purfue, in Prefe- 
 ** rence to every oppofite View, tho' it be not 
 ** what I have as yet attained'' 
 
 §. 2. Search then, and try, what Manner of 
 Spirit you are of (^), And may He that fearcheth 
 all Hearts direft the Enquiry, and enable you> 
 to judge y our felf, that you may not be condemned of the 
 lord(h)! M4 §.3. 
 
 (a) Lukcix. 55. ^b; I Cor.xi. 31, 32. 
 
if 
 
 i ^ 
 1^ 
 
 1 68 The Chrijlian Tmper is New and Divine, Ch. 1 4. 
 
 §. 3. Know in the general, that if you 
 are a Chrijlian indeed^ you have been renewed in 
 the Spirit of your Mind (c) ; fo renewed, as to 
 be regenerate, and born again. It is not enough, 
 to have aflumed a new Name, to have been 
 brought under fome new Reftraints, or to 
 have made a partial Change in fome Particulars 
 of your Condud:. The Change muft be great 
 and univerfal. Enquire then, whether you have 
 entertained new Apprehenfions of Things, have 
 formed a praftical Judgment different from what 
 you formerly did ; whether the Ends you pro- 
 pofe, the Affedions which you feel working in 
 your Heart, and the Courfe of Adion to which 
 by thole Affeftions you are direded, be on the 
 whole New or Old ? * Again, if you are a 
 Chnftian indeed, you are Partaker of a Divine 
 Nature {d) ; Divine in its Original, its Jendency, 
 and Its Refemblance. Enquire therefore, whe- 
 ther God hath implanted a Principle in your 
 Heart, which tends to him, and which makes 
 you like him. Search your Soul attentively, to 
 fee if you have really the Image there of God's 
 Moral Perfedions, of His Holinefs and High- 
 teoufnefs. His Goodnefs and Fidelity ; for the 
 New Man is after GOD created in Ri^htecufnefs 
 and true Holinefs (e), and is renewed in Knowledge 
 after the Image of Him that created him (f ). 
 
 §. 4. For your farther AOiftance enquire, whe- 
 ther the fame Mind be in you which was alfo in 
 ^^^ift (g) i whether you bear the Image of God's 
 Incarnate Son, the brighteft and faireft Refem- 
 blance 
 
 (c) Eph. iv. 23. (d) 2 Pet. 1.4. 
 (f) Col, iii. IP. (g) Phil. ii. 5. 
 
 (e) Eph. iv. 24. 
 
 • \'^i? ^^^^^ ^^y ^^ ^^^e Thoughts illuftratcd At laree 
 in the TJirec firft of my Strmons on RegtneratiQu. 
 
 Ch. 14. and refetnlles that of Chrifl, 169 
 
 blance of the Father, which Earth or Heaven 
 has ever beheld ? The BieflTcd Jefus dcfigned 
 himfelf to be a Model for all his Followers ; and 
 he is certainly a Model mod fit for our Imita- 
 tion : An Example in our own Nature, and ia 
 Circumftances adapted to general Ufe ; an Ex- 
 ample, recommended to us at once by its fpot- 
 Icfs Pcrfedion, and by the endearing Relations 
 in which he Hands to us, as our Mafter, our 
 Friend, and our Head j as the Perfon by whom 
 our everlafting State is to be fixed, and in a Re- 
 femblance to whom our final Happinefs istocon- 
 fift, if ever we are happy at all. Look then into 
 the Life and Teniper of Chriji, as defcribed and 
 illuftrated in the Gofpels, and fearch whether you 
 can find any Thing like it in your own Life, 
 Have you any Thing of His Dcrvotion, Love, 
 and Refignation to G o d ? Any Thing of His 
 Humility, Meeknefs, and Benevolence to Men ? 
 Any Thing of His Purity and Wifdom, His Con- 
 tempt of the World, His Patience, His Forti- 
 tude, His Zeal ? And indeed all the other 
 Branches of the Chrillian Temper, which do not 
 imply previous Guilt in the Perlon by whom they 
 are exercifed, may be called in to illuftrate and 
 aflilt your Enquiries under this Head. 
 
 §. 5. Le T me add. If you are a Chriftian, 
 you are in the n\dL\n fpiritually-minded, as knowing 
 that is Life and Peace ; whereas to be carnally-minded 
 is Death (h). Tho' you live in the Flejh, you wilt 
 not war after it (i) ; you will not take your Or- 
 ders, and your Commands from it. You will 
 indeed attend to its neceflary Interefis, as Matter 
 of Duty ; but it will ftill be witli Regard to an- 
 other and a nobler Interefl, that of the Rational 
 
 and 
 (h) Rom. viii. 6. (j) 2 Cor. x. 3. 
 
I 
 
 1 70 IVhat the Cbrijlian temper includes Ch . 1 4, 
 
 and Immortal Spirit. Your Thoughts, your 
 Affeftions, your Purfuits, your Choice will ba 
 determined by a Regard to Things Spiritual, ra- 
 ther than Carnal. In a Word, you will walk 
 
 by Faith, and not by Sight (k). Future, invifible, 
 and in fome Degree incomprehenfible Objedls 
 will take up your Mind. Your Faith will adt on 
 the Being of God, His Perfeaions, His Provi- 
 dences, His Precepts, HisThreatnings, and His 
 Promifes. It will aft upon Chrijl, whom having 
 not feen, you will love and honour (1). It will adt 
 on that unfeen World, which it knows to be Eter- 
 nal, and therefore infinitely more worthy of your 
 afFeaionate Regard, than any of thofe Things 
 which are feen, and are Temporal (m). 
 
 §.6. These are general Views of the Chrijlian 
 Temper, on which I would intreat you to examine 
 yourfelf : And now I would go on to lead you 
 into a Survey, of the grand Branches of it, as re- 
 lating to GOD, our Neighbour, and ourfehes •, and 
 of thole Siualifications, which muft attend each of 
 thefe Branches, fuch z,% Sincerity, Conftancy, Tender- 
 nefs. Zeal, and Prudence, And I beg your dili- 
 gent Attention, while I lay before you a few 
 Hints with Regard to each, by which you may 
 judge the better, both of your State, and your 
 Duty. ^ 
 
 §.7. Examine then, I intreat you, the Tern- 
 per of your Heart, with Regard to the BleJJed GOD, 
 Do you find there a reverential Fear, and a fu- 
 pream Love and Veneration for His incompa- 
 rable Excellencies, a Defire after Him as the 
 Higheft Good, and a cordial Gratitude towards 
 Him as your Supream Benefaftor .? Can you 
 truft His are ? Can you credit His Teftimony ? 
 
 Do 
 
 (k) 2 Cor. V. 7. (I) I Pet. i. 3. (m)aCor.iv.|8. 
 
 Ch . 1 4 . with Regard to GOD and Ch^Ji. 171 
 
 Do you defire to pay an unreferved Obedience 
 to all that he commands, and an humble Sub- 
 miffion to all the Difpfals of His Providence ? 
 Do you defign His Glory as your noblefl: End, 
 and make it the great Bufinefs of your Life to 
 approve yourfelf to Him ? Is it your governing 
 Care to imitate Him, and ioferve Him in Spirit 
 and in Truth (n) ? 
 
 §. 8. Faith in Chrifl I have already defcribed 
 at large ; and therefore fhall fay nothing farther, 
 either of that Perfuafion oKHis Power and Grace, 
 which is the great Foundation of it ; or of that 
 Acceptance of Chrift under all His Charaders, 
 or that Surrender of the Soul into His Hands, 
 in which its peculiar and diflinguifhing Nature 
 confifts, 
 
 §. 9. If this Faith in Chrift be fincere, it will 
 undoubtedly produce a Love to Him ; which will 
 exprefs itfelf, in afTcdionate Thoughts of Him ; 
 in ftrid Fidelity to Him •, in a careful Obferva- 
 tion of His Charge ; in a Regard to His Spirit, 
 to His Friends, and to His Interefts ; in a Re- 
 verence to the Memorials of His dying Love, 
 which he has inftitutcd ; and in an ardent Defire 
 after that Heavenly World where he dwells, and 
 where he will at length have all His Pecple to 
 dwell with Him (o). 
 
 §. 10. I MAY add, agreeably to the Word of 
 God, that thus believing in Chrid, and loving 
 Him, you will alfo rejoice in Him •, in His glorious 
 Defign, and in His compleat Fitnefs to accom- 
 plilh it, in the Promifes of His Word, and in 
 the Privileges of His People. It will be Matter 
 of Joy to you, that fuch a Redeemer has ap- 
 peared in this World of ours \ and your Joy for 
 
 yowr 
 
 (n) John iv. 24. (o) John xvii. 24^ 
 
1 72 . IVhat it includes as to the Spirit : Ch. 14. 
 
 yourfelves will be proportionable to the Degree 
 of Clearnefs, with which you difcern your In- 
 tereft in Him, and Relation to Him. 
 
 §. II. Let me farther lead you into fome Rc- 
 fleftions on the Temper of your Heart towards 
 the Blejfed Spirit. If we have not the Spirit of Cbrijl^ 
 we are none of His (p). If we are not kd by the 
 Spirit of GODy we are not the Children of GOD (q). 
 You will then, if you are a real Chriftian, defire 
 that you may be filled with the Spirit (r) •, that you 
 may have every Power of your Soul fubjedt to His 
 Authority *, that His Agency on your Heart 
 may be more conftant, more operative, and more 
 delightful. And to cherifh thefe facred In- 
 fluences, you will often have Recourfe to ferious 
 Confideration and Meditation: You will abftain 
 from thofe Sins, which tend to grieve Him : You 
 will improve the tender Seafons, in which He 
 feems to breathe upon your Soul : You will drive 
 earneftly with God in Prayer, that you may have 
 Him fhed on you ftill more abundantly thro' Jefus 
 Chrift (s) ; And you will be defirous to fall in 
 with the great End of His MifTion, which was 
 to glorify Chrifi {i\ and to eftablifh His King- 
 dom. You will defire His Influences as the 
 
 Spirit of Adoption^ to render your Acls of Worfhip 
 free and affeflionate, your Obedience vigorous, 
 your Sorrow for Sin overflowing and tejider, 
 your Refignation meek, and your Love ardent \ 
 in a Word, to carry you thro' Life and Death, 
 with the Temper of a Child, who delights in his 
 Father, and who longs for his more immediate 
 Prefence. 
 
 §. 12. 
 
 .'p) Rom. viii. 19. (q) Rom. viii.i4. (r) Eph. v. 18. 
 rs) Tic.iii. 6. (t) John xvi. 14. 
 
 Ch, 14. And what with Regard to ourfelves» 173 
 
 §. 12. Once more. If you area Chriflian in- 
 deed, you will be defirous to obtain the Spirit of 
 Courage. Amidft all that Humility of Soul to 
 which you will be formed, you will with to com- 
 mence a Hero in the Caufe of Chrift, oppofing 
 with a vigorous Refolution the ftrongeft Eflforts 
 of the Powers of Darknefs, the inward Corrup- 
 tion of your own Heart, and all the outward 
 Difficulties you may meet with in the Way of 
 your Duty, while in the Caufe and in the Strength 
 of Chrift you go on conquering and to conquer. 
 
 §. 1 ^. All thefe Things may be confidered 
 as Branches of Godlinefs *, of that Godlinefs^ which 
 is profitable unto all Things^ and hath the Promife of 
 the Life which now isj and of that which is to come (u). 
 §.14. Let me now farther lay before you 
 fome Branches of the Chriftian Temper, which 
 relate more immediately to ourfelves. And here, 
 if you are a Chriftian indeed, you will undoubt- 
 edly prefer the Soul to the Body^ and Things Eternal 
 to thofe that are Tenrporal. Confcious of the Dig- 
 nity and Value of your Immortal Part, you will 
 come to a firm Refolution to fecure its Happinefs, 
 whatever is to be refigned, whatever is to be en- 
 dured in that View. — If you are a real Chriftian, 
 you will be alfo clothed with Humility (x). You 
 will have a deep Senfe of your own Imperfeftions, 
 both Natural, and Moral ; of the fliort Extent 
 of your Knowledge ; of the Uncertainty and 
 Weaknefs of your Refolutions *, and of your con- 
 tinual Dependance upon God, and upon almoft 
 every Thing about you. And efpecially, you 
 will be deeply fenfible of your Guilt ; the Re- 
 membrance of which will fill you with Shame 
 and Confufion, even when you have fome Rea- 
 
 fon 
 («) I Tim. iv. 8. (x) i Pet. v. 5. 
 
1^4- ^^^ Graces this Temper includes Ch. 14. 
 
 foil to hope it is forgiven. This will forbid all 
 Haiightinefs and Infoience, in your Behaviour to 
 your Fellow-Creatures. It will teach you, under 
 afflidlive Providences, with all holy SubmifTion 
 to bear the Indignation of Lord ^ as thofe that know 
 they have finned againjl Him (y) — Again, If you 
 are a Chriftian indeed, you will labour after Pu- 
 rity ofSotdy and maintain a fixed Abhorrence of all 
 prohibited fcnfual Indulgence. A Recolledlion of 
 paft Impurities will fill you with Shame and 
 Grief; and you will endeavour for the future to 
 guard your Thoughts and Dsfires, as well as 
 your Words and Adlions, and to abjlain^ not 
 only from the CommifTion of Evil, but from the 
 diftant Appearance and probable Occafions of 
 it (z) ; as confcious of the perfeft Holinefs of 
 that God with whom you converfe, and of the 
 purifying Nature of that Hope (a), which by His 
 Gofpel he hath taught you to entertain. 
 
 §. 15. With this is nearly allied that amiable 
 Virtue of Temperance \ which will teach you to 
 guard againfl: fuch a Ufe of Meats and Drinks, as 
 indifpofes the Body for the Service of the Soul ; or 
 fuch an Indulgence in either, as will rob you of 
 that precious Jewel, your Time, or occafion an 
 Expence beyond what your Circumftances will 
 admit, and beyond what will conHft with thofe 
 Liberalities to the Poor, which your Relation and 
 theirs to God and each other will require. In 
 (hort, you will guard againfl: whatever has a 
 Tendency to increafe a fenfual Difpofition ; againft 
 whatever would alienate the Soul from Commu- 
 nion with God, and would diminifh its Zeal and 
 Adivity in His Service. 
 
 (y) Mich. vli. 9. (z) i Thcff. v. 22. (a) 1 John iii. J. 
 
 Ch. 14. with Regard to ourfelves. ^^, 
 
 •yj* '^-11 ^u^ ^'T^ Philofophy of theBlefled 
 J ejus will alfo teach you a contented Temper It 
 will moderate your Defires of thofe worldly Fn- 
 
 SuccefJ Y^^ '^'^ g'^^'"g ^^'^h Indulgence and 
 Succefs^ You wiH guard againft an immoderate 
 Care about thofe Things, which would lead you 
 
 ance ^Tf'^^'^f' "^.r"'' "^^^^"'^ ^"^eri- 
 tance. If Providence difappoint your Under- 
 
 takings, you will fubmit. If othLs be more 
 
 will be thankful for what God is pleafed to be- 
 
 ftow upon them, as well as for what he gives you 
 
 No unlawful Methods will be ufed, to alter you; 
 
 prefent Condition ; and whatever it is, you'll 
 
 endeavour to make the beft of it ; remembrinc 
 
 It IS what Infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs have 
 
 appointed you, and that it is beyond all ComparT 
 
 fon better than you have deferved ; yea, that^ he 
 
 very Deficiencies and Inconveniences of it may 
 
 conduce to the Improvement of your future and 
 
 compleat Happinels. ^ "^""^ 
 
 ^ §. 17. With Contentment, if you are a Dlf 
 
 ciple of CZ.^, you will join Patiele loT^St 
 
 Patrence wtll poffefs your Souls (b). You cannot 
 
 indeed b, quite infenfible, either of Affliftion' 
 
 7n^J:cTV ^fy^^'^^^^ will becalm and 
 compofed under them, and fteady in the Profe- 
 cution of proper Duty, the' Affliclions prefs, and 
 tho your Hopes your deareft Hopes, and Pro- 
 
 and rafh Conclufions, and fortify you againft 
 feekmg irregular Methods of Relief ; difp^-ng 
 you in the mean Time, till God fhallbe pCd 
 to appear for you, to go on fteadily in the Way 
 
 of 
 
 (0) Lukcxxi. 19. 
 
1 76 fhe Graces of the Chrijlian Temper Ch. 14. 
 
 of your Duty, committing yourfelf to Him in well- 
 doing (c). You will alfo be careful, that Patience 
 may have its perfeB Work (d), and prevail in Pro- 
 portion to thofe Circumftances which demand 
 its peculiar Exercife. For Inftance, when the 
 Succefiions of Evil are long and various, fo that 
 Beep calls to Deep, and all G O D*s IVaves and Bil- 
 lows fccm to h^ going over you one after another (e) ; 
 when God touches you in the mod fender Part ; 
 when the Rcalons of His Conduft to you are 
 quite unaccountable ; when your natural Spirits 
 are weak and decayed \ when unlawful Methods 
 of Redrcfs fcem near and eafy ; ftill your Reve- 
 rence for the Will of your Heavenly Father will 
 carry it againft all, and keep you waiting quietly 
 for Deliverance in His own Time and Way. 
 
 N. B. If this Chapter feem too long to be read at 
 once^ it may properly be divided here, 
 
 §. 18. I HAVE thus led you into a brief Re- 
 view of the Chriftian Temper, with Refpeft to 
 GODy and ourfelves : Permit me now to add, 
 that the Gofpel will teach you another Set of very 
 important Leflbns with Refpedl to your Fellow- 
 Creatures. They are all fummed up in this. Thou 
 (halt love thy Neighbour as thyfelf (f) •, and whatfo- 
 ever thou vsouldeft (that is, whatfoever thou couldft 
 in an Exchange of Circumftances fairly and rea- 
 fonably defire,) that others jhould do unto thee^ do 
 thou likewife the fame unto them (g). The Religion 
 of the Blefled JefuSy when it triumphs in your 
 Soul, will conquer the Predominancy of an irre- 
 gular Self-Love, and will teach you candidly and 
 
 tenderly 
 
 (c) I Pet. iv. 19. (d) Jam. i.4. (e) Pfal. xlii. 7, 
 
 (f) Rom. xiii. 9. (g) Matt. vii. 12. 
 
 Ch. 14. with Regard to our Pellow-Creatures, 177 
 
 tenderly to look upon your Neighbour as another 
 Self. As you are fenfible of your own Rights, 
 you will be fenfible of His; as you fupport your 
 own Charafter, you will fupport His. You will 
 defire his Welfare, and be ready to relieve his 
 Necefllty, as you would have your own confulted 
 by another. You will put the kindeft Conftruc- 
 tion upon his dubious Words and Aftions. You 
 will take Pleafure in his Happinefs, you will 
 feel his Diftrefs, in fome Meafure as your own. 
 And moft happy will you be, when this obvious 
 Rule is familiar to your Mind, when this golden 
 Law is written upon your Heart •, and when it 
 is habitually and impartially confulted by you, 
 upon every Occafion, whether great or fmall. 
 
 §. 19. The Gofpel will alfo teach you to put 
 vn Meeknefs fh), not only with Refped to God, 
 fubmitting to the Authority of His Word, and 
 the Difpoliil of His Providence, as was urged 
 before -, but alfo with Regard to your Brethren of 
 Mankind. Its gentle Inltrudions will form you 
 to Calmnefs of Temper under Injuries and Pro- 
 vocations, fo that you may not be angry with- 
 out, or beyond juft Caufe. It will engage yoii 
 to guard your Words, left you provoke and ex- 
 afperate thofe, you (hould rather ftudy by Love 
 to gain, and by Tendernefs to heal. Meeknefs 
 will render you flow in ufing any rough and vio- 
 lent Methods, if they can by any Means be law- 
 fully avoided; and ready to admit, and even to 
 propofe a Reconciliation, after they have been 
 entered into, if there may yet be Hope of fuc- 
 cecding. So far as this Branch of the Chriftian 
 Temper prevails in your Heart, you will take 
 Care to avoid every Thing, which might give 
 
 N unhe- 
 
 (h) Col. iii. 12. 
 
178 It includes Lovey Mecknefs^ Pence ^ Ch. i-^\ 
 
 unncceflciry Offence to others •, you will behave 
 yourldf in a modefl: Manner, according to your 
 Station •, and it will work, both with Regard to 
 Superiors and Inferiors*, teaching you duly to 
 honour the one, and not to overbear or opprefs, 
 to grieve or inlult the other. And in Religion 
 itfelf, it will reftrain all immoderate Sallies and 
 harfh Cenfures ; and will command down that 
 Wrath of Man^ which tnftead of workings fo often 
 ofpofes the Righteoufnefs of GOD (i), and fhames 
 and wounds that good Caufe, in which it is boi- 
 fleroufly and furioufly engaged. 
 
 §. 20. With this is naturally connedled a 
 peaceful Difpofnion. If you are a Chriftian indeed, 
 you will have fuch a Value and Efteem for Peace, 
 as to endeavour to obtain, and to preferve it, as 
 much as lieth in you (k)^ as much as you fairly and 
 honourably can. This will have fuch an Influ- 
 ence upon your Condudl, as to make you, not 
 only cautious of giving Offence, and flow in ta- 
 king it, but earneftly defirous to regain Peace 
 as foon as may be, when it is in any Meafure 
 broken-, that the Wound may be healed, while 
 it is green, and before it begins to rankle and 
 fefler. And more efpecially this Difpofltion 
 will engage you, to keep the Unity of the Spirit in 
 the Bond of Peace (\)^ with all that in every Place 
 call on the Name of our Lord Jefus Cbrtfi (m) -, 
 whom if you truly love, you will alfo Jove all 
 thofe, whom you have Reafon to believe to be 
 His Difciplcs and Servants. 
 
 §.21. If you be yourfelves indeed of that 
 Number, you will alfo put on Bowels of Mercy (nj. 
 The Mercies of God, and thofe of the Bleffed 
 
 Redeemer, 
 
 (i) Jam. i. 20. (k) Rom. xii. 18. 
 (m) 1 Cor. i. 2. (n) Col. iii. 12. 
 
 (1) Eph. iv. 3. 
 
 th. 14. Mercy ^ Truths andCajidour in judging. 179 
 
 Redeemer, willwork on your Heart, tomouldit 
 to Sentiments of Compafllon and Generofity, fo 
 that you will feel the Wants and Sorrows of others -, 
 you will defire to relieve their Necefllties -, and 
 as you have Opportunity, you will, do Goody both to 
 their Bodies and their Souls j cxprefllng your kind 
 Affeftions in fuitable Adions, which may both 
 evidence their Sincerity, and render them ef- 
 fedual. 
 
 §. 22. As a Chriftian, you will alfo maintain 
 Truth inviolable, not only in your folemn Tefl:i- 
 monies, when confirmed by an Oath, but like- 
 wife in common Converllition. You will re- 
 member too, that your Promifes bring an Obli- 
 gation upon you, which you are by no Means 
 at Liberty to break thro'. On the whole, you 
 will be careful to keep a fl:ridl Correfpondence 
 between your Words and your Actions, in fuch 
 a Manner as becomes a Servant of the God of 
 Truth. 
 
 §. 23. Once more. As amidfl: the ftriftefl: 
 Care to obferve all the Divine Precepts, you 
 will flill find many Imperfedions, on Account of 
 which you will be obliged to pray, that GOD 
 would not enter into flri6l Judgment with you^ as well 
 knowing that in His Sight you cannot bejujiified (o) ; 
 you will be careful 72ot to judge ether s^ in fuch a 
 Manner as fliould awaken the Severity of His 
 Judgment againjl yourfelf (p). You will not, there- 
 fore, judge them pragmatically, that is, when 
 you have nothing to do with their Aftions ♦, not 
 raft:Iy, without enquiring into Circumftances ; 
 nor partially, without weighing them attentivel}^ 
 and fairly -, nor uncharitably, putting the worll 
 Conftrudtion upon Things in their own Nature 
 
 N 2 dubious, 
 
 (o; Pfalcxliii, 2; fp) Mat.vii, i, 2, 
 
1 8o All thefe Graces vmft be attended CIi. 14,. 
 
 dubious, deciding upon Intentions as Evil farther 
 than they certainly appear to be fo, pronouncing 
 on Men's State or on the whole of their Cha- 
 rafter from any particular Adion, and involving 
 the Innocent with the Guilty. There is a Mo- 
 deration contrary to all thefe Extrcams, which the 
 Gofpel recommends*, and if you receive the 
 Gofpel in good earned into your Heart, it will 
 Jay the Axe to the Root of fuch Evils as thefe. 
 
 §. 24. Having thus briefly illuftrated the 
 principal Branches of the Chrijlian Temper and Cha- 
 racier^ I (hall conclude the Reprefentation, with 
 reminding you of fame general ^mlificaticns, which 
 inufl be mingled with all, and give a Tintflure to 
 each of them ; fuch as. Sincerity^ Conjlcmcy^ Ten- 
 dernefs^ Zealy and Prudence. 
 
 §.25. Alw^ays remember, that Sincerity h 
 the very Soul of true Religion. A fingle Inten- 
 tion to pleafe God, and to approve ourfelves to 
 Him, mud animate and govern all that we do 
 in ic. Under the Influence of this Principle, 
 you will impartially enquire into every Intima- 
 tion of Duty, and apply to the Praftice of it fo 
 far as it is known to you. Your Heart will be 
 engaged in all you do. Your CondOdt in Pri- 
 vate and in Secret, will be agreeable to your 
 inofi: publick Behaviour. A Senfe of the Divine 
 Authority will teach you, to ejlecm all GOD's Pre- 
 cepts concerning all Things to be rights and to hate 
 every falfe Way (q). 
 
 §. 26. Thus are you /;; Simplicity and godly Sin- 
 cerity to have your Conroerfation in the World {x). 
 And you are alfo to charge it upon your Soul, to 
 be Jledfaft and immoveable^ always abounding in the 
 Work of the Lord {%). There mufl: not only be 
 
 fome 
 (q) Pfal. cxix. 128. (r) 2 Cor. i. 12. (s) i Cor. xv. 58. 
 
 Ch. 14. "joith other general Salifications, 181 
 
 fome fudden Fits and Starts of Devotion, or of 
 fomething which looks like it ; but Religion muft 
 be an habitual and permanent Thing. There 
 muft: be a Purpofe to adhere to it at all Times. 
 It muft be made the dated and ordinary Bufi- 
 nefs of Life. Deliberate and prefumptuous Sins 
 mud be carefully avoided •, a Guard muft be 
 maintained againd the common Infirmities of 
 Life -, and Falls of one Kind or of another muft 
 be Matter of proportionable Humiliation before 
 Goi), and muft occafion renewed Refolution for 
 His Service. And thus you are to go on to the 
 End of your Life, notdifcouraged by the Length 
 and Difficulty of the Way, nor allured on the 
 one Hand, or terrified on the other, by all the 
 various Temptations which may furround and 
 afliliult you. Your Soul muft be fixed on this 
 Bafis, and you are dill to behave yourfelf as one 
 who knows he ferves an unchangeable God, and 
 who expeds from Him a Kingdom which cannot be 
 moved {i). 
 
 27. Again, So far as the Gofpel prevails in 
 your Heart, your Spirit will be tender^ and the 
 Stone will be transformed into Flejh. You will de- 
 fire, that your Apprehcnfion of Divine Things 
 may be quick, your Aff^edions ready to take 
 proper Impreflions, your Confcience always ea- 
 fily touched, and, on the whole, your Refolu- 
 tions pliant to the Divine Authority, and cordially 
 willing to be, and to do, whatever God fliall 
 appoint. You will have a tender Regard to the 
 Word of God, a tender Caution againd Sin, a 
 tender Guard againd the Snares of Profperity, a 
 tender Submiffion to God's afl^ifting Hand : \n 
 a Word, you will be tender, vvhere-ever the Di- 
 
 N 3 ■ vine 
 
 (t) Ifcb. xii. 28. 
 
l82 ne ^alijicalions of ihisTewper. Ch. 14. 
 
 vine Honour is concerned •, and careful, neither 
 to do any Thing yourfelf, nor to allow any Thing 
 in another, fo far as you can influence, by 
 which GcD fliould be offended, or Religion re- 
 proached. 
 
 §. 28. Nay more than all this. You will, fo 
 far as true Chriftianity governs in your Mind, 
 exert an boly Zeal in the Service of your Redeemer 
 and your Father. You will be zealoujly affettci 
 in every good "Thing (u), in Proportion to its appre- 
 hended Goodntls and Importance. You will be 
 zealous efpccially, to correcfl: what is irregular in 
 yourfelves, and to aft to the utmoft of your A- 
 bility for the Caufe of God. Nor will you be 
 able to look with an indifferent Eye on the Con- 
 du6l of others in this View -, but lb far as Cha- 
 rity, Meeknefs and Prudence will admit, you 
 will teftify your Difiipprobation of every Thing 
 in it, which is difhonourable to God, and inju- 
 rious to Men. And you will labour, not only 
 to reclaim Men from fuch Courfcs, but to en- 
 gage them to Religion, and to quicken them 
 in it. 
 
 §. 29. And once more. You will defire to 
 ufe the Prudence which God hath given you, in 
 judging what is, in prefenc Circumftances, your 
 Duty to God, your Neighbour, and yourfelf; 
 what will be, on the whole, the moft acceptable 
 Manner of difcharging it, and how far it may 
 be molt advantagioufly purfued; as remembring, 
 that He is indeed the wifeft and the happiell: 
 Man, who by conftant Attention of Thought 
 difcovers the greateft Opportunities of doing 
 Good, and with ardent and animated Refolution 
 
 breaks 
 (u) Gal. iv. 18. 
 
 Ch. 14. A Review of allin a Scriptural Prayer, 183 
 
 breaks thro' every Oppofition, that he may im- 
 prove thofe Opportunities. 
 
 §. 30. This is fuch a View of the Chriftian 
 Temper, as could conveniently be thrown within 
 fuch narrow Limits ; and I hope, it may aflift 
 many in the great and important Work of Self- 
 Kxamination. Let your own Confcience anfwer, 
 how far you have already attained it, and how 
 far you defire it*, and let the principal Topicks 
 here touched upon be fixed in your Memory, 
 and in your Heart, that you may be mentioning 
 them before God in your daily Addrefles to the 
 Throne of Grace, in order to receive from Him 
 all necefiary AiTiftances for bringing them into 
 Praftice. 
 
 -r^ Pr A y E R , chiefly in Scripture Language^ in which 
 the feveral Branches of the Chriftian Temper 
 are more briefly enumerated^ in the Order laid dawn 
 above. 
 
 BLESSED GOD, I humbly adore 
 Thee, as the ^xt2ii Father of Lights^ and 
 the Giver of every good^ and every perfect Gift (x). 
 From Thee therefore I ieek every Bleffing, 
 and efpecially thofe, which may lead me to 
 Thyfelf, and prepare me for the Eternal En- 
 joyment of Thee. I adore Thee, as the 
 GODy who fearchcs the Hearts, and tries the 
 Reins of the Children of Men (y). Search me. 
 Oh GOD, and know my Heart \ try me, and 
 know my Thoughts : See if there be any wicked 
 Way in me, and lead me in the Way everlafting (z). 
 May I know what Manner of Spirit I am of (a), 
 
 N 4 ^ " and 
 
 (x) James i. 17. (y) Jcr.xvii, 10. (z) Pfal. cxx^ix. 
 23, 24. (a) Luke ix. 5 5# 
 
 (.1 
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1 84 APr^^er in Scripture Language Ch . 1 4 . 
 
 " and be preferved from miflaking, where the 
 
 " Error might be infinitely fatal I 
 
 " May I, Oh Lord, be renewed in the Spirit of 
 wy Mtnd (b) / A new Heart do Thou give me, 
 and a new Spirit do Thou put witkm me (c) f. 
 
 *' Make me Partaker of a Divine Nature (d) ; and 
 as He who hath called me is Holy, may I he holy 
 in all Manner of Converfation (e) / May the fame 
 Mind be in me, which was alfo in Chrijl 'Jefus (f) ^ 
 and may I fo walk even as He walked (g) / Deli- 
 ver me from being carnally^mnded, which is 
 Death', and make mc fpiritually-minded, fincc 
 that IS Life and Peace (h)/. And may I, while 
 I pafs thro' this World of Senfe, walk by Faith, 
 and not by Sight (i) ; and hefirong in Faith, gi. 
 ving Glory to GOD (k) / 
 
 " May Thy Grace, Oh Lord, which hath ap^ 
 peared unto all Men, and appeared to me, with 
 fuch glorious Evidence and Luftre, effcftually 
 teach me to deny Ungodlinefs and worldly Lufis, and 
 to live fobcrly, rigbteoufly, and godly (])! Work in 
 mine Heart that Godlinefs, which is profitable 
 unto all Things (m) ; and teach me, by the In- 
 fluences of Thy BlelTcd Spirit, to love Thee the 
 Lord my GOD, with all my Heart, and with all 
 my Soul, and with all my Mtnd, and with all my 
 Strength {n) I May I yield nryfelf unto Thee, as 
 alive from the Dead(o) ; and prefent my Body a 
 living Sacrifice, holy, a7td acceptable in Thy Sight, 
 which is my mofl reafcnable Service (pj / May I 
 
 ** entertain the moft faithful and affcftionate Re- 
 
 '' gards 
 
 (d) 2 Pet. 
 
 (g) I John 
 
 2 Cor. V. 7. 
 
 (m) I Tim. 
 
 (p) Rom. 
 
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 ^ (b) Eph. IV. 23. (c) Ezek. xxxvi. 26. 
 1; 4- " ' (e) r Pet. i. 15. (f) Phil. ii. .. 
 
 ".6. (h) Rom. viii. 6. (i) 
 
 (k) Rom. IV. 20. (I) Tit. n- n, 12. 
 
 jy;. 8. (11) Mark .xii, c.o. L^] Rom. vi. ix. 
 
 All. I. ^ ^ 
 
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 Ch. 14. relating to the Cbrijlian Temper. .185 
 
 " gards to the Bleffed Jefus, Thine Incarnate 
 " Son, the Brightnefs of Thy Glory, and the exprejs 
 ^' Image of Thy Perfon (q) .' Tho' I have not feen 
 Htm, may I love Him ; and in Him^ tho^ now I 
 fee Him not, yet believing, may I rejoice with 
 " Joy unfpeaknble and full of Glory [r) \ And may 
 " the Life which I live in the Flefh, be daily by the 
 Faith of the Son of GOD (s).' May I he fdlei 
 with the Spirit (t) •, and may I he led by it (u) ; 
 and fo may it be evident to others, and efpe- 
 cially to my own Soul, that I am a Child of 
 *« God, and an Heir of Glory! May I not re- 
 ceive the Spirit of Bondage unto Fear^ but the Spi- 
 rit of Adoption, wherely I may be enabled to 
 «' cry, Abba, Father {x)! May He work in me 
 «' as the Spirit of Love, and of Power, and of a 
 **' Sound Mind{y) \ that fo I may add to my Faithy 
 '** Virtue {z)! May I be firong, and very coura- 
 <' gious{2L), and quit myfelf like a Man (b), and 
 ** like a Chriftian, in the Work to which I am 
 " called, and in that Warfare, which I had iii 
 View, when I lifted under the Banner of the 
 great Captain of my Salvation I 
 ** Teach me. Oh Lord, ferioufly to confider 
 " the Nature of my own Soul, and to fet a fuit- 
 *' able Value upon it! May I labour, not only, 
 or chiefly, for the Meat that perifketh, hut for 
 that which endureth to Eternal Life (c) / May I 
 *' humble myfelf under Thy mighty Hand, and be 
 <* clothed with Humility {A) \ decked with the Or- 
 ** nament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which in the 
 *' Sight of GOD is of great Price (e)/ May I be 
 
 " pure 
 
 (q) Heb. i. 3. . (r) i Pet. i. 8. (s) Gal. ii. 20. 
 
 (t) Eph. V. 18. (u) Rom. viii. 14. (x) Rom. 
 
 viii. 15. (y) i Tim. i. 7. (2) 2 Pet. i. 5. (a) Joih. 
 i. 7. (b) I Cor. xvi. 13. (c) John vi. 27* {^) * P«. w 
 5, 6. (e) 1 Pet. iii. 4. 
 
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 ex 
 
 1 8 6 A Prifjer in Scripture Unguage Ch . 1 4. 
 
 pure in Heart, t\\u I mav fee GOD {i) ; mortify. 
 « tngmy Members which are en the Earth {g), fo 
 " that if a Right Eye of enJ me, I may pluck it out, 
 
 and tfa Right Hand offend me, I may cut it off{h) ! 
 
 .c r^}}^" '""P^''''"' '» <^Unmgs (i), content uith 
 Jucb Thmgi as I have {k), and injiruiled to be lb 
 « tnwhatfoever State I am {\)! May Patience Mo 
 «! D '/ "' ^'^-^"^ ^^"^^ '" me, /^«; /,„^^ be in that 
 " Kefpect ^ffw/i/frt/, vinA -u-anting nothini^{m)i 
 " Form me. Oh Lord, I befeech Thee, to^ 
 proper Temper toward my Fdlow-Creatures ' May 
 " I loroe ^ Neighbour as myfelf („) ; and whatfoever 
 I would that others Jhould do unto me, may I alfo 
 " do the fame unto them (o) / May I put on Meek- 
 nefs_ (p) under the greateft Injuries and Provo- 
 cations; and // // bepoffible, as much as liethin 
 me, may I hve peaceably with all Men (a)! May I 
 be merctful, as my Father m Heaven is merciful (r) / 
 myjfpeaiihe truth from my Heart (s) ; and may 
 Ijpeak ttm Urue (t) ; guarding againft every In- 
 ^^ Itance of a cenforious and malignant Difpofi- 
 tion } and taking Care not to judge feverely, as 
 i would »s/ be judged (u j with a Severity, which 
 Ihou, Lord knowca, and which mine own 
 Confcience knows, I Ihould not be able to 
 " lupport! 
 
 all thofe Salifications of the Chrtftian rempcr 
 ^^ which may render it peculiarly acceptable to 
 
 «c la^^' ^. "^^^ P^°^^ ornamental to my Pro- 
 fcfiion jn the World. Renew, I befeech Thee, 
 
 (I ri^ht 
 
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 (0 Mat. V. 8. 
 (i) I Cor. ix. 25 
 (m) James i. 4. 
 Cp) Col ill. 1 2. 
 l:J PfaJ. XV, 2. 
 
 (g) Co!, iii. -. 
 
 (k) Heb. xiii.5. 
 (n) Gal. V. 14. 
 (q) Rom. xii. iJ. 
 (r) Kph. iv. 15. 
 
 (h) iVTat. V. 29, 30. 
 
 (l)Phil. iv. ,,. 
 
 (0) Mat. vii. 12. 
 
 (r) Luke vi. 36. 
 
 (u) Mat. vii. i.* 
 
 Ch. 14. r^/tf//»f to the Chrtftian Temper. 187 
 
 a right Spirit within me (x) ; make me an If- 
 raelite indeed, in whom there is no allowed 
 Guile (y)\ And while Ifeaft onChrift, as my Paf 
 fover Jacrificed for me, may I keep the Feaft with 
 the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth (z) / 
 Make me, I befeech Thee, Oh Thou Al- 
 mighty and unchangeable God, fledfaft and 
 immcTeable^ always abounding in Thy Work, as 
 knowing that my Labour in the Lordjhall not he 
 finally in vain (a) ! May my Heart he tender {h), 
 eafily imprefled with thy Word and Provi- 
 dences, touch'd with an affedlionatc Concern 
 for thy Glory, and fenfibie of every Impulfe 
 of Thy Spirit ! May I be zealous for my GOD (c), 
 with a Zeal according to Knowledge (d) and Cha- 
 rity (e) -, and teach me in Thy Service, to join 
 the Wifdom of the Serpent (f), with the Boldnefs 
 of the Lion, and the Innocence of the Dove! Thus 
 render me, by Thy Grace, a fhining Image 
 of my dear Redeemer ; and at length bring 
 me to wear the bright Refemblance of His 
 Holinefs and His Glory, in that World where 
 He dwells ; that I may afcribe everlafting Ho- 
 nours to Him, and to Thee, Oh Thou Father of 
 Mercies, whofe invaluable Gift He is, and to 
 Thine Holy Spirit, thro' whofe gracious Influ- 
 ences, I would humbly hope, I may call Thee 
 my Father, and Jefus my Saviour!'' Amen. 
 
 (x) Pfal. li. 10. (y) John i. 47. (z) i Cor. v. 7, 8. 
 
 (a) 1 Cor. XV. 58. (b) 2 Kings xxii. 19. (c) Numb. 
 
 XXV. 13. (d) Rom. X, 2. (e) i Cor. xvi. 14. 
 
 (f) Matx. 16. ^ 
 
 I 
 
 CHAP, 
 
 I 
 
1 88 How we are tofeek the CbrijVan Temper, Ch . 1 5. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 The Reader reminded how much he needs 
 the Affiftance of the Spirit of G O D 
 to form him to the Temper defcribed 
 above, and what Encouragement he has 
 to expedl: it. 
 
 Forward Refolutions may prove mfft^ual : §. i . i^-/ 
 Religion is not to he given up in Defpair^ but Divine 
 Grace fought, §. 2 . A general View of its Reality 
 and l^ecejfity, from Rcafin, §.3. and Scripture. 
 § . 4. The Spirit to be fought^ as the Spirit of Cbrifl^ 
 §.5. And in that VieWy the great Strength of the 
 Soul. §. 6. The Encouragement there is to hope for 
 the Communication of it . §. 7. A concluding Exhor- 
 tation to pray for it: §.8. And an humble Addrefi 
 toGOD^ purfuant to that Exhortation, 
 
 §. I. T HAVE now laid before you a Plan of 
 -■• that Temper and Charaftcr, which the 
 Gofpel requires, and which, if you are a true 
 Chriftian, you will defire and purfiie. Surely 
 there is in the very Defcription of it fomething 
 which mud powerfully ftrike every Mind, which 
 has any Tafte for what is truly beautiful and ex- 
 cellent. And I queftion not, but you, my dear 
 Reader, will feel Ibme ImprefTion of it upon your 
 Heart. You will immediately form fome lively 
 Purpofc of endeavouring after it j and perhaps 
 
 you 
 
 Ch. 15. No Strength if>ourfelves to obtain it, 189 
 
 you may imagine, you fhail certainly and quickly 
 attain to it. You fee how reafonable it is, and 
 what defirable Confcquences neceflarily attend it, 
 and the Afpe(5l which it bears on your prefent 
 Enjoyment and your future Happinels ; and 
 therefore are determined, you will adl accord- 
 ingly. But give me Le.ave ferioufly to remind 
 you, how many there have been, (would to God 
 that feveral of the Inftances had not happened 
 within the Compafs of my own perfonal Obfer- 
 vation ! ) ivhoje Goodnefs hath been like a Morning 
 Cloudy and the early Dew which foon pajfeth away (a,) , 
 There is not Room indeed abfolutely to apply the 
 Words of Jo/hua^ taken in the moft rigorous 
 Senfe, when he (aid to Ifrael, (that he m^ht 
 humble their too hafty and languine Refolutions,) 
 21:fu cannot ferve' the Lord (b) : But I will venture to 
 fay. You cannot eafily do it. Alas, you know 
 not the Difficulties you have to break thro* 5 you 
 know not the Temptations, which Satan will 
 throw in your Way j you know not how impor- 
 tunate your vain and finful Companions will be, 
 to draw you back into the Snare you may at- 
 tempt to break ; and above all, you know not 
 the fubtile Artifices, which your own Corruptions 
 will praftife upon you, in order to recover their 
 Dominion over you. You think the Views you 
 now have of Things will be lading ; becaufe the 
 Principles and Objefts to which they refer are fo: 
 But perhaps To-morrow may undeceive you, or 
 rather deceive you anew. To-morrow may pre- 
 fent fome Trifle in a new Drefs, which fliall 
 amufe you into a Forgetfulnefe of all this. Nay, 
 perhaps before you lie down on your Bed, the 
 Impreffions you now feel may wear off. The 
 
 corrupt 
 
 (a) Hof. vi. 4. 
 
 (b) Jofh. xxiv. 19. 
 
t 
 St 
 
 I 
 
 p. tti 
 
 f 1 
 
 111 
 
 T 50 TJf iW^i w;<? &n;^ of Divine Afftftahce Gh. 1 5: 
 
 corrupt Defires of your own Heart, now per- 
 haps a little charmed down, and lying as if ihey 
 they were dead, may fpring up again with new 
 Violence, as if they had flept only to recruit their 
 Vigour ; and if you are not fupported by a bet- 
 ter Strength than your own, this Struggle for 
 Liberty will only make your future Chains the 
 heavier, the more fhameful, and the more fatal. 
 
 §. 2. What then is to be done ? Is the con- 
 vinced Sinner to lie down in Defpair ? to fay, 
 *' I am a helplefs Captive, and by exerting my- 
 ** felf with Violence, may break my Limbs 
 " fooner than my Bonds, and increafe the Evil 
 " I would remove." GOD forbid! You can- 
 not, I am perfuaded, be fo little acquainted with 
 Chriftianity, as not to know, that the Doftrine 
 of Divine Affijlances bears a very confiderable Part 
 in it. You have often, I doubt not, read of the 
 Law of the Spirit of Lfe in Cbrift Jefus^ as making 
 us free from the Law of Sin and Death (c) -, and 
 have been told, that thro* the Spirit we mortify 
 the Deeds of the Body (d) ; You have read oi doing 
 all Things thro* Chriji 'vcbo flrengtheneth us (e) *, 
 whofe Grace is fufficient for us^ and whofc Strength 
 is made perfe^ in IVeaknefs (f). Permit me, there- 
 tore, now to call down your Attention to this, as 
 a Truth of the cleared Evidence, and the utmofl 
 Importance. 
 
 §. 3. Reason indeed, as well as the whole 
 Tenor of Scripture, agrees with this. * The 
 whole created World has a nccelTary Depen- 
 dance on God : From Him even the Knowledge 
 
 of 
 
 (c) Rom.vili. 2. (d) Rom. viii. 13. (c) Phil. iv. 13. 
 (f ) 2 Cor. xii. 9. 
 
 in my 
 
 .^ . m 
 
 of thefe Thoaghts .aach more largely illuilrated 
 ^)irmQn on Regeneration. 
 
 * See many ot tneie i noaghts .aac 
 Vlllh Sermon on Regeneration. 
 
 Ch. 1 5. appears from Reafon and Scripture, igt 
 
 of Natural Things is derived (g), and Skill in 
 them is to be afcribcd to Him (h). Much more 
 loudly does fo great and excellent a Work, as the 
 new-forming the Human Mind, befpeak its Di- 
 vine Author. When you confider, how various 
 the Branches of the Chriftian Temper are, and 
 how contrary many of them alfo are to that 
 Temper, which hath prevailed in your Heart, 
 and governed your Life in Time paft ; you mud 
 really fee Divine Influences as necefTary to pro- 
 duce and nourifli them, as the Influences of the 
 Sun and Rain are to call up the Variety of Plants, 
 and Flowers, and Grain, and Fruits, by which 
 the Earth is adorned, and our Life fupported. 
 You will be yet more fenfible of this, if you re- 
 fleft on the violent Oppofition which this happy 
 Work mufl: expedl to meet with, of which I Ihall 
 prefcndy warn you more largely, and which if you 
 have not already experienced, it mufl: be becaufe 
 you have but very lately begun to think of Reli- 
 gion. 
 
 §.4. Accordingly, if you give yourfelf 
 Leave to confult Scripture on this Head, (and if 
 you would live like a Chrillian, you mufl be con- 
 fuking it every Day, and forming your Notions 
 ar :: Aflions by it •,) you will fee, that the whole 
 Tenor of it teaches that Dependance upon God, 
 which I am now recommending. You will par- 
 ticularly fee, that the Production of Religion in 
 the Soul is Matter of Divine Promife ; that when 
 it has been effeded. Scripture afcribes it to a Di- 
 vine Agency -, and that the Increafe of Grace 
 and Piety in the Heart of thofe who are truly 
 regenerate, is alfo fpoken of as the Work of 
 God, who begins and carries it on until the Day of 
 .Jefus Chrift(\), 
 
 §.5. Ik 
 
 (g) Pfal. xciv. 10. (h) Exod xxxi. 3, 6, (i) Phil. i. 6. 
 
I 
 
 192 The Spirit mujl he fought to this End. Ch. 15: 
 
 §. 5. In Confequence of all thefe Views, lay 
 it down to yourfelf as a moft certain Principle, 
 that no Attempt in Religion is to be made in 
 your own Strength. If you forget this, and God 
 purpofes finally to fave you, he will humble you 
 by repeated Difappointments, till he teach you 
 better. You will be afliamed of one Scheme and 
 Effort, and of another, till you fettle upon the 
 true Bafis. He will alfo probably fliew you, not 
 only in the general, that your Strength is to be 
 derived from Heaven ; but particularly, that it 
 is the Office of the Blefled Spirity to purify the 
 Heart, and to invigorate holy Refolutions ; and 
 alio that in all thefe Operations he is to be con- 
 fidered as the Spirit of Cbrijl^ working under his 
 Diredlion, and as a vital Communication from 
 Him, under the Character of the great Head of 
 the Churchy the grand Treafurer and Difpenfer of 
 thefe holy and beneficial Influences. On which 
 Account it is called the Supply of the Spirit ofjefui 
 Cbrifl (k), who is exalted at the Right Hand of the 
 Father, to give Repentance and Remiffwn of Sins (1) ; 
 in whofe Grace alcne we can be Jlrong (m), and of 
 whofe Fulnefs we receive^ even Grace for Grace (n). 
 
 §.6. Resolve therefore ftrenuoufly for the 
 Service of God, and for the Care of your Soul ; 
 but refolve modeftly and humbly. Even the 
 Touths fhall faint and be "joeary^ and the young Men 
 utterly fall ; hut they who wait on the Lcrd^ are the 
 Perfons who renew their Strength (o). When a 
 Soul is almoft afraid to declare in the Prefence of 
 the Lord, that it will not do this, or that, which 
 has formerly ofi:ended him •, when it is afraid ab- 
 folutely to promife, that it will perform this, or 
 
 that 
 
 (k) Phil.i. 19. (1) Afts V. 31. Cm) zTim.ii. i. 
 (n) John i. 16, (0) Ifai. xl. 30, 3 u 
 
 Ch.i /;. The Encouragement there is to expe^it. 193 
 
 that Duty, with Vigour and Conftancy -, but only 
 exprefTes its humble earned Defire, that it may 
 i/y Grace he enabled^ to avoid the one, or purfue 
 the other •, then, fo far as my Obfervation or 
 Experience have reached, it is in the bell: Way to 
 learn the happy Art of conquering Temptations^ 
 and of dilc'harging Duty. 
 
 §. 7. Om the other Hand, Let not your De- 
 pendance upon this Spirit, and your Senfe of your 
 own Wcaknefs and Infufficiency for any Thing 
 fpiritually Good without His continued Aid, dif^ 
 courage you from devoting yourfelf to God, and 
 engaging in a religious Life, confidering what 
 abundant Reafbn you have to hope, that thefe 
 gracious Influences will be communicated to 
 
 you. The Light of Nature^ at the fame Time 
 
 that it teaches the Need we have of Help from 
 God in a virtuous Courfc, may lead us to con- 
 clude, that fo benevolent a Being, who beftows 
 on the mofl: unworthy and carelefs Part of Man- 
 kind io many Blcfllngs, will take a peculiar Plea- 
 fure in communicating to fuch as humbly afk 
 tliemj thofe gracious Aflifliances^ which may form 
 their deathlefs Souls into, his own Refemblance, 
 and fit them for that Happinefs to which their 
 Rational Nature is fuited, and for which it was in 
 
 its firft Conflitution intended. The IVord of 
 
 GOD will much more abundantly confirm fuch 
 an Hope. You there hear Di'vine Wifdom crying^ 
 even to thofe who had long trifled with her In- 
 (trudions, Turn ye at my Reproofs and I will pour 
 out my Spirit upon you (p). You hear the Apoflle 
 faying. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace ^ that 
 we may obtain Mdrcy^ and find Grace to help in every 
 Time of Need ("q). Yea, you there hear our Lord 
 
 O himfelf 
 
 (p) Prov. i. 25. (q) Heb.iv. i6. 
 
194 -^n Exhortation td ptay for Divine Help. Ch.15. 
 himjelf arguing in this fweet and convincing 
 Manner -, If ye being evil, know how to give good 
 Gifts unto your Children, how much more fljall your 
 Heavenly Father give His Holy Spirit unto them that 
 afk Him (r) ? This Gift and Promife of the Spirit 
 was given unto Cbrift, when he afcended up on 
 high, in Truft for all His true Difciples. God 
 hath Jhed tt abroad abundantly upon us in Him (s) 
 And 1 may add, that the very Defire you feel 
 after the larther Communication of the Spirit is 
 the Refuic of the Firft-Fruits of it already given - 
 So that you may with peculiar Propriety inter- 
 pret It as a fpecial Call, to open your Mouth wide, 
 that he may fill it (t). You thirfi, and therefore 
 you may chearfully plead, that Jefus hath imAted 
 you to come unto Him and drink ; with a Promife 
 not only that youflM drmk, if you come unto Him, 
 but alfo that out of your Belly fhall flow, as it were, 
 Rxvers of Ltvmg Water for the Edification and Re- 
 irelhment of others (u). 
 
 §. 8. Go forth therefore, with humble Cheat- 
 fulnefs, to the Profccution of all the Duties of the 
 Chnft.an L,fe. Go. and profper, in the Strength 
 of the Lard, mahng mention of His Righteoufnefs^ 
 and of His only (x). And as a Token of farther Com- 
 munications, may your Heart be quickened to the 
 moft earned Dcfires, after the Heffings I have 
 now been recommending to your Purfuit t Mav 
 you be ftirred up to pour out your Soul beforS 
 GoD, in fuch holy Breathings as thcfe ! and mav 
 
 Jn 
 
 Ch. 15. 
 
 An humlk Addrefs to GOD for it, 195 
 
 An humble Supplication /c^r the Influences of 
 Divine Grace, to form ^ andftrengthen Religion in 
 the Soul, 
 
 
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 BLESSED GOD! I fincerely acknow 
 ledge before Thee mine own Weaknefs 
 " and Inf.i^ciency for any Thing that is fpiri- 
 " tiially Good. I have experienced it a Thou- 
 *' fand Times ; and yet my foolifh Heart would 
 •' again trufl itfelf (y), and form Refolutions in 
 *' its own Strength. But let this be the Firft- 
 " Fruits of Thy gracious Influence upon it, to 
 bring it to an humble Diftruft of itfelf, and 
 to a Repofe on Thee ! 
 
 " Abundantly do I rejoice, Oh Lord, in the 
 *' kind Aflurances which Thou giveft me, of 
 *' Thy Readinefs to bttllow liberally and richly 
 '' fc^ great a Benefit. I do therefore, according 
 to Thy condefcending Invitation, come with 
 Boldnefs to the throne of Grace ^ that I may find 
 " Grace to help in every Time of Need (z). I mean 
 *' not, Oh Lord God, to turn Thy Grace into 
 " Wantonnefs or Perverfenefs (a), or to make my 
 Weaknefs an Excufe for Negligence and Sloth. 
 I confefs, Thou haft already given me more 
 Strength than I have ufed \ and I charge it 
 upon myfelf, and not on Thee, that I have 
 *' not long fince received ftill more abundant 
 *' Supplies. I dcfire for the future to be found 
 ** diligent in the Ufe of all appointed Means j 
 *' in the Negledt of which, I well know, that 
 ** Petitions like thefe would be a profane Mock- 
 *' ery, and might much more probably pro- 
 ** voke Thee to take away what I have, than 
 
 O 2. *' prevail 
 
 (y) Prov. xxviii. 26. (x) Heb. iv. 16. (a) Jude, ter. 4.' 
 
 ic 
 
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 196 A Supplication for Divine Grace, Ch. 1 5. 
 prevail upon Thee to impart more. But firmly 
 refolving to exert myfdf to the utmoft, I ear- 
 neftly intreat the Communications of Thy 
 " Grace, that I may be enabled to fulfil that 
 *' Refolution. 
 
 " Be Surety^ Oh Lord, unto thy Servant for 
 Good (b) / Be pleafed to fhed abroad Thy 
 Sandifying Influences on my Soul, to form 
 me for every Duty Thou required ! Implant, 
 I befcech Thee, every Grace and Virtue deep 
 " m mine Heart ; and maintain the happy 
 " Temper, in the Midft of thofe Afl^aults, from 
 " within and from without, to which I am con- 
 " tinually liable, while I am ftill in this World, 
 and carry about with me fo many Infirmities! 
 Fill my Breaft, I befeech Thee, with good 
 " Afl^eftions, towards Thee, my God, and to- 
 " wards my Fellow-Creatures [ Remind me al- 
 ways of Thy Prefence ; and may I remem- 
 ber, that every fecret Sentiment of my Soul 
 is open to Thee ! May I therefore guard 
 againlt the firft Rifings of Sin, and the firfl 
 Approaches to it ! And that Satan may not 
 find Room for his Evil Suggcftions, I earneft- 
 ly beg. Thou, Lord, wouldll fill my Heart 
 by Thine Holy Spirit, and take up Thy Re- 
 '' fidence there ! Dwell in me, and walk with 
 '* me (c) ; and let my Body be the Temple of the 
 « Holy Ghoft (d) / 
 
 " May I be fo joined to Chrijl Jefus my Lord^ 
 " as to be one Spirit with Him (e), and feel His 
 invigorating Influences continually bearing 
 me on, fuperior to every Temptation, and to 
 every Corruption ! That while the Touthsjhall 
 
 " faint 
 
 (b)Pfal. cxix. lii. (c) 2 Cor, vi. i6. (d) 1 Cor.vi. 19. 
 Ce) I Cor. vi. 17. 
 
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 Ch. 15. to vxirk Religion in the Soul. 197 
 
 faint and be weary, and the young Men utterly 
 fall, I may fo wait upon the Lord, as to r^ew 
 my Strength (f) ; and may go on from one De- 
 gree of Faith, and Love, and Zeal, and Holi- 
 nefs, to another, 'till I appear perfed: before Thee 
 in Zion{g), to drink in immortal Vigour and 
 Joy, from Thee, as the everlafting Fountain 
 of both, thro' Jefus Chrift, my Lord, in whom 
 I have Right eoufnefs and Strength (h), and to 
 whom I defire ever to afcribe the Praife of all 
 mine Improvements in both \ Amen." 
 
 (f) Ifai. xl. 30, 3 1 . (g) Pfal. Ixxxiv. 7. (h) Ifai. xlv. 24. 
 
 03 
 
 CHAP. 
 
igS The Chrifiian Convert muft expe£I Ch. i ^. 
 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 The Christ; AN Convert warned of, 
 and animated againft, thofe Difcoun^ge- 
 nients which he muft expcft to meet with, 
 when entering on a Religious Cou rib. 
 
 Chriftbas hifirunedHis Difciples to €:xpc5l Oppoftticn 
 and Difficulties in the fVay to Henvcn. §. i. There- 
 fore, ij.] yl more particular View of ibem is taken, 
 as arifing, (i.) From the Remainders of ind'^juelling 
 Sin. §. (2.) From the F/orld, and efpecially from 
 former finful Companions, §.3. (3.) From the 
 Temptations and Suggejl ions of Satan, §. 4. [II.] 
 The Chrifiianis animated ayid encouraged by various 
 
 Confuierciiom to oppofe them ; particularly, by 
 
 the Prefence of GOD,— the Ads of Chrijl,—the 
 Example of ethers, who tho' feeble have conquered, 
 — and the Crozvn of Glory to be expe^ed. §. 5, 6. 
 Therefore, tho' ApoHacy ztcidd be infinitely fatal, the 
 Chriniantnayprefs onchearfully. §.7. Accordingly 
 the Soul, alarmed by thefe Views, is reprejented as 
 committing itfelf to GOD, m the Frayer which 
 
 - concludes the Chapter, 
 
 §• ^•"V\/^ ITH the utmoft Propriety has 
 
 y V our Divine Mailer required us, tQ 
 
 Ifrive to enter in at the §lrait Gate (a) -, thereby (as 
 
 Jt feems) intimating, not only that the PafTage is 
 
 narrow 
 
 (a) Luke xiii. 24. 
 
 Ch. 16. to meet with many Difficulties. 199 
 
 narrow, but that it is befet with Enemies ; be- 
 let on the Right Hand, and on the Left, with 
 Enemies cunning and formidable. And be ai^ 
 fared. Oh Reader, that whatever your Circum- 
 ftances in Life are, you muft meet and encoun- 
 ter them. It will therefore be your Prudence, 
 to furvey them attentively in your own Reflec- 
 tions, that you may fee what you are to exped ; 
 and may confider in what Armour it is neceflary 
 you fhould be clothed, and with what Weapons 
 you muft be furniftied to manage the Combat. 
 You have often heard them marlhalled, as it 
 were, under Three great Leaders, the Fleflo, the 
 World, and the Devil \ and according to this Di- 
 ftribution, I would call you to confider the Forces 
 of each, as fetting themfelves in Array againft 
 you. Oh that you may be excited to take to your- 
 felf the whole Armour of GOD (b), and to acquit 
 yourfelflike a Man (c), and a Chriffian! 
 
 §. 2. Let your Confcience anfwer. Whether 
 you do not carry about with you a corrupt and a 
 degenerate Natures^ You will, I doubt not, feel 
 its Eflfeds. You will feel, in the Language of 
 the Apoflle, (who (peaks of it as the Cafe of Chri^ 
 ffians themfelves,) ihe Flejh luHing fgainff the Spirit^ 
 fo that you will not be able, in all Inftances, to do 
 the Things tijat you would (d). You brought irre- 
 gular Propenfities into the World along with you; 
 and you have fo often indulged thofe finful Incli- 
 nations, that you have greatly increafed their 
 Strength *, and you will tind in Confequence of 
 it, that thefe Habits cannot be broke thro* with- 
 out great Difficulty. You will, no doubt, often 
 recollcc5l the ftrong Figures, in which the Pro^ 
 phet defcribes a Cafe like yours •, and you will 
 
 O 4 ' own, 
 
 (bj Eph.vi. 13. (c) I Cor. xvi. 13. (d) Gal. v, 17. 
 
260 IT^e Soulin Danger from Indwelling Sm, Ch. i6 
 
 7.u-!^^'\' '^.J"^'y ••^Prefented by that of mi 
 Ethwpan cbang,ng hu Skw, and the Leopard his 
 
 f^'^^\ A'' '"t'^ ^^'^^'' 'hat at firft you 
 may find fuch an Edge and Eagerncfs upon your 
 Spirits, as may Jead you to imagine, that all On- 
 pofmon Will nr.mediatcly fall before you. Z 
 
 r\r '''.''''' '" " ""'*= Time thefc Enemie 
 ^vh,ch feemed to be flain at your Feet, will I 
 
 t'heAjri'''°'"j'^^"''"^^'^P°"^' ^"d ^^n- 
 the Affault m one Form or another. And ner- 
 
 haps your molt painful Combats may be Wnh 
 fuch as you had thought moft caly to be van 
 quilhed, ana your greateft Danger may aWfc 
 from fcme of thofe Enemies, from whotn yl 
 apprehended the leafl ; particularly, from Pr?de 
 and from Indolence of Spirit; from a 1 c ret All* 
 enafon of Heart from God, and from an nd . 
 
 mod"ra"te it?T^'"^ "^ "'-' - '- 
 
 moderate Attachment to Thwgs feen and Tcm 
 
 poral, whtch may be oftentimef exceedml dm! 
 
 gerous to your Salvation, tho' perhaps they be 
 
 not abfo lutely and univerially prohibited In a 
 
 X™^;' '"'^ Inflances,'/ou mu.l fearn to 
 detvfyourjelf, or you cnmot be ChriiVs DMple (i) 
 
 Priat Diffin!';.'""? '"° 'f y >■''"•■ ^^^^-"""N to find 
 
 S s ?Som " Tl '^' ^'r^^' ^'■"'" '^^ Man- 
 ners, cudoms, andExampes. The Thincrc nf 
 
 •tjie World will hinder you one Wa ; a f h 
 Men of the World another. Perhaps y o" mav 
 meet wtth much lefs Afllftance in Re^i. on tTan 
 you are now ready to expea. from Good £ 
 The prefent Generation of them is generally fo 
 
 uitcntation, and there lecms fomethine fo infut, 
 portably dreadful in the Charge of EnVuS. 
 
 (e) Jer. xiii. 23. (f) ^^^^ ^^,. ^^^ 
 
 |Eh. 16. and from the Oppofiuon of the World, 20 x 
 
 that you will find mod of your Chriftian Brethren 
 ftudying to conceal their Virtue and their Piety, 
 much more than others ftudy to conceal their 
 Vice and their Profanenefs. But while, unlefs 
 your Situation be Angularly happy, you meet 
 with very little Aid one Way, you will, no 
 doubt, find great Oppofition another. The Ene- 
 mies of Religion will be bold and adive in their 
 Aflaults, while many of its Friends feem unconr 
 cerned : And One Sinner will probably exert 
 himfelf more to corrupt you, than Ten Chriftians 
 to fecure and fave you. They who have once 
 been your Companions in Sin, will try a Thou- 
 fand artful Methods to allure you back again to 
 their forfaken Society : Some of them perhaps, 
 with an Appearance of tender Fondnefs •, and 
 many more by the almoft irrefiftible Art of Ban- 
 ter and Ridicule : That boafted Teji of Right and 
 Wrongs as it has been wantonly called, will be 
 tried upon you, perhaps without any Regard to 
 Decency, or even to common Humanity. You 
 will be derided and infulted by thofe, whofe E- 
 fteem and Affx^diion you naturally defire *, and 
 may find much more Propriety than you ima- 
 gine, in that Expreflion of the Apoftle, The Trial 
 of cruel Mockings (g), which fome fear more than 
 cither Sword or Flames. This Perfecution of 
 the Tongue you mud expeft to go thro', and 
 perhaps may be branded as a Lunatick, for no 
 other Caufe, than that you now begin to exer- 
 cife your Reafon to Purpofe, and will not join 
 with thofe that are deftroying their own Souls, in 
 their wild Career of Folly and Madnefs. 
 
 §. 4. And it is not at all improbable, that in 
 the mean Time Satan may be doing his utmoft to 
 
 difcou- 
 (g) Hcb. xi. 36. 
 
IP 
 
 20; S^tmwill labour to dijlrefe the Soul. Ch. ,6 
 d.fcourage and diftrcfs you. He will, no doubt 
 I Tf'l'V"" •i'^^^ination the mod tempt.ng iS 
 of the Grafficattons. the Indulgencesf and the 
 Companions, you are obliged to .orf ke • -ind 
 
 C 7 .flT^' f ^""4'^'g an°i "te^rity g 
 View of the Difficulties, Severiiies, and Din- 
 gers which are (as he wii) perfuade you,)Tnfe- 
 
 StGOD 5'''f;.°"\ ^^^'" notVaii'iorl 
 prelent GOD Hmfelf, the Fountain of Goodnels 
 
 and Happmefs, as an hard Mailer, whom it s 
 •mpoffibleto pleafe. He willperhaTfiH vou 
 with the moft diftrefsful Fears,^and with crld 
 and infolent Malice glory over ^ou as h s sLv 
 
 one Time he will ftudy by his vile Sugceftions 
 to interrupt you in your Duties, as if they Lv' 
 
 Ti':;:"h:'w;fr" H ''^"^^ °^^^ - ^ « --^ 
 
 Jl ime he wJl endeavour to weary you of vour 
 .Devotion, by influencing you to prolong i to an 
 
 Zm 'fc:? '"'. "diouT length,' lei? hl'powe; 
 ftould be exerted upon you when it ceafes. la 
 
 J^oulH P"'^'*^u^'"'^" ^^' Artifices, which 
 It would require whole Volumes to difplav with 
 particular Cautions againft each. A^d he w 11 
 Se'rrEnJ'V '"^'■-- .^rts and Purftits to 
 no Me h J^ °^ ''*'"'■ P''g'-""'^ge •. and will kave 
 noMediodunattempted, which may be likely 
 
 Selrr ,h ^T u"^"'^^ ""^ '° fadden yo ^ 
 Scon h'.' ' '^'° '^' Sracious Interpofition 
 ot God, he cannot prevent your final Ha^pinefs 
 he my at leaft impair your Peace and yo^Kt 
 fulnefs, as you are pafTing to it. 
 
 f- 5- This is what the People of God feel ■ 
 and what You will feel in fome Degree or o her* 
 
 IheT Zir\^' ^"^y-^ Portion'amo g 
 them. But after all, be not difcouraged j Ch r isf 
 
 is 
 
 Ch. 1 6. Tet has hejlill enough to encourage hint. 203 
 
 is ibe Captain of your Salvation (h). It is delightful \ 
 to confider Him under this View. When we 
 take a Survey of thefe Hofts of Enemies, we may 
 lift up our Head amidft them all, and fay, More^ 
 ^nd greater, is He that is with us, than all thofe 
 that are againft us (J). Truft in the Lord, and you 
 will be like Mount 'Zion, which cannot be removed^ 
 but abideth for ever (k). When your Enemies 
 prefs upon you, remember you are to fight in the 
 frefence of GOD (1). Endeavour therefore to aft 
 a gallant and a refolute Part : Endeavour to re- \ 
 Jift them ftedf aft in the Faith (m). Remember, He 
 can give Power to the Faint,* i^d increafe Strength to 
 them that have no Might (rf)/- He hath done it in 
 Ten Thoufand Inftances already, and he will do 
 it in Ten Thoufand more. How many Striplings 
 have conquered their gigantick Foes in all their 
 mod formidable Armour, when they have gone 
 forth againft them, tho' but as it were with a 
 Staff and a Sling, tn the Name of the Lord GOD of 
 Jfrael{o)! How many Women and Children 
 have trodden down the Force of the Enemy, and 
 'out of IVeaknefs have been madeftrong (p) / 
 
 §.6. Amidst all the Oppofition of Earth 
 and Hell, look upward, and look forward ; and 
 you will feel your Heart animated by the View. 
 Your General is near : He is near to aid you : 
 He is near to reward you. When you feel the 
 Temptation prefs the hardeft, think of Him who 
 endured even the Crofs itfelf for your Refcue. View 
 the Fortitude of your Divine Leader, and endea- 
 vour to march on in His Steps. Hearken to 
 His Voice, for he proclaims it aloud. Behold, I 
 
 come 
 
 (h) Heb. ii. 10. (i) 2 Kings vi. 16. (k) Pfal. cxxv. 1. 
 (1) Zech. X. 5. (m) i Pet. v. 9. (n) Ifai. xl. 29. 
 
 (0) I Sam. xvii. 40, 45. (p) Hcb. xi. 34. 
 
 g^^^Uf^^^u^^^^^taO^^^iilb 
 
 utsyite^^iHwHfeii 
 
^ 1 
 
 •n 
 
 204. The Soul alarmed by thefe Ftews Ch. 1 6, 
 
 come quickly^ and my Reward is with me (q) ; Be 
 thou faithful unto Death, and! will give thee a Crown 
 of Life {t). And Oh how bright will it fhine » 
 and how long will its Luftre ka ! When the 
 Gems that adorn the Crowns of Monarchs, and 
 pafs (inftrudive Thought!) from one Royal 
 Head to another thro' fjccceding Centuries, arc 
 melted down in the Liii Flanu ; It is ^ Crown of 
 Glory ^ which fcde'h not auty{^), 
 
 §. 7. It is indeed true, that fuch a^ turn aftde 
 to crooked Paths, will be led forth with the IVorkers 
 of Iniquity (f) to that terrible Execution, which 
 the Divine Jullice is preparing for them ; and 
 that It would ha^ been better for them, not to have 
 known the IVay of Righteoufnefs , than after having 
 known tt, to turn aftde from the holy Command- 
 ment (u). But I would, by Divine Grace, hope 
 t>etter Thmgs of you (x). And I make it my hear- 
 ty Prayer for you, my Reader, that you may be 
 kept by the mighty Power of GOD, kept as in a 
 Garrifon, on all Sides fortified, in the fecureft 
 Manner, thro' Faith unto Salvation (y). 
 
 rhe Soul alarmed by a Senfe of thefe Difficulties, cem 
 mitting itfelf to Divine Proteaion, 
 
 BLESSED GOD, it is to Thine Al- 
 mighty Power that I flee. Behold me 
 furrounded with Difficulties and Dangers, and 
 ftretch out Thine Omnipotent Arm to fave 
 me ; Oh Thou that favefl by Thy Right Hand 
 them that put their Tru/l in Thee, from thofe that 
 rife up againfl them (z) / This Day do I folemnly 
 
 ^ put 
 
 rq; Rev. xxli. 12. (r) Rev. ii. 10. (s) , Pet. v. 4. 
 (i) Pfal. cxxv. 5. ^.; , Pet. if. ^ ,. l^) Heb. vi. J. 
 
 (y) I Pet. 1. 5. fzjPfal. xvii. 7. ^ 
 
 
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 n 
 
 Ch. 16. commits itfelf to GOD in Prayer. 0.05 
 
 " put myfelf under Thy Prote6lion: Exert Thy 
 ** Power in my Favour, and permit me to make 
 ** the Shadow of Thy IVings my Refuge (a) .' Let Thy 
 ** Grace be fufficitnt for me, and Thy Strength be 
 t« made perfe^ in my Weaknefs (b) / I dare not fay, 
 «' / will never for fake Thee ; / will never deny 
 *' Thee{c): But I hope, I can truly fay, OLord, 
 <' I would not do it ; and that according to my 
 *' prefenr Apprehenfion and Purpofe, Death 
 " would appear to me much lefs terrible, than 
 " in any wilful and deliberate Inftance to offend 
 " Thee. Oh root out thofe Corruptions from 
 " my Heart, which in an Hour of preffing 
 Temptation might incline me to view Things 
 in a different Light, and fb might betray me 
 into the Hand of the Enemy ! Strengthen my 
 Faith, Oh Lord, and encourage my Hope! 
 Infpire me with an heroick Refolution in op- 
 pofing every Thing that lies in my Way to 
 Heaven ; and let me fet my Face like a Flint (d), 
 againft all the Affaults of Earth and Hell! If 
 Sinners entice me, let me not confent (e) ; if they 
 infuk me, let me not regard it; if they 
 *' threaten me, let me not fear! Rather may a 
 '' holy and ardent, yet prudent and well go- 
 verned Zeal, take Occafion from that Malig- 
 nity of Heart, which they difcover, to attempt 
 " their Convidlion and Reformation! At leaft, 
 let me never be afhamed to plead Thy Caufe 
 aqjainft the moft profane Deriders of Religion! 
 Make me to hear Joy and Gladnefs in my own 
 Soul ; and I will endeavour to teach Tranfgref 
 fors Thy IVays, that Sinners may be converted unto 
 Thee{\)! Yea, Lord, while my Fears conti- 
 
 '* nue, 
 
 (a) Pfal. Ivii. I. (b) i Cor.xii. 9. (c) Markxiv. ji. 
 (d) liai. 1. 7. (e) Prov. i. lO. (f; Pful. li- 8, 13. 
 
 (C 
 
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 if. 
 
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«« 
 
 2o6 ne Soul applies io GOD for He/p. Ch. iff, 
 « nue, tho* I fhould apprehend myfelf con- 
 « dcmned, I am condemned fo righteoudy for 
 " my own Folly, that I woufd be Thine Advo- 
 " cate, tho* againft myfelf. 
 
 " Keep me. Oh Lx)rd, now, and at all 
 " Times! Never let me think, whatever Age 
 " or Station I attain, that I am ftrong enough 
 "to maintain the Combat without Thee f Nor 
 " kt me imagine myfelf^ even in this Infancy 
 " of Religion in my Soul, fo weak, that Thou 
 ** canft not fupport me ! Wherever Thou leadeft 
 " me, there let me follow ; and whatever Sta- 
 tion thou appointed me, there let me labour ; 
 there let me maintain the Holy War aginfl: all 
 the Enemies of my Salvation, and rather fall 
 in it, than bafely abandon it ! 
 " And Thou, Oh Glorious Redeemer, the 
 «' Ct?plam of my Salvation, the great Aithor and 
 " Finifher of my Faith (g), when I am in Danger 
 of denying Thee, is Peter did, look upon me 
 with that Mixture of Majefty and Tender- 
 nefs (h), which may either fecure me from 
 falling, or may fpeedily recover me to God 
 and my Duty again I And teach me to take 
 Occafion, even from my Mifcarriages, to 
 humble myfelf more deeply for all that has 
 been amifs, and to redouble my future Dili- 
 gence and Caution ! Amen. 
 
 (g) Heb. xii. a. (h) Luke xxii. 6t. 
 
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 chap: 
 
 Ch. 1 7. Self-Dedication to COD recommended. 207 
 
 ,^'et(^ 
 
 Q. 
 
 K 
 
 \;r)MT^3 
 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 The Christ I AN urged to, and affifted in, an 
 exprefs Adt of Self-Dedication to 
 the Service of G O D. 
 
 ne AJvaniages of fucb a Surrender are briefly fu?. 
 gefied. ^.,. Advices for the Manner of doinz it i 
 that It be deliberate, chearful, entire, and perpetual; 
 
 ^J^' h\ ""^ "^"^ " ^^ (xpreffed with fame af- 
 feeing Solemnity. %. 5. Aizritten Infirument, to be 
 ftgncd and declared before GOD at fome Seafon of 
 
 extraordtnary Drootion, propofed. §. 6, 7. rhe 
 
 Chapter concludes with a Specimen of fuch an In- 
 Jtrument, together with an Abflrail of it, to beufed 
 
 with proper and requifite Alterations. 
 
 i I. AS I would hope, that notwithftandins 
 rX all the Views of Oppofition which dS 
 or may anfe yet in Confideration of thofe noble 
 Supports and Motives which have been men- 
 tioncd in the Two preceding Chapters, you are 
 heartily determined for the Service of God I 
 would now urge you to make afolemnSurrendnof 
 yourfelf unto it. Do not only form fuch a Purpofc 
 in your Heart, but exprefsly declare it in the Di- 
 vine Prefence. Such Solemnity in the Manner 
 of doing It ,s certainly very reafonablc in the 
 Nature of fhings ; and fure it is highly expe- 
 dient for binding to the Lord fuch a treacheries 
 Heart, as we know our own to be. It will be 
 plcafant to refleft upon it, as done at U and 
 
 fuch 
 
r 
 
 : .u-l 
 
 208 The Surrender Jhould be deliberate, Ch. 1 7, 
 inch a Time, with fijch and fuch Circumftances of 
 Place and Method, which may ferve to ftrike 
 the Memory and the Confcience. The Senfe of 
 the Vows of GOD which are upon you, will ftrengthen 
 you in an Hour of Temptation ; and the Re- 
 collection may alfo encourage your humble Bold- 
 nefs and Freedom in applying to Him, under 
 the Charafter and Relation oi your Covenant GOD 
 and Father, as future Exigencies may require. 
 
 §. 2. Do it therefore, but do it deliberately. Con- 
 fider, what it is, that you are to do : And con- 
 fide r, how reafonable it is, that it (hould be done, 
 and done cordially and chearfully •, not by Con- 
 Jtratnt, but willingly (a) : For in this Senfe, and in 
 every other, GOD loves a chearful Giver {h\ Now 
 furely there is nothing we fliould do with greater 
 Chearfulnefs or more cordial Confent, than 
 making fuch a Surrender of ourfelves to the 
 Lord; to the God, who created us, who 
 brought us into this pleafant and well furnifhed 
 World, who fupported us in our tender Infancy, 
 who guarded us in the thoughtlefs Days of Child- 
 hood and Youth, who has hitherto continually 
 helped, fuftamed, and preferved us. Nothing- 
 can be more reafonable, than that we fliould ac- 
 knowledge Him, as our rightful Owner, and our 
 Sovereign Ruler ; than that we fliould devote 
 
 gracious Bene- 
 
 ourfelves to Him, as our moft ^....^„, ^^uc- 
 fadtor, and fcek him as our fupream Felicity. 
 Nothing can be more apparently equitable, than 
 that We, the Produft of His Power, and the 
 Price of His Son's Blood, fliould be His, and 
 His for ever If you fee the Matter in its iuft 
 View, It will be the Grief of your Soul, that 
 you have ever alienated yourfelf from the BlefTcd 
 
 God, 
 (a) I Pet. V. 2. (b) 2 Cor. ix. 7, 
 
 Ch. 17. chearful, entire, and perpetual. 209 
 
 tjOD, and His Service ; fo far will you be from 
 wifliing to continue in that Eftate of Alienation, 
 another Year, or another Day. You will rejoice 
 to bring back to Him his revolted Creature \ and 
 as you have in Times pall yielded your Members as 
 Injlruments of Unrighteoufncfs unto Sin, you will de- 
 light to yield yourfelves unto GOD, as ahve frorn 
 the Dead, and to employ your Members as In/iru^ 
 ments of Right eoufnejs unto GOD (c), 
 
 §. 3. The Surrender will alio be as entire, as it 
 is chearful and immediate. All you are, and 
 all you have, and all you can do, your Time; 
 your Pofltfflions, your Influence over others, will 
 be devoted to Him, that for the future it may 
 be employed entirely for Him, and to His Glory. 
 You will defire to keep back nothing from Him j 
 but will fcrioufly judge, that you are then in the 
 truefl: and nobieft Senfe your oun^ when you are 
 *noJl entirely His. You are alfo, on this great Oc- 
 cafion, to refign all that you have to the Difpofal 
 of His wife and gracious Providence ; not only 
 owning His Power, but confenting to His un- 
 doubted Right, to do what he pleafes with youj 
 and all that He has given you ; and declaring a 
 hearty Approbation of all that He has done, and 
 of all that He may farther do. 
 
 §. 4. Once more, Let me remind you, that 
 that this Surrender muft be pejpetual. You muft 
 give yourlejf up to Goo in fuch a Manner, as 
 never more to pretend to be your own : For the 
 Rights of God are, like His Nature, Eternal 
 and Immutable •, and with Re2;ard to His Ra- 
 tional Creatures, are the fame y eft cr day, to-day, and 
 for rjer. 
 
 p §. 5. 1 
 
 (c) Rom. vi. 13. 
 
cc 
 
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 ii. 
 
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 2 to It may he expedient to do it in JVriting. Ch . 1 7. 
 §.5. I WOULD farther advife and urge, that 
 this Dedication may be made zvith all pcffible So- 
 lemnity. Do it in exprefs fVords. And perhaps, 
 It may be in many Cafes molt expedient, as many 
 pious Divines have recommended, to do it inJVri- 
 ting. Set your Hand and Seal to ir, '« that on 
 fuch a Day of fuch a Month and Year, and at 
 fuch a Place, on full Confideration and ferious 
 Refleftion, you came to this happy Rcfolution, 
 that "j^hatcver others might do., yon "joould ierve the 
 Lord (d). " 
 
 §.6. Such an Injlrument ., you may, if you 
 pleafc, drawupforyourlelf; or if you rather chufe 
 to have it drawn up to your Hand, you may lind 
 fomething of this Nature below, in which you 
 may eafily make fuch Alterations as /hall fuit 
 your Circumftances, where there is any Thino- 
 peculiar in them. But whatever you ufe, weigl:> 
 it well, meditate attentively upon it, that you 
 may not be rajh with your Month., to utter any Thin? 
 before GOD (e). And when you determine to 
 txecute this Inftrument, let the Tranfadion be at- 
 tended with fome more than ordinary Religious 
 Retirement. Make it, if you conveniently'^can, 
 a Day of fecret Failing and Prayer : And when 
 your Heart is prepared with a becoming Awe of 
 the Divine Majefty, with an humble Confidence 
 in His Goodnefs, and an earneft Defirc of Y\\^ 
 Favour, then prefent yourfelf on your Knees 
 before God, and read it over deliberately 
 and folenmly ; and when you have figned it, lay 
 K by in fome fecure Place, where you may re- 
 view it whenever you pleafe \ and make it a Rule 
 with yourfelf, to review it, if pofTible, at certain 
 
 Seafons 
 
 (<1) Joih. XXIV. 15. (e) Eccl. V. 2. 
 
 t?h.j/. Aninjlrumentpropofed, as'properforit, 211 
 
 Seafons of the Year, that you may keep up the 
 Remembrance of it. 
 
 §. 7. At leaft take this Courfe, 'till you fee 
 your Way clear to the Table of the Lord., where 
 you are to renew the fame Covenant, and tofeality 
 with more affeding Solemnities. And God 
 grant, that you may be enabled to keep it;, and 
 in the whole of your Converfation to walk ac- 
 cording to it ! May it be an Anchor ro your Soul 
 in every Temptation, and a Cordial to it in every 
 Affliclion ! May the Recoliedtion of it embolden 
 your AddrefTcs to the Throne of Grace now, and 
 give additional Strength to your departing Spi- 
 rit, in a Confcioufnefs that it isafcending to your 
 Covenant God and Father, and to that gracious 
 Redeemer, whole Power and Faithfulnefs will 
 fecurely keep what you commit to Him until that 
 Day (f ) / 
 
 An Example of Sel f-De d i c a t ion, or a Solemn 
 Form of renewing our Covenant with GOD. 
 
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 ETERNALand unchangeable Je hov a h ! 
 ^ Thou great Creator of Heaven and 
 
 Earth, and adorable Lord of Angels and Men ! 
 I defire, with the deepeft Humiliation and 
 Abafement of Soul, to fall down at this Time 
 in Thine av^ful Prefence -, and earneflly pray, 
 that Thou wilt penetrate my very Fleart with 
 a fuitablc Senfe of Thine unutterable and in- 
 conceivable Glories 1 
 
 " Trembling may juftly take hold upon me (g), 
 when I a finful Worm prefume to lift up my 
 Head to Thee, prefume to appear in Thy 
 Majeftick Prefence, on fuch an Occafion as 
 
 P 2 y this. 
 
 (f) 2Tiin. i. 1,2. (g) Jobxxi.6. 
 
2T2 Jfolemn Form of Self-Dedication, Ch. 17. 
 ** this. IVho am /, Oh Lord GOD, or what h 
 '' my Houfe (h) ? What is my Nature or Deleent, 
 ** my Charader and Delcrt, that I (hould fpeak 
 ** of this, and defire that I may be one Party 
 ^* in a Cove^mnt, where Thou, the King of Kings ^ 
 ** and Lord of Lords, art the other ! I blujh, and 
 ** am confounded, even to mention it before Thee.. 
 " But, Oh Lord, great as is Thy Majefty, foalfo- 
 •* IS Thy Mercy. If Thou wilt hold Converfe 
 *' with any of Thy Creatures, Thy fuperlatively 
 " exalted Nature muft ftoop, muft Hoop infi- 
 *' nitcly low. And I know, that in and thro' 
 ** Jefus^ the Son of Thy Love, Thou conde- 
 ^* Icendell to vifit finful Mortals, and to allow 
 '^ their Approach to Thee, and their Covenant 
 •* Intercourfe with Thee : Nay, I know, that 
 *^' the Scheme and Plan is Thine own, and that 
 •' Thou haft gracioufly fent to propofe it to us -, 
 *^ as none untaught by Thee would have been 
 
 able to form it, or inclined to embrace it even 
 " when aftually propofed. 
 
 " To Thee therefore do I now come, invited 
 '' by the Name of Thy Son, and truHing in his 
 ** Kighteoufnefs and Grace. Laying myfelfat 
 '' Thy Feet wtth Shame and Confufwn cf Face, and 
 ^* fmiting upon wy Breafi, I Hiy with the humble 
 ^ Publican, GOD be merciful to me a Sinner (\)\ I 
 ^ acknowledge, Oh Lord, that I have been a 
 ^ great TranfgrefTor. My Sins have reached unto 
 ** Heaven (k), and mine Iniquities are lifted up unto 
 ^' the Skies (1). The irregular Propenfities of my 
 ^ ^rrupted and degenerate Nature have, in 
 *^ Ten Thoufand aggravated Inftances, wrought 
 ^ to bring forth Fruit unto Death (m). And if 
 
 *' Thou 
 
 (h) 2 Sam. vii. i8. (i) Luke xviii. , 3. (k) Re- xviH. r. 
 (1) Jer. J1.9. (m) Rom. vii. c. 
 
 Ch . 1 7 . by which the Covenant may be fvnewed. i\^ 
 
 " Thou fhouldft be ftrift to mark mine Offences, I 
 " muft be filent under a Load of Guilt, and im- 
 -*' mediately fink into Deftrudlion. But Thou 
 " haft gracioufly called me to return unto Thee, 
 " tho' I have been a wandering Sheep, a prodigal 
 ^' Son^ a back-flidingChild(n), Behold therefore, 
 " Oh Lord, I come unto Thee, I come, convin- 
 " ced not only of my Sin, but of my Folly. I 
 *' come from my very Heart afhamed of my- 
 " felf, and with an Acknowledgment in the 
 *' Sincerity and Humility of my Soul, that / 
 *' have played the Fool, and have erred exceedingly (o). 
 " I am confounded myfelf at the Remembrance of 
 " thefe Things: But be Thou merciful to myUn- 
 *' righteoufnef, and do not remember againjl me my 
 " Sins and my Tranfgreffwm (p) / Permit mc, O'h 
 *' Lord, to bring back unto Thee thofe Powers 
 *' and Faculties, which I have ungratefully and 
 " facrilegioufly alienated from Thy Service ; and 
 " receive, I befeech Thee, Thy poor revolted 
 " Creature, who is now convinced of Thy Right 
 '' to Him, and defires nothing in the whole 
 " World fo much as to be Thine! 
 
 " BlefTcd God, it is with the utmoft Solem- 
 " nity that I make this Surrender of myfelf umo 
 *' Thee. Hear, Oh Heavens, and give Ear, Oh 
 " Earth : I avouch the Lord this Dfy to be my 
 " GOD (q) i and I avouch and declare myfelf this 
 ' ' Day to be one of His Covenant Children and Peo^ 
 ^' pie. Hear, Oh Thou God of Heaven, and 
 " record it in the Book of Thy Remembrance {v)y 
 ** that henceforth /^wT'/^/«^, entirely Thine. I 
 " would not merely confecrate unto Thee fome 
 ** of my Powers, or fome of my PoflefTions ; or 
 
 P 3 '' give 
 
 (n) Jer. iii. 22. (o) i Sam. xxvi. 21. (p) Hcb, viii. iz. 
 (^ Deut. xxvi. 17. (r) Mai. iii. 16. 
 
2 1 4 AfoJemn Form of SeJf-Bcdkation, Gh . 1 7 , 
 
 " give Thee a certain Proportion of my Scrvi- 
 •' ces, or all I am capible of for a limited Time'; 
 ** but I would be i-bolly Thinr, and Tlinc for 
 ** ever. From this Day, do I lolcmnly renounce 
 " all i\\t former herds which have had Bom wi on 
 over me {s\ every Sin and every Luft; and 
 bid in Thy Name an eternal Defiance, to the 
 Powers of Hell, which have molt nnjuflly 
 ufurped the Empire over my Soul, and to all 
 the Corruptions which their fetal Temptations 
 *' have introduced into it. The whole Frame 
 " of my Nature, all the Faculties of my Mind, 
 and all the Members of my Body, would { 
 prefent before Tbee this Day, as a living Sacrifice, 
 holy and acceptable unto GOD, vh/ch \ know to 
 be wy mo^ reafonabic Service (x). To Thee I 
 confecratc all my zvorldly Voffejfwns : \x\ Thy 
 Service 1 defire to fpend all the Remainder of 
 my rime upon Earth, and beg Thou would tl 
 inftrucl: and influence me, fo that, whether 
 my Abode here be longer or fliorter, every 
 Year and Month, every Day and Hour mav 
 be ufcd in fuch a Manner, as fhall mod effec- 
 tually promote Thine Honour, and fubferve the 
 Schemes of Thy wife and gracious Providence. 
 And I earneftly pray, that whatever Influence 
 Thou givefl me over others, in any of the lu- 
 perior Rdations of Life in which I may ftand, 
 or in Conlequence of any peculiar Regard' 
 which may be paid to me. Thou wouldftgivc 
 me Strength and Courage to exert myfeif to 
 the utmo(t>r% Glory: Refolving, not only 
 that I will myfeif do it, but that all others, 
 \o far as I can rationally and properly influence 
 them, fijallferve the Lord (u). In this Courfe, 
 
 " Oh 
 
 (0 Ifai. xxvi. 13. (t) Rom xii. 1. (u) Jo/h. xxW, 15! 
 
 
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 Ch. 17. fy which the Covenant may be renewed, 215 
 
 Oh Bleflfcd God, would I ?(^:x^\\y perfevere to 
 the very End of my Life ; earneftly praying, 
 *' that every future Day of it may fupply the 
 Deficiencies, and correct the Irregularities of 
 the former •, and that I may by Divine Grace 
 be enabled, not only to hold on in that happy 
 Way, but daily to grow more active in it I 
 '' Nor do I only confecrate all that I am, and 
 have, tdThy Service-, but I alfo mod humbly 
 refign, and fubmit to Thine holy and Sovereign 
 IVilly myfeif, and all that I can call mine. I 
 leave. Oh Lord, to Thy Management and 
 Direftion all I poflTefs, and all I wifli; and fet 
 every Enjoyment and every Intereft before 
 Thee, to be difpofed of as Thou pleafefl. 
 Continue, or remove, what thou haft given 
 me 'y beftow, or retufe, what I imagine I 
 want, as Thou, Lord, /bait fee Good! And 
 tho' I dare not fay, / will never repine -, yet I 
 ^' hope, I may venture to fay, that / will la- 
 '' bour, not only to fubmit, but to acquiefce -, 
 ^' not only to bear what thou doefl: in Thy moft 
 afllidiive Difpenfations, but to coufent to it, and 
 to praife Thee for i^', contentedly refolving, in 
 all that Thou appointeftfor me, my Will into 
 Thine, and looking en myfeif as Nothing, 
 ♦' and on Thee, Oh God, as the great Eternal 
 " All, whofe Word ought to determine every 
 '* Thing, and whofe Government ought to be 
 the Joy of the whole Rational Creation. 
 " Ufe me, Oh Lord, I befeech Thee, as the 
 Inflrument of Tljy Glory ; and honour me io far, 
 as, either by doing or fuflfering what Thou 
 fhalt appoint, to bring fome Revenue of 
 Praife to Thee, and of Benefit to the World 
 *^ in which I dwell! And may it pleale Thee, 
 ^' from this Day forward, to number me among 
 
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 6 Afiknitt Form of Self-Bedication, Ch. 1 7. 
 Tby peculiar People, that I may no more be a 
 Slrangcr and Foreigner, but a Fellow Ctnzen with 
 the Saints, and of the Uoufhold of GOD (w) ' 
 Receive, Oh Heavenly Father, Thy return- 
 ing Prodigal ! Wafli me in the Blood of Thy 
 dear Son ; clothe me with His perfeft Righ- 
 tcoulnefs ; and fanftify me throughout by the 
 Power of Thy Spirit! Dedroy, I beieech 
 Iliee, more and more the Power of Sin in 
 mme Heart! Transform me more into Thine 
 own Image, and faftion me to the Refem- 
 blance of Jefus, whom henceforward I would 
 acknowledge as my Teacher and Sacrifice, 
 my Interceflbr and my Lord ! Communicate 
 to me I beieech Thee, all needful Influences 
 of Thy purifying. Thy che.iring, and Thy 
 comfonms Spirit ! And lift up that Light of 
 Thy Countenraire upon me, which will put tlie fub- 
 limeft yoy and Gladncfs into my Soul(x) ' 
 "Diipole my Affairs, Oh God, in a Manner 
 which may be moft fublervient to Thy Glory 
 and rtiy own trueft Happinefs; and when I 
 •have done and borne Thy Will upon Earth, 
 call me from hence, at what Time, and in 
 what Manner Thou pleafefl : Only grant, 
 that in my dying Moments and in the near 
 Profpefls of Eternity, I may remember thefe 
 my Engagements to Thee, and may employ 
 my latelt Breath in Thy Service! And do 
 Ihoii, Lord, when thou feelb the Agonies of 
 diHolving Nature upon me, remmber this Co- 
 vmam too, even tho' I fhould then be incapa- 
 ble of recoiledling it! Look down. Oh my 
 Heavenly Father, with a pitying Eye upon 
 Thy languilhing, Thy dying Child- place 
 
 " thine 
 
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 (W) Eph. ii. ig. 
 
 (X) Pfkl. iv. 6, 7. 
 
 Ch. 17. h ^^^'^^ ^^^ Covenant may be renewed, 217 
 
 *' Thine everlajling Anns underneath me for my Sup- 
 " port *, put Strength and Confidence into my 
 *' departing Spirit j and receive it to the Em- 
 ^* braces ot Thine Everlafting Love ! Welcome 
 *' it to the Abodes oi them that jletp in Jefus (y)^ 
 *' to wait with them that glorious Day, when 
 the laft of Thy Promifes to Thy Covenant 
 People (hall be fulfilled in their triumphant 
 Refurre6lion, and that abundant pntrance^ 
 " which fhall be adminijired to them into that E- 
 verlajling Kingdom (z), of which Thou haft at 
 furcd them by Thy Covenant, and in the 
 Hope of which I now lay bold on it^ defiring 
 ** to live and to die, as with mine Hand on 
 ** that Hope! 
 
 *' And when I am thus numbered among the 
 M Dead, and all the Interefts of Mortality are 
 ** over with me for ever, if this folemn Memorial 
 " fhould chance to fall into the Hands of any 
 furviving Friends^ may it be the Means of ma- 
 king ferious Impreffions on their Mind ! May 
 they read it, not only as my Language, but 
 as their own ; and learn to fear the Lord my 
 GODy and with me to put their Truji under the 
 Shadow of His PVings for Time and for Eter- 
 nity! And may they alfo learn to adore with 
 me that Grace, which inclines our Hearts to 
 " enter into the Covenant^ and condefcends to ad- 
 mit us into it when fo inclined ; afcribingwith 
 me, and with all the Nations of the Redeem- 
 ed, to the Father^ the Son^ and the Holy Ghoft^ 
 that Glory, Honour, and Praife, which is fo 
 juftly due to each Divine Perfon for the Part 
 " He bears in this illuftrious Work ! Amen.** 
 
 N.B. For 
 
 (y) I Their, iv. 14. (z) 2 Pet. i. 11. 
 
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2i8 Aa Abridgment of the preceding Ch. 17 
 
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 (4 
 
 N, B. For the Sake of thofe who may tliink the 
 preceding Form of Self-Dedication too Jong to 
 be tranfcribed, (as icis probable many will,) I 
 have, at the Dcfire of a much efteemed Friend, 
 added the following Abridgment of it, which 
 DiouJd by all IVL'ans be attentively weighed in 
 every Claufe, before it is executed *, and any 
 Word or Phrafe which may leem liable to 
 Exception changed, that the whole Heart 
 may confent to it all. 
 
 *' Eternal and ever bleflcd God ! I defire to 
 prefcnt myfelf before Thee, with the deeped 
 Humiliation and Abafement of Soul y fenfible 
 how unworthy fuch a finful Worm is, to ap- 
 pear before the Holy Majefty of Heaven, the 
 Ktny of Ktn^s^ and Lord of Lords ^ and efpecially 
 on fuch an Occafion as this, even to enter into a 
 Covenant Tranfa^ion vjith Thee. But the 
 Scheme and Plan is Thine own. Thine infi- 
 nite Condefcenfion hath offered it by Thy 
 Son, and Thy Grace hath inclined my Heart 
 to accept of it. 
 
 " I come therefore, acknowledging myfelf to 
 have been a great Oifcnder ; fmiting on my 
 Brer.fl^ and Jaying with the humble Publican^ 
 God he merciful 10 me a Sinner! I come, invited 
 by the Name of Thy Son, and wholly truft- 
 ing in His perfect R igh teo u fne fs -, intrcating, 
 that for his Sake Thou wilt be merciful to my 
 Unrighteoufnefs^ and wilt no more remember my 
 Sins. Receive, I befeech Thee, Thy re- 
 volred Creature, who is now convinced of 
 Thy Right to him, and defires nothing fb 
 much as that he may be Thine ! 
 
 This 
 
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 Ch . 1 7 . -^^'"'^ ^f Self-Dedication. 2 1 9 
 
 <« This Day do I, with the utmoft Solemnity, 
 *' furrender myfelf to Thee. I renounce all/?r- 
 *' mer Lords that have had Dojninion over me-, and 
 «' I confecrate to Thee all that lam., and all 
 «' that I have-, the Faculties of my Mind, the 
 .*' Members of my Body, my worldly PofTefTi- 
 «' ons, my Time, and my Influence over o- 
 ♦' thers ; to be all ufed entirely for Thy Glory, 
 *« and refolutely employed in Obedience to Thy 
 c' Commands, as long as Thou continued me in 
 '' Life-, with an ardent Defire and humble Re- 
 tt folution to continue Tlme^ thro* all the endlefs 
 *' Ages of Eternity : Ever holding myfelf in an 
 « attentive Pofture to obferve the firll Intima- 
 te tions of Thy Will, and ready to fpring for- 
 te ward, with Zeal and Joy, to the immediate 
 <' Execution of it. 
 
 " To Thy Diredion alfo I refign myfelf, and 
 t< all I am and have, to be difpofed of by Thee in 
 te fuch a Manner, as Thou (halt in Thine infi- 
 " nite Wifdom judge moft fubfervient to the 
 *' Purpofes of Thy Glory. To Thee I leave the 
 Management of all Events, and fay without 
 Referve, Not my Will^ but Thine be done I Re- 
 joicing with a loyal Heart in Thine unlimited 
 e' Government, as what ought to be the Delight 
 e' of the whole Rational Creation. 
 
 ee Ufe me. Oh Lord, I befeech Thee, as 
 
 an hiftrument of Thy Service! Number me 
 
 among Thy peculiar People! Let me be waflied 
 
 t' in the Blood of Thy dear Son ! Let me be 
 
 " clothed with His Righteoufnefs ! Let me be 
 
 fanftified by His Spirit 1 Transform me more 
 
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 and more into His Image ! Impart to me, 
 thro* Him, all needful Influences of Thy puri- 
 fying, chcaring, and comforting Spirit! And 
 
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 2 20 yf /'^rw of Self-Dedkatiofi. Ch. 1 7. 
 
 let my Life be fpent under thofe Influences, 
 and in the Light of Thy gracious Countenance as 
 my Father and my God ! 
 *' And when the Iblemn Hour of Death comes, 
 may I remember this Thy Cove x ant, welt 
 ordered in all Thmgs and fur e^ as all my Salvation^ 
 and all my D.fire (a), tho' every other Hope and 
 Enjoyment is perifhing. And do Thou, Oh 
 «' Lord, remember it too ! Look down with Pity, 
 *' Oh my Heavenly Father, on thy hinguilh- 
 ing dying Child ! Embrace me in Thine Ever- 
 lafling Arms! Put Strength and Confidence 
 into my departing Spirit ! And receive it to 
 the Abodes of tbem that Jleep in Jefus^ peace- 
 fully and joyfully to wait the Accomplifh- 
 mentofT'^K great Promife to all thy People, 
 *•'- even that of a glorious Refurreftion, and of 
 Eternal Happinefs in Thine Heavenly Pre- 
 fence. — And if any furviving Friend fliould, 
 when I am in the Dull, meet with this Me- 
 morial oi my folemn Tranfad:ions with Thee, 
 may he ^nake the Engagement his own ^ and do 
 Thou gracioufly admit him to partake in all 
 the BlefTings of Thy Covenant, thro' Jefus the 
 great Mediator of it ; to whom, with Thee, Oh 
 Father, and Thy Holy Spirit, be EverlalHng 
 Praifes afcribed, by all the Millions who arc 
 thus faved by Thee, and by all thofe other 
 Celeftial Spirits in whofe Work and Blelfed- 
 '^ nefs Thou flialt call them to (hare! Amcn.'^ 
 
 (a) 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. 
 
 Ch.18. T:beSoulis called toCbiirch-Comnmnion. 22 
 
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 CHAP, 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Of entering into Church-Communion by an 
 Attendance upon theLoRD's-SupPER. 
 
 The Reader, ieing almdy fuppofed lo ^"^j ^"^.^f /"'^ 
 Covenant '^-iih GOD, §.i. " frged putlfb '^ 
 real that Engagement at the Table of the Lard :%. J. 
 TnFrom aVtew of the Ends for MthatOrdt- 
 mnce'wasinftituted; §.3. n^henceitsUfefumefsjs 
 jlronzly inferred. §. 4- ^nd, (2.) From the Au- 
 th'rtty cf Chrift's Appointment ; which ts folemly 
 pre/d on the Confiiencc. §. 5- Objemons from 
 Apprehe>:f,ns of Unfitnejs, §. 6. ffffi f 
 Grace, (fc. briefly anfzvered. §. 7- ^'/ff ' fi"' 
 cus Thought fttlnefs on this Subjea is abfolutely in- 
 Med upon. "§.8. The Chapter is clofed wtth a 
 Pra)-cr for one, -who deftres to attend, yet finds 
 himfcif prejfed with remaining Doubts. 
 
 i I T HOPE, this Chapter will find you by 
 
 la mort exprefs Confent become one of 
 
 God's Covenant People, folemnly and cordially 
 
 devoted to his Service : And it is my hearty 
 
 Prayer, that the Covenant you have made on 
 
 Earth may be ratified in Heaven. But for your 
 
 farther Inftruaion and Edification givef^^ Leave 
 
 to remind you, that our Lord Jefus Chrifl hath 
 
 appointed a peculiar Mj»»£r of expreffing our Ke- 
 
 gard to Him, and of folemnly renewing our Lo^ 
 
 vinant with Him ; which, tho' it does not forbid 
 
 any 
 
 I 
 
212 The Covemni Jhould be publickly fealed Clf. iSV 
 any other proper Way of doing it, mud by no 
 Means be fee afide, or negledled, for any Hu- 
 man Methods, how prudent and expedient fo- 
 ever they may appear to us. 
 
 §. 2. Our Lord has wifely ordained, that the 
 Advantages of Society fhould be brought into Re- 
 ligion ; and as by his Command profefling Chri- 
 ftians aflemble together tor other Ads of pub- 
 lick Worfhip, fo he has been pleafed to inftitute 
 a Social Ordinance^ in which a whole Afiembly of 
 them is to come to His Table, and there to eat 
 the fame Breads and drink the fame Cup, And this 
 they are to do, as a Token of their afFedionate 
 Rememhranec of his dying Love, of the folemn Sur- 
 render of themfehes io God, and of their finccre 
 Love to one another^ and to all their FeUow-Chri- 
 ffians. 
 
 §. 2' That thefe are indeed the great Ends 
 of the Lord* s- Supper,, I fliall not now ilay to ar- 
 gue at large. You need only read what the A- 
 poftle Paul has written m the Tenth and Eleventh 
 Chapters of his Firfl Epiffle to the Corinthians,, to 
 convince you fully of this. He there exprcfly 
 tells U5, that our Lord commanded the Bread to be 
 eaten,, and the IVine to he drank,, in Remembrance of 
 Him (a), or as a Commemoration or Memorial of 
 him •, fo that as often as we attend this Inilitution, 
 we fhew forth our Lord's Death, which we are to 
 do even until be come (b). And it is particularly 
 aflerted, that the Cup is the New Teflament in his 
 Blood (c) ', that is, it is a Seal of that Covenant 
 which was ratified by bis Blood, Now it is evi- 
 dent, that in Confequence of this, we are to ap- 
 proach it with a View to that Covenant, defiring 
 its Bleflings, and refolving by Divine Grace to 
 
 comply 
 
 (a) I Cor.xi, 24, 15. (b) Ver. 26. (c) Ver. 25V 
 
 I 
 
 Ch . 1 8 . b^'^ Attendance at the Lord's Table. 223 
 comply with its Demands. On the whole there- 
 fore as the Apoflle fpeaks, we have Communion in 
 the Body and the Blood of Chrtft (d), and parrakingof 
 his Table and of his Cup, we converfe with Chrift, 
 and join ourfelves to Him as his People ; as the 
 Heathens, in their idolatrous Rites, had Commu- 
 nion with their Deities, and joined themfelves to 
 theni •, and the Jews, by eating their Sacrifices,, 
 converfed with Jehovah, and joined them- 
 felves to him. H:: farther reminds them, that//V 
 niam\ they were one Bread and one Body, being all 
 Partakers of that one Bread (e), and being alhnade 
 to drink into one Spirit (f) ; that is, meeting toge- 
 ther as if they were but one Family, and join- 
 ino- in the Commemoration of that one Blood 
 which was their comm.on Ranfom, and of the 
 Lord Jefus their common Head. Now it is evi- 
 dent, all thefe Reaionings are equally applicable 
 to Chriftians in fucceeding Ages. Permit me 
 therefore, by the Authority of our Divine Matter, 
 to prefs upon you the Obfervation of this Pre- 
 cept. 
 
 §.4. And let me alfourge it, from the appa- 
 rent Tendency which it has to promote your truefi Ad- 
 vantage. You are fetting out in the Chriftian 
 Life -, and I have reminded you at large, of the 
 Oppofition you mud exped to meet with in it. 
 It is the Love of Chr'^fl which mull animate you 
 to break thro' all. What then can be more de- 
 firable, than to bear about with you a lively Senfe 
 of it ? and what can awaken that Senfe more, 
 than the Contemplation of His Death as there 
 reprefented ? Who can behold the Bread broken,^ 
 and the Wine pured out, and not refled, how the 
 Body of the Blefled "Jefus was even torn in Pieces 
 
 by 
 
 (d) 1 Cor. X, 16. (e) i Cor. x. 17. (f) i Cor.xu. 13. 
 
i 2 4. lie doing it ispreffed upon I he Confcience, Ch. 1 8, 
 by his Sufferings, and his /acred Blood poured forth 
 like Water on the Ground ? Who can think of 
 the Heart-rending Agonies of the Son of God, 
 as the Price of our Redemption and Salvation, 
 and not feel his Soul melted with Tendernefs, 
 and inflamed with grateful Affedion ? What an 
 exalted View doth k give us of the Bleflings of 
 the Go/pel-Covenant, when we confider it as ejia- 
 blijhed in the Blood of GOUs only begotten Son ? And 
 when we make our Approach to God as our 
 Heavenly Father, and give up ourfelvcs to his 
 Service in this folemn Manner, what an awful 
 Tendency has it, to fix the Conviction, that we 
 are not our own, being bought with fuch a Price (g) ? 
 What a Tendency has it, to guard us againft 
 every Temptation to thofe Sins which we have 
 fo iolemnly renounced, and to engage our Fide- 
 lity to Him to whom we have bound our Souls as 
 with an Oath ? Well may our Hearts be knit to- 
 gether in mutual Love (h), when we confider our- 
 felvcs as one in Chriji (i) : His Blood becomes the 
 Cement of the Society, joins us in Spirit, not 
 only to each other, but to all that in every Place 
 call upon the Name of J ejus Chriji our Lord, both 
 theirs and ours (k) : And we anticipate, in pleafing 
 Hope, that Bleffed Day, when the Affembly 
 Ihall be compleat, and we fliall all be for ever 
 with the Lord (I). Well may thefe Views engage 
 us to deny ourfelves, and to take up our Crofs to fol- 
 low our crucified Majier (m) ; Well may they en- 
 gage us to do our utmoft, by Prayer and all 
 other luitable Endeavours, to ferve his Followers 
 and his Friends -, to ferve thofe, whom he hath 
 purchafed with his Blood, and who are to be his 
 
 AflTociatery 
 
 (r) I Cor. vl. r9. 20. (h) Col. ii. 2. (i) Gal. iii. 28. 
 
 (I) I Cor. i, 2, (1) I Their, iv. 1 7. (m) Mat. xvi. 24. 
 
 Ch . 1 8. by a View of its T)eftgn and hijlit'ution. 225 
 Affociates, and ours, in the Glories of an happy 
 
 Immortality. 
 
 §. 5. It is alfo the exprefs Injlitution and Com- 
 mand of our Blefled Redeemer^ that the Members 
 of fuch Societies (hould be tenderly folicitous for 
 the fpiritual Welfare of each other : And that, on 
 the whole, his Churches may be kept pure and 
 holy, that they ftiould withdraw themfelves from 
 every Brother that walketh diforderly (n) ; that they 
 (hould mark fuch as caufe Offences or Scandals 
 amongft them, contrary to the Do^rine which they 
 have learned, and avoid them (o) % that // at^ obey 
 not the IVord of Chriji by his Apoftles^ they (hould 
 have no Fellowjhip or Communion with fuch, that 
 they may be cfhamed (p) •, that they fhould not eat 
 with fuch, as are notorioujfy irregular in their Beha- 
 viour, but on the contrary (hould put away from 
 amng themfelves fuch wicked Perfons (q). It is evi- 
 dent therefore, that the Inftitution of fuch So- 
 cieties is greatly for the Honour of Chriftianity, 
 and tor the Advantage of its particular Profe(rors. 
 And confequently, every Confideration of Obe- 
 dience to our common Lord, and of prudent Re- 
 gard to our own Benefit and that of our Bre- 
 thren, will require, that thofe who love our Lord 
 Jefus Chriji in Sincerity, (hould enter into them, 
 and a(remble among them in thefe their moft fo- 
 lemn and peculiar Afts of Communion at his 
 Table. 
 
 §. 6. I iNTREAT you therefore, and, if I may 
 prefume to fay it, in bis Name and by his Authority 
 I charge it on your Confcience, that this Precept 
 of our dying Lord go not as it were for nothing 
 with you \ but that, if you indeed love him, you 
 
 Q^ keep 
 
 (n) 2 ThcfT. iii. 6. (0) Rom. xvi. 17. (p) 2 Thcff. iii. 14. 
 (q) 1 Cor. Y, lit 13. 
 
2 26 ^^ chief Ohjc5iions againft it Ch. i?. 
 keep this, as well as the reft of bis Commandments, — 
 I know, you may be ready to form Obje^Hons. I 
 have elfewhere debated many of the cbtef of them 
 at large, and 1 hope, not without fome good Ef- 
 fe6l.* The great Qjeftion is that, which relates 
 to your being prepared for a worthy Attendance : And 
 in Conjunction with what has been faid before, I 
 think that may be brought to a very (hort Iffue. 
 Have you, fo far as you know your own Heart, 
 been fincere in that deliberate Surrender ofyourfelf 
 to GOB thro' Chrift, which I recommended in 
 the former Chapter ? If you have, (whether it 
 were with, or without, the particular Form or 
 Manner of doing it there recommended,) you 
 have ccnainly taken hold of the Covenant ^^ind there- 
 tore have a Right to the Seal of it. And there is not, 
 and cannot be, any other View of the Ordinance, 
 in which you can have any farther Objedtion to 
 it. If you defire to remember Cbrijl*s Deaths if you 
 defire to renew the Dedication ofyourfelf to God 
 thro' Him, if you would lift yourfelf among 
 -his People, if you would love them and do them 
 Good according to your Ability, and, on the 
 whole, would not allow yourfelf in the Pradfice 
 of any one known Sin, or in theOmifTion of one 
 known Duty, then I will venture confidently to 
 fay, not only that you may be welcome to the 
 Ordinance, but that it was infiituted for fuch as you. 
 §.7. As for other Objetfions^ a few Words may 
 fufRce by Way of Reply. The fVeaknefs of the 
 Religious Principle in your Soul, if it be really im- 
 planted there, is fo far from being an Argument 
 againft your feeking fuch a Method to ftrengthen 
 it, that it luther ftrongly inforccs the Neceftity 
 
 — ne Ncgle^i of this Solemnity y by fo 
 
 many 
 
 of doing it.- 
 
 * See the Fourth of my Sermons to Toung Perfons, 
 
 Ch . 18. are briefly hinted at., and anfxered, 227 
 
 many that call themfelves Cbriflians., fliould rather 
 engage you fo much the more to diftinguifh your 
 Zeal for an Inftitution, in this Refpea: fo much 
 
 flighted and injured. And as for the Fears of 
 
 aggravated Guilt in Cafe oi Apoflacy^ do not indulge 
 them. This may, by the Divine Blefling, be an 
 effe(flual Remedy againft the Evil you fear ; and 
 it is certain, that after what you muft already 
 have known and felt, before you could be brought 
 into your prefent Situation, (on the Suppofitions 
 I have now been making,) there can be no Room 
 to think of a Retreat -, no Room, even for the 
 wretched Hope of being lefs miferable than the 
 Generality of thofe that have pcrifhed.- Your 
 Scheme therefore muft be, to make your Salva- 
 tion as fure., and to make it as glorious as polTible : 
 And I know not any Appointment of our BlelTrd 
 Redeemer, which may have a more comfortable 
 Afpedt upon that blefied End, than this which I 
 am now recommending to you. 
 
 §. 8. One Thing I v;ould at leaft i}7ftfl upon., 
 and I fee not with what Face it can be denied. 
 I mean, that you (hould take this Matter into a 
 ferious Confideration : That you fhould diligently 
 enquire, whether you have Reafon in your Con- 
 fcience to believe, it is the Will of God you 
 fhould now approach to the Ordinance, or 
 not : And that you fhould continue your Re- 
 flexions, your Enquiries, and your Prayers, till 
 you find farther Encouragement to come, if that 
 Encouragement be hitherto wanting. For of 
 this be affured, that a State in which you are on 
 the whole unfit to approach this Ordinance, is a 
 State in which you are deftitute of the neceflary 
 Preparations for Death and Heaven ; in which 
 therefore, if you would not allow yourfelves to 
 
 0^2 flumber 
 
 i.'- 
 
!! 
 
 228 A Prayer for onCy vjho defires to attemU Ch. 1 8". 
 
 flumberon the Brink of Deftruftion, you ought 
 not to reft fo much as one fingle Day. 
 
 /f pR A 'i' E R for cne^ -ivbo earmfily defires to approach 
 to the Table of the Lord, yet has fome remaining 
 Doubts concerning his Right to that folemn Ordi- 
 
 name. 
 
 BLESSED LORD, I adore Thy wife and 
 gracious Appointments, for the Edifica- 
 " tion of Thy Church in Hohnefs and in Love. 
 I thank Thee, that Thou haft commanded 
 Thy Servants, to form themfelves into Socie- 
 ties j and I adore my gracious Saviour, v/ho 
 h:ith injhtiitedy as with His dying Breath, the 
 holy Solemnity of His Supper^ to be thro' all 
 Ages a Memorial of His dying Love^ and a Bond 
 of that Union which it is His Sovereign Pleafurc 
 that His People Ihould preferve. I hope, 
 Thou, Lord, art Witnels to the 5/>zfm/)', with 
 which I defire to giz'e myfelf vp to Thee *, and 
 that I may call Thee to record on my Soiil^ that it 
 1 now hefitate about this particular Manner ot 
 doing it, it is not becaufe I would allow my- 
 felf to break any of Thy Commands, or to 
 flight any of Thy Favours. I truft. Thou 
 knoweft, that my prefcnt Delay ariles only 
 from an Uncertainty as to my own Duty, and 
 a Fear of profaning Holy Things by an un- 
 Ivor thy Approach to them. Yet furely, Oh 
 Lord, if Thou haft given me a Reverence 
 for Thy Command, a Defire of Communion 
 with Thee, and a Willingnefs to devote my- 
 felf wholly to Thy Service, I may regard it as 
 a Token for Good, that Thou art dilpofed to 
 receive me, and that I am not wholly unqua- 
 
 '^ lified 
 
 44 
 
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 . 1 S . but yet ha? fome remaining Doubts . 229 
 lified for an Ordinance, which I fo highly ho- 
 nour, and fo earneftly defire. I therelore 
 make it mine humble Requeft unto Thee, Oh 
 Lord, this Day, that Thou wouldft gracioudy 
 be pleafed to inftruft me in my Duty, and to 
 teach me the IFay which IJhould take ! Examine 
 me. Oh Lord, and prove me ; try my Reins and 
 my Heart {r)! Is there any fecret Sin, to the 
 Love and Pradice of which I would mdulge ? 
 Is there any of thy Precepts, in the habitual 
 Breach of which I would allow myfelf ? I 
 truft, I can appeal to Thee as a Witnefs, that 
 there is not. Let me not then wrong mine 
 own Soul by a caufclefs and finful Abfcnce 
 from Thy facred Table ! But grant. Oh Lord, 
 I befeech Thee, that Thy Word, Thy Provi- 
 dence, and Thy Spirit may fo concur, as to 
 make my PFay tlain before me (s) / Scatter my 
 remaining Doubts, if Thou feeft they have no 
 juft Fpundation! Fill me with a more affured 
 Faith, with a more ardent Love ; and plead 
 Thine own Caufe with my Heart in fuch a Man- 
 ner, as that I may not be able any longer to 
 delay that Approach, which if I am Thy Ser- 
 vant indeed is equally my Duty and my Pri- 
 vilege ! In the mean Time, grant, that it may 
 never be long out of my Thoughts : But that 
 I may give all Diligence, if there be any re- 
 maining Occafion of Doubt, to remove it, by 
 a more affeftionate Concern to avoid whatever 
 is difpleafing to the Eyes of Thine Holinefs, 
 and to pracTife the full Extent of my Duty .' 
 May the Views of Cbrijl crucified be fo fami- 
 liar to my Mind, and may a Senfe oi His dy- 
 in? Love fo powerfully conjlrain my Soul, that 
 
 j(r) Pfal. XXV i. 2. 
 
 (s) Prov. XV. 19. 
 

 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 250 A Prayer for one, izho deftres to attend. Ch.18. 
 
 my own growing Experience may put it out 
 of all Quefiion, that I am one of thofe for 
 
 " whom He intended this Feaft of Love! 
 " And even now, as joined to Thy Churches 
 
 ** in Spirit and in Love, tho' not in fo exprefs 
 
 *' and intimate a Bond as 1 could wifb, would I 
 heartily pray, that Thy Bkjfwg mny be en all 
 Th People: That Thou wouldil feed Thine He- 
 ritage, and lift them up for ever (t) / May every 
 Chriftian Society flourifh in Knowledge, in Ho- 
 linefs, and in Love ! May all Thy Priefts be 
 clothed with Salvation, that by their Means Thy 
 chofcn People may be ^c\:i(^tjoyfltl{\^) ! And may 
 there be a glorious AccefTion to Thy Churches 
 every where, of thofe who may fly to them as 
 a Cloud, and as Doves to their Jl^indows (w) / 
 May Tby Table, Oh Lx)rd, be furni/}jed with 
 Gucfts (x] ; and may all that love Thy Salvation, 
 
 *' fay. Let the Lord be magnified, who hath Pleafure 
 in the Pro [peri ty of His Servants (y) / And I 
 earneftly pray, that all who profels to have re- 
 ceived Chrijl Jefus the Lord, may be duly care- 
 ful to zvalk in Him (z) *, and that we may all 
 be preparing for the general JJJembly of the 
 Firji'born, and may join in that noi3ler and 
 more immediate Worfhip, where all thefe 
 Types and Shadows fliall be laid afide •, where 
 even thcfc Mem^orials lliall be no longer ne- 
 ce/Tary, but a living, prefent Redeemer (hall 
 be the everlafling Joy of thofe, who here 
 in his Abfence have delighted to commenio- 
 " rate I lis Death! Amen^^ 
 
 N. B, I 
 
 ■:) PCil. xvviii. 9. (ii] Pfa!. cxxxii. 16. fw) Ifai. Ix. 8. 
 'i; Matt. xxii. lo. (v) Pik". xxxv, 27 fz> Col. ii ^ 
 
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 Ch. 1 8 . Books recommended on this Head. 2 3 1 
 
 iV. 5. I purpofed to have added fomething 
 here, concerning a regular Approach to the Lord's 
 Table^ a proper Attendance upon it, and fuitable 
 Rtfie5lions after it : But I find this Work fwell un- 
 der my Hand, beyond what I at firft expeded ; 
 and therefore, as thefe Articles have been handled 
 by fo many valuable IVriters, I chafe to refer to 
 them, and particularly, to Dr. Earless Sacramental 
 Exercifes, and Mr. Grovels Devotional Exercifes re- 
 lating to the Lord's Supper : Books, which I think 
 remarkably excellent in their Kind, and which 
 may be had at very eafy Rates. Yet for the far- 
 ther AfTiftance of devout Communicants I have 
 fome Thoughts of publifliing a fmall Volume of 
 Sacramental Meditations on feleB Texts of Scripture^ 
 if God fpare me to finifh my Expofttion on the New 
 Teftament^ and fome other Pieces which I have now 
 in Hand. 
 
 CL4 
 
 CHAP. 
 
I 
 
 ^^^ Biremonsfor dail^ walking with COD, Ch. 19, 
 
 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 Some more particular Diredions for main- 
 taining continual Communion with God, 
 ox being in \ik Fear all the Day long. 
 
 J Letter to a pious Friend on this Subject introduced 
 here, §. i. A General Plan of Diretlions. §.2. 
 [I.] For the Beginning of theDay : §.3. ( i.) Lift- 
 i>ig up the Heart to GOT) at our firft Awakening : 
 §.4. (2.) Setting our/elves to the fecret Devotions 
 of the Morning ; mtb Refpe^l to which particular 
 Advices are given. §. 5,-10. [II.] For thePro- 
 grefs of the Day : §. 11. Dirc^ions are given con- 
 ferning^ {i ,) Sericufnefs in Devotion, §.12. (2.) 
 Diligence in Bufinefs. §.13. (3. J Prudence in 
 Recreations, §. 14. (4.) Obfervation of Provi- 
 dences. §. 15. (3.) Watchfidncfs againji Tempta- 
 tions, §. 16. (6.) Dependance on Divine In- 
 jiuenccs, §. 17. ("].) Government of the Thoughts 
 "xhen in Solitude. §. 18. (8. J Management of 
 Difcourfe in Company. §. 19. [III.] For the Con- 
 cliifion of the Day : §. 20. (i.) IVith the Secret 
 Devotions of the Evening, §.21. Dire^ions for 
 Self Examination at large. §. 22, 23. (2.) Lying 
 down zvitb a proper Temper. §. 24. Conclufjon of 
 the Letter y §.25. and of the Chapter : §.26. 
 IFith a Serious View of Death^ proper to be taken 
 a: the Clofe cf the Day, 
 
 i I. T WOULD hope, that upon ferious Confi- 
 
 J[ deration, Seli-Exami nation, and Prayer, 
 
 cht Reader .Tfiay by this Time be come to a Re- 
 
 folution 
 
 Ch .19. A Letter on this Subje5f introduced, 233 
 folution to attend the Table of the Lord, and to 
 feal his Vows there. I will now fuppofe that fo- 
 lemn Tranfaftion to be over, or fome other de- 
 liberate A61 to have paffcd, by which he has 
 oiven himfclf up to the Service of Gou ; and 
 that his Concern now is to enquire, how he may 
 aft according to the Vows of GOD which are upon 
 Mm, Now for his farther Affiftance here, befides 
 the general View I have already given of the 
 Chriftian Temper and Charafter, I will propofe 
 fome more particular Dircftions, relating to main- 
 taining that devout, fpiritual, and heavenly Cha- 
 rafter, which may, in the Language of Scrip- 
 ture, be called a daily walking with GOD^ or being 
 in his Fear all the Day long (a). And I know not 
 how I can exprefs the Idea and Plan^ which I have 
 formed of this ^ in a more clear and diftinft Man- 
 ner, than I did in a Letter^ which I wrote many 
 Tears ago'^^ to a young Perfon of eminent Piety, 
 with whom I had then an intimate Friendfliip ; 
 and who, to the great Grief of all that knew 
 him, died a few Months after he received it. 
 Yet I hope he lived long enough to reduce the 
 Dire5iions into Practice,, which I wifh and pray 
 that every Reader may do^ fo far as they may pro- 
 perly luit his Capacity and Circumftances in Life, 
 confidering it as if addreffed to himfelf. — I fay, 
 (and defu-e it may be obferved,) that I wifli my 
 Reader may aft on thefe Direftions fo far as they 
 may properly fuit his Capacities and Circumfiances in 
 Lifi ; tor 1 would be far from laying down the 
 following Particulars as univerfal Rules for «//, or 
 for any one Perfon in the World at all Times, Let 
 them be praftifed by thofe that are able, and 
 when they have Leifure : And when you cannot 
 
 reach 
 
 <a) Prov. xxlii. 17. • N, B. It was in the Year 1 727. 
 
 
234 Particular Directions given Ch. 19. 
 
 reach them all, come as near the mofl important 
 of them as you conveniently can. — With this Pre- 
 caution I proceed to the Letter^ which I would 
 .hope, after this previous Care to guard againll 
 the Danger of miftaking it, will not difcouragc 
 any the weakejl Chrijiian. Let us humbly and 
 chearfully do pur bed, and rejoice that we have 
 fo gracious a Father y who knows all our Infirmi- 
 ties, and fo compaffionate an Higb-Priefi to recom- 
 mend to Divine Acceptance the feebleft Efforts 
 of fincere Duty and Love ! 
 
 I 
 
 Afy Dear Friend^ 
 
 Since you defire my Thoughts in writing, and 
 at large, on the Subjea of our late Converfa- 
 tion, VIZ, " By what particular Methods in 
 *' our daily Conduft, a Life of Devotion and 
 " Ufefulnefs may be mod happily maintained, 
 " and fecured?" I fct myfelf with Chearful- 
 nefs, to recoiled: and digell the Hints which I 
 then gave you ; hoping, it may be of fome Ser- 
 vice to you in your mod important Intereds \ and 
 may alfo fix on my own Mind a deeper Senfe of 
 my Obligations, to govern my own Life by the 
 Rules I offer to others. I edeem Attempts of 
 this Kind among the pleaCinted Fruits, and the 
 fured Cements of Friendftiip ; and as I hope ours 
 will lad for ever, I am perfuaded a mutual 
 Care to cherifti Sentiments of this Kind will add 
 cverlading Endearments to it. 
 
 §.2. The Directions you will expedl from me 
 on this Occafion, naturally divide them (elves into 
 
 "Three Heads, How we are to regard God, 
 
 in the Beginning,— \h(i Progrefs.—mdi the Clofe of 
 
 the 
 
 Ch. 19. for the Beginning of the Day. 235 
 
 the Day. I will open my Heart freely to you with 
 Regard to each, and leave you to judge, how 
 far thefe Hints may fuit your Circumdances ; 
 aiming at lead to keep between the Extreams, 
 of a fuperditious Stridnefs in Trifles, and of an 
 indolent Remiflhefs, which, it admitted in little 
 Thinc^s, may draw after it criminal N glefts, 
 and at length yet more criminal Indulgences. 
 
 §. 3- r^] ^N tht Beginning of tie Day : Itfhould 
 
 certainly be our Care, to //// up our Hearts to 
 
 GOD, as foon as we wake, and while we are ri- 
 
 fma ., and then, to fet ourfelves ferioufly and 
 
 immediately to th^ fecret Devotions of the Morn- 
 ing. 
 
 §. 4. For the fird of thefe, it fcems exceed- 
 ingly natural. There are fo many Things that 
 may fugged a great Variety of pious Reflcdions 
 and Ejaculations, which are fo obvious, - that one 
 would think a ferious Mind could hardly mifs 
 them. The Eafe and Chearfulnefs of our Mind 
 at our fird Awakening ; the Refreftiment we 
 find from Sleep; the Security we have enjoyed 
 in that defencelefs State -, the Provifion of warm 
 and decent Apparel •, the chearful Light of the 
 returning Sun -, or even (what it is not unfit to 
 mention "to j^^, J the Contrivances of Art, uught 
 and furnidied by the great Author of all our 
 Conveniencies, to fupply us with many ufeful 
 Hours of Life in the Abfence of the Sun ; the 
 Hope of returning to the dear Society of our 
 Friends •, the Profped of fpending another Day. 
 in the Service of God, and the Improvement of 
 our own Minds; and above all, the lively Hope 
 of a joyful* Rcfurrediion to an eternal Day of 
 Happinefs and Glory : Any of thefe Particulars, 
 and many more which I do not mention, may 
 ^ furnifh 
 
 
236 Particular Advices^ with refpe^i to Ch . 1 9 . 
 
 furnifh us with Matter of pleafing Refleftion and 
 chearful Praife, while we are rifing. And for 
 our farther AfTiftance, when we are alone at this 
 Time, it may not be improper to [peak fome- 
 times to ourfelves, and fometimes to our Hea- 
 venly Father, in the natural ExprelTions of Joy 
 and Thankfulnefs. Permit me, Sir^ to add, 
 that if we find our Hearts in fuch a Frame at our 
 firft Awakening, even that is juft Matter of 
 Praife, and the rather, as perhaps it is an An- 
 fwer to the Prayer with which we lay down. 
 
 §. /;. For the Exercife of fecret Devotion fn a 
 Mornings which I hope will generally be our firft 
 Work, I cannot prefcribe an exaft Method to 
 another. You muft, my dear Friend, confult 
 your own Tafte in fome Meafure. The confti- 
 tuent Parts of the Service are in the general 
 plain. Were I to propofe a particular Model 
 for thofv^, who have Half or Three Quarters of 
 an Hour at Command, (which with prudent 
 Condud I fuppofe moll may have,) it iliould be 
 
 this. 
 
 §. 6. To begin the ftated Dcivotions of the 
 Day with a folemn Ai^l of Praife^ offered to God 
 on our Knees, and generally with a low, yet 
 diftincl Voice i acknowledging the Mercies, we 
 had been reflecting on while rifing-, never for- 
 getting to mention Chriji^ as the great Founda- 
 tion ot all our Enjoyments and our Hopes, or to 
 return Thanks for the Influences of the BieJJed 
 Spirit^ which have led our Hearts to God, or 
 are then engaging us to feek him. This, as 
 well as other Offices of Devotion afterwards men- 
 tioned, muft be done attentively and fincerely •, 
 for not to offer our Praifes heartily, is in the Sight 
 of God not to praife him at all. This Addrefs 
 
 Ch . 1 9 . ^i>e fecret Devotions of the Morning. 237 
 of Praife may properly be concluded with an 
 exprefs Renewal of our Covenant with God, de- 
 daring our continued repeated Refolution of be- 
 ing devoted to Him^ and particularly of living 
 toliis Glory the enfuing Day. 
 
 §. 7. It may be proper, after this, to take a 
 Profpek of the Day before us, fo far as we can pro- 
 bably forefee, in the general, where and how it 
 may be fpcnt \ and ferioufiy to refled, \^ How 
 « fliall I employ myfelf for God this Day ? 
 ** What Bufinefs is to be done, and in what 
 Order ? What Opportunities may I expeft, 
 either of doing, or of receiving Good ? What 
 Temptations am I like to be afTaulted with, 
 in any Place, Company, or Circumftance, 
 which may probably occur ? In what Inftan- 
 « ces have I lately failed ? And how ftiall I be 
 
 « fafeft now ?" 
 
 §. 8. After this Review, it will be proper 
 to offer up a fhort Prayer \ begging, that God 
 would quicken us to each of thefe forefeen Du- 
 ties-, that he would fortify us againft each of 
 thefe apprehended Dangers •, that he would grant 
 us Succefs in fuch or fuch a Bufinefs undertaken 
 for his Glory ; and alfo, that he would help us 
 to difcover and improve unforefeen Opportuni- 
 ties, to refift unexpedted Temptations, and to 
 bear patiently, and religioufly, any Affliftions 
 which may furprize us in the Day on which we 
 
 C( 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
 4C 
 
 C( 
 
 are entering. 
 
 of 
 
 §. 9. I would advife you after this, to read 
 fome Portion of Scripture •, not a great deal, nor 
 the whole Bible in its Courfe ; but fome feledt 
 LeiTons out of its moft ufeful Parts, perhaps Ten 
 or Twelve Vcrfes ; not troubling yourfelt much 
 about the exaft Connexion, or other Critical 
 
 Niceties, 
 
1 3 8 X)ire5lions for the Progrefs of the Da)\ Ch . 1 9 . 
 
 Niceties, which may occur, (tho' at other Times 
 I would recommend them to vour Enquiry, as 
 you have Ability and Opportunity;) but confi- 
 dcring them merely in a devotic nal and a prac- 
 tical View. Here take fuch Inltrudions as rea- 
 dily prefent thcmfclves to your Thoughts, repeat 
 them over to your own Confcience, and charge 
 your Heart religioufly to obierve them and ad 
 upon them, under a Senfe of the Divine Autho- 
 rity which attends them. And if you pray over 
 the Subllance of this Scripture, with your Bil^le 
 open before you, it may imprefs your Memory 
 and your Heart yet more deeply, and may form 
 you to a Copioufnefs and Variety, both of 
 Thought and Exprefllon in Prayer. 
 
 §. 10. It might be proper to clofc thefe De- 
 votions with a Pfalm or Hymn : And I rejoice 
 with you, that thro' the pious Care of Dr. IVatts, 
 and fome other Sacred Poets, we are provided 
 with fo rich a Variety for the AfTiftance of the 
 Clofet and Family on thefe Occafions, as well as 
 for the Service of the Sandluary. 
 
 §. 1 1. [II.] The mod material Bire^fions 
 which have occurred to me, relating to the Pro- 
 
 grefs of the Day^ are thefe: That we be feri- 
 
 ous in the Devotions of the Day •, that we be 
 
 diligent in the Bufinefs of it, that is, in the Profe- 
 
 cution of our worldly Callings-, that we be 
 
 temperate and prudent in the Recreations of it ; 
 
 that we carefully remark the Providences of the 
 
 Day •, that we cautioufly guard againji the 
 
 Temptations of it •, that we keep up a lively and 
 
 humble Dependance upon the Divine Influence^ fui- 
 
 table to every Emergency of it «. that we go- 
 
 'vern our Thoughts well in the Solitude of the Day, 
 — and our Difcourfcs well in the Convcrfations of it. 
 
 Thefe, 
 
 Ch. 19. ''Jntb refpeSl to Devotion^ and Bufinefs, 239 
 
 Thefe, Sir^ were the Heads of a Sermon, which 
 you lately heard me preach on this Occafion, and 
 to which I know you referred in that Requeft 
 which I am now endeavouring to anfwer. I 
 will therefore touch upon the moft material Hints, 
 which fell under each of thefe Particulars. 
 
 §. 1 2. f I .) For Serioufnefs in Devotion^ whether 
 Publick or Domeftick : Let us take a few Mo- 
 ments, before we enter upon fuch Solemnities^ to 
 paufe, and refledl, on the Perfedlions of the 
 God we are addreffingto, on the Importance of 
 the Bufinefs we are coming about, on the Plea- 
 fure and Advantage of a regular and devout At- 
 tendance, and on the Guilt and Folly of an Hy- 
 pocritical Formality. JVhen engaged^ let us main- 
 tain a ftricV Watchfulnefs over our own Spirits, 
 and check the firfl Wanderings of Thought. 
 And when the Duty is over^ let us immediately re- 
 fleft on the Manner in which it has been per- 
 formed, and ask our Confciences, whether we 
 have Reafon to conclude, that we are accepted of 
 GOD in it ? For there is a certain Manner of go- 
 ing thro' thefe OfRces, which our own Hearts 
 will immediately tell us, // is impoffhle for GOD to 
 approve : And if we have inadvertently fallen into 
 it, wc ought to be deeply humbled before God 
 for it, lelt our very Prayer become Sin (b). 
 
 V 13. (2.) As for the Hours oi worldly Bufi- 
 nefs ', whether it be, as with you, that of the 
 Hands \ or whether it be the Labour of a learned 
 Life, not immediately relating to Religious Mat- 
 ters : Let us fet to the Profecution of it with a 
 Senfe of God's Authority, and with a Regard to 
 his Glory. Let us avoid a Dreaming, Sluggifh, 
 Indolent Temper, which nods over its fVork^ and 
 
 does 
 
 (b) Pfal. cix. 7. 
 
 ■'■'»~-*'*^i«e 
 
 gJ^iMatai!s,^gaiti'>aM^iui 
 
Ili' 
 
 
 240 Prudence tnujl be ufed in Biverftoiis : Ch. 19^ 
 does only the Bufinefs of One Hour in Two or 
 Three. In Oppofition to this> which runs ihro*' 
 the Life of fome People, who yet think they are 
 never idle, let us endeavour to difpatch as much 
 as we well can in a little Time ; confidering, that 
 it is but a little we have in all. And let us be 
 habitually fenfible of the Need we have of the 
 Divine BlelTing, to make our Labours iuc- 
 
 ccfsful. 
 
 §. 14. (3.) For Seafonj of Biverfton: Let us 
 take Care, that our Recreations be well chofen •, 
 that they be purfued with a good Intention, to 
 fit us for a renewed Application to the Labonrs 
 of Life \ and thus, that they be only ufed in 
 Subordination to the Honour of God, the great 
 End of all our Adlions. Let us take Heed, that 
 our Hearts be not cftranged from God by them •, 
 and that they do not take up too much of our 
 Time : Always remembring, that the Faculties 
 of the Human Nature, and the Advantages of 
 the Chriftian Revelation, were not given us in 
 vain •, but that we are always to be in Purfuit of 
 fome great and honourable End, and to indulge 
 ourfelves in Amufements and Diverfions no far- 
 ther, than as they make a Part in a Scheme of 
 rational and manly, benevolent and pious Con- 
 
 duft. 
 
 §. 15. (4.) For the Obfervation of Providences: 
 Ic will be ufeful to regard the Divine Interpofi- 
 tion, in our Comforts^ and in our AjfUclions. — In 
 our Comforts^ whether more common, or extraor- 
 dinary: That we find ourfelves in continued 
 Health ; that we are furnifhed with Food for 
 Support and Pleafure i that we have fo many 
 agreeable Ways of employing our Time •, that 
 we have fo many Friends, and thofe fo good, 
 
 and 
 
 fch. 19." -^fid Providences be duly olferved, 241 
 
 and fo happy ; that our Bufinefs goes on profpe- 
 roufly ; that we go out and come in fafely ; and 
 that we enjoy Compofure and Chearfulnefs of 
 Spirit, without which nothing elfe could be en- 
 joyed : All thefe (hould be regarded as Providen- 
 tial Favours^ and due Acknowledgments Ihould 
 be made to God on thefe Accounts, as we pafs 
 
 thro' fuch agreeable Scenes. On the other 
 
 Hand, Providence is to be regarded in every 
 Difappointmenty in every Lofs^ in every Pain^ ia 
 every Inflame of Unkindnefs from thofe who have 
 profeflcd Friendfhip; and we fhould endeavour 
 to argue ourfelves into a patient Submiflion, 
 from this Confideration, that the Hand of GOD is 
 always mediately, if not immediately, in each 
 ot them, and that if they are not properly the 
 Work of Providence, they are at leaft under its 
 Direction. It is a Refledion, which we fhould 
 particularly make with Relation to thofe little crofs 
 Accidents^ (as we are ready to call them,) and 
 thofe Infirmiiics and Follies in the Temper and 
 Condud of our intimate Friends, which may 
 elfe be ready to difcompofe us. And it is the 
 more neceiuiry i6 guard our Minus here, as wife 
 and good Men often lofe the Command of them- 
 felves on thefe comparatively little Occafions \ who 
 calling up Reafon and Religion to their Afiift- 
 ance; ft*ind the Shock of great Calamities with 
 Fortitude and Refcluiion. 
 
 §. 16. (5.) For Watchfuhcfs againfl Tempta- 
 tion: It is necefiary, when changing our Place, 
 or our Employment, to refled, " What Snares 
 " attend me here ?" And as this fhould be our 
 habitual Care, fo we fhould efpecially guard 
 againft thofe Snares which in the Morning we 
 forefaw. And when we are entering on thofe 
 
 R Cir. 
 
 
11 
 
 2 4 i Divine AJftjlance to he ahvays fougk. Ch . 1 9 . 
 cumftances in which we cxpefted the Afiaulr, we 
 ftould refleft, efpecially if it be a Matter of 
 great Importance, " Now the Combat is going 
 " to begin : Now Goo and the Blefled Angels 
 " are obferviflg, what Conftancy, what Forti- 
 " tudc there is in my Soul -, and how far the 
 " Dvine Authority, and the Remembrance oi 
 " my own Prayers and Reiblutions, will weigh 
 ** with me, when it comes to a Trial." 
 
 §. 17.(6.) As hv Dependance on Divine Grace 
 and Influence-, It mud be univerjal : And fince wc 
 always need it, wc muft never forget thatNecefTi- 
 ty. A Moment fpcnt in humble fervent Breath- 
 ings after the Communications of the Divine Af- 
 firtance may do more Good, than many Minutes 
 fpent in mere Reafonirigs : And tho' indeed th:.^ 
 fhould not be negleded, fince the Light of Rea- 
 fon is a Kind of Divine Illumination ; yet ftill it 
 ought to be purfued in a due Senfe of our De- 
 pendance on the Father of Lights, or where wc 
 think ourfekes vjifejly we may become vain in our I- 
 maginations (c). Let us therefore always call upon 
 GOD •, and fay, for Inftance, when we are go- 
 ing to pray, " Lord, fix my Attention ! Awa- 
 " ken my holy Affections, and pour out upon m 
 '* the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication (d)/*' 
 When taking up the Bible, or any other good 
 Book, ** Open Thou mine Eyes, that I may behold 
 ^' wondrous Things out ofTfjy Law (e) .' Enlighten 
 ^*^mineUnderftanding! Warm my Heart! May 
 " my good Refolutions be confirmed, and all 
 *< the Courfe of my Life in a proper Manner 
 *« regulated !" When addrefTing ourfelves to any 
 worldly Bufinefs, " Lord, profper Thou the JVork 
 
 " of 
 
 (c) Rom. J. 21, 22. (d) Zech. xii. 10. (e) Pf"*^ 
 
 cxix. 18. 
 
 Ch . 1 9 . The Thoughts to he governed in Solitude. 243 
 
 " of mine Hands upon me (f), and give Thy Blef- 
 " fing to my honeft Endeavours!" When go- 
 ing to any Kind of Recreation, *' Lord, bleis 
 *' my Refrefhments! Let me not forget Thee in 
 ** them, but ftill keep Thy Glory in View!'* 
 When coming into Company, " Lord, may I 
 *' do, and get Good ! Let no corrupt Communica- 
 '' tion proceed out of my Mouthy but that which is 
 ** good to the Ufe of edifying, that it may minifler 
 " Grace to the Hearers (g)! " When entering upon 
 Difficulties, " Lord, give me that IVifdom,y/hich 
 " is profitable to dire5l{\\)l Teach me Thy JVay, 
 '^ and lead me in a plain Path {\)!" When encoun- 
 tering with Temptations, " Let Thy Strength, 
 *' Oh gracious Redeemer, be made perfect in my 
 " IVeaknefs (k)l " Thefe Inftances may illuftrate 
 the Defign of this Diredion, tho' they be far 
 from a compleat Enumeration of all the Circum- 
 ftances in which it is to be regarded. 
 
 §. 18. (7). For the Government of our Thoughts 
 in Solitude: Let us accuftom ourfelves, on all Oc- 
 cafions, to exercife a due Command over our 
 Thoughts. Let us take Care of thofe Entan- 
 glements of Paflion, and thofe Attachments to 
 any prefent Interefl: and View, which would de- 
 prive us of our Power over them. Let us fet 
 before us fome profitable Subjeft of Thought : 
 Such as, the Perfedions of the Blefled GOD, the 
 Love of Chriif, the Value of Time, the Certain- 
 ty and Importance of Death and Judgment, and 
 of the Eternity of Happinefs or Mifery which is 
 to follow. Let us alfo at fuch Intervals refled, 
 on what we have obferved as to the State of our 
 own Souls, with Regard to the Advance or De- 
 
 R 2 cline 
 
 (0 Pfal xc. 17. (g) Eph. iv. 29. (h) Ecclef. x. 10. 
 (i)Pfal. xxvii. 1 1. (Ic) 2 Cor. xii. 9. 
 
244 Management of Difcctirfe in Company. Ch. 19, 
 
 cline of Religion *, or on the laft Sermon we 
 have heard, or the laft Portion of Scripture we 
 have read. You may perhaps, in this Con- 
 ncdion, Sir^ recolledl what I have (if I remem- 
 ber right,) propofed to you in Converfation v 
 that it might be very ufeful to fclect fome one 
 Verfe of Scripture, which we had met with in 
 the Morning, and to treafure it up in our Mind, 
 rcfolving to think of that at any Time when we 
 ;ire at a Lofs for Matter of pious Refledion, in 
 any Intervals of Leifure for entering upon it. 
 This will often be as a Spring, from whence 
 many profitable and dehghtful Thoughts may 
 arife, which perhaps we did not before fee in 
 that Connedion and Force. Or if it lliould not 
 be fo, yet I am perfuaded, it will be much better 
 to repeat the fame Scripture in our Mind an 
 Hundred Times in a Day, with Ibme pious Eja- 
 culation formed upon it, than to leave our 
 Thoughts at the Mercy of all thofe various Tri- 
 fles, which may otherwife intrude upon us \ the 
 Variety of which will be far from making A- 
 mends for their Vanity. 
 
 §.19.(8.) Lastly, For the Government of 
 cur Bifcourfe in Company: We (liouid take great 
 Care, that nothing may efcape us, which can 
 expofe us, or our Chriftian FrofefTion, to Cen- 
 fure and Reproach : Nothing injurious to thofe 
 that are abfent, or to thofe that are prefent ; no- 
 thing malignant, nothing infincere •, nothing 
 which may corrupt, nothing which may pro- 
 voke, nothing which may miflead thofe about 
 us. Nor fhould we, by any Means, be content, 
 that what we fay is innocent •, it fhould be our 
 Dcfire, that it may be edifying, to ourfelves and 
 €>thers. In this View,, we Ihould endeavour to 
 
 have 
 
 Ch . 1 9 . Dlreaions for the Clofe of the Bay. 245 
 have fome Subjeft of ufeful Difcourfe always rea- 
 dy, in which we may be afTifted by the Hints 
 mven, about Furniture for Thought, under the 
 forme'r Head. We fhould watch for decent Op- 
 portunities of introducing ufeful Refledions •, and 
 if a pious Friend attempt to do it, we (hould en- 
 deavour to fecond it immediately. "When the 
 Converfation does not turn direftly on Religious 
 Subject, we fliould endeavour to make it im- 
 proving fome other Way : We fhould refledl on 
 the Charader and Capacities of our Company, 
 that we may lead them to talk of what they un- 
 derftand bcfl ; for their Difcourfcs on thofe Sub- 
 jeds will probably be moft pleafing to them- 
 felves, as well as moft ufeful to us. And in 
 Paufes of Difcourfe, it may not be improper to 
 /;// up an holy Ejaculation to God, that his Grace 
 may afTift us and our Friends in our Endeavours 
 to do Good to each other ; that all we fay, and 
 do, may be worthy the Charafter of reafonable 
 Creatures and of Chriftians. 
 
 §. 20. [III.l The DireHions for a religious 
 Ckfmg of the Day, which \ fhall here mention, 
 are only Iwo.—l.tn us fee to it, that the fecret 
 Duties of the Evening be well performed •,— and 
 let us lie down on our Beds in a pious Frame, , 
 
 §. 21. (i.) ¥ OK fecret Devotion in the Evenings 
 I would propofe a Method fomething different 
 from that in the Morning •, but ftill, as then, 
 with due Allowances for Circumftances, which 
 may make unthought of Alterations proper, I 
 Ihould, Sir, advife to read a Portion of Scrip- 
 ture in the firft Place, with fuitable Reflexions, 
 and Prayers, as above : Then to read a Hymn, 
 or Pfalm : After this to enter on Self-Examina- 
 tion, to be followed by a longer Prayer, than 
 
 R 3 tl^at 
 
 ItlbiiiilftiilriiiiffifrliiMffiffi*'''^-^ jaaaaAaiaaiiaatm 
 
246 Toe fecret Duties of the Evening, Ch . 1 9 . 
 that which followed Reading, to be formed on 
 this Review of the Day. In this Addrefs to the 
 Throne of Grace it will be highly proper, to in- 
 treat that God would pardon the OmifTions and 
 Offences of the Day ; to praife Him for Mercies 
 Temporal and Spiritual-, to recommend our- 
 felves to his Protrftion for the enfuing Night ; 
 with proper Petitions for others, whom we ought 
 to bear on our Hearts before him ; and particu- 
 larly, for thofe Friends with whom we have con- 
 verfed or correfponded, in the preceding Day. 
 Many other Concerns will occur, both in Morn- 
 ing and Evening Prayer, which I have not here 
 hmtcd at; but I did not apprehend, that a full 
 Enumeration of ihefc Things belonged, by any 
 Means, to our prelent Purpole. 
 • §. 22. Before I quit this Head, I muft take 
 the Eibcrty to remind you, that Self- Examination 
 IS fo^ uiii>ortant a Duty, that it will be worth our 
 while to fpend a few Words upon it. And this 
 Branch of it is fo eafy, that when we have pro- 
 per Quellions before us, any Pcrfon of a com- 
 mon Undcrftanding may hope to go thro' it with 
 Advantage unJer a Divine Blcfllng. I offer you 
 ^^tTi:\ov<tthefcUoivingS^criu, which I hope you 
 will, with fuch Alterations as yr,!i may judge re- 
 qu\{\\.c^ keep near you for daily TJie, *' Did I 
 '' wake as with God this Mo'rnihg, and rife 
 '' with a grateful Senfe of his Goodnefs.? How 
 " were the lecret D-votions of the Mornincr per- 
 " formed ? Did I offer my folemn Praifes and 
 *' renew the Dedication of mvfelf to GoD, with 
 '' becoming Attention and fuitable Afiiclions? 
 '* D:d I lay my Scheme for the Bufinefs of the 
 ^' Day wifely and well ? I low did I read the 
 ** Scripture, and any otiici Devotional or Prac 
 
 ^* ticaJ 
 
 , 
 
 Ch 19. ami particularly Self-Examimtion. 247 
 " deal Piece, which I might afterwards conveni- 
 .' entlv review ? Did it do my Heart good, or 
 « was it a mere Amufement ?---How have 
 « the other ftated Devotions of the Day been at- 
 « tended, whether in the Family, or m Pub- 
 c. lick? Have I purfued the common Bufinefsof 
 .. this Day with Diligence, and Spintuahty •. do- 
 " ing every Thing in Seafon, and wuh ^11 con- 
 « V °nient Difpatch. and as unto the Lord ( ) ? 
 .♦ What Time have I loft this Day, m the 
 « Morning, or the Forenoon, in the Afternoon, 
 » or the E;ening-.'- (forthefe D.vifions mil af- 
 fift your RecoUeaion •,) " and what has occali- 
 . "oned the Lofs of it ? With what Temper, and 
 .. under what Regulations, have the Recreanon 
 .< of this Day been purfued? Have I ken the 
 «' Hand of GOB in my Mercies, Health, Chear- 
 « S; Food, Clothing, Books, Prefervation 
 .. n Jou'rnies, Succefs of Bufinefs, Conv^Jnon 
 u and Kindnefs of Friends, &c? Have Keen . 
 .. \:. Anions, and particularly m I'tt^Thmg 
 » whifh had a Tendency to vex af'i^'J^^f 
 " me? And with Regard to this Interpofiuon, 
 u Tave I received my Comforts thai.kfuUy, and 
 .. mv Affliaions fubmiffively ?. How have I 
 " guarded againft the Temptations of the Uay, 
 .. ^rticularlf againft this or that Tetigauon 
 .. which I forefaw in the Morning? Wave I 
 « maintained an humble Dependance on D'v'ne 
 .♦ Influences ? Have I lived hFatth m theSm of 
 " GOD (m), and regarded Chrtjl this Day, as 
 .. my Teacher and Governour, my Atonement 
 « and Interceffor, my Example and Guardian 
 " my Strength and Forerunner ? Have 1 been 
 " looking forward to Death and Eternity th« 
 
 0) Col. iii. 23. (ni) ^- "• *°- 
 
248 Dire^ions for Se^f- Examinatmi^ Cli . I9 . 
 
 " Day, and confidered myfelf as a Probationer 
 *' for Heaven, and thro' Grace an Expedant ot 
 *' it ? Have I governed my Thoughts well, 
 *' eipecially in luch or fuch an Interval of Soli- 
 *' tude P How was my Subjedl of Thought this 
 *' Day chofen, and how was it regarded ? Have 
 *' I governed my Difcourfes well, in fuch and 
 *' fuch Company P Did I fay nothing paffionate, 
 <« mifchfevous, flanderous, imprudent, imperti- 
 ** nent ? Has my Hc^art this Day been full of 
 *' Love to God, and to all Mankind •, and have 
 *' I fought, and found, and improved Oppor- 
 *' tiinities of doing, and of getting Good ? — 
 *« With what Attention and Improvement have 
 *« I rf-ad the Scripture this Evening? How was 
 ** Sclf-Examinarion performed the lafl Night ; 
 *' and how have I profited this Day by any Re- 
 *' marks I then made oii former Negligences 
 *' and Miftakes? With what Temper did I then 
 «' lie down, and compote myfelf to Sleep?" 
 
 §. 23. You will eafily fee, Sir^ that thefe 
 Qaeftions are fo adjufted, as to be an Abridg- 
 ment of the mod material Advices I have given 
 in this Letter-, and I believe 1 need not, to a 
 Perlon of your Underftanding, fay any Thing 
 as to the Ufefulnefs of fuch Enquiries. Confci- 
 ence will anfwer them in a few Minutes ; but if 
 you think them too large and particular, you 
 may make a flill (horter Abftraft for daily life, 
 and referve thefe, with fuch obvious Alterations 
 as will then be neceiTary, for Seafons of more 
 than ordinary Exadncfs in Review, which 1 hope 
 will occur at lead once a Week. Secret Devo- 
 tion being thus performed, before Drowfinefs 
 render us unfit for it, the Interval between that 
 und our going to Reft, muft be conduced by the 
 
 ; Rules 
 
 Ch. 19. ^«^ b^^Z ^'^^ ^^^^ ^ proper "Temper, 249 
 Rules mentioned under the next Head. And 
 nothing will farther remain to be confidered 
 
 here, but 
 
 ^. 24. (2.) The Sentiments^ with which we 
 ihould lie dozvn^ and compofe ourfelves to Sleep, 
 Now here it is obvioudy fuitable, to think of the 
 Divine Goodnefs, in adding another Day and 
 the Mercies of it to the former Days and Mer- 
 cies of our Life ; to take Notice of the Indul- 
 gence of Providence, in giving us commodious 
 Habitations and eafy Beds, and continuing to us 
 juch Health of Body, that we can lay ourfelves 
 down at Eafe upon them, and fuch Serenity of 
 Mind, as leaves us any Room to hope for re- 
 frefhing Sleep : A Refrefhment to be fought, not 
 merely as an Indulgence to Animal Nature, but as 
 what our wife Creator, in order to keep us hum- 
 ble in the midft of fo many Infirmities, has been 
 pleafed to make necejfary to our being able to purfue 
 his Service with renewed Alacrity. Thus may 
 our deeping, as well as our waking Hours, be in 
 fome Senfe devoted to God. And when we are 
 juft going to refign ourfelves to the Image of 
 Deaths to what one of the Ancients beautifully 
 calls its iejfer Myjieries, it is alfo evidently proper, 
 to think ferioufly of that End of all the Living, 
 and to renew thofe Adings of Repentance and 
 Faith, which we fhould judge neceffary, if we 
 were to wake no more here. You have once, 
 5/r, feen a Meditation of that Kind in my Hand : 
 I will tranfcribe it for you in the Poftfcript\ and 
 aherefore fliall add no more to this Head, but 
 here put a Clofe to the Directions you defired. 
 
 §.25. I AM perfuaded, the mod important 
 of them have, in one Form or another, been 
 long regarded by you, and made governing 
 
 Maxims 
 
 ^msms^i^sss^^^^-^ 
 
Wl 
 
 250 CoHclufion of the Letter. Ch. 19. 
 
 Maxims of your Life. I (hall greatly rejoice, if 
 the Review of thefe, and the Examination and 
 Trial of the reft, may be the Means of leading 
 you into more intimate Communion with God, 
 and fo of rendering your Life more pleafant and 
 ufefu), and your Eternity, whenever that is to 
 commence, more glorious. There is not a Hu- 
 man Creature upon Earth, whom I fhould not 
 delight to ferve in thefe important Interefts ; but 
 I can faithfully afTure you, that I am, with par- 
 ticular Refpefl, . 
 
 "Dear Sify 
 
 Your very affecStionate Friend and Servant. 
 
 §. 26. This, Reader, with the Alteration of 
 a very few Words, is the Letter I wrote to a wor- 
 thy Friend, (now I doubt not with God,) about 
 Sixteen Tears ago: And I can afTuredly fay, that 
 the Experience of each of thefe Years has con- 
 firmed me in thefe Views, and eftablifhed me in 
 the Perfuafion, that one Day thus fpent is pre- 
 ferable to whole Years of Senfuality, and the Ne- 
 gle(5l of Religion. 1 chofe to infert the Letter 
 as it is, becaufe I thought the Freedom and Par- 
 ticularity of the Advice I had given in it, would 
 appear moft natural in its original Form : And 
 as I propofe to inforce thefe Advices in the next 
 Chapter, I fhall conclude this with that Medita- 
 latTOfiy which I promifed my Friend as a Pojl- 
 fcript i and which I could wiih you, to make fo fa- 
 miliar to yourfelf, as that you might be able to 
 rccoiledl the Subi^ance of it, whei>t:ver you com- 
 noie vouriclf to Sleep. 
 
 Afi^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 Ch . 1 9 . -^ View of Deaths as we lie down to Sleep. 251 
 
 A ferious View of Death, proper to be taken 
 as we lie down on our Beds, 
 
 OH my Soul, look forward a little with 
 Serloufhefs and Attention, and learn 
 IVifdtm by the Confideration of thy latter End{n). 
 Another of thy mortal Days is now numbered 
 and finifhed : And as I have put off my 
 Clothes, and laid myfelf upon my Bed, for 
 the Repofe of li^e Night ; fo v/ill the Day of 
 Life quickly come to its Period, fo muft the 
 Body itfelf be pat of\\ ana laid to its Repofe 
 in a Bed of Dull. There let it reft » for ic 
 will be no more regarded by me, than the 
 Clothes which I have now laid afide. I have 
 another far more important Concern to attend. 
 Think, Oh my Soul, when Death comes, thou 
 art to enter upon the Eternal Worlds and to be 
 fixed either in Heaven or in Hell, All the 
 Schemes and Cares, the Hopes and Fears, the 
 Pieafures and Sorrows of Life, will come to 
 their Period, and the World of Spirits will 
 open upon thee. And Oh, how foon may it 
 open ! Perhaps before the returning Sun bring on 
 the Light of another Day. , To-morrow's Sun 
 may not enlighten mine Eyes, but only (hinc 
 round a fenfelefs Corpfe^ which may lie in the 
 Place of this animated Body. At leaft the 
 Death of many in the Flower of their Age, 
 and many who were fuperior to me in Capa- 
 city, Piety, and the Profpefts of Ufefulnefs, 
 may loudly warn me not to depend on a long 
 Life, and engage me rather to wonder that 
 I am continued here fo many Years, than to 
 be furprized if I am fpeedily removed. 
 
 " Atid 
 
 (n) Deut. xxxii. 29. 
 
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il> 
 
 252 AVtew of Deaths as we lie down to Sleep. Ch. 1 9. 
 
 '' And now, Oh my Soul, anfwer as in the 
 ." Sight of God •, Art thou ready? Art thourr^^;^.'' 
 " Is there no Sin unforiaken, and ib unrepentcd 
 *' of, to fill me with Anguilh in my departing 
 " Moments, and topiake me tremble on the Brink 
 *' of Eternity? Dread to remain under theGgiln 
 *' ,of it, and this Moment renew thy moll carnelt 
 *' Applications to the Mercy of God, and the 
 *< Blood of a Redeemer, for Deliverance from 
 
 " it. 
 
 *' But if the great Account be already adjufl:- 
 ed, if thou haft cordially repented of thy nu- 
 merous Oi* jnces, if thou haft finccrely com- 
 mitted thylelf by Faith into the Hands of the 
 Bieffjd Jesus, and haft not renounced thy Co- 
 venant with Him by returning to the allowed 
 Prafticeof Sin, then Jlart not at theTbov^hlsof 
 a Separation : It is not in the Power of Death, 
 to hurt a Soul devoted tp God, and united to 
 the great Redecfner. Ic may t^ke me from 
 my worldly Comforts ; it may difconcert and 
 break my Schemes for Service on Earth ; Bur, 
 Oh my Soul, diviner Entertainments, and 
 nobler Services wait thee beyond the Grave. 
 For ever blcffed be the Name of God, and 
 the Love of Jesus, for thefe quieting, encou- 
 raging, joyful Views! I will now lay me down 
 in Peace, andjlccp (o), free from the Fears of 
 what Ihall be the Iftlie of this Night, whether 
 Life or Death may be appointed tor me. Fa- 
 ther^ into Thine Hand I commend my Spirit (p) \ 
 for Thou baft redeemed me, Ob GOD of Truth (q), 
 and therefore I can chearfuUy refer it to Thy 
 Choice, whether I (hall wake, in this World, 
 
 or another." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (0) Pral. iv. 8. (p) Luke xxiii. 46. (q) Pfal. xxxi. 5. 
 
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 i 
 
 Ch.20. A Perfuafive to follow thefe BlreSiions. 253 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 A feiious Perfiiafive to fuch a Method of 
 fpetiding our Days, as is reprefentcd in the 
 former Chapter. 
 
 Chtiftians fix their Vinvs too low, and indulge too in- 
 dolent a Difpcfition, which makes it more neceffary to 
 urge fuch a Life, as that under Ccnfidei-ation. §. 1,2. 
 It is therefore infer ced, (i.) From its being appa- 
 rently Reafonabky confidcri^ig ourfehes as the Crea- 
 tures of G O D, and as redeemed by the Blood of 
 Chrift, §. 3. (2.) From its evident Tendency to 
 conduce to our Comfort in Life, §. 4. (3.) From 
 the Influence it will have to promote our Ufefulnefs 
 to others, §, 5. (4.) From its Efficacy to make 
 Affiitlions lighter, ^.6. (5.) From its happy Afpe^ 
 en Death: §. 7. And, (6.) On Eternity. §.8. 
 Whereas not to defire Improvement would argue a 
 Soul deft i tut e of Religion, §.9. A Prayer fuited 
 to the State of a Soul, who longs to attain the Ufe 
 recommended above, 
 
 §. I. T HAVE been afTigning, in the preceding 
 ^ Chapter, what I fear will feem to fome of 
 my Readers fo hard a Tafk, that they will want 
 Courage to attempt it ; and it is indeed a Life in 
 many Refpecfts fo far above that of the Generality 
 of Chriftians, that I am not without Apprehen- 
 fions, that many, who defcrve the Name, may 
 
 think 
 
 s 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
m 
 
 > ■•' 
 
 154 However fuch a Condu5l be negk^eJy Ch. 20. 
 
 think the Dire6lions, after all the Precautions with 
 which I have propofed them, are carried to an 
 unneceflary Degree of Nicety and Scridnefs. But 
 I am perfuaded, much of the Credit and Comfort 
 of Chriftianity is loft, in Conlequence of its Pro- 
 felTors fixing their Aims too low, and not con- 
 ceiving of their high and holy Cidling in fo elevated 
 and fublime a View, as the Nature of Religion 
 would require, and the Word of God would di- 
 re6t. I am fully convinced, that the ExprefTions 
 of walking with G D^ ot being in the Fear of the 
 Lord all the Day lon^ (a), and above all, that of 
 loving the L/rt'd our GOD with all our Hearty and So^U 
 and Mind^ and Strc?ig!h (b), mud require, if not 
 all thefe Circumftances, yet the Subjlance of all 
 that I have been recommending, lb far as we 
 have Capacity, Leifure and Opportunity : And I 
 cannot but think, that marry might command 
 more of the latter, and perhaps improve their 
 Capacities too, it they would take a due Care in 
 the Government of themfelves ; if they would 
 give up vain and unneccfTiry Diverfions, and 
 certain Indulgences, v/hich only fuit and delight 
 the lower Part of our Nature, and (to fay the beft 
 of them) deprive us of Pleafures much better 
 than themfelves, if they do not plunge us into 
 Guilt. Many of thefe Rules would appear eafily 
 practicable, if Men would learn to know the Va- 
 lue of 'Time^ and pardcularly to redeem it from 
 unnecefTary Sleep, which waftes many golden 
 I lours of the Day : Hours, in which many of 
 God's Servants are delighting themfelves in 
 iiim, and drinking In full Draughts of the Wa- 
 ter of Life ; while thefe their Brethren are num- 
 bering upon their Beds, and loft in vain Dreams, 
 
 as 
 
 (a) Prov xxiii. 17. 
 
 (b) Mark xii. 50. 
 
 Ch. 20. // is highly Reafonable in itfelf. 255 
 
 as far below tUe common Entertainments of a 
 Rational Creature, as the Pleafures of the fub- 
 limeft Devotion are above them. 
 
 §. 2. I K.N0W likewife, that the Mind is very 
 fickle and inconftant ; and that it is a hard Thing 
 to preferve fuch a Government and Authority 
 over our Thoughts, as would be very defirable, 
 and as the Plan I have laid down will require. 
 But fo much of the Honour of God, and fo 
 much of your own true Happinefs, depends upon 
 it, that I beg you will give me a patient and 
 attentive Hearing while I am pleading with 
 you ; and that you will ferioufly examine the Ar- 
 guments, and then judge, whether a Care and 
 Conduit like that which I have advifed, be not 
 in itfelf reafonable \ and whether it will not be 
 highly conducive to your Comfort and Ufeful- 
 nefs in Life, your Peace in Death, and the Ad- 
 vancement and Increafe of your Eternal Glory. 
 
 §. 3. Let Confcience fay, whether y«r^^Lr/>, 
 as I have dcfcribed above, be not in itfelf highly 
 Reafonable. Look over the Subftance of it again, 
 and bring it under aclofe Examination ; for 1 am 
 very apprehenfive, that fome weak Objections 
 may arile againft the whole^ which may in their 
 Confequences affeft Particulars againft which no 
 reafonable Man would prefume to make any Ob- 
 iedlion at all. Recolle6i:, Oh Chriftian, and carry 
 it with you in your Memory and your Heart, 
 while you are purfuing this Review, that you are 
 the Creature of God, that you are purchafed 
 with the Blood of Jefus ; and then fay. Whether 
 thefe Relations in which you ftand, do not de- 
 mand all that Application and Refolution which 
 I would engage you to. Suppofe all the Counfels 
 i have given, reduced into Pradlicc : Suppofe 
 
 every 
 
 8itiiiiiiaiimiiiAiitft»iifriiiiifii7itnfiiiii 
 
 aa tiwrwira^iiaat^ajaM 
 
Hi 
 
 I 
 
 256 jTour OUigations to GOD and Cbrijl, Ch . 2 a 
 
 every Day begun and concluded with fuch de- 
 vout Breathings after God, and fuch holy Re- 
 tirements for Morning and Evening Converfe 
 with Him and your own Heart : Suppofe a daily 
 Care, in contriving how your Time may be ma- 
 naged, and in refleding how it has been em- 
 ployed : Suppofe this Regard to God, this Senfe 
 of his Prefencc, and Zeal for his Glory, to run 
 thro' your A6t:s of Worihip, your Hours of Bufi- 
 nefs and Recreation : Suppole this Attention to 
 Providence, this Guard againft Temptations, 
 this Dependance upon Divine Influence, this Go- 
 vernment of the Thoughts in Solitude, and of 
 the Difcourfes in Company : Nay, I will add 
 farther, luppofe every particular Diredlion given, 
 to be purfued, excepting when particular Cafes 
 occur, with refpeft to which you (hall be able in 
 Confcience to lay, " I wave it, not from Indo- 
 ** lence and Carelefsnefs, but becaufe I think it 
 " will juft now be more pleafing to God to be 
 " doing fomething clfe •," which may often hap- 
 pen in Human Life, where general Rules are 
 belt concerted : Suppofe, I fay, all this to be done, 
 not for a Day, or a Week, but thro' the Remain- 
 der ofLife, whether longer or ftiorter; and fuppofe 
 this to be reviewed at the Clofe ofLife, in the full 
 Exercife of your rational Faculties: WUi there be 
 Reafon to Hiy in the Reflecftion, ** 1 have taken 
 " too much Pains in Religion : The Author of 
 «< my Being did not deferve all this from me : 
 ** Lefs Diligence, lefs Fidcli-y, lels Zeal than 
 *< this, might have been an Equivaknt for the 
 " Blood which was (bed for my Redemption : A 
 *< Part of my Heart, a Part of my Time, a Part 
 ** of my Labours, might have fuificed for Him, 
 •< who hath given me all my Powers j for Him, 
 
 *< who 
 
 Ch. 20. and your Comfort in Life^ require it, i^*j 
 
 «' who has delivered me from that Deftru6lion, 
 " which would have made them my overlafting 
 " Torment ; for Him, who is raifing me to the 
 " Regions of a blifsful Immortality." Can you 
 with any Face fay this ? If you cannot, then 
 furely your Confcience bears Witnefs, that all I 
 have recommended, under the Limitations above, 
 is reafonable ; that Duty and Gratitude require 
 it •, and confequently, that by every allowed 
 Failure in it, you bring Guilt upon your own 
 Soul, you ofTend God, and ad: unworthy your 
 Chriftian ProfefTion. 
 
 §.4. I iNTREAT you farther to confider. 
 Whether fuch a Condudl as I have now been re- 
 commending, would not conduce much to your 
 Ccmfcrt and Ufefulnefs in Life, Refleft ferioufly. 
 What is true Happinefs ? Does it confift in 
 Diftance from God, or in Nearnefs to Him? 
 Surely you cannot be a Chriftian, furely you 
 cannot be a rational Man, if you doubt, whether 
 Communion with the great Father of our Spirits 
 be a Pleafure and Felicity : And if it be, then 
 furely they enjoy moft of it, who keep Him 
 moft conftantly in View. You cannot but know 
 in your own Confcience, that it is this which 
 makes the Happinefs of Heaven ; and therefore 
 the more of it any Man enjoys upon Earth, the 
 more of Heaven comes down into his Soul. If 
 you have made any Trial of Religion, tho' it be 
 but a few Months or Weeks fince you firft be- 
 came acquainted with it, you muft be fome 
 Judge of it upon your own Experience, which 
 have been the moft pleafant Days of your Life. 
 Have they not been thofe, in which you have 
 afted moft upon thefe Principles.^ thofe, in which 
 you have moft fteadily and refolutely carried them 
 
 S thro* 
 
i 
 
 258 // "ji'ill promote ycur Ufefulnefs to others^ Ch.20. 
 
 thro' every Hour of Time, and every Circum- 
 ftanceof Life ? The Check, which you mud in 
 many InHanccs give to your own Inclinations, 
 might fecm difagreeable •, but it would furely be 
 overbalanceJ, in a mod happy Manner, by the 
 Satisfa(5lion you would find in a Confcioulnefs of 
 Self-Government •, in having fuch a Command 
 of your Thoughts, Affeflions, and A6lions, as 
 is much more glorious than any Authority over 
 
 others can be. 
 
 §. 5. I WOULD alfo intreat you to confider the 
 hjluence, which fuch a Condutl as this might have 
 upon the Happinefs cf others. And it is eafy to 
 be feen, it mufl be be very great •, as you would 
 find your Heart always difpofed to watch every 
 Opportunity of doing Good, and to feize it with 
 Eagernels and Delight. It would engage you 
 to make it the Study and Bufineis of your Life, 
 to order Things in fuch a Manner, that the End 
 of one kind and ufeful jl^ion might be the Beginning 
 of another •, in which you would go on as natu- 
 rally, as the inferior Animals do in thofc Pro- 
 duflions and Aftions by which Mankind are re- 
 lieved or enriched •, or as the Earth bears her 
 fucceCiVe Crops of different vegetable Supplies. 
 And tho* Mankind be, in this corrupt State, fo 
 unhappily inclined to imitate evil Examples ra- 
 ther than good ; yet it may be expedled, that 
 while your TJght flfincs before Men ^ {ovc\q: feeing your 
 good Works, will endeavour to tranfcribe them in 
 their own Lives, and fo to glorify your Father 
 w^ich is in Hearjen (c). The Charm of fuch beau- 
 tiful Models would furely imprefs fomef and in- 
 cline them at leaft to attempt an Imitation ; and 
 every Attempt would difpofe to another. And 
 
 thus, 
 
 (c) Matt. V. 16. 
 
 Ch. 20. and help to make Affli^ ions lighter. 259 
 
 thus, thro' the Divine Goodnefs, you might be 
 inticled to a Share in the Praife, and the Reward, 
 not only of the Good you had immediately done 
 yourfelf, but likewife of that which you had en- 
 gaged others to do. And no Eye, but that of 
 an all-fearching God, can fee, into what diftant 
 Times or Places the blefled Confequences may 
 reach. In every Inflance in which thefe Confe- 
 quences appear, it will put a generous and fublime 
 Joy into your Heart, which no worldly Profpe- 
 rity could afford, and which would be the live- 
 liefl Emblem of that high Delight which the 
 Bleffed God feels, in feeing and making his Crea- 
 tures happy. 
 
 ^ §. 6. It is true indeed, that, amidfl all thefe 
 pious and benevolent Cares, Afflitfions may come, 
 and in fome Meafure interrupt you in the Midft 
 of your projefted Schemes. But fure thefe Af- 
 fiicltons will Jit much lighter, when your Heart is 
 gladdened with the peaceful and joyful Refiedion 
 of your own Mind, and with fo honourable a 
 Teftimony of Confcience before God and Man. 
 Delightful will it be, to go back to paft Scenes 
 in your pleafing Review, and to think, that you 
 have not only been fincerely humbling yourfelf 
 for thole paft Offences, which AfHic'tions may bring 
 to your Remembrance ; but that you have given 
 fubilantial Proofs of the Sincerity of that Humi- 
 liation, by a real Reformation of what has been 
 amifs, and by acting with ftrenuous and vigorous 
 Refolution on the contrary Principle. And while 
 Converfe with God, and doing Good to Men, 
 are made the great Bufinefsand Pleafureof Life, 
 you will find a Thoufand Opportunities of Enjoy- 
 ment ; even in the Midft of thofe AfRidlions. 
 which would render you fo incapable of relifhj 
 
 S 2 
 
 ing 
 
200 // will he reviewed with Plcafure, Ch. 20. 
 
 ing the Pkafurcs of Senfe, that the very Men- 
 tion of them might in thofe Circumftances leem 
 an Infuk and a Reproach. 
 
 §. 7. At length, Death will come : That folemn 
 and important Hour, which hath been paffed 
 thro* by fo many 'I houfands who have in the 
 Main hved fuch a Life, and by fo many MilHons 
 who have neglected it. And let Confcience fay, if 
 there was ever any one of all thefc Millions, who 
 had then any Reafon to rejoice in that Neglect ; 
 or any one, among the moft ftrid and exemplary 
 Chriftians^ who then lamented that his Heart and 
 Life had been too zealoufly devoted to God ? Let 
 Confcience fay, whether they have wifhed to have 
 a Part of that Time, which they have thus em- 
 ployed, given back to them again, that they 
 mi<^ht be more conformed to tins IVorld -, that they 
 mi^^ht plunge themfelves deeper into its Amufe- 
 ments, or purfue its Honours, its Poflenions, or 
 its Pleafures, with greater Eagernefs than they 
 had done ? If you were yourlclf dyings and a 
 dear Friend or Child rtood near you, and this 
 Book and the lail Chapter of it (hould chance 
 to come into your Thoughts, would you caution 
 that Friend or Child againft condudting himfelt" 
 by fuch Rules as I have advanced ? The Queilion 
 may perhaps feem unneccffary, where the An- 
 fwer is fo plain and fo certain. Well then, let 
 me befeech you, to learn how youjhould live^ by 
 refledling how you would die, and what Courfe 
 you would wi(h to look back upon, when you 
 are jud quitting this World, and entering upon 
 another. Think ferioufly •, what if Death (hould 
 Hirprize you on a fudden, and you fhould be 
 called into Eternity at an Hour's or a Minute's 
 
 - Warning, would you not wifh that your laft Day 
 
 fhould 
 
 Ch. 20. "^hen you Jhall come to die, 261 
 
 fliould have been thus begun -, and the Courfe of 
 it, if it were a Day of Health and A6livity, fhould 
 have been thus managed ? Would you not wilh, 
 that your Lord fhould find you engaged in fuch 
 Thoughts, and in luch Purfuits ? Would not 
 the PafTage, the Flight from Earth to Heaven, 
 be moft eafy, moft pleafant, in this View and 
 Connection ? And on the other hand, If Death 
 fhould make more gradual Approaches,, would 
 not the Remembrance of fuch a pious, holy, 
 humble, diligent, and ufeful Life, make a dying 
 Bed much fofter and eafier, that it would other- 
 wife be ? You would not die, depending upon 
 thefe Things: God forbid, that you (hould ! 
 Senfible of your many I mperfedt ions, you would, 
 no doubt, defire to throw yourfelves at the Feet 
 of Chnjl, that you might appear before God, 
 adorned with his Right eoufnefs, and wajhed from your 
 Sins in his Blood. You would alfo with your dy- 
 ing Breath afcribe to the Riches of his Grace 
 every good Difpofition you had found in your 
 Heart, and every worthy Adion you had been 
 enabled to perform. But would it not give you 
 a Delight worthy of being purchafed with Ten 
 Thoufand Worlds, to refted, that his Grace bc^ 
 flowed upon you had not been in vain (d) •, but that 
 you had, from an humble Principle of grateful 
 Love, glorified your Heavenly Father on Earth, ^nd 
 in fome Degree, tho' not with the Perfeftion 
 you could defire, finifhed the IVork which he had 
 given you to do (e) : That you had been living for 
 many paft Years as on the Borders of Heaven, 
 and endeavouring to form your Heart and Lite 
 to the Temper and Manners of its Inhabitants? 
 
 S3 §-^- ^^^ 
 
 (d) I Cor. XV. 10. (e) John xvii. 4. 
 
262 7/ will add to the Joys of Eternity. Ch. 20. 
 
 §. 8. And once more. Let me intreat you to 
 refle(5l on the View you will have of this Mattery 
 when you come into a World of Glory ^ if (which I 
 hope will be the happy Cafe,) Divine Mercy 
 conduct you thither. Will not your Reception 
 there be afFefted by your Care, or Negligence, 
 in this holy Courfe ? Will it appear an indifferent 
 Thing in the Eye of the Blefled Jefus^ who dif- 
 tributes the Crowns, and allots the Thrones there, 
 whether you have been among the mojl zealous., or 
 the mofi indolent ot his Servants ? Surely you muft 
 wifh, to have an Entrance adminijired unto you abun- 
 dantly^- into the Kingdom of your Lord end Saviour (i): 
 And what can more certainly conduce to it, than 
 to be always aboujiding in his IVcrk (g) ? You can- 
 not think fo meanly of that glorious State, as to 
 imagine, that you fliall there look round about 
 with a fecret Difappointment, and fay in your 
 Heart, that you overvalued the Inheritance you 
 have received, and purfued it with too much 
 Earneftnels. You will not furely complain, that 
 it had too many of your Thoughts and Cares : 
 But on the contrary, you have the highefl Reafon 
 to believe, that if any Thing were capable of ex- 
 citing your Indignation and your Grief there, it 
 would be, that amidl"^ fo many Motives, and fo 
 many Advantages, you exerted yourfelt no more 
 in the Profecution of fuch a Prize. 
 
 §. 9. But! will not enlarge on fo clear a Cafe, 
 and therefore conclude the Chapter with remind- 
 ing you. That to allow yourlcif deliberately to 
 fit down fatisfied with any imperfcd Attainments 
 in Religion, and to look upon a more confirmed 
 and improved State of it as what you do not de- 
 fire, nay, as what you iecretly relolve that you 
 
 will 
 
 ^f) i Pi:, ill 
 
 'g) I Ccr. XV 58. 
 
 Ch. 20. ^ Prayer to attain to fuch a Life. 16 ^ 
 will not purfue, is one of the mod fatal Signs we 
 can well imagine, that you are an entire Stranger 
 to the firlt Principles of it. 
 
 A Pr A Y E R fuited to the State of a Soul^ who defires 
 to attain the Life recommended above. 
 
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 cc 
 
 BLESSED GOD, I cannot contradid 
 the Force of thefe Reafonings : Oh that 
 1 might feel more than ever the lafting Ef- 
 fefts of them ! Thou art the great Fountain 
 of Being, and of Happinefs \ and as from 
 Thee my Being was derived, fo from Thee my 
 Happinefs diredly flows •, and the nearer I am 
 to Thee, the purer and more delicious is the 
 Stream. JVith Thee is the Fountain of Life •, in 
 Thy Light may I fee Light {h) I The great Ob- 
 jedl of my final Hope is to dwell for ever with 
 Thee. Give me now fome Foretafte of that 
 Delight! Give me, I befeech Thee, to e:xpe. 
 rience the Bleffednefs of that Man, who feareth 
 the Lord, and who delighteth greatly in His Com- 
 mandments (i) i and fo form my Heart by Thy 
 Grace, that I may be in the Fear of the Lord all 
 the Day long (k) / 
 
 " To Thee may my awaking Thoughts be di- 
 refted -, and with the firft Ray of Light that 
 vifits mine opening Eyes, //// up. Oh Lord, the 
 Light of Thy Countenance upon me {\) ! When rny 
 Faculties are roufed from that broken State, in 
 which they lay, while buried, and as it were 
 annihilated, in Sleep, may my firft Aftions be 
 confecrated to Thee, Oh God, who giveft me 
 Light ; who giveft me, as it were, every Morn- 
 
 S 4 '' ing 
 
 (h) Pfal. xxxvi. 9. (i) Pial. cxii. 1 . (k) Prov. xxiii, 17. 
 (1) Pfal. iv. 6. 
 
2 64 A Prater fuiled to the State of cne, C\\.io, 
 
 " ing a new Lite and a new Reafon ! Enable my 
 " Heart to pour itfelf cut lefore Tbee^ with a filial 
 *' Reverence, Freedom, and Endenrment' And 
 " may I bmktH u. GOD, as 1 delirc that He 
 " fhould hearken unto me! May TIjy Word be read 
 " with Attendon and Pleafure! May my Soul 
 ** be delivered into the Mold of it, and may I 
 " hide it in mine Hearty that 1 may not fin againft 
 *' Thee (en)! Animated by the great Motives 
 *' there fiiggefled, may I every Mcrning be renew- 
 *' ing the Dedication cf myfdf to Thee, thro' "jefus 
 " Thy beloved Son -, and be deriving from Him 
 *' new Supplies of that BkJled Spir:t of Thme, 
 " whofe Influences are the Life of my Soul! 
 
 *' And being thus prepared, do Thou, Lord, 
 *' lead me forth by the Hand to all the Duties and 
 *' Events of the Day ! In that Calling, wherein 
 " Thou haft been pleafed to call me, may I abide 
 " with Thee (n) •, not being fiothful in Bufmefs, 
 " hut fervent in Spirit, ferving the Lord{o) / May 
 " I know the Value of Time, and always im- 
 *' prove it to the beft Advantage, in fuch Duties 
 *' as Thou haft afllgned me •, how low foever 
 *' they may fecm, or how painful foever they 
 *' may be ! To Thy Glory, Oh Lord, may the 
 *' Labours of Life be purfued -, and to Thy 
 " Glory may the Refrefhments of it be fought ! 
 *' Whether 1 eat, or drink, cr whatever I do (p), 
 
 may that End ftiJl be kept in View, and may 
 
 it be attained ! And may every Refrefhment, 
 *' and Releafe from Bufinels, prepare me to ferve 
 " Thee with greater Vigour and Refolution ! 
 
 *' May mine Eye be watchful to obferve the 
 •' Defcent of Mercies from Tliee ; and may a 
 
 " grateful 
 
 ^m) Pfal. cxix. 1 1. [X)) i Cor. vii. 20. (o) Rom. xii. 1 1. 
 vp) I Cor. X. 3 1 f 
 
 I 
 
 (( 
 
 C( 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 Ch.20. who would attain to fuch a Courfe of Life, 265 
 
 ** grateful Senfe oi Thine Hand in them add a 
 «' Savour and a Relifh to all ! And when Affiic- 
 <« tions come^ which in a World like this I would 
 «' accuftom myfelf to expeft, may I remember 
 <« that they come from Thee •, and may that fully 
 *« reconcile n\'c to them, while I firmly believe, 
 *« that the fame Love which gives us our daily 
 *« Bread, appoints us our daily Crofes -, which I 
 *' would learn to take up, that 1 may follow my 
 *' dear Lord (q), with a Temper like that which 
 *< He maniferted, when afcending Calvary for 
 my Sike -, faying like Him, The Cup which 
 m\ Father hath given me^ fhall I not drink it (v) ? 
 <« And when I enter into Temptation, do Thou, 
 *« Lord, deliver me from Evil (s)/ Make me fen- 
 «« fible, I intreat Thee, of my own VVeaknefs, 
 *« that my Heart may be raifed to Thee for 
 <' prefent Communicadons of propornonable 
 «* Strength ! When I am engaged in the So- 
 ** ciety of others, may it be my Defire and my 
 <« Care, that I may do, and receive, as much 
 ** Good as poflible -, and may I condnually an- 
 *' fwer the great Purpofes of Life, by honouring 
 " Thee, and diffufing ufeful Knowledge and 
 Happinefs in the World ! And when I am 
 alone, may I remember my Heavenly Father is 
 with me ; and may I enjoy the Pleafure of Thy 
 *' Prefence, and feel the animating Power of it, 
 '' awakening my Soul to an earneft Defire to 
 '' think, and adl, as in Thy Sight! 
 
 " Thus ki my Days be fpent : And let them 
 *' always be clofed in Thy Fear, and under a Senfe 
 " of Thy gracious Prefence ! Meet me, Oli 
 *' Lord, in mine Evening Retirements ! May I 
 *' chufe the moft proper Time for them -, may I 
 
 " dili- 
 
 4g) Mark viii. 54. (r) John xviii. 11. (s) Matt. vi. 1 3. 
 
 «( 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 
266 A Prayer to attain to fuch a life. Ch. 20. 
 
 " diligently attend to Reading and Prayer ; and 
 " when I review my Condudl, may I do it with 
 *< an impartial Eye ! Let not Self-love fpread a 
 " falJe Colouring over it ; but may I juige my- 
 •« felf^ as one that expe6ls to be judged of the 
 " Lord, and is very folicitous he may be approved 
 " by Thee, who fearcbeji all Hearts, and canji not 
 " forget arty of nry Works (t) / Lei my Prayer come 
 « daily before Thee as hcenfe, and let the Ufi'-gup 
 «' of my Hands be as the Morning and the Even- 
 " ing Sacrifice (u) / NLiy i rcliga my Powers to 
 *^ Sleep in fweet Calmncfs and Sercnitv •, con- 
 " fcious that I have lived to God in the Day, 
 *^ and chearfully perfuaded that I am accepted of 
 " nee in Chrifl J ejus my Lord, and humblv hoping 
 " in Thy Mercy thro" Him, whether my Days on 
 " Earth be prolonged, or the Refidue of them be 
 *' cut off in the Mtdjl (x) / It Death comes by a 
 *' kiiurely Advance, may it find me thus em- 
 " ployed ; and if 1 am called on a fudden to 
 " exchange Worlds, may my lad Days and 
 " Hours be found to have been condufted by 
 ** fuch Maxims as thefe ; that I may have a 
 »^ fweet and eafy Paffige from the Services of 
 •' Time to the infinitely nobler Services of an 
 " immortal State ! 1 afk it thro' Him, who while 
 ^' on Earth was the fiireft Pattern and Example 
 ' of every Virtue and Grace, and who now lives 
 ' and reigns with Thee, able to fa-je unto the utter- 
 ' mofi (y) ; To Him having done all I would fly, 
 ** with humble Acknowledgment that I am an 
 unprofitable Servant (z) •, to Him be Glory, for ever 
 and ever. Amen." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 i.t 
 
 bC 
 
 «c 
 
 .;t} Amo5 viiL 7. (u) Pl^il. cxli. 2. (x) Ifai. xxxviii. 10. 
 {y) iieb.vii. 25. [^) Lukexvii. 10. ^ 
 
 Ch . 2 1 . A Caution againft Temptations, 267 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 A Caution againll various Temptations, by 
 which the young Convert may be drawn a- 
 fide from the Courfe recommended above. 
 
 Bangers continue, after tbefirft Difficulties (confidered 
 Chap, xvi.) are broken thro\ §. i. Particular 
 Cautions, ( i .) Againft afluggifh and indolent Tem- 
 per, §. 2. (2.) Again^ the exceffwe Love of fen- 
 fttive Plea fur e, §. 3. leading to a NegleEl of Bufi- 
 nefs and needle fs Expence, §. 4. (3). Againft the 
 Snares of vain Company. §.5. (4.) Againft ex- 
 ceffive Hurries of worldly Bufinefs ; §. 6. which is 
 infer ced by the fatal Confcquences thefe have had in 
 many Cafes. §.7. The Chapter concludes with an 
 Exhortation, to die to this World, and live to an- 
 other : §.8. And the young Converts Prayer for 
 Divine Prote^ion againft the Dangers arifmg from 
 thefe Snares. 
 
 §. I. ^ I ^ H E Reprefentation I have been ma- 
 \^ king of the Pleafure and Advan- 
 tage of a Life fpent in Devotednefs to God and 
 Communion with Him, as I have defcribed it 
 above, will I hope engage you, my dear Reader, 
 to form fome Purpofes, and make fomc At- 
 tempt to obtain it. But from confidering the 
 Nature, and obferving the Courfe of Things, it 
 appears exceedingly evident, that befides the 
 
 general 
 
268 ne young Corrvert is cautioned Ch. 2 1 . 
 
 general Oppofition which I formerly mentioned 
 as like to attend you in your firft Entrance on a 
 Religious Life, you will find, even after you 
 have'' refolutely broke thro' this, a Variety of 
 Hindrances in any Attempts of exemplary Piety, 
 and in the Profecution of a remarkably ^ndi and 
 edifying Courfe, will prefent themfelves daily in 
 your Path. And whereas you may, by a few 
 refolute EiTorts, baffl^i fome of the former Sort 
 of Enemies •, thefe will be perpetually renewing 
 their Onfets, and a vigorous Struggle muft be 
 continually maintained with them. Give me 
 Leave now therefore, to be particular in my 
 Cautions againft fome of the chief of them. And 
 here I would infift upon the Difficulties^ which 
 will arife from Indolence, and the Love of Pleafure, 
 {vom vain Company, and from worldly Cares. Each 
 of thefe may prove infnaring to any, and efpeci- 
 ally to young Perfons, to whom I would now 
 have fome particular Regard. 
 
 §.2. I INTREAT you therefore, in the firft 
 Place, that you would guard againft ajluggifloand 
 indolent Temper. The Love of Eafc infinuates it- 
 felf into the Heart, under a Variety of plaufible 
 Pretences, which are often allowed to pafs, when 
 Temptations ot a groffcr Nature would not be ad- 
 mitted. The mifpending a little Time feems to 
 wife and good Men hut a fmalt Matter \ yet this 
 iometimes runs them into great Inconveniences. 
 It often leads them to break in upon the Seafons 
 recrularly allotted to Devotion, and to defer Bu- 
 fin^fs, which might immediately be done, but 
 being put off from Day to Day is not done at 
 all ^'and thereby the Services of Life are at leaft 
 diminillicd, and the Rewards of Eternity dimi- 
 nidied proportionably : Not to infift upon it, that 
 ^ very 
 
 Ch. 2 1 . againfl afluggifh and indolent Temper. 269 
 very frequently this lays the Soul open to farther 
 Temptations, by which it falls, in Confequence 
 of being found unemployed. Be therefore fuf- 
 picious of the firft Approaches of this Kind. 
 Remember, that the Soul of Man is an adive 
 Beinp-, and that it muft find its Pleafure in Afti- 
 vity.^' Gird up therefore the Loins of your Mind {3). 
 Endeavour to keep yourfelf always well em- 
 ployed. Be exa^, if I may with humble Reve- 
 rence ufe the Exprefiion, in your Appointments with 
 GOD. Meet him early in the Morning *, and fay 
 not with the Sluggard, when the proper Hour of 
 Rifing is come, A little more Sleep, a little more 
 Slumber (b). That Time, which Prudence ftiall 
 advile you, give to Converfation, and to other 
 Recreations.^ But when that is elapfed, and no 
 unforefeen and important Engagement prefents, 
 rife and be gone. Quit the Company of your 
 deareft Friends, and retire to 'your proper Bufinefs, 
 whether it be in the Field, the Shop, or the 
 Clofet. For by afling contrary to the fecret 
 Di6lates of your Mind, as to what it is juft at the 
 prefent Moment beft to do, tho' it be but in the 
 Manner of fpending Half an Hour, fome Degree 
 of Guilt is contracted, and a Habit is cheriftied, 
 which may draw after it much worfe Confe- 
 quences. Confider therefore, what Duties are 
 to be difpatched, and in what Seafons. Form 
 your Plan as prudently as you can, and purfue it 
 refolutely •, unlefs any unexpefted Incident arifes, 
 which leads you to conclude, that Duty calls you 
 another Way. Allowances for fuch unthought 
 of Interruptions muft be made •, but if in Confe- 
 quence of this, you are obliged to omit any 
 Thing of Importance which you purpofed to 
 
 have 
 
 (a) 1 Pet. i. 13. 
 
 (b) Prov. vi. 10, 
 
2 yo Cautions againft the Love ofPhafurCy Ch. 2 r . 
 
 have done To Day, do it if pofllble To Morrow : 
 And do not cut ydurfelf out new Work, till the 
 former Plan be difpatched j unlefs you really 
 iudge it, not merely more amufing, but more 
 important. And always remember, that a Ser- 
 vant of Chri/l fliould fee to it, that he determine 
 on thefeOccafions, as in his Majicr^s Prefence, 
 
 §.3. Guard alio againft ^« excejfrue Love of 
 fciijfitive and animal Pleafure^ as that which will be 
 a great Hindrance to you in that Religious 
 Courfc, which I have now been urging. You 
 cannot but know, that Cbrijl has told us, that a 
 Man muH deny himfelj^ and take up his Crofs daih\ 
 if he defire to become bis Difciple{c). Christ, 
 the Son of God, the Former and the Heir of all 
 ThingSj pleafed not himfelf(d) ; but fubmitted to 
 Want, to Difficulties, and Plardfhips, in the 
 Way of Duty, and fome of them of the extream- 
 eftKind and Degree, for the Glory of God and 
 the Salvation of Men. In this Way we are to fol- 
 low him j and as we know not how foon we may 
 be called, even to refiji unto Bloody ftriving againft 
 Sin (e), it is certainly beft to accuftom ourfelves to 
 that Difcipline, which we may pofTibly be called 
 out to exercife, even in fuch rigorous Heights. 
 A foft and delicate Life will give Force to Temp- 
 tations, which might eafily be fubdued by one, 
 who has habituated himfelf to endure Hardjhip as 
 a good Soldier ofjefus Chrift (f). It alfo produces 
 an Attachment to this World, and an Unwill- 
 ingnefs to leave it ; which ill becomes thofe who 
 arc Strangers andPilgrims on Earthy and who expeft 
 fo foon to be called away to that^ better Country 
 which they profefs to feek (g). Add to this, that 
 
 what 
 
 (c) Luke ix. 23. 
 (f) 2 Tim. ii. 3. 
 
 (d) Rom. XV. 3. (e) Heb. xii. 4. 
 (g) Heb. xi. 13, 16. 
 
 Ch. 2 1 . as leading to needle fs Expence, 27 1 
 
 what the World calls a Life of Pleafure, is ne- 
 ceflarily a Life of Expence too, and may perhaps 
 lead you, as it has done many others, and efpe- 
 cially many who have been fetting out in the 
 World, beyond the Limits which Providence 
 has affigned ; and fo after a (hort Courfe of In- 
 dulgence may produce proportionable Want, 
 And while in other Cafes it is true, that Pity 
 fhould be fJ:ewn to the Poor^ this is a Poverty that 
 is juftly contemptible, becaufe it is the Effedl of 
 a Man's own Folly ; and when your IVant thus 
 comes upon you as an armed Man (h,) you will not 
 only find yourfelf ftripp'd of the Capacity you 
 might otherwife have fecured for performing 
 thofe Works of Charity which are fo ornamental 
 to a Chriftian Profeffion, but probably will be 
 under ftrong Temptations to fome low Artifice 
 or mean Compliance, quite beneath the Chriftian 
 Chara(^er, and that of an upright Man. Many 
 who once made a high ProfefTion, after a Series 
 of ftich forry and fcandalous Shifts, have fallen 
 into the Infamy of Bankrupts, and of the worft 
 Kind of Bankrupts ; I mean fuch, as have laviflied 
 away on themfelves what was indeed the Proper- 
 ty of others, and fo have injured, and perhaps 
 ruined, the Induftrious, to feed a foolifb, luxu- 
 rious, or oftentatious Humour, which while in- 
 dulged was the Shame of their own Families, and 
 when it can be indulged no longer is their Tor- 
 ment. This will be a terrible Reproach to Reli- 
 gion : Such a Reproach to it, that a Good Man 
 would rather chufe to live on Bread and Water, 
 or indeed to die for Want of them, than to oc 
 
 cafion it. 
 
 §. 4. Guard 
 
 (h^y Prov. vi. II. 
 
«! 
 
 ;* 
 
 272 Cautions againft an Over-eafinefsy Ch. 2 r^ 
 §.4 Guard therefore, I befeech you, againft 
 any Thing which might tend that Way, efpcci- 
 ally *by Diligence in BufinefSy and by Prudence and 
 Frugality in Expence -, which, by the Divine Blef- 
 fing, may have a very happy Influence to 
 make your Affairs profperous, your Health vi- 
 o-orous,' and your Mind eafy. But this cannot 
 be attained, without keeping a refolute Watch 
 over yourfelf, and ItrenuouOy refufing to comply 
 with many Propolals, which Indolence or Sen- 
 fuality will offer m very plaufible Forms, and for 
 which it will plead, '' that italks but very little." 
 Take heed, left in this Rcfpeft you imitate thofc 
 fond Parents, who by indulging their Children 
 in every little Thing they have a Mind to, en- 
 courage them by infenfiblc Degrees to grow ftill 
 more°incroaching and imperious in their De- 
 mands •, as if they chofe to be ruined with them, 
 rather than to check them in what feems a Trifle. 
 Remember, and confider that excellent Remark, 
 fealed by the Ruin of fo many Thoufands : s* He 
 *^ that defpifeth fmall Things, fhall fall by little 
 
 *' and little." ^ yr r • 
 
 & 5 In this View, give me Leave alfo len- 
 oufly and tenderly to caution you, my dear 
 Reader, againft the Snares of vain Company, 1 
 fpeak not, as before, of that Company, which is 
 openly licentious and profane. I hope there is 
 fomething now in your Temper and V^ews, 
 which would engage you to turn away from luci 
 with Deteftation and Horror. But I befeech 
 YOU to confider, that thofe Companions may be 
 very dangerous, who might at firft give you but 
 very little Alarm : I mean thofe, who tho' not 
 the declared Enemies of Religion, and profelled 
 Followers of Vice and Diforder, yet neverthelels 
 
 have 
 
 Ch. 2 1 . and a CompTiance with vafn Coiiipafff, 273 
 
 have no prafticai Senfe of Divine Things on 
 their Hearts, fo far as can be judged by their 
 Converfation and Behaviour. You muft often of 
 Neceflity be with fuch Perfons; and Chriftianity 
 not only allows, but requires, that you fhould, 
 on all expedient Occafions ot Intercourfe with 
 them, treat them with Civility and Refpeft: 
 But chufe not fuch for your moft intimate Friends^ 
 and do not contrive to fpend moft of your leifure 
 Moments among them. For fuch Converfe has 
 a fenfible Tendency to alienate the Soul from 
 God, and to render it unfit for all Spiritual Com- 
 munion with him. To convince you of this, do 
 but refledl: on your own Experience, when you 
 have been for many Hours together among 
 Perfons of fuch a Charafter. Do you not find 
 yourfelf more indifpofed for Devotional Exer- 
 cifes ? Do you not find your Heart, by infenfible 
 Degrees, more and more inclined to a Confor- 
 mity to this World, and to look with a fecret 
 Difrelifh on thofe Objedls and Employments, to 
 which Reafon diredts as the nobleft and the beft? 
 Obferve the firft Symptoms, and guard againft 
 the Snare in Time : And for this Purpofe, en- 
 deavour to form Friendfhips, founded in Piety, 
 and fupported by it. Be a Companion of them that 
 fear GOD, and of them that keep his Precepts (i). 
 You well know, that in the Sight of God they 
 are the Excellent of the Earth ^ let them therefore 
 ie all your Delight (k). And that the peculiar Be- 
 nefit of their Friendfhip may not be loft, endea- 
 vour to make the beft of the Hours you fpcnd 
 with them. The wifeft of Men has obferved, 
 that when Counfel in the Heart of a Man is like 
 deep Waters, that is, when it lies low and con- 
 
 T cealed, 
 
 
 (i) Pfal. cxix. 63. 
 
 (k) Pfal. xvi. 3. 
 
k 
 
 n 
 
 J74 ExttJJhe Hurries of worldly Bu/mefs Ch.2J. 
 ceakd, a Man of Underftandmg will draw it out (1). 
 EndeaVour the/efore on fuch Occafions, fo far as 
 you can do it with Decency and Convenience to 
 eive the Converfation a Rehgious Turn. And 
 Sen ferious and ufeful Subjefts are ftarted m 
 your P efence, lay hold of them and cdcvate 
 them i and for that Purpofe, let the Word of 
 Chr,ftdwell riMy in you {^), and be continually 
 made the Man of your Counfel (n). 
 
 T 6 If it be fo, it will fecure you, not only 
 from the Snares of Idlenefs and Luxury, but trorn 
 the Contagion of every bad Example. And it 
 will alfo engage you to guard aga.nll thofc ^cef 
 five Hurries ''of worldly Bufinefs, which V;Ould fi 1 up 
 ill your Time and Thoughts, and thereby choke 
 the POod mrd of God, and render tt in a great 
 Meffure, if not quite, w,fruUful{o). Young 
 People are generally of an enterprizing D fpofi- 
 tion • Having experienced comparatively little of 
 theFadgucofB^mefs, and of the D.fappoint- 
 ments a^nd Incumbrances of Ufe they eaWj 
 fwallow them up, and annihilate them in the r 
 Imagination, and fancy that their Spirit, their 
 Application and Addrefs, will be able to en- 
 founter and furmount every Obftacle or Hin- 
 drance. But the Event proves it otherwife. Let 
 me intreat you therefore, to be cautious, how 
 you plunge yourfelf into a greater Variety of 
 Bufinels than you are capable of managing as 
 ^u ought, that is, in Confiftency with the Car 
 of you? Souls, and the Service of God •, which 
 certainly ought not on any Pretence to be neg- 
 Sed. It b true indeed, that . prudent Regard 
 to your worldly Intereft would require fuch a Cau- 
 tion i as it is obvious to every careful Obferver, 
 
 (1) Prov. XX. s. (•") Col. iii. «6. C) Pf^J- *«*• *+• 
 
 (o) Mat. xiii. 22. * 
 
 th. 2 1 . fliould he avoided as a dangerous Snare. 275 
 
 that Multitudes are undone, by grafping at more 
 ihan they can conveniently manage. Hence it 
 has frequently been feen, that while they have 
 iTeemed refohed to be rid., they have pierced them- 
 felves thro* with many Sorrows (p), have ruined 
 their own Families, and drawn down many o- 
 thers into Deiblation with them. Whereas, 
 could they have been contented with moderate 
 Employments and moderate Gains, they might 
 have profpered in their Bufinefs, and might by 
 furc Degrees, under a Divine Bleffing, have ad- 
 vanced to great and honourable Increafe. But 
 if there were no Danger at all to be apprehend- 
 ed on this Head, if you were as certain of beco- 
 ming rich and great, as you are of perplexing 
 and fatiguing yourfelf in the Attempt, confider, 
 1 befecch you, how precarious thefe Enjoyments 
 are. Confidcr, how often a plentiful Table be- 
 comes a Snare ^ and that which Jloould have been for a 
 Man's Welfare^ becomes a "Trap (q). Forget not 
 that fhort Leffon, which is fo comprehenfive of 
 the higheft Wil'dom •, One 'Thing is needful {x). 
 Be daily thinking, while the gay and great 
 Things of Life are glittering before your Eyes, 
 how loon Death will come, and impoverifh you 
 at once ; how foon it will ftrip you of all Poffef- 
 fions, but thofe which a naked Soul can carry 
 along with it into Eternity, when it drops the 
 Body in the Grave. Eternity! Eternity! 
 Eternity! Carry the View of it about with 
 you, if it be poflible, thro* every Hour of wan 
 king Lite; and be fully perfuaded, that you 
 have no Bufinefs, no Iruerelt in Life, that is in- 
 tonfiRent with it : For whatfoever would be in- 
 .jurious to this View, \% not your Bufinefs., h not your 
 
 T 2 Intereft. 
 
 (p) I Tim. vi. 10. (q) Pfal. Ixix. 22. (r) Luke x. 42. 
 
476 Riches exfofe to great femptations, Ch. 2 1. 
 Lerefi. You fee indeed, that the Generahty oj 
 Men a(5V as if they thought the great inin^ 
 ^hrS'o. require'd of the., in or er .o^^urc 
 
 ^^Hr^It Teta^f^uchrthfy ct^jfout 
 
 Ss^of all, for making a httle Addmo And 
 as it ic were to abet this Defign, they tel otner , 
 and ^-rhaps tell themfelves. They only leek Op- 
 ^^l^uneTof greater Ufefulnefs^ But -n efteft 
 tf rhev mean any Thing more by this, tnan a 
 CapaSty oTufefLefs. 'which, -hen they have 
 U ^they will not exert, they generally deceive 
 hemfdves; and one Way or another, t a 
 vain Pretence. In moft Inftances, Men leek t Ik, 
 World, either that they may hoard up R'ches, 
 for the mean and fcandalous Sati. ad.on of look- 
 ing upon them while they are mng ^nd of 
 
 ?f T-=rhfm'' that th y hav'left > mny Hun- 
 
 nrobablv to infnare their Children, or otncr 
 fis Ifor the Vanity |s not peculur ^y hol^ 
 who have Children of their own r) Or elie tiwt 
 lev mTv lavift. away their Riches on their Lufts, 
 j^>d dTvnrmfelvesin aGulf of Senluahty m 
 
 wlfich if Reafon be .not loft Keh^on . foon 
 iwallowed up, and with it all the noble t ne^ 
 fures which can enter into the Heart of Man. 
 
 i„ this ^^^z^:^^^X^ 
 
 Sa^n ;Se Poo"^ : ^ eXs when M^e (which 
 
 Ch 21. and have proved the Ruin of Jimy. 277 
 Ruin which awaits impenitent Sinners, a more 
 cxauifite Senfe of their Mifery. 
 T 7 An d let me obferve to you, my dear 
 Readc; left you Ihould think yourfelf fecure 
 Ka^yfuch Danger, that we have great Rea- 
 
 Si^o apprel-"^' ^^"^^^ ^^^ "^nT'^Hv o^f 
 wrctcheS'state, who once thought fenouny of 
 
 Religion, when they were firft <^ ""S °" ^^^ 
 lowe° Grcumftances of Life •, but they Have 
 We forfaken God {ox Mammon, and are now 
 pSng Imfelves in thofe gfden Chai,^^^^ 
 ,1 all Probability, before it be long, wi" J^^J^ 
 i:^ ,0 remai'n in thofe cf Dar^nefi^ When 
 therefore an Attachment to the World rnay be 
 followed with fuch fatal Confcquences, k not 
 
 StfrglSnTw^aStey^taieVbl'S^^^^ 
 
 S;[rk1y^ to%xpofe yo^;^^^^^^^ 
 
 endeavour to be eafy and content %v.th a 1 ttk 
 And if Providence call you out to aft in a larger 
 Sphere, fubmit to it in Obedience to Provdencej 
 bSt number it among the Trials of Life which 
 it will require n larger Proportion of Grace to 
 bearwell.^ For be affured, that as Affairs and 
 Interefts multiply, Cares and Duties will cc - 
 tainly increafe, and probably Difappo.ntmen s 
 and Sorrows will increafe in an equal Propor- 
 
 ''°&" 8 Cm the whole, Uarh by Divine Grace 
 to d,e to the prefent World ; to look upon it as a 
 low State of Being, which God never mtended 
 for the final and complcatHappinefs, or the lu- 
 pream Care of any one of his Ch'Wr^^^j-J^ 
 
 **• 3 
 (s) Prov. xxili. 17. 
 
278 An Exhortaticn to die to the World. Ch .ly 
 World, where fomethino; is indeed to be en- 
 joyed, but chiefly from^hmfclf -, where a great 
 deal is to be borne with Patience and Refigna- 
 tion •, and where Ibme important Duties arc to 
 be performed, and :i Cotirfe of Difapltne to be 
 palled thro\ by which you are to be form'd for a 
 better State •, to which as a Chriftian you are 
 near, and to which God will call you, perhaps 
 on a fudden, but undoubtedly, if you hold on 
 your Way, in the fitteft Time and the mod con- 
 venient Manner. Refer therefore all this to 
 Him. Let your Hopes and Fears, your Expe^a- 
 tions and Deiires, v/ith Regard to this World, 
 be kept as low as pofiible •, and all your Thoughts 
 be united, as much as may be, in this one Cen- 
 tre, What it is, that Gou would, in prefent 
 Circumftances, have you to be •, and what is tbni 
 Method of ConduB, by which you may moft et- 
 fedually pleafe and glorify bun ?■ 
 
 The young Convert's Prayer for Bkine Protetlion, 
 agamfi the Danger of tbefe Snares. 
 
 BLESSED GOD! In the Midfl of Ten 
 Thouland Snares and Dangers, which 
 fiirround me from without and from within, 
 permit me to look up unto Thee with my 
 humble Intrcaty, that Thou wouldfl: delrjcr 
 tnc from them that rife up againfl me (t), and that 
 Thine E^;es may he upon me for Good{\.\)l When 
 Sloth and Indolence are ready to feize mc, a- 
 waken me from that idle Dream, with lively 
 and affectionate Views of that Invifible and 
 Eternal World, to which I am tending! Re- 
 mind me of v/hat infinite Importance it is, 
 
 " that 
 
 (t) Pfal. lix. I. (u) Jer. xxiv. 6. 
 
 it 
 
 «c 
 
 i& 
 
 ifc 
 «( 
 it 
 i( 
 ic 
 
 Ch. 2 1 . A Prayer to he kept from tbefe Snares. 279 
 ** that I diligently improve thofe tranfient Mo- 
 <c ments, which Thou haft allotted to me as 
 " the Time of my Preparation for it! 
 
 «* When Sinners entice me ^ may I not ccnfent(x)! 
 c' May holy Converfe with God give me a Dif- 
 « relifti for the Converfe of thofe, who are 
 *' Strangers to Thee, and who would feparate 
 '' my Soul from Thee! May I honour them that 
 " fear the Lord (y), and walking with iy^ch wife 
 *c and holy Men, may 1 find I am daily advan- 
 cc cingin WifdomandHolinefs(zj! ^ickenme, 
 " Oh Lord, by their Means-, that by me Thou 
 *' mayft alfo quicken others! Make me the hap- 
 ^' py Inftrument of inkindling and animating 
 *' the Flame of Divine Love in their Breafts •, 
 *' and may it catch from Heart to Heart, and 
 *' erow every Moment in its Progrefs! 
 
 ?' Guard me. Oh Lord, from the Love of 
 ^^ fenfualPleafure! May I ferioufly remember, 
 that to he carnally minded is Death (a)/ May it 
 pleafe Thee therefore, to purify and refine 
 mv Soul by the Influences of Thme Holy Spi- 
 rit that I may always Ihun unlawful Gratifi- 
 cations, more lolicitoufly than others purfue 
 them •, and that thofe Indulgences of animal 
 Nature, which Thou haft allowed, and which 
 the Conflitution of Things renders neceflfary, 
 may be foberly and moderately ufed! May I 
 ftiU remember the fuperior Dignity of my Spi- 
 ritual and Intelligent Nature, and may the 
 Pleafures of the Man and the Chriftian be fought 
 as my nobkft Happinefs! May my Soul rife 
 on the Wings of holy Contemplation, to the 
 Ree'ions of Invifible .Glory -, and may I be en- 
 ° X 4 " deavouring 
 
 (C 
 
 C( 
 
 (C 
 
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 (x) Prov. i. 10. (y) Pfa. XV. 4. 
 (a) Rom. viii. 6. 
 
 (2) Prov. xiii. 20. 
 
i 
 
 280 A Prayer to be kept from thefe Snares. Ch . 2 r . 
 
 ** deavouring to form myfelf, under the Influ- 
 ♦^ encesof Divine Grace, for the Entertainments 
 " of thofe Angelick Spirit?, that live in Thy 
 ^* Prefence in a bappy Incapacity of thofe grofs 
 *' Delights, by which Spirits dwelling in Flefh 
 *' are fo often infnared, and in which they fo of- 
 •' ten lofe the Memory of their high Original, 
 *' and of thofe noble Hopes which alone are pro- 
 *^ portionable to it! 
 
 *' Give me. Oh Lord, to know the Station in 
 
 ** which Thou haft fixed me, and fteadily to 
 
 *' purfue the Duties of it ! But deliver me from 
 
 ** thofe exceffive Cares of this fVorld^ which would 
 
 ^' fo engrofs my Time and my Thoughts, that 
 
 *' the one Thing needful (hould be forgotten! May 
 
 ♦* my Defires after worldly Pofleflions be mode- 
 
 *' rated, by confidering their uncertain and un- 
 
 ^* fatisfying Nature ; and while others are laying 
 
 " up Treafures on Earthy may I be rich towards 
 
 GOD (b) / May I never be too bufy to attend 
 
 to thofe great Affairs, which lie between Thee 
 
 and my Soul •, never be fo engrofied with the 
 
 *' Concerns of Time, as to negle(5l the Interefts 
 
 •« of Eternity! May I pafs thro' Earth with my 
 
 ** Heart and Hopes fet upon Heaven, and feci 
 
 *' the attradlive Influence ftronger and rtronger, 
 
 ** as I approach ftill nearer and nearer to that de- 
 
 ** firable Centre ; till the happy Moment come, 
 
 *' when every Earthly Objeft (hall difappear from 
 
 *' my View, and the ftiining Glories of theHea- 
 
 ** venly World fhall fill my improved and 
 
 *' ftrengthened Sight, which fhall then bechear'd 
 
 *' with that which would now overwhelm me! 
 
 ^f Amen." , 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (b) Luke :ifii. 21. 
 
 Ch. 22. BecUnfions in Religion to be feared, 281 
 
 (C 
 
 
 CHAP. XXIL 
 
 The Cafe of Spiritual Decay and Languor 
 
 in Religion. 
 
 Peclenfwns in Religion^ and Relapfes into Sip, with 
 their forrowful ConfequenceSy are in the general too 
 probable. §. i. The Cafe of Declenfion and Lan- 
 guor in Religion defcribed. Negatively ; §. 2. and 
 Pofitively-y §.3. as dif covering itfelfy (i.) By 
 a Failure in the Duties of the Clofet. §. 4. (2.) 5y 
 a Neglect of Social IVorfhip. §.5. (3 .) By Want 
 of Love to our Fellow-Ckrijlians. §. 6. (4.) By 
 an undue Attachment tofenfual Pleafures^ or fecular 
 Cares. §. 7. (5.) By Prejudices againfl fome im- 
 portant Principles in Religion: §.8. A Symp- 
 tom peculiarly fad and dangerous. §. 9, 10. Di- 
 regions for Recovery ^ §. 1 1 . immediately to be 
 pur/uedy §.12. A Prayer for one under Spiritual 
 Decays. 
 
 §. I . T F I ^ni fo happy as to prevail upon you 
 j^ in the Exhortations and Cautions I 
 have given, you will probably go on with Plea- 
 fure and Comfort in Religion ; and your Path 
 will generally be like the Morning Light, which 
 Jhineth more and more until the perfe^i Day (a). Yet 
 I dare not flatter myfelf with an Expeftation of 
 fuch Succefs,as fhall carry you above thofe Va- 
 rieties in Temper, Conduft, and State, which 
 
 have 
 
 (a) Prov. iv. 18, 
 
i« 
 
 282 Every Abatement of Fervour Ch . 2 2 . 
 
 have been more or lefs the Complaint of the 
 bcR of Mt:n. Much do I fear, that, how 
 v/armJy foever your Heart may now be imprefsM 
 with th'^ R-prt* fentation I have been making, 
 tho* the ^icat Objedls of your Faith and Hope 
 continue unchangeable, your Temper towards 
 them v/ill be changed. Much do 1 fear, that 
 you will feel your Mind languijh and tire m the 
 good Ways of God j nay, that you may be 
 prevailed upon to take fome Step out of them, 
 and may thus fall a Prey to fome of thoje^ Tempta- 
 tions^ which you now look upon with a holy 
 Scorn. The probable Confequence of this will 
 be, that God will hide his Face from you ; that 
 he will ftretch forth his afflicting /f^;;^againft you ; 
 and that you will K\\\ fee your forrowful Mo- 
 ments, how chearfully foever you may now be 
 rejoicing in the Lordy and joying in the GOD of your 
 Salvation (b). I hope therefore, it may be of 
 fome Service, if this too probable Event fliould 
 happen, to confider thefe Cafes a little more par- 
 ticularly : And I heartily pray, that God would 
 make what I (hall fay concerning them, the 
 Means of reftoring, comforting, and ftrength- 
 ening your Soul, if he ever fuffers you in any 
 Degree to deviate from him. 
 
 §. 2. We viiW frji confider the Cafe of Spirir 
 tual Becknftons, and Languor in Religion, And 
 here I dcfire, that, before I proceed any far- 
 ther, you would obferve, that I do not compre- 
 hend under this Head every Abatement of that 
 Fervour, which a young Convert may find, 
 when he firft becomes experimentally acquainted 
 with Divine Things. Our Natures are fo framed, 
 that the Novelty of Objefts ftrikes them in fome- 
 
 thing 
 
 (b) Hab. lii. 18. 
 
 jGh. ^%' ^^^^^ ^^^ within this Cafe. 283 
 
 thing of a pequliar Manner : Not to urge, how 
 much more eafily our PalTions are impreffed in 
 the earlier Years of Life, than when we arc 
 niore advanced in the Journey of it. This, 
 perhaps, is not fufficiently confidered. loo great 
 a Strefs is commonly laid on the Flow ofJffe^ionsi 
 and for want of this a Chriftian who is ripened 
 in Grace, and greatly advanced in his Prepara- 
 tion for Glory, may fometimes be ready to la- 
 ment imaginary rather than real Decays, and to 
 fay, without any juft Foundation, Oh that it were 
 with we as in Months paft (c) / Therefore you can 
 hardly be too frequently told, that Religion 
 confifts chiefly, in the Refolution of the Will for 
 GOD, and in a conftant Care to avoid whatever 
 we are perfuaded He would difapprove, to dif- 
 patch the Work He has afligned us in Life, and 
 to promote His Glory in the Happinefs of Man- 
 kind. To this we are chiefly to attend, looking 
 in all to the Simplicity and Purity of thofe Mo- 
 tives from which we aft, which we know arc 
 chiefly regarded by that God who fcarches the 
 Heart % humbling ourfelves before him at the 
 fame Time under a Senfe of our many Imper- 
 Jeftions, and flying to the Blood of C/&rj/? and 
 the Grace of the Gofpel. ^ 
 
 §. 3. Having given this Precaution, I will 
 now a Ijtde more particularly defcribe the Cafe, 
 which I call the State of a Chriflian who is declining 
 in Religion i fo far as it does not fall in with thofe, 
 which I (hall confider in the following Chapters. 
 And 1 mufl: obferve, that it chiefly confifts in a 
 Forgetfulnefs of Divine Objc5ls^ and a Remiffnefs in 
 thofe various Duties^ to which we (land engaged 
 hy that folenrn Surrender vfhkh we have made of 
 
 ourfelves 
 
 (c) Job xxix. 2. 
 
884 Spiritual Decay will difcoz'er itfelf Ch . 2 2 . 
 ourfelves to the Service of God. There will be 
 a Variety of Symptoms, according to the difil-- 
 rent Circumftances and Relations in. which the 
 Chriftian is placed ; but fome will be of a more 
 univerfal Kind. It will be peculiarly proper to 
 touch on thefe ; and To much the rather, asthelc 
 Declenfions are often unobferved, like ihe grey 
 Hairs which were upon Ephraim^ when he kne-^ U 
 
 §.4. Should you, my good Reader, fall 
 into this State, it will probably fir ft difcover it- 
 felf, by a Failure in the Duties of the Clofet. Not 
 that 1 fuppofe, they will at firft, or certainly 
 concludj, that they will at all, be wholly omit- 
 ted : But they will be run over in a cold and for- 
 mal Manner. Sloth, or fome of thofe other 
 Snares which I cautioned you againftinthe former 
 Chapter, will fo far prevail upon you, that the' 
 perhaps you know and recoUca:, that the proper 
 Seafon of Retirement is come, you will fometimcs 
 indulge yourfelf upon pur Bcdm i\\^ Mormngy 
 fometimes in Converfation or Bufinefs in the Even- 
 ings fo as not to have convenient Time for it. Or 
 perhaps, when you come into your Clofet at that 
 Seafon, fome favourite Book you are dclirous to 
 read, fome Correfpondence that you chufe to 
 carry on, or fome other Amufement, will pre- 
 fent itfelf, and plead to be difpatchedfirfl. This 
 will probably take up more Time than you ima- 
 gined ; and then, S-cret Prayer will be hurried 
 over, and perhaps reading the Scripture quite 
 nef^ledted. You will plead perhaps, that it is 
 h\^ for once: But the iame Allowance will be 
 made a fecond^ and a ihirdTime •, and it will j^row 
 more eafy and familiar to you each Time, than 
 
 it 
 
 'd) Hof. vji. 9 
 
 Ch . 2 2 . in negle5ling Clofet and Family Duties, a 8 ^ 
 
 it was the laft. And thus God will be nmkedy 
 and your own Soul will be defrauded of its Jpiri- 
 tual Meals, if I may be allowed the ExprefTion ; 
 the Word of God will be flighted, and Self- 
 Examination quite difufed -, and fecret Prayer it- 
 felf will grow a Burthen, rather than a Delight-, 
 a trifling Ceremony, rather than a devout Ho- 
 mage fit for the Acceptance of our Father who is 
 
 in Heaven. 
 
 §. 5. If immediate and refolute Meafures be 
 pot taken for your Recovery from thefe Declen- 
 fions, they will fpread farther, and reach theA5is 
 of Social mrlhip. You will feel the Effeft in your 
 Families, and in Publick Ordinances, And if 
 you do not feel it y the Symptoms will be fo much 
 the "joorfe. Wandering Thoughts will as it were 
 eat out the very Heart of thefe Duties. It is not, 
 I believe, the Privilege of the moft eminent 
 Chriftians, to be entirely fxt^ from them: But 
 probablv in thefe Circumftances, you will find but 
 few Intervalsofftrid Attention, or of any Thing 
 which wears the Appearance of Inward Devo- 
 And when thefe heartlefs Duties are con- 
 
 lion. 
 
 eluded, there will fcarce be a Reflexion made, 
 how little God hath been enjoyed in them, how 
 little he hath been honoured by them.^ Perhaps 
 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper , being fo ad- 
 mirably adapted to fix the Attention of the Soul, 
 and to excite its warmeft Exercife of holy AflFec- 
 tions, may be the lafi Ordinance in which thefe De- 
 cJcnficns will be felt. And yet, who can fay, that 
 the Sacred Table is a privileged Place ? Having 
 been unnccclTarily ftraitned in your Preparations, 
 you will attend with lefs Fixednefs and Enlarge- 
 ment of Heart than ufual. And perhaps a Dif- 
 fatisfaftion in the Review, when there has been a 
 
 remark- 
 
286 A Worldly Simper often leads to it^ Ch. 22. 
 remarkable Alienation or Infenfibility of Mind; 
 may occafion a Difpofition to forfake your Place and 
 your Duty there. And when your Spiritual Ene- 
 mies have once gained this Point upon you, it is 
 probable you will fall by fwifter Degrees than 
 ever, and your Refiftance to their Attempts will 
 grow "Teaker and weaker. 
 
 §. 6. When your Love to GOD our Father^ 
 and to the Lord Jcfus Chrijl fails, your Fervour 
 of Chriftian Affedion to your Brethren in Cbrijl 
 will proportionably decline, and your Concern 
 for Ufefulnefs in Life abate •, efpecially, where 
 any Thing is to be done for Spiritual Edification. 
 You will find one Excufe or another, for the 
 Neglef^ of Religious Difcourfe, perhaps not only 
 among Neighbours and Chriftian Friends, when 
 very convenient Opportunities oft^er ; but even 
 with Regard to thofe, who are Members of your 
 own Families, and to thofe, who, if you are fixed 
 in the fuperior Relations of Life, are committed 
 to your Care. 
 
 §.7. With this Remiflhefs, an Attachment^ 
 cither to fenfual Pleafiire^ or to worldly Bufmefs^ will 
 increafe. For the Soul mud have fomething to 
 employ it, and fomething to delight itfelt in t 
 And as it turns to one or the other of thefe. 
 Temptations of one Sort or another will prefent 
 themfelves. In fome Indances, perhaps, the 
 ftrifteft Bounds of Temperance, and the regu- 
 lar Appointments of Life may be broken in 
 upon, thro* a Fondnefs for Company^ and the En- 
 tertainments which often attend it. In other In- 
 ftances, the Interefts of Life appearing greater 
 than they did before, and taking up more of the 
 Mind, contrary Interefts of other Perlons may 
 throw you into Difquietude, or plunge you in 
 
 Debate 
 
 \ 
 
 Ch. 22. a}id Prejudices help to confirm it. ^187 
 
 Debate and Contention ; in which it is extreamly* 
 difficult to preferve, either the Serenity, or the 
 Innocence of the Soul. And perhaps, ifMini- 
 fters and other Chriftian Friends obferve this, 
 and endeavour in a plain and faithful Way to 
 reduce you from your Wandring, a falfe Delicacy 
 of Mind^ often contrafted in fuch a State as this, 
 will render thefe Attempts extreamly difagrec- 
 able. The Ulcer of the Soul (if I may be allowed 
 the ExprefTion,) will not bear betvig touched^ when 
 it moft needs it ; and one of the moft generous 
 and felf-denying Indances of Chriflian Friendfljtp 
 fhali be turned iiiio an Occafion of Coldnefs and 
 Diftafte, yea perhaps of Enmity. 
 
 §. 8. And pofTibly, to fum up all, this difor- 
 dered Stare of Mind may lead you into fome Pre- 
 judices againfl thofe very Principles^ which might be 
 moff effectual for your Recovery : And your great 
 Enemy may fucceed fo far in his Attempts againft 
 you, as to perfuade you, that you have loft no- 
 thing in Religion, when you have almoft loft all. 
 He may very probably lead you to conclude, 
 that your former Devotional Frames were mere 
 Fits of Enthufiafm ; and that the holy Regula- 
 rity of your Walk before God was an unnecef- 
 fary Stridlnefs and Scrupulofity. Nay, you may 
 think it a great Improvement in Underftanding, 
 that you have learnt from fome new Mq/lers, that 
 if a Man treat his Fellow-Creatures with Huma- 
 nity and Good Nature, judging and reviling only 
 thofe who would difturb others by the Narrow- 
 nefs of their Notions^ (for thefe are generally ex- 
 empted from other Objefts of the moft univerfal 
 and difinterefted Benevolence fo often boafted 
 of,) he muft neceflarily be in a very good State, 
 tho* he pretend not to converfe much with God, 
 
 provided 
 
 tihagfcrtifliWriiil^irirriii'iairitertMaiii!^^ 
 
 iillillMiriiiMiiili lliili iliiilfi'tiHir 'I 
 
288 The Cafe offucbis very fad and dangerous, Chi.ii, 
 
 provided that he think refpedtfully of him, and 
 GO not provoke him by any grofs Immoralities. 
 
 §.9. I MENTION this in the lafl Stage of Reli^ 
 gious DeclenJionSy becaufe I apprehend that to be 
 its proper Place ; and I fear, it will be found by 
 Experience to (land upon the very Confines of 
 that grofs Apoftacy into deliberate and prefump- 
 tuous Sin, which will claim our Confederation 
 under the next Head : And becaufe too, it is that 
 Symptom, which mofl efFeftually tends to pre- 
 vent the Succefs, and even the Ufe, of any pro- 
 per Remedies, in Confequence of a fond and fa- 
 tal Apprehenfion, that they are needlefs. It is, 
 if I may borrow the Simile, like thofe Fits of 
 Lethargick Drowfinefs, which often precede 
 Apoplexies and Death. 
 
 §. 10. It is by no means my Defign at this 
 Time to reckon up, much lefs to confider at 
 large, thofe dangerous Principles, which are now 
 ready to pofTefs the Mind, and to lay the Foun- 
 dation of a falfe and treacherous Peace. Indeed 
 they are in different Inftances various, and fome- 
 times run into oppofite Extreams. But if God 
 awaken you to read your Bible with Attention^ 
 and give you to feel the Spirit with which it 19 
 written, almofl every Page will flafh in Convic- 
 tion upon the Mind, and fpread a Light to fcat- 
 tcr and difperfe thefe Shades of Darknefs. 
 
 §. II. What I chiefly intend in this Addrels, 
 is to engage you, if pofTible, as foon as you per- 
 ceive thefrfl Symptoms of thefe Declenfions, to be 
 upon your Guard, and to endeavour as fpeedily 
 as polTible to recover yourfclf from them. And 
 I would remind you, that the Remedy mufl be- 
 gin, where the firflCaufe of Complaint prevailed, 
 I mean, in the Clofet, Take fomc Time for Re- 
 
 colledioa, 
 
 t 
 
 Ch. 22; DireSfions given for Recovery. 289 
 colledlion, and afk your own Confcience ferioufly. 
 How Matters fland between the BlefTed God, 
 and your Soul ? Whether they are as they 
 once were, and as you could wifh them to be if 
 you faw your Life juft drawing to a Period, and 
 were to pafs immediately into the Eternal State? 
 One ferious Thought of Eternity fhames a Thou- 
 fand vain Excufes, with which, in the Forget- 
 fulnefs of it, we are ready to delude our own 
 Souls. And when you feel that fecret Mifgiving 
 of Heart, which will naturally arife on this Oc- 
 cafion, do not endeavour to palliate the Matter, 
 and to find out flight and artful Coverings, for 
 what you cannot forbear fecretly condemning ; 
 but honeftly fall under the Conviction, and be 
 humbled for it. Pour out your Heart before 
 God, and feck the renewed Influences of His 
 Spirit and Grace. Return with more Exaftnefs 
 to Secret Devotion, and to Self-Examination. 
 Read the Scripture with yet greater Diligence, 
 and efpecially the more Devotional and Spiritual 
 Parts of it. Labour to ground it in your Heart, 
 and to feel, what you have Reafon to believe the 
 Sacred Penmen felt when they wrote, fo far as 
 Circumflances may agree. Open your Soul with 
 all Simplicity, to every LefTon which the Word 
 of God would teach you •, and guard againft 
 thofe Things, which you perceive to ahenate 
 your Mind from Inward Religion, tho' there be 
 nothing criminal in the Tnings themfclves. 
 They may perhaps in the general be lawful -, to 
 fome poflibly they may be expedient ; but if 
 they produce fuch an Effed as was mentioned 
 above, it is certain they are not convenient for you. 
 In thefe Circumftances, above all feck the Con- 
 verfc of thofe Chriftians, whofe Frogrefs m Re- 
 
 ' 'P. ! 
 
 
290 I'bcfc Precautions to he prefcntly taken, Ch. 22. 
 
 ligion feems mod remarkable, and who adorn 
 their Profeflion in the moft amiable Manner. 
 Labour to obtain their Temper and Sentiments^ 
 and lay open your Cafe and your Heart to them, 
 with all the Freedom which Prudence will per- 
 mit. Employ yourfelf, at Seafons of Leifure, 
 rn reading Pra(ftical and Devotional Books, in 
 which the Mind and Heart of the Pious Author 
 is transfufed into the Work,, and in which you 
 can (as it were) tafte the genuine Spirit of Chri^ 
 fi'tanity. And to conclude. Take the firft Oppor- 
 tunity that prefcnts, of making an Approach to- 
 the Table of the Lord^ and fpare neither Time^ 
 nor Pains, in the moft lerious Preparation for it. 
 There renew your Covenant with God *, put your 
 Soul anew into the Hand of Omft^ and endea- 
 vour to vitw the Wonders of his dying Love, ia 
 fuch a Manner as may rekindle the languifhing 
 Flame, and quicken you to more vigorous R>e- 
 folutions than ever, to lite unto him ivho died for 
 you (e). And watch over your own Heart, that 
 the good ImprefTions you then feel, may continue. 
 Reft not, till you have obtained as confirmed a 
 State in Religion, as you ever knew. Reft not, 
 till you have made a greater Progrefs than be- 
 fore : For it is certain, more is yet behind -, and 
 it is only by a Zeal to go forward, that you can 
 be fecure from the Danger of going backward, 
 and of revolting more and more. 
 
 §. 12. I o:^LY add, that it is neceflary ta 
 take thefe Precambns as Joon as pojfible v or you 
 will probably find a much fwifter Progrefs than 
 you are aware in the downhill Road -, and 
 you may pofTibly be left of GODj to fall into fome 
 grois and aggravated 5/;/, fo as to HW your Con- 
 icience with an Agony and Horror, which the 
 
 Pain 
 
 (c) 2 Cor. V. 15. 
 
 Ch.i2. J Prayer for one umkr Spiritual Decays. 291 
 
 Pain of broken Bones (f) can but imperfeftly 
 cxprels. 
 
 -^ Pr A V £ R for one under Spiritual Dec^s. 
 
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 ETERNAL and Unchangeable Jeho- 
 VAH ! Thy Perfedionsand Glories are, 
 like Thy Being, immutable. Jesus Thy Son 
 is the fame Teflerday, To Day^ and for ever (g). 
 The Eternal World to which I am haftning, 
 is always equally important, and preffes upon 
 the attentive Mind for a more fixed and fo- 
 lemn Regard, in Proportion to the Degree in 
 which it comes nearer and nearer. But, alas, 
 my Views, and my AfFedions, and my beft 
 Refolutlons are continually varying, like this 
 poor Body, which goes thro* daily and hourly 
 Alterations in its State and Circumfliances. 
 Whence, Oh Lord, whence this fad Change, 
 which I now experience, in the Frame and 
 Temper of my Mind towards Thee > Whence 
 this Alienation of my Soul from Thee ? Why 
 can I not come to Thee with all the Endear- 
 ments of filial Love, as I once could .^ Why is 
 Thy Service fo remifsly attended, if attended 
 at all ? and why are the Exercifes of ir, which 
 were once my greateft Pleafure, become a Bur- 
 then to me ? IVhere, Oh God, /j the Bleffednefs 
 I once fpake of (h), when my Joy in Thee as 
 my Heavenly Father was fo confpicuous, that 
 Strangers might have obferved it ; and when 
 my Heart did fo overflow with Love to Thee, 
 and with Zeal for Thy Service, that it was 
 Matter pf Self-Denial to me, to limit and re- 
 ftrain the genuine Expreflions of thofe ftrong 
 
 U 2 • *i Emo- 
 
 (f) Pfal. U. g. (J) Hcb. xiii. 8. (h) Gal. iv. 15. 
 
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 292 A Prater itnicr Spiritucl Decays. Ch,22, 
 
 *' Emotipr/3 of my Soul, even where Prudence 
 '* and Duty required it ? 
 
 *' Alas, Lord, ivhitber am I fallen! Thine Eye 
 fees me Hill j but oh how unlike what it once 
 faw me! Cold and infenfible as I am, I muft 
 
 " bluflvon the Reflection. Thou feejl me in 
 
 *" Seci'Ct (i) ; and feell me, perhaps, often amu- 
 " fing my!cU with Trifles in thofe Seafons, which 
 " I ufcd Iblemnly to devote to Tliine immediate 
 ** Service. Thou feed me, coming into Thy 
 '* Prefence as by Con drain t ; and when I am 
 before Thte, fo ftraitened in my Spirit, that 
 I hardly know what to fay to Thee, though 
 " Thou art the God with izhcm I have to do^ 
 and tJK)' the keeping up an humble and duti- 
 ful Correlpondence with Thee is beyond aU 
 Com pari Ton the mofl important Bufinefs of my 
 Life. And even when I am fpeaking to 
 Thee, with how much Coldnefsand Formality 
 is it ? It is perhaps the Work of the Imagina- 
 tion, the Labour of the Lips : But where arc 
 '' thofe ardent D;^nres, thofe intenfe Breathings 
 " afrer Gou, which I once felt } Where is that 
 plcafing Repofe in Thee, which I was once 
 confcious of, as being near my Divine Reft, 
 as being happy in that Ncarnefs, and refolving 
 that if pofTible I would no more be removed 
 *' from it ^ But oh, how far am I now re- 
 " moved ^ When rhefe fliort Devotions, if they 
 may be called Devotion?, are over, in what 
 long Intervals do I forget Thee, and appear 
 fo little animated with Thy Love, fo little de- 
 voted to Thy Service, that a Stranger might 
 converfe with me a confiderable Time, with- 
 out knowing that I had ever formed any Ac- 
 
 *' quaintance 
 
 {\) Matt. vi. 6. 
 
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 Ch. 22. A Prayer under Spiritual Decays. 293 
 '^ quaintance with Thee, without difcovering 
 " that 1 had lo much as known or heard any' 
 ** Thing of Go D .? — Thou called me to Thine 
 " Houfe^ Oh Lord, on Thine own Day •, but 
 <« how heartlefs are my Services there ? I offer" 
 *< Thee no more than a Carcafe. My Thoughts' 
 " and Affl^aions are engroffed with other Ob- 
 *' jedts, while I draw near Thee with tiry Mouthy 
 
 « and honour Thee with my Dps (k). Thou 
 
 " calleft me to Thy Table \ but my Heart is fo 
 " frozen, that it hardly melts even at the Foot 
 " of the Crofs ; hardly feels any Efficacy in the 
 " Blood of Jefiis. Oh wretched Creature that I 
 " am ! Unworthy of being called Thine ! Un- 
 " worthy of a Place among Thy Children, or of 
 " the meaneft Situauon in Thy Family ; rather' 
 «' worthy to be caff our, to be forfaken, yea, to 
 be utterly deftroyed 1 
 
 " Is this. Lord, the Service, which I once 
 promifed, and which Thou haft fo many 
 " Thoufand Reafons to expedl ? Are thele 
 " the Returns I am making, for Thy daily 
 ** Providential Care, for the Sacrifice of 
 Thy Son, for the Communications of Thy 
 Spirit, for the Pardon of my numberlefs ag-' 
 gravated Sins, for the Hopes, the uiideferved 
 '' and fo often forfeited Hopes, of Eternal 
 " Glory .? Lord, I am alhamed to fland, or 
 " to kneel before Thee. But pity me, I befeech 
 Thee, and help me : For I am a pitiable Ob- 
 jea indeed ! My Soul cleaveth unto the Dufl, and' 
 lays itfelt as in the Duft before Thee ; but. 
 Oh quicken me according to Thy Word (1) / Let m.e 
 trifle no longer, for I am upon the Brink of a 
 Precipice ! I am thinking of my Way^, Oh give 
 
 U 3 • !' n^^ 
 
 (k) Ifal. xxix. 13. (1) Plal, cxix. 25. 
 
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a 94 ^ Prayer under Spiritual Decays. Ch . 2 2 . 
 
 *< mc Grace to turn my Feet unto ^hy Tejlimonies ; 
 ** to make hafte^ without any farther Delay y that I 
 *^ may keep Thy Commandments (m) / Search me^ 
 *' Oh Lord, and try me (n) / Go to the firft Root 
 ** of this Diftemper, which fpreads itfclf over 
 *' my Soul ; and recover me from it ! Reprefent 
 *' Sin unto me, Oh Lord, I befeech Thee, that 
 I may fee it with Abhorrence ! And reprefent 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift to me, in fuch a Light, 
 that I may look upon him and mourn (o), that 
 I may look upon him and love! May I 
 awaken from this ftupid Lethargy, into which 
 I am finking; and may Cbrijl give me more 
 ** abundant Degrees of Spiritual Life and Afti- 
 vity, than I have ever yet received ! And may 
 I be fo quickened and animated by Him, that 
 I may more than recover the Ground I have loft, 
 and may make a more fpeedy and exemplary 
 Progrefs, than in my beft Days I have ever 
 yet done! Send down upon me. Oh Lord, in 
 a more rich and abundant Effufion, Thy good 
 Spirit I May He dwell in me^ as in a Temple 
 which He has confecrated to Himfelf {^) ; and 
 ** while all the Service is direded and governed 
 *' by Him, may holy and acceptable Sacrifices be 
 " continually offered (q) / May the Incenfe be 
 ** conftant, and may it be fragrant ! May the Sa- 
 ** cred Fire burn and blaze perpetually (r) ; and 
 *' may none of its Vefleis ever be profaned, by 
 ** being employed to an unholy or forbidden 
 •* Ufc ! Amen." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (sb) Pfil. cxix. 59, 6r. (n) Pfal. cxxxix. 2|. (o)Zech. 
 lii. 10. (p) I Cor. iii. 16. (q) jR.om.xii. ). (r)Lev, vi. 13. 
 
 Ch. 23. The Cafe of a Relapfe into hnozvn Sin. 295 
 
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 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 The fad Cafe of a Relapfe into known and de- 
 liberate Sin, after folemn Afts of Dedica- 
 tion to God, and fome Progrefs made in 
 Religion. 
 
 Unthought ef Relapfes may happen, §. i.and bring the 
 Soul into a tmfcrahle Cafe. §.2. Tet the Cafe is not 
 defperate, §. i^The Backflider urged immediately to 
 return : {i.) By deep Humiliation before GOD for 
 fo aggraviited an Offence. §.4. (2 .) By renewed Re- 
 gards to 4be Divine Mercy in Chrifl. § 5. (3.) By 
 an open Profeffton of Repentance ^ where the Crime 
 hath given publick Offence. §. 6. (4.) Falls to be 
 reviewed for future Caution, ^. 7. The Chapter 
 concludes, §.8. with a Prayer for the Ufe of one 
 who hath fallen into grofs Sins, after Religious Re- 
 folutions and Engagenwits. 
 
 ■$. I. rT^HEDff/^;^^;/JwhichIhavedefcribed 
 J[ in the foregoing Chapter, muft be 
 acknowledged worthy of deep Lamentation : 
 But happy will you be, my dear Reader, if you 
 never know, by Experience., a Circumftance yet 
 more melancholy than this. Perhaps, when you 
 confider the View of Things which you now have, 
 you imagine that noConfiderations can ever bribe 
 you, in any fingle Inftance, to aft contrary to 
 the prefent Diftates or Suggeftions of your Con- 
 
 U 4 fciencc. 
 
 
 
Ill 
 
 296 Rekpfes zvill cccofm fad Dijlrefs. Ch . i 3 . 
 fcience, and of the Spirit of God as fetting it on 
 Work. No : You think, it would be better for 
 you to die. And you think rightly. But Peter 
 thought, and faid fo too : Tbo' I Jhould die with 
 ^hee, yet will I not deny Thee (a) : And yet, after 
 all, he Jell : And therefore k not high-minded^ but 
 fear (b). It is not impofTible, but you may fall 
 into that very Sin^ of which you imagine you are 
 lead in Danger, or into that againft which you 
 have mod fulemnly refolved, and of which you 
 have already mod bitterly repented. You may 
 relapfe into it again and again. But Oh, if you do, 
 nay, if you fliould deliberately and prefumptuoufly 
 fall but once, how deep will it pierce your Heart ? 
 How dear will you pay for all the Pleafure, with 
 which the Temptation has been baited ? How 
 will this feparate between God and you ? What 
 a Defolation, what a dreadful D;rfolation, will it 
 fpread over your Soul ? It is grievous to think of 
 it. Perhaps in flich a State you may feel more 
 Agony and Diftrcfs in your own Confcience, 
 when you come fcrioufly to refled, than you ever 
 felt when you were fird awakened and reclaim- 
 ed ; becaufe the Sin will be attended with fome 
 very high Aggravations, beyond thofe of your 
 unregenerate State. I well knew the Perfon, 
 that faid, '* The Agonies of a Sinner in the fird 
 *' Pangs of his Repentance v/cre not to be men- 
 *' tioned on the fame Day, with thofe of the Bark- 
 *' flider in Heart, when he comes to be filled -^ith 
 ** his Gzvn fray (c).'* 
 
 §.2. Indeed it is enough to wound one's 
 Heart to think, how yours will be wounded : I low 
 all -your Comforts, all your Evidences, all your 
 Hopes will be clouded : What thick Darkncfs 
 
 will 
 (^: >ht. xxvi. 35. (b) Rom. xi. : o. (c) Prov. xiv/ 1 } , 
 
 •Ch. 23. Tet the Cafe is not defperate. ^^97 
 
 will fpread itfclf on every Side, fo that neither 
 Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars, will appear in 
 your Heaven. Your Spiritual Confolations 
 will be gone -, and your Temporal Enjoyments 
 will alio be rendered tadelefs and infipid. And 
 if Aftiiflions be fent, as they probably may in 
 order to reclaim you, a Confcioufnefs of Guilt 
 will fharpen and invenom the Dart. Then will 
 the Enemy of your Soul with all his Art and 
 Power rife up againd you, encouraged by your 
 Fall, and labouring to trample you down in utter 
 hopelefs Ruin. He will perfnade you, that you 
 are already undone beyond Recovery. He will 
 fugged, that it fignifics nothing to attempt it 
 any more -, for that every Effort, every Amend- 
 ment, every Aft of Repentance, will but make 
 your Cafe fo much the worle, and plunge you 
 lower and lower into Hell. 
 
 §. 3. Thus will he endeavour by Terrors to 
 keep you from that fure Remedy, which yet re- 
 mains. But yield not to him. Your Cafe will 
 indeed htfad ; and if it be now your Cafe, it is, 
 deplorably fo *, and to red in it would be dill 
 much worfe. Your Heart would be hardened yet 
 more and more \ and nothing could be expedled, 
 but fudden and aggravated Dedrudion. Yet 
 blefled be God, // is not quite hopelefs. Your 
 Wounds are corrupted, becaufe of your Fooliflmefs (d) ; 
 but the Gangrene is not incurable, nere is Balm 
 in Gilead, there is a Phyftcian there (e). Do not 
 therefore render your Condition indeed hopelefs^ 
 by now faying. There is no Hope (f ), and drawing 
 a fatal Argument from that falfe Suppofition for 
 going after the Idols you have loved. Let me ad- 
 dfcls you, in the Language of God to his hack- 
 
 Jliding 
 
 (0 Pfal. xxxviii. 5. (c) Jcr. vlii. 22. (0 J^r. ii. 25. 
 
 , s 
 
 i- 
 
 htwrmnfr nlMHaM^ S mil S^ 
 
29S ^<? Backjlider is earneftly urgtd Ch. 2 j: 
 Jlidhtg People^ when they were ready to appre- 
 hend that to be their Cafe, and to draw fuch a 
 Conclufion from it : Only return unto me^ faith the 
 jjord (g). Cry for renewed Grace •, and in the 
 Strength of it labour to return. Cry with Da- 
 ^d, under the like Guilt ; I hofve gone ajlray like a 
 lofl Sheep, feek thy Servant -, for I do not forget thy 
 Commandments {h)% and that Remembrance of 
 them is, I hope, a Token for Good. But if 
 thou wilt return at all, do it immediately. Take 
 not one Step more in that fatal Path, to which 
 thou haft turned afide. Think not to add one 
 Sin more to the Account, and then to repent ; 
 as if it would be but the fame Thing on the 
 whole. The fecond Error may be worfe than the 
 firji ; it may make Way for another and another, 
 and draw on a terrible Train of Confequences 
 beyond all you can now imagine. Make hap 
 therefore, and do not delay, Efcape, and fly, as 
 f»r thy IJfe (i), before the Dart pike thrf tJjy Lt- 
 ver{V). Give not Sleep to thine Eyes, nor Slumber 
 io thine Eye-lids (1): Lie not down upon thy Bed 
 under unpardoned Guilt, left Evil overtake thee^ 
 left the Sword of Divine Juftice (hould imitc 
 thee ; and whilft thou purpofeft to return To 
 Morrow, thou (houldft this Night go and take 
 PoffefTion of Hell. 
 
 §. 4. Return immediately, and permit me 
 to add, return folemnly. Some very pious and 
 excellent Divines have expreflTed thcmfclves upon 
 this Head, in a Manner which feems liable to 
 dangerous Abufe -, when they urge Men after a 
 Fall, " not to ftay to lurvey the Ground, nor 
 ** to confider how they came to be thrown down^ 
 
 *' but 
 
 M Jr. u\. 1.13. (>>) Pfal.cxix. 176. 'j; Gfn. xix. 17. 
 
 (ki^rov. vli. 23. 0) Prov. vi. 4- 
 
 Ch. 23. to an immediate mid folemn Return. 999 
 
 " but immediately to get up and renew the 
 «* Race." In (lighter Cafes, the Advice i$ 
 good : But when Confcience has fufFercd fuch 
 violent Outrage by the CommifTion of known, 
 wilful, and deliberate Sin, (a Cafe, which one 
 would hope, fhould but feldom happen to thofc 
 who have once fmcerely entered on a religious 
 Courfe,) I can by no Means think, that either 
 Reafon or Scripture encourage fuch a Method. 
 Efpecially would it be improper, if the AdUoa 
 itfclf has been of fo heinous a Nature, that even 
 to have fallen into it on the moft fudde-n Sur- 
 prize of Temptation muft greatly have fliamed, 
 and terrified, and diftrcfled the Soul. Such aa 
 Afiair is dreadfully folemn, and ftould be treated 
 accordingly. If this has been the fad Cafe with 
 you, my then unhappy Reader, I would pity 
 you, and mourn over you •, and would befecch 
 you, as you tender your Peace, your Recovery, 
 the Health and the very Life of your Soul, that 
 you would not loiter away an Hour. Retire im- 
 mediately for ferious Refledlion. Break thro* 
 other Engagements and Employments, unlefi 
 they be fuch as you cannot in Confcience delof 
 for a few HourSy which can feldom happen in 
 the Circumftance I now fuppofe. This is the cm 
 Thing needful. Set yourfelf to it therefore, as in 
 the Prefence of God, and hear at large patient- 
 ly and humbly what Confcience has to fay, tho* 
 it chide and reproach feverely. Yea, earneftly 
 pray, that God would fpcak to you by Confci- 
 cnce, and make you more thoroughly to know 
 and feel, what an^ evil and bitter Thing it is, that 
 you have thus forfaken him (m). Think of all the 
 aiggravating Circumftances attending your Of* 
 
 fence i 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 
m 
 
 -300 Be deeply bumlledforfo great a Sin^ Ch . 2 j. 
 
 fences and efpecially think of thofe, which arife 
 from abufed Mercy and Goodnels-, which arife, 
 Jiot only from your Iblemn Vows and Engage- 
 ments to God, but from the Views you have 
 had of a Redeemer's Love, fcaled even in Blood. 
 And are thefe the Returns ? Was it not enough, 
 ■that Cbrijl (hould have been thus injured by bis £- 
 neimcs? Mud he be zvounded in the Iloiife of bis 
 Friends too (n) ? Were ^ou deliver ed^ to work fuch 
 Abominations as tbeft (o) ? Did the Blcfled Jesus 
 groan and die for you, that you might fin with 
 Boldnefs and Freedom, that you might cxtraEf^ 
 as it were, the very Spirit and EJfence of Sin^ and 
 offend God to a Height of Ingratitude and Bafe- 
 Dtfs, which would otherwife have been in the 
 Nature of Things impoffible? Oh think, how 
 juftly God might ca/l you out from his Prefencel 
 How juftly He might number you among the 
 moft fignal Inftances of his Vengeance! And 
 xhink, how your Heart would endure^ or your 
 Hands befirong^ if he fliould deal thus with you {^)\ 
 Alas! All your former Experiences would en- 
 hance your Senfcofthe Ruin and Mifery, that 
 mull be felt in an Eternal Banifhment from the 
 Divine Prefence and Favour. 
 
 . §. 5. In'dulge 7«rZ/ Refk^iens as thefe. Stand 
 the humbling Sight of your Sins in fuch a View 
 as this. The more odious and the more painful 
 it appears, the greater Profpecfl there v^ill be of 
 your Benefit by attending to it. Bur the Matter 
 is not to reft here. All thefe Reflecflions are in- 
 tended, not to grieve, but to cure; and to 
 grieve no more, than may promote the Cure. 
 You are indeed to look upon Sin: But you are 
 »lib, in fucl^aCircumftance, if ever, to look upon 
 ,-..-* Chriji i 
 
 (n) Zech. xlii. 6. (o) Jcr. vii. 10. (p)«Ezck. xxii. 14^ 
 
 Ch. 23. and fe'ekfor Mefcy^thrd* (Hhrifl. - gcftf 
 
 Chriji', to look upon him, whom you have no'^' 
 piereed deeper than before, and to mourn for him 
 with Sincerity and Tendernefs (q). The God^ 
 whom you have injured and affronted, whofe* 
 Laws you have broken, and whofe Juftice yoU' 
 have (as it were) challenged by this fooHfh 
 wretched Apoftacy, is neverthelefs a moft merct-' 
 ful GOD (r). You cannot be fo ready to return 
 to him, as he is to receive you. Even nov/ 
 does he, as it were, follicit a Reconciliation, by 
 thofe tender Imprefllons which he is making- 
 upon your Heart. But remember, bow be will 
 b^ reconciled. It is in the very fame Way, in 
 which you made your firft Approach to him ; in 
 the Name, and for the Sake, of his dear Son. 
 Come therefore, in an humble Dependance upon 
 him. Renew your Application to Jesus, that 
 his Blood may (as it were) be fprinkled upon 
 your Soul, and your Soul may thereby be puri- 
 fied, and your Guilt removed. Tiiis very Sin 
 of yours, which the Bleffed God forefaw, in- 
 creafed the Weight of your Redeemer's Suffer- 
 inc^s: It was cor'^erned in (bedding his Blood. 
 Humbly go, and place your Wounds, as it 
 were, under the Droppings of that precious 
 Balm, by which alone they can be healed. That 
 compaffionate Saviour will delight to reftore 
 you, when you lie as an humble Suppliant at hi^ 
 Feet, and will gracioufly take Part with you in 
 that Peace and Pleafure which he gives. Through? 
 Him renew your Covenant with God, that bro^ 
 ken Covenant, the Breach of which Divine Jt^ 
 ftice might teach you to know by terrible things in 
 Right eoufnefs {%) : JBut Mfrry allows of an Acconi^ 
 modation. Let the Confcioufnefs and Remeroi 
 
 brancc 
 
 (.-]) Zech. xii. i^im (r) Deut. iv. 31. (s) Pfal. bcv. $, 
 
 ^ h% 
 
 > r^' 
 
jOt If the Crime bos given pubUck Offence^ Ch . 2 j . 
 
 brance of that Breach engage you to enter into 
 Covenant anew, under a deeper Senfe than ever 
 of your own Weaknefe, and with a more cordial 
 Dependance on Divine Grace for your Security, 
 than you have ever yet entertained. I know, 
 you \i^ill be ajhamed to prefent yourfelf among 
 the Children of God in his Sanctuary, and efpe- 
 cialJy at his Table, under a Confcioufnefe of fo 
 much Guilt: But break thro* that Shame, if 
 Providence open you the Way. You would be 
 bumbled before your offended Father : But furely 
 there is no Place where you are more hke to be 
 humbled, than when you fee yourfelf in his 
 Houfe •, and no Ordinance adminiftred there 
 can lay you lower, than that in which Cbrift is 
 evidently fet fcrth as crucified before your Eyes (t). 
 Sinners are the only Perfons, who have Bufmeis 
 there. The bed of Men come to that Sacred 
 Table, as Simers : As fach make your Approach 
 to it ; yea, as the greatcft of Simers ; as one who 
 needs the Blood of Jefus, as much as any Crea- 
 ture upon Earth. 
 
 §. 6. And let me remind, you of one Thing 
 more: If your Fall has been of fuch a Nature as 
 to give any Scandal to others^ be not at all con- 
 cerned to fave Appearances, and to moderate 
 thofe Mortifications which deep Humiliation before 
 ihem would occafion. The Depth and Pain of 
 that Mortification is indeed an excellent Medi- 
 cine, which God has in his wife Goodnefs ap- 
 pointed for you in fuch Circumftanccs as thefe. 
 In fuch a Cafe, confefs yowr Fault with the greateft 
 Frankncfs: Aggravate it to the utmoft: Intreat 
 Pardon, and Prayer, from thofe whom you havt 
 ofiendc.}. Then, and never till then, will you 
 
 be 
 
 (t) Gal. ill. I. 
 
 Ch. 23. Repentance ffjould he openly prof effed, 30 j 
 
 be in the Way to Peace : Not by palliatino- a 
 Fault, not by making vain Excufes, not by ob- 
 jedling to the Manner in which others may have 
 treated you; as if the leaft Excefs of Rigour in a 
 faithful Admonition were a Crime equal to fome 
 great Immorality that occafioned it. This can 
 only proceed from the Madnefs of Pride and Self- 
 Love : it is the Senfibility of a Wound, which 
 is hardened, fwelled, and inflamed ; and itmuft 
 be reduced, and cooled, and fuppled, before it 
 can pofTibly be cured. To be cenfured, and 
 condemned by Men, will be but a little Grie- 
 vance, to a Soul thoroughly humbled and bro- 
 ken under a Scnfe of having incurred the con- 
 demning Sentence of God. Such a one will ra- 
 ther ^^r^ to glorify GOD^ by fubmitting to dc- 
 ierved Blame ; and will fear deceiving others 
 into a more favourable Opinion of him, than he 
 inwardly knows himfelf to deferve. Thefe arc 
 the Sentiments which God gives to the fincerc 
 Penitent in fuch a Cafe ; and by this means He 
 reftores him to that Credit and Regard among 
 others, which he does not know how to feek; 
 but which neverthelefs, for the Sake both of his 
 Comfort and Ufefulnefs, God wfHs that he fliould 
 have-, and which it is, humanly fpeaking, im- 
 poflible for him to recover any other Way. But 
 there is fomething fo honourable in the frank 
 Acknowledgment of a Fault, and in deep Humi* 
 hation for it, that all who fee it, npraft needs ap- 
 prove it. They pity an Offender, who is 
 brought to foch a Difpofition ; and endeavour to 
 comfort him with returning Expreflions, no€ 
 only of their Love, but of their Efteem too. 
 
 $. 7. Excuse this DigrefTion, which may fuit 
 fome Cafes ; and which would fuit many more, 
 
 if 
 
 
 «"'[ 
 
 jita^'A-.CJf.^w. «.<:■■«!■■-. 
 
304 Falls to be reviewed for future Caution. Ch. 2^- 
 if a regular Difcipline were to be exercifed in 
 Churches : For on fuch a Suppofition, the Lord s 
 Supper could not be approached after vifible and 
 fcandalous Falls, without folemn Confeflion of the 
 OfTence, and Declarations of Repentance. On 
 the other hand, there may be Inftances of fad 
 Apoftacy, where the Crime, tho* highly aggra- 
 vated before God, may not fall under Human 
 Notice. In this Cafe, remember, that your Bu- 
 finels is with Him, to whofe piercing Eye every 
 Thing appears in its juft Light : B.tore Him 
 therefore proftrate your Souls, and feek a folemn 
 Reconciliation with Him, confirmed by the Me- 
 morials of his dying Son. And when this is 
 done, imagine nor, that becaufe you have re- 
 ceived the Tokens of Pardon, the Guilt of your 
 Apofiacy is to be forgot at once. Bear it ftill in your 
 Memory for future Caution : Lament it before 
 God, in the frequent Returns of fecret Dovotion 
 cfpeclally : And view with Humiliation the Scars 
 ot thofe Wounds which your own Folly occa- 
 fioned, even when by Divine Grace they are 
 thoroutrhly healed. For God eftablifhes his Co- 
 venantT not to remove the Senfe of every paft 
 Abomination, but that thou may eft remember thy 
 IVass, and be confounded, and never open thy Mouth 
 am more becaufe of thy Shame, even <when 1 am pa- 
 cified towards thee for all that thou haft done, faith 
 
 the Lord (u). , , -r j. 
 
 & 8 And now, upon the whole, it you de- 
 
 fire to attain fuch a Temper, and to return by 
 
 fuch Steps as thefe, then immediately fall down 
 
 before God, and pour out your Heart in His 
 
 Prefence, in Language like this. 
 
 A Prayer 
 
 (u) Ezek. xvi.63. 
 
 Ch. 45. A Prayer for one fallen into grofs Sin, 305 
 
 A Pr A V E R for one who has fallen into grofs Sin^ 
 after Religious Refolutions and Engagements. 
 
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 OH Moft Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God! 
 When 1 ferioufly refleft on Thy fpor- 
 Jefs Purity, and on the Urict and impartial 
 Methods of Thy fteady Adminiftration, toge- 
 ther with that Almighty Power of Thine, 
 which is able to carry every Thought of Thine 
 Heart into immediate and full Execution, I 
 may juftly appear before Thee this Day with 
 Shame and Terror, in Confufion and Confter- 
 nation of Spirit. This Day, Oh, my God, 
 this dark mournful Day, would 1 take Occa- 
 fion to look back to that fad Source of our 
 Guilt and our Mifery, the Apoftacy of our 
 common Parents, and fay with thine offend- 
 ing Servant David, Behold, 1 was fhapen in Ini- 
 quity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me{y^). 
 This Day would I lament all the fatal Confe- 
 quences of fuch a Defcent, with Regard to 
 myfelf. And Oh how many have they been* 
 — The Remembrance of the Sins of my un- 
 converted State, and the Failings and Infir- 
 mities of my After-life, may juftly confound 
 me : How much more fuch a Scene, as now 
 lies before my Confcience, and before Thine 
 all-feeing Eye? For nou. Oh Lord, knowefi 
 my Fooliflmefs , and my Sins are not hid from 
 Thee{x). Thou telleft all my PFandrings from 
 Thy Statutes (y j : Thou feeft, and Thou re- 
 cordeft, every Inftance of my Difobedience 
 to Thee, and of my Rebellion againft Thee : 
 Thou fecft it in every aggravated Circum- 
 
 X " ftance 
 
 (w) Pfal. li. 5. fx) Pfal. Uix. 5. (y) Pfal. Ivi. 8. 
 
 Il 
 
 
 
3o6 A Prayer for one fallen into grofs Sin, Ch.23 
 *- (lance which I can difcern, and in many 
 ** more which I have never obfcrved or re- 
 " flccled upon. How then fhall I appear inThy 
 '• Prefence, or //// up my Face to Thee (z) / / am 
 *' full of Ccnfitficn (a), and feel a (ecret Regret in 
 *' the Thought of applying to Thee : But, Ob 
 *' Lord, to whom Jhculd I go, hut unto fhee (b) .? 
 " unto Thee, oh whom depends my Life, or my 
 " Death ; unto Thee, who alone canft take away 
 " that b:urthen of Guilt, which now prefies me 
 " down to the Dull •, who alone canft reftore to 
 *' my Soul that Hell and Peace which 1 have 
 Joil, and which I deferve for ever to lofe ? 
 " Behold me. Oh Lord God, falling down at 
 Thy Feet ! Bc:hold me, pleading guilty m 
 Thy Prefence, and furrendering myfelf to 
 that Juftice which I cannot efcape ! I have 
 *' not one Word to offer in my own Vindication, 
 " in my own Excufe. Words, far from being 
 " ^ble to clear up my Innocence, can never fut- 
 " ficiently defcribe the Enormity and Demerit of 
 " my Sin. Thou, Oh Lord, and Thou only 
 " knoweft to the full, how heinous and how ag- 
 ** gravated it is. Thine Infinite Underftanding 
 ** alone can fathom the Infinite Depth of its 
 '* Malignity. I am, on many Accounts, mod 
 " unable to do it. I cannot conceive the Glory 
 ♦' of TLyy Sacred Majcjly, whofe Authority I 
 *' have defpiied -, nor the Number and Variety 
 <' of thofe Mercies, which 1 have finned againfl. 
 *' I cannot conceive the Value of the Blood of 
 ^' Thy dear Son, which I have ungratefully tram- 
 *' pled under my Feet ; nor the Dignity of that 
 «« BUJfed Spirit of Thine, v^hoic Agency 1 have, as 
 " far as 1 could, been endeavouring to oppofe, 
 
 *' and 
 
 (z) Ezr. ix. 6. (a) Job x. 15. (b) John vi. 68. 
 
 c« 
 
 Ci 
 
 cc 
 
 «c 
 
 Ch. 23. after former Religious Engagements, 307 
 
 " and whofe Work I have been, as with all my 
 *' Might, labouring to undo, and to tear up 
 " (as it were) that Plantation of His Grace, 
 <* v/hich I fhould rather have been willing to 
 *' have guarded with my Life, and watered with 
 " my Blood. Oh the Bafenefs and Madnefs of 
 " my Condu6l! That I (hould thus, as it were, 
 *' rend open the Wounds of my Soul, of which 
 *' I had died long 'ere this, had not Thine own 
 " Hand applied a Remedy, had not Thine only 
 " Son bled to prepare it! That I fliould violate 
 " the Covenant I have made with Thee by Sacri- 
 " fee (c), by the Memorials of fuch a Sacrifice 
 " too, even of Jefus my Lord, whereby I am be- 
 " come guilty of His Body and Blood (d) .' That I 
 " fhould bring fuch Difhonour upon Religion 
 *' too, by fo unfuitabie a Walk, and perhaps 
 " open the Mouths of its greatefl Enemies to 
 " infult it upon my Account, and prejudice fome 
 *' againft it to their everlafling Dellruftion ! 
 
 " 1 wonder. Oh Lord God, that I am here 
 '' to own all this. I wonder. Thou hafl not 
 *' long ago appeared as a fwift Witnefs againft 
 " me (e) ; that Thou hafl not difcharged the 
 *' Thunderbolts of Thy flaming Wrath againft 
 *' me, and crufhed me into Hell •, making me 
 *' there a Terror to all about me, as well as to my- 
 *' felt, by a Vengeance and Ruin, to be diflin- 
 *' guifhed even there, where all are miferable, 
 *' and all hopelefs. 
 
 " Oh God, Thy Patience is marvellous I But 
 *' how much more marvellous is Thy Grace, which 
 *' after all this invites me to Thee ! While I am 
 *' here giving Judgment againft myfelf, that I 
 " deferve to die, to die for ever. Thou art fend- 
 
 X 2 ** ing 
 
 (c) Pfal. 1. 5. (d) I Cor. xi. 27. (c) Mai. iii.5. 
 
 ,ti 
 
 f .-. 
 
 
 l\! 
 
joS A Prayer for one fatten into grofs Sin^ Ch . 2 3. 
 
 ^ ing me the Words of everhfling Life^ and 
 ' calling me^ as a backjliding Child^ to return unto 
 ' Thee (f ). Behold therefore, Oh l/)fd^ invited 
 ' by Thy Word, and encouraged by Thy Grace, 
 ^ I come \ and great as my TranfgrefTions are, I 
 ' humbly befeech Thee freely to pardon them : 
 ' Becaufe 1 know, that tho' my Sins have reached 
 ^ unto Heaven (g), and are lifted up even to the 
 ^ Skies (h), lljy Mercy ^ Oh Lord, is above the 
 ' Heavens (i). Extend that Mercy to me. Oh 
 ^ Heavenly Father ; and difplay, in this illuf- 
 ' trious Inftance, the Riches of thy Grace, and 
 ' the Prevalency of Thy Son's Blood ! For 
 
 • furely, if fuch crimfon Sins as mine may be 
 
 • made white as Snozv^ and as Wooll (k), and if 
 ' fuch a Revolter as I am be brought to eternal 
 
 Glory, Earth muft, fo far as it is known, be 
 filled with Wonder, and Heaven with Praife v 
 and the greateft Sinner may chearfully apply 
 for Pardon, if I the chief of Sinners find it. 
 And Oh that, when I have lain mourning, 
 and as it were bleeding at Thy Feet, as long 
 as Thou thinkeft proper. Thou wouldft at 
 length heal this Soul of mine which hath finned 
 again ft Thee (1) ; and give me Beauty for Ajhes^ 
 the Oil of Joy for Mournings and the Garment of 
 Praife for the Spirit of Heavinefs (m) / Oh that 
 Thou wouldft at length reflore unto me the Joy 
 of Thy Salvation^ and make me to hear Songs of 
 Gladnefs^ that the Bones which Thou hafl broken 
 may rejoice (n) / Then, when a Senfe'of Thy 
 forgiving Love is ftied abroad upon my Heart, 
 and it is cheared with the Voice of Pardon, I 
 
 " will 
 
 (f) Jer. iii. 22. (g) Rev. xvni.5. (h) Jcr. li. 9. (i)Pfal. 
 cviii.4. (k) Ifai. i, 18. (.1; Plal.xli.4. (m) Ifai. Ixi. 3. 
 (n) Pfal. li. 8, 12. 
 
 <6 
 
 <( 
 
 X( 
 
 iC 
 
 CC 
 
 (( 
 
 Ch. 23. after former Religious Engagements, 309 
 
 will proclaim Thy Grace to others ; / will 
 teach Tranfgrejfors Thy Ways^ and Siymers Jfoall he 
 ' converted unto Thee (o) ; Thofe, that h^vc been 
 backfliding from Thee, fhall be encouraged 
 to feek Thee by my happy Experience, which 
 I will gladly proclaim for Thy Glory, tho' ic 
 be to my own Shame and Confufion of Face. . 
 «* And may this Joy of the Lord he my Strength (p), 
 *' fo that in it I may ferve Thee henceforward 
 '' with a Vigour and Zeal far beyond what I 
 *' have hitherto known ! 
 
 " This I would aflc, with all humble Submif- 
 fion to Thy Will •, for I prefume not to infift 
 upon it. If Thou (houldft fee fit to make me 
 a Warning to others, by appointing that I 
 " fhould walk all my Days in Darknefs, and at 
 " laft die under a Cloud, Thy Will he done ' 
 ^' But, Oh God, extend Mercy for Thy Son's 
 " Sake to this finful Soul at laft ; and give me 
 " fome Place, tho* it were at the Feet of all 
 «' Thine other Stirvants, in the Regions of Glo- 
 ry ! Oh bring me at length, tho' it (hould be 
 thro' the gloomieft Valley that any have ever 
 pafTcd, into that bleiTed World, where I fhall 
 depart from G o d no more, where I fhaij 
 wound my own Confcicnce, and dilhonour 
 Thy Holy Name no more! Then fliall my 
 " Tongue be loofed, how long foever it might 
 here be bound under the Confufion of Guilt •, 
 and immortal Praifes (hall be paid to that 
 viftorious Bloody which has redeemed fuch an 
 infamous Slave of Sin, as I muft acknowledge 
 myfelf to be, and brought me, from Returns 
 into Bondage and repeated Pollution, to fiiare 
 the Dignity and Holinefs of thofe, who are 
 Kings and Priefls unto GOD (q). Amen.'* 
 
 X 2 CHAP, 
 
 (0) Pfal.li. 13, (p) Neh.vui. 10. (q) Rev. i. 6; 
 
 (c 
 
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 tmiAutttUi 
 
3 1 o The Cafe of GOD's hiding His Face, Gh . 2 4 . 
 
 C H A 
 
 P. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 n 
 
 The Cafe of the C h r i s t i a n under the 
 Hidings of G c d's Face. 
 
 The Phrafe Scriptural. §. i. It fgnifics the "Ji'ithdr aw- 
 ing the Tokens of Divine lavour, §. 2. which are 
 chiefly Spiritual, §.3. As the Reader knows not how 
 foon the Cafe may be his own, §.4. and will, if it 
 befo, find it a very for row fuUne ; §. 5. the follow- 
 ingDireBions are given: {i.)To be humble and pa- 
 tient under it. §. 6. (2.) To go onfieadily in the 
 IVay of Duty. §.7. And, {'^.) To renew a believing 
 Application to the Blood ofjefus. §.8. An humble 
 Supplication for one under thefe m(Airnful Exercifes 
 of Mind. 
 
 §. I. np'HERE is a Cafe which often occurs 
 X ^"^ ^h^ Chriftian Life, which they 
 who accuftom thcmfelves much to the Exercife 
 of Devotion, have been ufed to call the Hiding: ^f 
 GOD' s Face. It is a Phrafe borrowed fron^the 
 Word of God, which I hope may fhelrer it from 
 Contempt at the firft Hearing. It will be my 
 Bufinefs in this Chapter, to fiate it as plainly as 
 I can, and then to give fome Advices as to your 
 own Condud when you fall into it, as it is very 
 probable you may before you have finifhed your 
 Journey thro' this Wilderncfs. 
 
 §.2. The 
 
 Ch. 24. cr withdrawing the Tokens of his Favour. % \ i 
 
 §.2. The Meaning of it may partly be under- 
 ftood by the oppofite Phrafe, of God's caufing His 
 Face tofJjine upon a Perfon, or lifting up upon htm the 
 JJght of His Countenance. This feems to carry in 
 it an Allufion to the pleafant and delightful Ap- 
 pearance which the Face of a Friend has, and 
 efpecially if in a fuperior Relation of Life, when 
 lie converles with thofe whom he loves ,and de- 
 lights in. Thus Job, when fpcaking of the Re- 
 gard -paid him by his Attendants, fays, If 1 fmiled 
 upon than, they believed it not, and the Light of my 
 Countenance they cofi not down (a) •, that is, they were 
 careful, in fuch an agreeable Circumftance, to 
 do nothing to dilpleafe me, or (as we ipeak) to 
 cloud my Brew. And D:yvid, Vv'hen exprelTing his 
 Defire of the Manifefl-ation of God's Favour to ♦ 
 him, fays. Lord, lift Thou up the Light of Thy Coun- 
 tenance upon me -, and, as the Effect of it, declares. 
 Thou hajl put Gladnejs in my Heart, more than if Corn 
 and IVine incnafed (b). Nor is it impolTible, that 
 in this Phrafe,- as ufed by David, there may l>e 
 fome Allufion to the bright (hining forth of the 
 'Sbckinah, that is, the Lullre which dwelt in the 
 Cloud as the vifible Sign of the Divine Prefence 
 with Ifrael, which God was pleafed peculiarly to 
 manifell upon fome publick Occafions, as a Token 
 of His Favour and Acceptance. On the other 
 Hand therefore, for God to hide His Face, muft 
 imply the zviihhclding the Tokens of His Favour, and 
 mult be efteemed a Mark of His Dilpleafure. 
 Thus Ifaiah ufes it -, Tour Iniquities have fepar ate d 
 between you and your GOD, and your Sins have hid ' 
 His Face from you, that He will not hear (c). And 
 again. Thou haft hid Thy Face from us, as not re- 
 garding the Calamities we fuffer, and baft con- 
 
 X 4 fumed 
 
 (a) Job xxix^ 14. [(b) Pial. iv. 6, 7. (c) Ifai. lix. 2, 
 
 k Jgaaij&^-iias^^iaaiflawif^iiBa j 
 
312 // chiefly relates to Spiritual Things •, Ch.24. 
 
 fimed us, hecaufe of our Iniquities (d). So likcwifc^ 
 for God to bide His Face from our Sins (e), fignifies 
 to overlook them, and to take no farther Notice 
 of them. The fame Idea is, at other Times, ex- 
 prefled by God's hiding his Eyes (f) from Pcrfons 
 of a Charader dilao^reeable to Him, when they 
 come to addrefs Him with their Petitions, not 
 vouchfafing (as it were) to look towards them. 
 This IS plainly the Scriptural Senfe of the Word ; 
 and agreeably to this, it is generally iifed by 
 Chriftians in our Day, and every Thing which 
 feems a Token of Divine Difpleafure toivards them is 
 exprefTed by it. 
 
 §. 3. It is farther to be obferved here, that 
 the Things which they judge to be Manifeflations 
 • of Divine Favour iovf^rd^ them, or Complacency 
 in them, are not only, nor chiefly^ of a Temporal Na- 
 ture, or fuch as merely relate to the BlefTings of 
 this Animal and Perifliing Life. David, x\\^ the 
 Promifes of the Law had a continual Reference 
 to fuch, yet was taught to look farther, and de- 
 fcribes them as preferable to, and therefore plain- 
 ly dittinftfrom the Bkjfings of the Corn-FIcor or the 
 Wine^Prefs (g). And if you, to whom I am now 
 addrefTing, do not know them to be fo, it is plain 
 you are quite ignorant of the Subjeft we are en- 
 quiring into, and indeed are yet to take out the 
 firft LefTons of true Religion. All that David 
 fays, of beboldiug the Beauty of the Lord (h), or be- 
 ing fatisfied as with Marrow andFatnefs, when He 
 remembered Him on his Bed {{), as well as with the 
 Goodnefs of^is Houfe, rjen of His Holy Temple (k% is 
 to be taken m the fame Senfe, and can need very 
 little Explication to the truly experienced Soul. 
 
 But 
 
 - ^'^'l^fi'T!^'''-^- fePfaMi. 9. fOKai.i. ,- (g)PraK 
 ^'v. 7. (h) Pfal. xxvii. 4, ii)PfaI.I.xiii. 5,6. lk)PraMxv.4. 
 
 t\ 
 
 Ch.24. and may foon come to be the Cafe with you, 313 
 
 But thofe that have known the Light of GOD'S Coun- 
 tenance, and the Shinings of His Face, will, in Pro- 
 portion to the Degree of that Knowledge, be able 
 to form fome Notion of the Hiding of His Face, or 
 the withdrawing of the Tokens He has given His 
 People of His Prefence and Favour, which fome- 
 times greatly imbitters Profperity ; as where the 
 contrary is found, it fweetens Affliftion, and of- 
 ten fwallows up the Senfe of it. 
 
 §. 4. And give me Leave to remind you, wy 
 Chriftian Friend, (for under that Charafter I now 
 addrefs my Reader,) that to be thus deprived of 
 the Senfe of God's Love, and of the Tokens of 
 His Favour, may foon be the Cafe with you^ 
 tho' you may now have the Pleafure to fee the 
 Candle of the Lord Jl.inivg upon you, or tho' it may 
 even feem to be Sun-fhine and Hi9;h Noon in 
 your Souls. You may lofe your lively Views of 
 the Divine Perfeftions and Glories, in the Con- 
 templation of which you now find that inward 
 Satisfadlion. You may think of the Divine Wif- 
 dom and Power, of the Divine Mercy and Fide- 
 lity, as well as of His Righteoufnefs and Holi- 
 nefs, and feel little inward Complacency of Soul 
 in the View : It may be, with Refped to any 
 lively ImprefTion, as if it were the Contemplation 
 merely of a common Objedl. It may feem to 
 you, as if you had loft all Idea to thofe impor- 
 tant Words, tho' the View has fometimes fwal- 
 lowed up your whole Soul in Tranfports of Afto- 
 nifhment. Admiration, and Love. You may 
 lofe your delightful Senfe of the Divine Favour. 
 It may be Matter of great and fad Doubt with 
 you, whether you do indeed belong to God ; and 
 all the Work of His BlefTed Spirit may be fo 
 veiled and Ihaded in the Soul, that the peculiar 
 
 Cha- 
 
i! 
 
 3 1 4 Under the Htdwgs of GOD's Face Ch . 24. 
 
 Charaflers, by which the Hand of ihat Sacred 
 Agent might be dillinguiflied, (hall be in a great 
 Meafure loft ; and you may be ready to imagine, 
 you have only deluded yourlrlf in all the former 
 Hopes you have entertained. In Confcquence 
 of this, thofe Ordinances, in which you now re- 
 joice, may grow very uncomfortable to you, even 
 when you do indeed defire Communion with God 
 in them. You may hear the moft delightful 
 Evangelical Truths opened, you may hear the 
 Privileges of God's Children moft affcftionatcly 
 reprefented, and not be aware that you have my 
 Pari or Lot in this Matter \ and from that very 
 Coldnefs and Infenfibility may be drawing a far- 
 ther Argument, that you have nothing to do with 
 them. And then your Heart may meditate ter- 
 ror (1), and under the Diftrcfs that overwhelms 
 you, your deareft Enjoyments may be refleded 
 upon as adding to the Weight of it, and making 
 it more fenfible, while you confider that you had 
 once fuch a Tafte for thefe Things, and have 
 now loft it all. So that perhaps it may fccm to 
 you, that they, who never felt any Thmg at all 
 of Religious Imprcfiions, are happier than you, 
 or at leaft are Ids milerable. You may perhaps 
 in thefe melancholy Hours, even doubt, whether 
 you ever prayed at all •, and whether all that you 
 called your Enjoyment of God, were not fome 
 falfe Delight, excited by the great Enemy of 
 Souls, to make you apprehend that your State 
 was good, that 16 you might continue his more 
 fecure Prey. 
 
 §. 5. Such as this may be your Ca(c for a con- 
 fiderable Time ; and Ordinances may be attend- 
 ed in wxin^ and the Prefence of God may be in 
 
 vain 
 
 (1) Ifai. xxxiii. 18. 
 
 Ch. 24. your Cafe will be exceeding forrowful, 3 1 5 
 
 vain fought in them. You may pour out your 
 Soul in Private, and then come to Publick Wor- 
 ship, and find little Satisfadion in either ; but be 
 forced to take up the Pfalmifl^s Complaint -, My 
 GODy I cry in the Day-Time^ hut ^hou hearefi not \ 
 and in the Night-Seafon^ and am not filcnt (m) ; or 
 that of Job^ Behold^ I go forward^ but He is not 
 there^ and backward^ but I cannot perceive Him ; on 
 the Left Hand where He doth wcrky but I cannot be- 
 hold Him •, He hideth Hiwfelf on the Right Handy 
 that 1 cannot fee Him (n): So that all, which look- 
 ed like Religion in your Mind, fhall feem, as it 
 were, to be melted into Grief, or chilled into 
 Fear, or crufhed into a deep Senfe of your own 
 Unworthinefs ; in Confequence of which, you 
 fliall not dare fo much as to lift up your Eyes be- 
 fore God, and be almoft afhamed to take your 
 Place in a worfliipping Affembly among any that 
 you think His Servants. I have known this to 
 be the Cafe of fome excellent Chriftians^ whofe 
 Improvements in Religion have been diftinguifli- 
 ed, and whom God hath honoured above many 
 of their Brethren in what He hath done for them, 
 and by them. Give me leave therefore, having 
 thus defcribed it, to offer you fome plain Advices 
 with Regard to it ; and let not that be imputed 
 to Enthufiaflick Fancy^ which proceeds from an in- 
 timate and frequent View of Fafts, on the one 
 Hand, and from a fincere affedlionate Defire, on 
 the other, to relieve the tender pious Heart in fo 
 defolate a State. At leaft, I am perfuaded, the 
 Attempt will not be overlooked or difapproved 
 by the great Shepherd of the Sheep (o), who has 
 charged us to comfort the Feeble-minded (p) . 
 
 §. 6. Now 
 
 (m) Pfal. xxli. ?. (n) Job xxlii. 8, 9. (o) Heb, f:iii. 20. 
 (p) I Their. V. 14. . 
 
 kf-' if 
 
3 1 6 /;; fuch a Cafe be humble and {mtiou^ Ch . 2 4. 
 
 §. 6. Now the Advices, I have to give you, 
 arc very plain and obvious : They carry their 
 own Reafon along with them -, and I hope, that 
 will lead you to regard them as apparently rea- 
 fonable, rather than to negled: thein becaufe they 
 are plain. In thefe fad Circumftances, '* be hum- 
 *♦ bky and be patient,''* Own, that the LORD is 
 righteous^ but \\\^x you bm:e fpmed (q). His Ear is 
 not heavy ^ that it cannot hear *, btit your Iniquities have 
 Separated between you and your GOD, and your Sms 
 have hid His Face from you^ that He will not hear(r). 
 Bow yourfelf therefore before Him, and own, 
 that you have deferved all ; deferved, not only 
 that your Sun fhould be clouded, but that ic 
 fhould go down, and arife no more, but leave 
 your Soul in a State of everlafting Darknefs. And 
 while the Shade continues, be not impatient. 
 Fret not yourfelf in any wife^ but rather, with a 
 holy Calmnefs and Gentlen^fs of Soul, wait on 
 the Lord (s). Be willing to ftay His Time, wil- 
 ling to bear His Frown, in humble Hope that 
 He will at length return and have Compaffion en 
 you (t). He has not utterly forgotten to be gracious^ 
 nor refolved, that He will be favourable no niore(u). 
 For the Lord will not caft off for ever ; but thd" He 
 ^aufe Griefs yet will He have Compaffion according to 
 the Multitude of His Mercies (x). It is comjrara- 
 tively but for a fmall Moment that He hides His 
 Face from you ; but you may humbly hope, tiiat 
 with great Mercies He will gather you^ and that 
 with eroerlafling Kindnefs H^ will have Mercy on 
 you (y). Thefe fuitable Words are not mine, but 
 His •, and they wear this, as in the very Front of 
 
 them, 
 
 (q) Lam. J. 18. (r) Kai. lix. 1, 2. (s) Pfal. xxxvii. 8, 34. 
 (t) Jcr.ocii. 15. (u) Pfal. Ixxvii. 7, 9. (x) Lam.iii. 31,32- 
 (y) Ifai. liv. 7, S- 
 
 
 Ch. 2 4. and go on in the Way of your Duty. 3 1 7 
 
 them, ** That a Soul, under the Hidings of GOD'* s 
 ** Face^ may at lead be one whom He will gather^ 
 *' and to whom He will extend everlafting Fa* 
 
 *' vottr,*' 
 
 §. 7. But while the Darknefs continues^ go on 
 
 in the Way of your Duty :' Continue the Ufe of 
 Means and Ordinances : Read, and meditate : 
 Pray, yes, and fing the Prailes of G o d too, 
 tho* it may be with a heavy Heart. Follow the 
 Footfteps of His Flock (z) -, you may perhaps meet 
 the Shepherd of Souls in doing it. Place yourfelf 
 at lead in His Way. It is poflible, you may by 
 this Means get a kind Look from Him j and one 
 Look, one Turn of Thought which may happen 
 in a Moment, may as it were create an Heaven 
 in your Soul at once. Go to the 'Table of the Imd. 
 If you cannot rejoice, go and mourn there. Go 
 and mourn that Saviour^ whom by your Sins you 
 have pierced (a) ; go and lament the Breaches of that 
 Covenant^ which you have there fo often confirmed, 
 Christ may perhaps make himfelf known unto you 
 in the Breaking of Bread (b), and you may find, 
 to your Surprize, that He hath been near you, 
 when you imagined He was at the greateft Dif* 
 tance from you •, near you, when you thought 
 you were cafl out from His Prefence. Seek your 
 Comfort in fuch Employments as thefe ; and not 
 in the vain Amufements of this World, and in 
 the Pleafures of Senfe. I (hall never forget that 
 afFedlionate Expreflion, which I am well aflured 
 broke out from an eminently pious Heart, then 
 almoft ready to break under its Sorrows of this Kind : 
 " Ijord^ if I may not enjoy Thee^ let me enjoy nothing 
 *' elfe 'y but go down mcurmng after Thee to the 
 " Grave!" I wondered not to hear, that al- 
 moft 
 (z) Cant. i. 8. (a) Zcch. xii.io. (b) Luke xxiv. 3^. 
 
 ??iP 
 
Ml 
 
 3 1 8 Renew your Application to Cbrijl, Ch. 2 4. 
 mofl: as foon as this Sentiment had been breathed 
 out before God in Prayer, the Burthen was taken 
 off, and the Joy of GOD's Salvation reftored. 
 
 §.8. I SHALL add but one Advice more; and 
 that is, '^ That you renew your Application to the 
 " Blood cf Jefiis, thro* whom the Reconciliation 
 " between God and your Souls has been accom- 
 " plifhed.'' It is He that is our Peace ; and by 
 His Blood it is, that we are made nigh (c): It is /;/ 
 Him, as the Beloved of His Soul, that GOD de- 
 clares. He is wellpleafed (d) ; and it is in Htm that 
 we are made accepted, to the Glcry of His Grace (t). 
 Go therefore, Oh Chriftian, and apply by Faith to 
 a crucified Saviour : Go and apply to Him as to 
 a merciibl High-Pricft, and pour out thy Complaint 
 before Him, and fhew before Htm thy Trouble (f ). 
 Lay open the Diftrefs and Anguifh of thy Soul 
 to Him, who once knew what it was to fay, (0{\ 
 aftonifhing ! that He of all others ihould ever 
 have faid it,) My GO D, my GOD, why hafl Thou 
 fo-faken me (g) ? Look up for Pity and Relief to 
 Him, who Himfelf fuffered, being not only tempted^ 
 but with Regard to fenfible Manifeftations de^ 
 ferted; that He might thus know how topitythoiQ 
 that are in fuch a melancholy Cafe, and be ready^ 
 as well as able, to fuccour them (h;. He is Imma- 
 nuel, GOD with us (i) ; and it is only in and thro' 
 Him that His Father fhines forth upon us with 
 the mildeft Beams of Mercy and of Love. Lee 
 it be therefore your immediate Care, to renew 
 your Acquaintance with Him. Review the Re- 
 cords of His Life and Death : Hear His Words: 
 Behold His Adions : And when you do fo, 
 
 furely 
 
 111. 17. 
 
 (c) Eph. ii. 13, 14. (d) Mat 
 (f ) Pfal. cxlii. 2. (g) Mat. xxvii. 46. 
 (ij Mat. i. 23. 
 
 (e^ Eph. i. 6. 
 (h)Heb.ii.i8. 
 
 *| 
 
 Ch. 24. as the IFay to recover your Peace. 319 
 
 furely yftu will find a ficred Sweetnefs diftufing 
 itfclf over your Soul. You will be brought into 
 a calm, gentle, filent Frame, in v;hich Faith and 
 Love will operate powerfully, andGoDmay pro- 
 bably caufe the fiill fmall Voice of His comfortino- 
 Spirit to be heard (k), till your Soul burfts out 
 into a Song of Praife, and you may be made glad 
 according to the Days in which you have been cffli^led ( 1 ). 
 In the mean Time, fuch Language, as the fol- 
 lowing Supplication fpeaks, may be fuitable. 
 
 An humble Supplication for one under the 
 Hidings cf GO D^s Face, 
 
 «' T)LESSED GOD \ with Thee is the Foun^ 
 " X) ^^^>i ^f Life (m), and oi Happinefs. I 
 " adore Thy Name, that I have ever tafted of 
 *' Thy Streams •, that I have ever felt the pecu- 
 *' liar Pleafure arifing from the Light of Thy 
 " Countenance, and the Shedding abroad of 
 " Thy Love on the Soul. But alas, thefe de- 
 ** lightful Seafons are now to me no more ; and 
 the Remembrance of them engages me to pour 
 out my Soul within me (n). I would come, as I 
 have formerly done, and call Thee, with the 
 fune Endearment, My Father and my GOD: 
 " But alas, I know not how to do it. Guilt 
 " and Fear arife, and forbid the delightful Lan- 
 guage. I fcek Thee, Oh Lord -, but I feek 
 Thee in vain. I would pray, and my Lips 
 are fealed up. 1 would read Thy Word, and 
 all the Promifes of it are veiled from mine 
 Eyes. I frequent thofe Ordinances, which 
 have been formerly mod nourifhing and com- 
 lortable to my Soul -, but alas, they are only 
 
 " the 
 
 (k) 1 Kings xlx. 12. fl) Pfal. xc. 15. (m) Pfal. xxxvi. 9. 
 (n) Pfal. xlii. 4. 
 
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 320 An humble Supplication for one Ch. 24.' 
 
 *' the Shadows of Ordinances : The Subftancc 
 *« is gone : The animating Spirit is fled, and 
 *' leaves them now atbeft but the Image of what 
 " I once knew them. 
 
 " But, Lor D, baft Tbou caft off for ever^ and 
 *' wilt fbou be favourable no more (o) ? Haft Thou 
 ** in awful Judgment determined, that my Soul 
 «' muft be left to a perpetual Winter, the fad Em- 
 <* blem of Eternal Darknefs ? Indeed I deferve 
 *' it ihould be fo. I acknowledge, Oh Lord, I de- 
 *' ferve to be caft away from ThyPrefence with Dif- 
 *' dain *, to be funk lower than lam, much lower: 
 «' I deferve, to have the Shadow of Death upon mine 
 *' Eye-lids (p), and even to be furrounded with 
 '^ the thick Gloom of the Infernal Prifon. But 
 haft Thou not raifed Multitudes, who have 
 deferved like me to be delivered into Chains of 
 <' Darknefs (q), to the Vifions of Thy Glory 
 *' above, where no Cloud can ever interpofe be- 
 *' tween Thee and their rejoicing Spirits ? Have 
 ♦« Mercy upon »;<?, Oh Lord, have Mercy upon me{T)! 
 ** and tho' mine Iniquities have now juftly caufed 
 Thee to hide Thy Face from me (s), yet be Thou 
 rather pleafed, agreeably to the gracious Lan- 
 guage of Thy Word, to hide Thy Face from my 
 '' Sins, and to blot out all mine Iniquities (t) / Chear 
 *' my Heart with the Tokens of Thy returning 
 *« Favour, and fay unto my Soul, 1 am thy Salva- 
 ** tion{u)! 
 
 ^« Remember, Oh Lord God, remember that 
 ** dreadful Day, in which Jefiis Thy dear Son 
 ** endured what my Sins have deferved ! Re- 
 •* member that Agony, in which He poured out 
 
 " His 
 
 (o) Pfal. Ixxvii. 7. (p) Job xvi. 16. (q) 2 Pet. ii. 4. 
 (r) Pfal. cxxiii. 3. (s) Ifal lix. 2. (t) PfaL li. 9. (u) Pfal. 
 XXXV. 3. 
 
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 . 24. tinder the Hiding's of GOD's Face, 321 
 His Soul before Thee, and faid. My GOD, 
 my GOD, 'why haft Thou forfaken me (x) / Did 
 He not, Oh Lord^ endure all this, that hum- 
 ble Penitents might thro' Him be brought 
 near unto Thee, and might behold Thee with 
 Pleafure, as their Father, and tTieir God? 
 Thus do I defire to come unto Thee. Bleffed 
 Saviour^ art Thou not appointed to give unto 
 them that mourn in Zion Beauty for ^ft^es, the 
 Oil of foy for Mourning, and the Garment of 
 Praife for the Spirit of Heavinefs (y) : Oh wafti 
 away my Tears, anoint my Head with the Oil 
 of Gladnefs, and clothe me with the Garments of 
 Salvation (z) / 
 
 " Oh that I knew where I might find Thee (a) / 
 Oh that I knew what it is, that has engaged 
 Thee to depart from me ! I am Jearching and 
 trying my Ways (b) : Oh that Thou wouldft 
 fearch me, and know my Heart \ try me, and know 
 my Thoughts •, and // there he any wicked Way in 
 me, difcover it, and lead me in the Way ever- 
 lajiing (c) •, in that Way, in which I m^y find 
 Reft and Peace for my Soul (d), and feel the 
 Difcoveries of Thy Love in Chrift ! 
 " Oh God, who didfl command the Light tofhine 
 out of Darknefs (e), fpeak but the Word, 
 and Light (hall dart into my Soul at once ! 
 Open Thou my Lips, and my Mouth ftjallfhew forth 
 Thy Praife (f ), fhall burft out into a chearful 
 Song, which fliall difplay before thofe, whom 
 my prefent Dejections may have difcouraged, 
 the Pleafures and Supports of Religion ! 
 
 Y '' Yet 
 
 (x) Mat. xxvii.46. (y) Ifai. Ixi. 3. ''7^ Ifai.lxi. 10. 
 (a) job xxiii. 3. (b) Lam. iii. 40. (c) Pfal. cxxxix. 23. 24. 
 (d) Jer. vi. 16. (e) 2 Cor. iv. 6. (F) Pfal. li. 15- 
 
 tl 
 
 aAlliwrtiMiaha«iJnJltr«w<fltmriiiilll>(Btoiili * WifTlifati 
 
^w 
 
 '% i*d 
 
 322 The humble Supplication of a Soul Ch. 24. 
 
 " Yet, Lord, on the whole, I fubmit to Thy 
 Will. If it is thus that my Faith muft be ex- 
 ercifed, by walking in Darknefs for Days, and 
 Months, and Years to come, how long foever 
 they may feem, how long foever they may be, 
 / iiill fubmit. Still will I adore Thee, 2i% the 
 GOD of Ifrael^ and the Saviour^ tho' Thou art 
 a GOD that hideji Thfelf(g) : Still will I trujl 
 in the Name of the Lord^ and ft ay myfelf upon 
 my GOD (h) -, trufting in Thee^ tho* Thou flay 
 me (i\ and waiting for Thee^ more than they that 
 watch for the Mornings yea^ more than they that 
 watch for the Morning (k). Peradventure in the 
 Evening Time it may be Light (1). I know, 
 Thou haft fometimes manifefted Thy Com- 
 panions to Thy dying Servants^ and given 
 them, in the loweft Ebb of their Natural Spi- 
 rits, a full Tide of Divine Glory, thus turning 
 Darknefs into Dght before them (m). So may 
 it pleafe Thee to gild the Valley of the Shadow of 
 Death with the Light of Thy Prefence^ when I 
 am palTing thro' it, and to ftretch forth Thy 
 Rod and Thy Staff to comfort me{x\)^ that my 
 *' Tremblings may ceafe, and the Gloom may 
 ** echo with Songs of Praife ! But if it be Thy 
 *' Sovereign Pleafure, that Diftrefs and Dark- 
 nefs fhould ftill continue to the laft Motion of 
 my Pulfe, and the laft Gafp of my Breath, 
 Oh let it ccafe with the parting Struggle, and 
 bring me to that Light which is fown for the 
 Righteous, and to tk-it G/adnefs which is re- 
 fer ved for the Upright in Heart (o) •, to the un- 
 clouded Regions of Everlafting Splendor and 
 
 " Joy> 
 
 (g) Ifai. xlv. 15. (h) Ifai.l. 10. (i) Job xiii. 15. 
 
 (k) Pfal. cxxx. 6. (I) Zech. xiv. 7. (m) Ifai. xlii. 16. 
 (n) Pfal. xxiii. 4. (0) Pfal. xcvii. 1 1 . 
 
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 Ch . 2 4 . under the Hidings of GOD^s Face. 323 
 
 *' Joy, where the full Anointings of Thy Spirit 
 ** (hall be poured out on all Thy People, and 
 " Thou wilt no more bide Thy Face from any of 
 them (p) .' 
 
 ** This, Lord, is Thy Salvation, for which 1 am 
 waiting (q) \ and whilft I feel the Dv-fires of 
 my Soul drawn out after it, I will never de- 
 fpair of obtaining it. Continue and increafe 
 ** thofe Dcfires, and at length fatisfy and exceed 
 them all, thro' the Riches of Thy Grace in Chrift 
 Jefus ! Amen." 
 
 (p) Eaek. xxxix, 29, (q) Gen. xlix. x8. 
 
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 CHAP. 
 
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 3'?.4 ne Cbrijlian muft expeB JffliniCfi^ Ch. 25^ 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 The Christian ftruggling under great 
 and heavy Afflictions. 
 
 Here it is advifed, (i.) That Affii^lions JI:>ould be ex- 
 pelled. §. I. (2.) That the righteous Hand of GOD 
 fljQiild be acknowledged in them^ when they come. §. 2 . 
 (3.) That they Jhculd be borne with Patience. §. 3. 
 (4.) That the Divine Condu^ in them Jhculd be cor- 
 dially approved. §.4. (5.) That Thankfulnefs 
 Jhould be maintained in the midff of Trials. §.5. 
 (6.) That the Defjgn of Affli5!ions fhoidd be dili- 
 gently enquired into, and all proper AJJiJiance taken 
 in difcovering it. §.6. (7.) That when it is dtf 
 cover ed.^ it ftjould humbly be complied with and an- 
 fwered, §.7. A Prayer fuitcd to fuch a Cafe. 
 
 §. I. O INCE Man is born unto Trouble, as the 
 ^3 ^P^rks fly upward (a), and Adam has in- 
 tailed on all his Race the fad Inheritance of C^/^- 
 tnity in their Way to Death, it will certainly be 
 prudent and necefTary, that we fliould all expe^ 
 to meet with Trials and AjfliBions \ and that you, 
 Reader, whoever you are, fhould be endeavour- 
 ing to gird on your Armour, and put yourfelf 
 into a Pofture to encounter thole Trials, which 
 will fall to your Lot, as a Man, and a Chriflian. 
 Prepare yourfelf to receive Afflidlions, and to en- 
 dure 
 (2) Job V. 7. 
 
 i\ 
 
 
 Ch.25. andJhouldmfideritasfentfromGOD. 325 
 dure them, in a Manner agreeable to both thofe 
 Charaaers. In this View, when you fee others 
 under the Burthen, confider how polTible it is, 
 that you may be called out to the very ^me Dif- 
 ficulties, or to others equal to them Put your 
 Soul, as in the Place of tlieirs. Think how 
 you could endure the Load, under which they 
 lie ; and endeavour at once, to comfort them, 
 and to ftrengthen your own Heart : Or rather 
 pray, that God would do it. And obferving 
 how liable mortal Life is to fuch Sorrows mode- 
 rate your Expeaations from it ; raife your 
 Thoughts above it -, and form your Schemes ot 
 Happinefs, only for that World, where ihey can- 
 not be difappointed : In the mean Time, bleffing 
 God, that your Profperity is lengthened out thus 
 far, and afcribing it to His fpecial Providence, 
 that you continue fo long unwounded, when lo 
 many Showers of Arrows are flying around you, 
 and fo many are falling by them, on the Right 
 Hand, and on the Left. 
 
 § 2 When at length your Turn comes, as it 
 certainly will, from the firft Hour in which an 
 Affliftion feizes you, realize to yourfelf the Hand of 
 GOD in it, and lofe not the View of Him in any 
 Second Caufe, which may have proved the im- 
 mediate Occafion. Let it be your fir^ Care, to 
 humMe yourfelf under the mighty Hand of GOD, that 
 He may exalt you in due Time (b) . Own , that rt« is 
 M in all that ts brought upon you (c), and that in 
 all thefe Things He punijhes you lefs than your M- 
 quities deferve (d). Compofe yourfelf to bear His 
 Hand with Patience, to glorify His Name by a 
 SubmilTion to His Will, and to fall in with the 
 gracious Defign of this Vifitation, as well as to 
 ° ° y 5 wait 
 
 (b) I Pet. V. 6. (c) Neh.ix. 33- (<^) E^''* "S"- 
 
 i 
 
 i 0% 
 
1 
 
 326 4ffli8ionJhould be patiently endured ^ Ch . 2 5 . 
 
 wait the Iffue of it quietly, whatfocvcr the Event 
 may be. 
 
 §. 3. Now that Patience may have its ferfeEl 
 Work (e), refled: frequently, and deeply, upon 
 your own Meannefs and Sinfulnefs. Confider, 
 how often every Mercy has been forfeited, and 
 every Judgment deferved. And confider too, 
 how long the Patience of God hath lx)rne with 
 you, and how wonderfully it is ftill exerted to- 
 wards you ; and indeed, not only His Patience, 
 but His Bounty too. Affli6led as you are, (for 
 I fpeak to you now as ndlually under the Prel- 
 fure,) look round and furvey your remaining 
 Mercies, and be gratefully fcnfible of them. 
 Make the Suppofition of their being removed : 
 What if God Ihould flretch out His Hand 
 againftyon, and add Poverty to Pain, or Pain to 
 Poverty, or the Lofs of Friends to both ; or the 
 Death of furviving Friends to that of //^<?/^ whom 
 you are now mourning over ; would not the 
 Wound be more grievous .? Adore His Good- 
 nefs, that this is not the Cafe •, and take heed, 
 left your Unthankfulnefsfhould provoke Him to 
 multiply your Sorrows. Confider alfo the Need 
 you have of Difcipline ; how wholefome it may 
 prove to your Soul, and what merciful Defigns 
 our Heavenly Father has, in all the Corredlions 
 He fends upon His Children. 
 
 §.4. Nay, I will add, That in Confequence 
 of all thefe Confiderations it may well be expcd- 
 ed, not only that you fhould lubmit to your Af- 
 flidtions as what you cannot avoid, but that you 
 fhould fweetly acqidefcein them and approve tkcvK^iXxM 
 you fhould not onlyjurtify, but glorify God in 
 lending them -, that you fhould glorify Him wirh 
 your Heart, and with your Lips too. Think 
 
 not 
 (c) Jam. i. 4. 
 
 Ch . 2 5. and he received with Jhankfulnefs. 327 
 
 not Praife unfuitable on fuch an Occafion •, nor 
 think that Praife alone to be fuitable. Which takes 
 its Rife from remaining Comforts : But know 
 that it is your Duty, not only to be thankful in 
 your Jffli^ions^ but to be thankful on Jccount of 
 
 them. 
 
 §. 5. God Himfelf has faid, In every Thing give 
 nanks {f) •, and He has taught his Servants to fay. 
 Tea alfo we glory in Tribulation (g). And mofl cer- 
 tain it is, that to true Believers they are Inftances 
 of Divine Mercy ; for "ivhom the Lord loveth He 
 chafiencth^ and fccurgeth every Son^ whom He re- 
 ceiveth with peculiar and diftinguifhed Endear- 
 ment (h). View your prefent Affliftions in this 
 Light, as Chaftifements of Love \ and then let your 
 own Heart fay, whether Love does not demand 
 Praife. Think with yourfelf. It is thus that God 
 is making me conformable to His own Son ; it 
 is thus that He is training me up for compleat 
 Glory. Thus He kills my Corruptions •, thus 
 He fbrcngthens my Graces •, thus He is wifely 
 contriving to bring me nearer to Himfelf, and 
 to ripen me for the Honours of His Heavenly 
 Kingdom. It is // Need be^ that I am in Heavi- 
 nefs (i) •, and He furely knows what that Need is, 
 better than I can pretend to teach Him ; and 
 knows what peculiar Property there is in this 
 Affliftion, to arifwer my prefent NecefTity, and 
 to do me that peculiar Good which He is gra- 
 cioufly intending me by it. This Tribulation 
 fhall iVt'rk Patience^ and Patience Experience^ and 
 Experience a more afTured Hope ; even a Hope which 
 fhall not make afhamed^ while the Love of GOD isfhed 
 abroad in my Heart (k), and fhines thro' my Af- 
 
 Y 4 flidtion, 
 
 (f) 1 Theff. V. 18. (g) Rom. V. 3. (h) Heb. xii. 6. 
 (i) I Pet. i. 6. (k) Rom. v. 3, 4, 5. 
 
328 The End of Jffli5!'wnJhould be minded, Ch. 25. 
 flidion, like the Sun thro' a gently defcending 
 Cloud, darting in Light upon the Shade, and 
 mingling Fruitfulnefs with Weeping. 
 
 §. 6. Let it be then your earneft Care, while 
 you thus look on your Afflidlion, whatever it 
 may be, as coming from the Hand of God, to 
 improve it to the Purpcfes for which it was fent. 
 And that you may lo improve it, let it be your 
 firft Concern, to bwiv what thofe Purpofes are. 
 Summon up all the Attention of your Soul, to 
 bear the Rod, and Him who bath appointed it (I) ; 
 and pray earneftly, that you may underftand its 
 Voice. Examine your Life, your Words, and 
 your Heart ; and pray, that God would fo guide 
 your Enquiries, that you may return unto the 
 Lord that fmitetb you {m). To afTift you in this, 
 call in the Help of pious Friends, and particu, 
 Jarlyofyour Minifters : Intreat, not only their 
 Prayers, but their Advices too, as to the proba- 
 ble Defign of Providence •, and encourage them 
 freely to tell you any Thing which occurs to 
 their Minds upon this Head. And if fuch an 
 Occafion fhould lead them to touch upon fome 
 of the Imperfedlions of your Chara<fler and Con- 
 duft, look upon it as a great Token of their 
 Friendftiip, and take it, not only patiently, but 
 thankfully. It does but ill become a Chriftian 
 at any Time, to relent Reproofs and Admoni- 
 tions ; and lead of all does it become him, when 
 the Rebukes of his Heavenly Father arc upon 
 bim. He ought rather to feek Admonitions at 
 fuch a Time as this, and voluntarily to offer his 
 Wounds to be fearched by a faithful and skilful 
 Hand. 
 
 § 7. And 
 
 (1) Mic vi. 9. (mj Ifai. ix. 13. 
 
 -■%^ 
 
 ^,AH 
 
 Ch. 25. and Care be taken to anfwer itsBefign. 329 
 
 §. 7. And when, by one Means or another, 
 you have got a Ray of Light to diredt you in the 
 Meaning and Language of fuch Difpenfations, 
 take heed, that you do not, in any Degree, har- 
 den yourfelf againft GOB, and walk contrary to 
 him{n). Obftinate Reludlance to the appre- 
 hended Defign of any providential Stroke is in- 
 expreffibly provoking to Him. Set yourfelf 
 therefore to an immediate Reformation of what- 
 ever you difcover amifs; and labour to learn the 
 general LefTons of greater SubmifTion to God's 
 Will, of a more calm Indifference to the World, 
 and of a clofer Attachment to Divine Converfe 
 and to the Views of an approaching Invifible 
 State. And whatever particular Proportion or 
 Correfpondence you may obferve, between this 
 or that Circumftance in your Afflidion, and your 
 former Tranfgreffions, be efpecially careful to 
 a^ according to that more peculiar and exprefs 
 Voice of the Rod. Then you may perhaps have 
 fpeedy and /emarkable Reafon to fay, that it 
 hath been good for you that you have been affliBed (o) ; 
 and with a Multitude of others, may learn to 
 number the Times of your fharpeft Trials, among 
 the fweeteft and the mod exalted Moments of 
 your Life. For this Purpofe, let Prayer be your 
 frequent Employment ; and let fuch Sendments 
 as thefe, if not in the verv fame Terms, be of- 
 ten and affedionately poured out before God. 
 
 (n) Lev. xxvi. 27. (o) Pfal. cxix. 71. 
 
 An 
 
 
 i 
 
330 An bumble Addrefs to GODy Ch. 25. 
 
 ^^Hi 
 
 i 
 
 An bumble Address to GOB, under tbe Prejfure oj 
 
 heavy Affii^wn, 
 
 OH Thou fupream, yet all-righteous 
 and gracious Governour of the whole 
 Univerfe ! Mean and inconfiderable as this lit- 
 tle Province of Thy fpacious Empire may ap- 
 pear, Thou doft not difrcgard the Earth and 
 Its Inhabitants •, but attended to its Concerns 
 with the mod condefcending and gracious 
 Regards. Thou reigneft, and / rejoice in ity as 
 it is indeed Matter of univerfalJoy{p). I 
 believe Thy univerfal Providence and Care -, 
 and I firmly believe Thy wife, holy, and kind 
 Interpofition in every Thing which relates to 
 me, and to the Circumftances of my Abode 
 in this Thy World. I would look thro' all 
 inferior Caufes unto Thee, whofe Eyes are upon 
 all Thy Creatures ; to Thee, who formeft the 
 Lights and createft Darknefs, who makeH Peace^ 
 and createft Evil (q) *, to thee. Lord, who at 
 Thy Plcafure canft exchange the one for the 
 other, canft turn the brighteft Noon into 
 Midnight, and the darkell Midnight into 
 Noon. 
 
 *' Oh Thou wife and merciful Governour of 
 the World! I have often faid, 7V>y Will he 
 done. And now, Thy Will is painiul to me. 
 But (hall I, upon that Account, unfay what I 
 have fo often faid ? GOD forbid! I come ra- 
 ther to lay myfelf down at Thy Feet, and to 
 tieclare my full and free SubmifTion to all Thy 
 Sacred Pleafure. Oh Lord, Thou art Juft 
 and Righteous in all! I acknowledge, in Thy 
 
 *' venerable 
 
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 (p) Pfal. xcvii. I 
 
 (q) Ifai. xlv. 7< 
 
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 Ch. 2 5. under the Prejfure of heavy /iffR^ion. 331 
 
 *' venerable and awful Prefence, that / have de- 
 
 " Jerved tbis^ and Ten Thoufand Times more (r). 
 
 *« I acknowledge, that // is of Thy Mercy, that 
 
 *« I am not utterly confumed(s\ and that any the 
 
 " leaft Degree of Comfort yet remains. Oh 
 
 " Lord, I moft readily confefs, that the Sins of 
 
 " one Day of my Life have merited all thefe 
 
 Chaftifements -, and that every Day of my 
 
 Life hath been more or lefs finful. Smite 
 
 therefore. Oh Thou righteous Judge ; and I 
 
 « will ftill adore Thee, that inftead of the 
 
 Scourge, Thou haft not given a Commiflion 
 
 ** to the Sword, to do all the dreadful Work of 
 
 " Juftice, and to pour out my Blood in Thy 
 
 *' Prefence. 
 
 " But ihall I fpeak unto Thee, only as my 
 *' Ji^dge? Oh Lord, Thou haft taught me a 
 " tenderer Name : Thou condefcendeft to call 
 Thyfelf my Father, and to fpeak of Correftion 
 as the EfFedt of Thy Love. Oh welcome, 
 welcome, thofe Afflidions, which are the To- 
 " kens of Thy Parental Affedion, the Marks of 
 my Adoption into Thy Family! Thou know- 
 eft, what Difcipline I need. Thou feeft. Oh 
 Lord, that Bundle of Folly, which there is 
 in the Heart of Thy poor froward and 
 thoughtlefs Child ; and knoweft, what Rods, 
 and v/hat Strokes are 7ieedful to drive it away. 
 I would therefore be in humble Subjetfion to the 
 Father of Spirits, who chafteneth me for my Pro- 
 " fit \ would be in Subje5lion to Him, and live (t). 
 1 would bear Thy Strokes, not merely be- 
 caufe I cannot refift them, but becaufe I love 
 and truft in Thee. I would fweetly acquiefce 
 and reft in Thy Will, as well as ftoop to it ; 
 
 " and 
 
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 (r) Ezr. ix. 13. (s) Lam. iii. 22. (t) Heb. xii. 9, lo. 
 
^i 
 
 2 An bumble Addrefs to GOD, Ch . 2 5 . 
 
 and would fay, Good is the Word of the Lord (u) . 
 And I defire, that not only my Lips, but my 
 Soul may acquiefce. Yea, Lord, I would 
 praife Thee, that Thou wilt fhew fo much 
 Regard to me, as to apply fuch Remedies as 
 there to the Difeafes of my Mind, and art 
 thus kindly careful to train me up for Glory. 
 I have nobbjedion againft being afflifted, a- 
 gainft being afflifted in this particular Way. 
 "The Cup which my Father puts into mine Handy 
 Jhall I not drink it (x) ? By Thine AfTiftance 
 and Support / will Only be pleafed. Oh 
 Lord, to ftand by me, and fometimes to 
 grant me a fcivourable Look in the Midft of 
 my Sufferings! Support my Soul, I befeech 
 Thee, by Thy Conlolations mingled with my 
 Tribulations-, and I (hall glory in thofe Tribula- 
 tions that are thus allayed ! It has been the Ex- 
 perience of many, who have refleded on af- 
 flided Days with Pleafure, and have acknow- 
 ledged that their Comforts have fwallowed up 
 their Sorrows. And after all that Thou haft 
 done, are Tkry Mercies rejlrained (y) ^ Is Thy 
 Hand waxed Jhort (z), or canft Thou not ftill 
 do the fame for me ? 
 
 '' If my Heart be lefs tender, lefs fenfible. 
 Thou canft cure that Dilbrder, and canft 
 make this Afflidion the Means of curing it. 
 Thus let it be ; and at length in Thine own 
 due Time, and in the Way which Thou (halt 
 chule, work out Deliverance for me ^ and 
 fljew me Thy marvellous Lovmg-kindnef: ^ Oh Thou 
 that favejl by Thy Right Hand them that put their 
 Tru§l in Thee (a) / For I well know, that how 
 
 " dark 
 
 (u1 2 Kings XX. 19. (x) John xviii. ii. (y) Ifai. !xiii 15. 
 (2) Num. xi. 23. (a) Pfal. xvii. 7. 
 
 33 
 
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 Ch . 2 1 . ««^^^ ^^^ Prejfure of heavy Affli^icn. 3 3 ^ 
 " dark foever this Night of AfBiftion feem, if 
 •« Thoufayeft, Let there be Light, there fhalt be 
 " Light. But 1 would urge nothing, before the 
 «« Time Thy Wifdom and Goodnefs (hall ap- 
 *« point. I am much more concerned, that my 
 « Affli6lions may be fanftified, than that they 
 <« may be removed. Number me. Oh God, 
 " among the happy Perfons, whom whilft Thou 
 «« chaff enefi. Thou teachejl out of Thy Law {b)! 
 " Shew me, I befeech Thee, wherefore Thou con- 
 " tendefl with me {c) ; and purify me by the Fire, 
 « which is fo painful to me, while I am pafTing; 
 " thro* it! Doft Thou not chaften Thy Children 
 " for this very End, that they may be Partakers of 
 «' Thine Holinefs (d) .? Thou knoweft. Oh God, 
 *' it is this my Soul is breathing after. I am 
 " Partaker of Thy Bounty, every Day and Mo- 
 *' ment of Life : I am Partaker of Thy Gofpel, 
 « and I hope, in fome Meafure too, a Parta- 
 ker of the Grace of it operating on my Heart : 
 Oh may it operate more and more, that I 
 may largely partake of Thine Holinefs too •, that 
 I may come nearer and nearer in the Temper 
 of my Mind to Thee, Oh BlefTed God, the 
 fupream Model of Perfeftion ! Let my Soul 
 " be 'as it were) melted, tho' with the intenfeft 
 '' Heat of the Furnace, if I may but thereby be 
 *' made fit for being delivered into the Mold of 
 " Thy Gofpel, and bearing Thy bright and a- 
 «' miable Image! 
 
 *' Oh Lord, my Soul longeth for Thee \ it crieth 
 '' out for the living GOD {e) t In Thy Prefence, 
 *' and under the Support of Thy Love, I can 
 *' bear any Thing •, and am willing to bear it, 
 
 " if 
 
 (d) Heb. xii. 10. 
 
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 (b) Pfal. xciv. 12. (c) Job. x. 2, 
 (e) Pfal. Ixxxiv. 2. 
 
 .1- 
 
 I 
 
^H' 
 
 334 A Prayer under AffiElion. Ch. 25. 
 
 ** if I may grow more lovely in Thine Eyes, 
 ** and more meet for Thy Kingdom. The 
 •' Days of my AfHiftion will have an End •, the 
 ** Hour will at length come, when Thou wilt 
 ** wipe away all my Tears (f). Tho* il tarry^ I 
 ** would wait for it (gj. My foolifh Heart, in 
 •* the Midft of all its Trials, is ready to grow 
 •* fond of this Earth, difappointing and grie- 
 ** vous as it is: And gracioufly, Oh God, doft 
 ** Thou deal with me, in breaking thofe Bonds 
 " that would tie me fafter to it. Oh let my 
 ** Soul be girding itfelf up, and as it were 
 «* ftretching its Wings, in Expeftation of that 
 *« blefled Hour, when it fhall drop all its Sor- 
 •* rows and Incumbrances at once, and foar 
 ** away to expatiate with infinite Delight in the 
 *' Regions of Liberty, Peace and Joy! Amen/* 
 
 (f) Rev. xxj. 4. (g) Htb. ii. 3. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Wi 1» ! 
 
 •r.t 
 
 Ch . 2 6. The Chriftian will deftre Growth in Grace. 335 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 The Christian affifted in examining into 
 his Growth in Grace. 
 
 The Examination important, §. i. Falje Marks of 
 
 Growth to be avoided. §.2. True Marks propofed\ 
 
 fuch as^ (i.) Increafmg Love to GOD. § 3. (2.) 
 
 Benevolence to Men, §.4. (3). Candour of Dif 
 
 pofition, §. 5. (4.) Meeknefs under Injuries. 
 
 §.6. (5.) Serenity amidft the Uncertainties of 
 
 Life. §. 7. (6.) Humility^ §. 8. efpecially as 
 
 expreffed in Evangelical Exercifes of Mind towards 
 
 Chrifi and the Spirit, §.9. (7.) Zeal for the 
 
 Divine Honour, §. 10. (8.) Habitual and chear-- 
 
 ful Wilhignefs to exchange Worlds^ whenever 
 
 GOD Jloall appoint it, §11. Conclufion, §. 12. 
 
 The Chriflian breathing after Growth in Grace. 
 
 §. I. "T F by Divine Grace you have been bom 
 \ againy not of corruptible Seed^ but of in- 
 corruptible (a), even by that Word of GOD^ which 
 liveth and abideth for ever^ not only in the World 
 and Church, but in particular Souls in which it 
 is fown ; you will, as new-born Babes, defire the 
 fmcere Milk of the Word, that you may grow there- 
 by (b). And tho' in the mod advanced State of 
 Religion on Earth, we are but Infants, in Com- 
 parilbn of what we hope to be, when in the 
 Heavenly World we arrive unto a perfe^ Man^ 
 
 unto 
 
 (a) I Pet. i. 23. (b) I. Pet ii. 2. 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 *ii 
 
 1, 
 
'« 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 326 Care mujl be taken not to he deceived Ch.iS, 
 unto the Meafure of the Stature of the Fulnefs of 
 Chrifl (c) ; yet as we have fome Exercife of a 
 fancftified Reafon, we fhall be folicitous that we 
 may be growing and thriving Infants. And 
 you, my Reader, if fo be you have tapd that the 
 Urd is gracious (d), will, I doubt not, feel this So- 
 licitude. I would therefore endeavour to afTift 
 you in making the Enquiry, whether Religion 
 be on the Advance in your Souls. And here, I 
 fliall warn you againlt \oxnt falfe Marks of Growth-, 
 and then fhall lay down others on which you 
 
 may depend as more folid. In this View I 
 
 would objerve, that you are not to meafure j^wr 
 Growth in Grace, only or chiefly by your Ad- 
 vances in Knowledge, or in Zeal, or any other 
 pafTionate ImpreOion of the Mind •, no, nor by 
 the Fervour of Devotion alone ; but by the habi- 
 tual Determination of the Will for God, and by 
 your prevailing Difpofition to obey his Commands, to 
 fubmit to his Difpofals, and to fubferve his Schemes in 
 
 the World. 
 
 §. 2. It mud be allowed, i\\^.i Knowledge, ^nd 
 Affe5lion in Religion, are indeed defirable. With- 
 out fome Degree of the former. Religion cannot 
 bt rational; and it is very reafonable to believe, 
 that without fome Degree of the latter, it cannot 
 htfincere, in Creatures whofe Natures are confti- 
 tuted like ours. Yet there may be a great Deal 
 of Speculative Knowledge, and a great Deal of rap- 
 turous Affection, where there is no true Religion 
 at all ; and therefore much more, where there is 
 no advanced State in it. The Exercife of our 
 rational Faculties upon the Evidences of Divine 
 Revelation, and upon the Declaration of it as 
 contained in Scripture, may furnilh a very wicked 
 
 Man 
 
 (c) Eph. iv. 13. 
 
 (d) 1 Pet. ii. 3. 
 
 !;^ 
 
 Ch. 26. by refling infalfe Marks of Growth, 337 
 
 Man with a well-digefted Body of orthodox Divi-^ 
 nity ill his Head, when not one fingle Doftrine of 
 it has ever reached his Heart. An e loquent Defer ip- 
 tion of the Sufferings of Chrifl, of the Solemni- 
 ties of Judgment, of the Joys of the BlefTed and 
 the Miferies of the Damned, might m.ove the 
 Bread even of a Man who did not firmly believe 
 them ; as we often find ourfelves firongly moved 
 by well-wrought Narrations, or Difcourfes, which 
 at the tame Time we know to have their Foun- 
 dation in Fiction. Natural Conflitution, or fuch 
 accidental Caufesas are fome of them too low to 
 be here mentioned, may fupply the Eyes with a 
 Flood of Tears, which may dilcharge itfelf plen- 
 teoully upon almofl any Occafion that fhall firft 
 arife. And a proud Impatience of Contradic- 
 tion, diredly oppofite as it is to the gentle Spirit 
 of Chriftianity, may make a Man^s Blood boil, 
 when he hears the Notions he has entertained, and 
 efpecially thofe which he has openly and vigo- 
 roufly efpoufed, difputed and oppofed. This may 
 pofiiblylead him, in Terms of flrong Indignation, 
 to pour out his Zeal and his Rage before God, 
 in a fond Conceit, that, as the God of Truth, 
 He is the Patron of thofe favourite Doftrines, by 
 whofe fair Appearances perhaps he himfelf is mit 
 led. And if thefe fpeculative Refinements, or 
 thefe afiedionate Sallies of the Mind, beconfi- 
 flent with a total Abfence of true Religion, they 
 arc much more apparently confiffent with a very 
 low El^ate of it. I would defire to lead you, 
 my Friend, into fublimer Notions and jufter 
 Marks i and refer you to other Pradical Wri- 
 ters, and above all to the Book of God, to 
 prove how material they are. I would therefore 
 intrcat you, to bring your own Heart to anfwer, 
 
 Z as 
 
 :»' 
 
 i. 
 
 tj 
 
W\ 
 
 338 True Marks of it are Love to GOD^ Ch. 26. 
 
 as in the Prefence of God, to fuch Enquiries as 
 thele. 
 
 §. 3. Do you find '' Divine Love^ on the 
 *' whole, advancing in your Soul?" — Do you 
 feel yourfelf more and more lenlible of the Pre- 
 fence of God ; and does that Senfe grow more 
 delightful to you, than it formerly was? Can 
 you, even when your natural Spirits are weak 
 and low, and you are not in any Frame for the 
 Ardors and Extafics of Devotion, neverthe- 
 ]efs find a pleafing Relt, a calm Repofe of 
 Heart, in the Thought that God is near you, 
 and that he fees the fecret Sentiments of your 
 Soul; vvhile you are, as it were, labouring up 
 the Hill, and calling a longing Eye towards 
 him, tho' you cannot lay you enjoy any fenfible 
 Communications from him? Is it agreeable to 
 you to open your Heart to his Infpedion and 
 Regard, to prefent it to him laid bare of every 
 Dilguife, and to fay with DaviJ^ Thou^ Lord^ 
 knowefl thy Servant (e) / Do you find a growing 
 Efteem and Approbation of that Sacred Law ot 
 God, which is the Tranfcript of his Moral Per- 
 fections? Do you inwardly ejleem all his Precepts 
 concerning all Things to be right (f) ? Do you d i fee rn, 
 not only the Neceflity, but the Realbnablencfs, 
 the Beauty, the Pleafure ol Obedience •, and feel 
 a growing Scorn and Contempt tor thoie Things, 
 which may be offered as the Price of your Inno- 
 cence, and would tempt you to facrifice or to 
 hazard your Interefl: in the Divine Favour and 
 Friendfhip? Do you find an ingenuous Defire to 
 pleafe God •, not only, becaufe he is fo powerful, 
 and has fo many good and fo many evil Things 
 entirely at his Command j but from a Veneration 
 
 of 
 
 (c) 2 Sam. vii. 20. (f) Plal. cxix. 128. 
 
 
 -«", 
 
 Ch. 26. and Benevolence to Men: 339 
 
 of his mod amiable Nature and Character? And 
 do you find your Heart habitually reconciled to 
 a mod humble Subjedion, both to his com- 
 manding, and to his difpofing Will ? Do you 
 perceive, that your own Will is now more ready 
 and difpofed, in every Circumftance, to bear 
 the Yoke, and to fubmit to the Divine Determi- 
 nation, whatever He appoint to be borne or for- 
 borne ? Can you in Patience pojjefs your Soul (g) ? 
 Can you maintain a more fteady Calmneis and 
 Serenity, when God is ftriking at your deareft 
 Enjoyments in this World, and afting mod di- 
 rectly contrary to your prefent Interelts, to your 
 natural Pafiions and Dcfires? If you can, it is a 
 mod certain and noble Sign, that Grace is grown 
 up in you to a very vigorous State. 
 
 §. 4. ExA MINE alfo, " whatAffe^ions you find 
 " in your Heart towards thofe who are round about 
 " you^ and tov^3.rdsthereJl of Mankind in general." 
 — Do you find your Heart overflow with undiC- 
 fembled and unredrained Benevolence ? Are you 
 more fenfible than you once were, of thofe many 
 endearing Bonds, which unite all Men, and et 
 pecially all Chridians, into one Community ; 
 whicli make them Brethren and Fellow-Citizens ? 
 Do all the unfriendly Paflions die and wither in 
 your Soul, while the kind focial ATeftions grow 
 and drengrhen ? And tho' Self-love was never the 
 reigning Pafllon, fince you became a true Chri- 
 Jlian -, yet as fome Remainders of it are fdli too 
 ready to work inwardly, and tofhew themfelves, 
 efpecially as ludden Occafions arife, do you per- 
 ceive, that you get Ground of them ? Do you 
 think of yourfelf only as one of a great Number, 
 whofe particular Interefts and Concerns are of 
 
 Z 2 . little 
 
 (g) Luke xxi. 19. 
 
 
 1 
 I 
 
\ 
 
 
 3 40 Ca>kiour of Difpoftlion , Ch . 2 6; 
 
 little Importance when compared with thofe ot 
 the Community, and ought by all Means, on all 
 Occafions, to be facrificed to them ? 
 
 & a Reflect efpecially *' on the Temper 
 «- of your Mind towards thofe, whom an mfanth- 
 c' fed Heart might be ready to imagine, it had 
 ** fome jufl Excufe for excepting out of the UJt o\ 
 *' thofe /■/ loves, and towards whom you are ready 
 *' tofeelafecretAverfion,oratleaftan Ahenation 
 *' from them."— How does your Mind ftand 
 affefted towards thofe, who differ from y on in their 
 Relimous Sentiments and Practices ? I do not fay, 
 that Chrifltan Charity will require you, to think 
 every Error harmlefs. It argues no Want ot 
 Love to a Friend in fome Cafes, to fear left his 
 Diforder (hould prove more fatal than he feems 
 to imagine-, nay fometimes, the very Tender- 
 nefs of Friendfnip may increafe that Apprehen- 
 fion But to hate Perlons becaufe we think they 
 are miftakcn, and to aggravate every Difference 
 in Tudement or Pradlice into a fatal and damna- 
 ble Error that deftroys all Chriftian Communion 
 and Love, is a Symptom generally much worfe 
 than the Evil it condemns. Do you love the 
 Imaee of Chrift in a Perfon, who thinks himielf 
 obliged in Confcience to profefs and worfliip in a 
 Manner different from yourfelf ? Nay farther, 
 can you love and honour that which is truly ami- 
 able and excellent, in thofe, in whom much is 
 defedive •, in thofe, in whom there is a Mixture 
 of Bigotry and Narrownefs of Spirit, which may 
 lead them perhaps to ffight, or even to cenlure 
 YOU? Can you love them, as the Diiciples and 
 Servants of Chrift, who thro' a miftaken Zeal 
 mav be ready to cafl out your Name as evtl (h), 
 ^ and 
 
 (h) Luke vi. 22. 
 
 (. 
 
 Ch. 26. and Meeknefs under Injuries : 34 1 
 
 and to warn others againft you as a dangerous 
 Perfon ? This is none of the leaft Triumphs of Cha- 
 rity, nor any defpicablc Evidence of au Advance 
 in Religion. 
 
 §. 6. And, on this Head, refledt farther, 
 " how can you bear Injuries ?" — There is a certain 
 Hardinefs of Soul in this Refpe6l:, which argues 
 a confirmed State in Piety and Virtue. Does 
 every Thing of tliis Kind hurry and rufHe you, 
 fo as to put you on Contrivances, how you may 
 recompenfe, or at leaft, how you may difgrace 
 and expofe him, who has done you the Wrong? 
 Or can you ftand the Shock calmly, and eafily 
 divert your Mind to other Objeds, only (when 
 you recolledl thefe Things,) pitying and praying 
 for thofe, who with the worft Tempers and Views 
 are affaulting you: This is a Cbriflhke Temper in- 
 deed •, and He will own it as fuch -, will own you, 
 as one of his Soldiers, as one of his Heroes ; efpe- 
 cially if it rifes fo far, as inftead of being over- 
 come of Evil, to overcome Evil with Good (i). 
 Watch over your Spirit, and over your Tongue, 
 when Injuries are offered -, and fee, whether you 
 be ready to meditate upon them, to aggravate 
 them to yourfclf, to complain of them to others, 
 and to lay on all the Load of Blame that you in 
 Juftice can •, or whether you be ready to put the 
 kindeft Conftruftion upon the Offence, to excufe 
 it as far as Reafon will allow, and (where, after 
 all, it will wear a black and odious Afpeft,) to 
 forgive it, heartily to forgive it, and that even 
 before any "ubmiflfion is made, or Pardon asked ; 
 and in Token of the Sincerity of that Forgiye- 
 nefs, to be contriving what can be done, by 
 
 Z 3 ibmc 
 
 (i) Rom. xii. 21. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 '& 
 
 ;-*|^ 
 

 ^mm 
 
 i 
 
 CC 
 
 C( 
 
 342 Fortitude of Mind^ and Humility : Ch. 26. 
 
 fome Benefit or other toward the injurious Perfon, 
 to teach him a better Temper. 
 
 §. 7. Examine farther, " with Regard to 
 the other Evils and Calamities of Life^ and even 
 with Regard to its Uncertainties^ how ^an you 
 *' bear them ?^^ — Do you find, your Soul is ia 
 this Relpedl gathering Strength ? Have you few- 
 er foreboding Fears and difquieting Alarms, than 
 you once had, as to what may happen in Life? 
 Can you truft the Wifdom and Goodnefs of 
 God, to order yc'jr Afiliirs for you, with more 
 Complacency and Chearfulnefs than fornicrrly ? 
 Do you find, you are able to unite your Thoughts 
 more in furveying prefent Circumftances, that 
 you may colledl immediate Duty from them, 
 tho* you know not what God will next appoint 
 or call you to? And when you feci the Smart of 
 Afflidion. do you make a Icls Matter of it ? Can 
 yea transfer your Heart more eafily to Heavenly 
 and Divine Objefts, without an anxious Solici- 
 tude, whether this or that Burthen be removed, 
 fo it may but be fanclified to promote your Com- 
 munion with God, and your Ripcncfs for Glory ? 
 §.8. Examine alfo, '' y^'\\Qt\\L\yo\\ advance 
 " in Humility.''^ — This is a filent, but moil 
 excellent Grace •, and thev who arc mofl: emi- 
 nent in it, are deareft to God, and mofl: fit lor 
 the Communications of iiis Prefencc to them. 
 Do you then feci your Mind more emptied oi 
 proud and haughty Imaginations ? Not prone fo 
 much to look back upon pail: Services which it 
 has performed, as forward to thofe which are yet 
 before you, and inward upon the remaining Im- 
 perfedions of your Heart ? Do you more ten- 
 derly obferve your daily Slips and Mifcarriagc^. 
 and find yourlelf difpoicd to mourn over thofe 
 
 Things 
 
 f 
 
 Ch.26. Afteady Regard to Chrijl and the Spirit : 343 
 Things before the Lord, that once paflfed with 
 you as flight Matters-, tho' when you come to 
 Ibrvey them, as in the Prefence of God, you 
 find they were not wholly involuntary, or free 
 from Guilt ? Do you feel in your Bread a deeper 
 Apprehenfion of the Infinite Majefty of the 
 Bleflfed God, and of the Glory of his Natural and 
 Moral Perfeftions-, fo as, in Confequence of 
 thefe Views, to perceive yourfelf (as it were) an- 
 nihilated in his Prefence, and to fhrink into lefs 
 then Nothing, and Vanity (k) ? If this be your 
 Temper, God will look upon you with peculiar 
 Favour, and will vifit you more and more with 
 the diftinguifhed Blcfllngs of his Grace. 
 
 §. 9. But there is another great Branch and 
 EffcB of Chriflian Humility^ which it would be an 
 unpardonable Negligence to omit. Let me 
 therefore farther enquire : Are you more fre- 
 quently rcnezuing your Application, your fincere, 
 fteady, determinate Application, to the Righte* 
 cufntfs and Blood of Christ ; as being fenfible 
 how unworthy you are to appear before God, 
 othcrwife than in Him ? And do the remaining 
 Corruptions of your Heart humble you before 
 him, tho' the Diforders of your Life are in a 
 great Mcafure cured ? Are you more earnefl to ob- 
 tain the quickening Influences of the Holy Spirit 5 
 and have you fuch a Stnfe of your own Weak- 
 neis, as to engage you to depend, in all the 
 Duties you perform, upon the Communications 
 of his Grace to help your Infirmities (1) ? Can you, 
 at the Clofe of your mod religious, exemplary, 
 and ufeful Days, blufli before God for the Defi- 
 ciencies of them, while others perhaps may be 
 ready to admire and extol your Conduft ? And 
 
 7^ 4 while 
 
 (k) Ifai. xl 17. 
 
 (1) Rom. viii. 26. 
 
 
 ■fet 
 
3-j4 A Zeal for the Bhine Honour, Ch. 26. 
 
 while you give the Glory of all that has been 
 right to Him, from whom the Strength and 
 Grace has been derived, are you coming /^ /i^^ 
 Blood of Sprinklings to free you from the Guilt 
 which minajes itfelf even with the bed of your 
 Services? Do you learn to receive the Bounties 
 of Providence, not only with Thankfulneis as 
 coming from God, but with a Mixture of Shame 
 and Confufion too, under a Confcioufnefs that 
 you do not deferve them, and are continually 
 forfeiting them? And do youjuflify Providence 
 in your Affli6lions and Difappointments, even 
 while many are flourifhing around you in the full 
 Bloom of Profperity, whofe Offences have been 
 more vifible at leaft, and more notorious than 
 vours ? 
 
 §. 10. Do you alfo advance " in ZeclandAcli- 
 " vity, for the Service of GOD, and the Happinefs of 
 ^* Mankind?''— Dots your Love (hew itfelf folid 
 and fincere, by a continual Flow of good Works 
 from it ? Can you view the Sorrows of others 
 with tender CompafTion, and with PrcJ.ds and 
 Contrivances what you may do to relieve them ? 
 Do you feel in your Breaft, that you are more 
 frequently devifing liberal ^hiyigs {vn), and ready 
 to wave your own Advantage or Plealure that 
 you rnay accomplifli them ? Do you ?i\^^ your 
 Imagination teeming (as it were) with Concep- 
 tions and Schemes, for the Advancement of the 
 Caufe and Intereft of Cbrifl in the World, for 
 the Propagation of his Golpcl, and for the Hap- 
 pinefs of your Fellovz-Creatures? And do you 
 not only pray, but adl for it ; adt in fuch a Man- 
 ner, as to (hew that you pray in earned; and 
 feel a Readinefs to do what little you can in this 
 
 Caufe 
 (m) Ifai xxxli. 8 . 
 
 i 
 
 
 Ch. 16. and a IVillingmf todu, 345 
 
 Caufe, even tho* others, who might if they pleafed 
 very conveniently do a vaft Deal more, will do 
 
 vothir'g ? 
 
 §. II. And, not to enlarge on this copious 
 Head, refledl once more, " how your AffeBions 
 '* fiandy with Regard to this World and another'^ 
 Are you more deeply and praftically con- 
 vinced of the Vanity of thefe nings which are 
 feeny and are Temporal {u)? Do you perceive your 
 Expedations from them, and your Attachments 
 to them, to diminifh ? You are willing to ftay in 
 this World, as long as your Father pleafes; and 
 it is right and well : But do you find your Bonds 
 fo loolened to it, that you are willing, heardly 
 willing, to leave it at the (liortefl: Warning ; fo 
 that if God fliould fee fit to fummon you away 
 on a fudden, tho' it fhould be in the Midfl of 
 your Enjoyments, Purfuits, Expecftations, and 
 Hopes, you would cordially confent to that Re- 
 move •, without flying, " Lord, let me ftay a 
 " little while longer, to enjoy this or that agree- 
 " able Entertainment, to finifh this or that 
 *' Scheme V* Can you think with an habitual 
 Calmnefs and hearty Approbation, if fuch be the 
 Divine Pleafure, of waking no more when you 
 lye down on your Bed, of returning Home no 
 more when you go out of your Houfe? And 
 yet, on the other Hand, how great foever the 
 Burthens of Life are, do you find a Willingnefs 
 to bear them, in SubmifTion to the Will of your 
 Heavenly Father, tho' it (hould be to many fu- 
 ture Years ; and tho* they fhould be Years of 
 far greater Afflidlion, than you have ever yet 
 feen ? Can you fay calmly and fteadily, if not 
 Tvith fuch Overflowings of tender AfFedions as 
 
 . you 
 
 (n) 2 Cor. iv. 18. 
 
 I 
 
 w. 
 
C( 
 
 i( 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 iC 
 
 346 ^he Cbriftian breathing carnejlly Qi. 24. 
 
 you could defire, " Behold, thy Servant^ thy 
 *' Child, is in Thine Hand, do with me as leem- 
 *' eth good in thy Sight (o)/ My Will is melted 
 «* into Thine ; to be lifted up or laid down, to 
 be carried out or brought in, to be here or 
 there, in this or that Circumftance, juft as 
 Thou pleaielt, and as dial I belt iuit with Hiy 
 great extenfive Plan, which it is im[)onil)le that 
 1, or all the Angels in Heaven, fhould mend." 
 §. 12. These, if I underfland Matters aright, 
 are fome of the mofl: fubdantial Evidences of 
 Growth and Ellablifhmcnt in Religion. Search 
 after them ; Blefs God for them, lb far as you 
 difcover them in yourfelf •, and ftudy to advance 
 in them daily, under the Influences of Divine 
 Grace, to which I heartily recommend you, and 
 to which I intreat you frequently to recommend 
 yourfelf. 
 
 ^i*^ Christian breathing ear}:ejily after Growth 
 
 in Grace, 
 
 cc 
 
 (.C 
 
 Ci 
 
 iC 
 iC 
 
 OH Thou ever bleflcd Fountain of Na- 
 tural and Spiritual Lite ! I thank 
 Thee, that I live, and know the Exerciles ancj 
 Plcalures of a Religio'Ji Life. I blefs Thee, 
 that Thou haft infufed into me Thine own vi- 
 tal Breath, tho' I was once dead in Trefpaffes 
 a,id Sins (p\ fo that I am lecowe, in a Sen!e 
 peculiar toThineown Children, a living Soul (q). 
 Bat it is my carneft Dcfire, that I may not 
 only livey but grow, grow in Grace, and in the 
 Knowledge of my Lord and Saviour J ejus Chrijl (r , 
 upon an Acquaintance with whom my Pro- 
 
 *' grels 
 
 (o) 2 Sam. XV. 26. 
 (rj'z Pet. iii. x8. 
 
 (p Eih, ii. I. (q) Gen. ii. 7 
 
 fciP 
 
 It 1 
 
 -ill 
 
 tc 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
 Ch. 26. after Growth in Grace. 347 
 
 ,*' grefs in it fo evidently depends! In this View 
 t' 1 humbly intreat Thee, that Thou wilt form 
 " my Mind to right Notions in Religion, that I 
 " may not judge of Grace by any wrong Con- 
 *' ceptions of it, nor meafure my Advances in it 
 « by thofe Things, which are merely the Ef- 
 " fecfts of Nature, and pofTibly its corrupt Efr 
 " feds! 
 
 " May I be feeking after an Increafe of Di- 
 '' vine Love to Thee, my God and Father in 
 " Chrirt, of unrelerved Rcfignation to Thy wife 
 " and holy Will, and of extenfive Benevolence 
 *' to my Fellow-Creatures! May I grow in Pa- 
 *< tience and Fortitude of Soul, in Humility and 
 Zeal, in Spirituality and a Heavenly Difpofi- 
 tion of Mind, and in a Concern, that whether 
 '' prefent or abfent I may be accepted of the Lord{s)y 
 »* that whether I live or die it may be for His 
 « Glory! In a Word, as thou knoweft / hun- 
 " ger and thirft after Right eoufnefs, make me 
 " whatever Thou wouldft delight to fee me! 
 " Draw on my Soul, by the gentle Influences of 
 '' Thy gracious Sp i r i t, every Trace and every 
 " Feature, which Thine Eye, Oh Heavenly Fa- 
 *' ther, may furvey with Pleafure, and which 
 ^' Thou mayeft acknowledge as Thine own I- 
 
 '' mage! 
 
 " I am fenfible. Oh Lord, / have not as yet 
 attained: Yea, my Soul is utterly confounded 
 to think, how far I ditnfrom being already per- 
 " fe^ : But this one Thingy (after the great Exam- 
 " pie of Thine Apoftle, and the much greater of 
 " His Lord,) 1 would endeavour to do; forget* 
 ^' ting the Things which are behind, I would prefs 
 ^' forwards to tl?ofe which are before (t). Oh that 
 
 " Thou 
 
 (s) 2 Cor. V. 9. (t) Phil. iii. 12. 13. 
 
 ti 
 
 i( 
 
 
 iaM«dfeMMkfcdi»i«ttMMt»j.«^ . a-taaaifliai 
 
 imtsissi 
 
 .«-.}' ' I 
 
r. if 
 
 348 ^ Prayer for Growth in Grace. Ch. 26. 
 
 «* Thou wouldft feed my Soul by Thy Word 
 
 <* and Spirit! Having been, as I humbly hope 
 
 *' and truft, regenerated by it, being born again^ 
 
 <* not of corruptible Seed^ but of incorruptible^ even 
 
 *' by Thy Word which Itveth and abidethfor ever (u), 
 
 «* ^j ^ newborn Babe I defire the fencer e Milk of the 
 
 *' IVord^ that I may grow thereby {x). And may 
 
 •* my profiting appear unto all Men (y), till at length 
 
 <* / come unto a perfe6l Man, unto the Mcafure of 
 
 ** the Stature of the Fulnefs of Chrifl (z) ; and after 
 
 ** having enjoyed the Pleafures of thofe that 
 
 ** flourifh eminently in Thy Courts below^ be fixed 
 
 *' in the Paradife above! \ ask, and hope it 
 
 *' thro* Him, of whofe Fulnefs we have all recei- 
 
 *' ved, even Grace for Grace (a) ; To Him be Glory ^ 
 
 ** both now and for ever (b)/ Amen." 
 
 (u) 1 Pet. 1. 23. (x) I Pet. ii. 2. (y) i Tim. iv. 15. 
 (2) Eph. iv. 13. (a) John i. 16. (b) 2 Pet. iii. 18. 
 
 %^~^^^ 
 
 CHAP- 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 Ch. IT' Joy in GOD^ our Privilege and Duty. 349 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 The advanced Christian reminded of the 
 Mercies of God, and exhorted to the Ex- 
 ercifes of habitual Love to Him, and Joy 
 in Him. 
 
 An holy Joy in GOD, our Privilege^ as well as our 
 Duty. §. I. The Chrijiian invited to the Exercife of 
 it\ §.2. ( I .) By the Reprefentation of Temporal 
 Mercies. §.3. {2.) By the Confederation of Spiri- 
 tual Favours. §. 4. (3.) By the Views of Eternal 
 Hoppinefs. §. 5. And., (4.) Of the Mercies of GOD 
 to others^ the Living.^ and the Dead. §.6. The 
 Chapter clofes with an Exhortation to this Heavenly 
 Exercife ., §.7. and with an Example of the genuine 
 Workings of this grateful Joy in GOD, 
 
 §. I. T WOULD now fuppofe my Reader to 
 J[ find, on an Examination of his Spiri- 
 tual State, that he is growing in Grace. And if 
 you defire, that this Growth may at once be ac- 
 knowledged and promoted, let me call your Soul 
 to that more affe5lionate Excrdfe of Love to GOD 
 and Joy in Him., which fuits, and ftrengthens, 
 and exalts the Characf^er of the advanced Chri- 
 ftian" •, and which I befecch you to regard, not 
 only as your Privilege^ but as your Duty too. Love 
 is the mod fublime generous Principle of all true 
 and acceptable Obedience j and with Love, when 
 
 fo 
 
 ifeJMhTmiBiitl^ltlflfBiriilhllniBlf 
 
3 so The Chrijlian urged to rejoice in GODy Ch . 2 7 . 
 
 fo wifely and happily fixed, when fo certainly re- 
 turned, Joy, proportionable Joy, muft naturally 
 be connefted. It may juftly grieve a Man that 
 enters into the Spirit of Chriftianity, to fee how 
 low a Life the Generality even of fincere Chri- 
 ftians commonly live in this Refpeft. Rejoice then 
 in the Lord^ ye Righteous^ and give Thanks at the 
 Remembrance of his Holinefs (a), and of all thofe 
 other Perfections and Glories, which are included 
 in that majeftick, that wonderful, that delightful 
 Name, The Lord Thy God ! Spend not your 
 facred Moments merely in ConfefTion, or in Pe- 
 tition, tho' each muft have their daily Share : 
 But give a Part, a confiderable Part, to the Ce- 
 leftial and Angelick Work of Praife, Yea, la- 
 bour to carry about with you continually an 
 Heart overflowing with fuch Sentiments, warmed 
 and inflamed with fuch Affedions. 
 
 §. 2. Are there not continually Rays enough 
 diffufed from the great Father of Light and 
 Love, to inkindle it in our Bofom ? Come, my 
 Chriftian Friend and Brother, come and furvey 
 with me the Goodnefs of our Heavenly Father. 
 And Oh that He would give me fuch a Senfe of 
 it, that I might reprefent it in a fuitable Man- 
 ner ; that while I am mufing^ the Fire may hum in 
 my own Heart (b), and be communicated to 
 yours ! And Oh that it might pafs with the Lines 
 I write, from Soul to Soul ; awakening in the 
 Breaft of every Chriftian that reads them, Senti- 
 ments more worthy of the Children of God, and 
 the Heirs of Glory ; who are to fpend an Eter- 
 nity in thofe facred Exercifes, to which I am now 
 endeavouring to excite you ! 
 
 (a) Pfal.xcvii. iz. 
 
 §. 3, Havb 
 
 (b) Pfal. xxxix. 3. 
 
 rt 
 
 '% 
 
 Ch.27. hy the ConftderattGn of his Goodnefs. 351 
 
 §. 3. Have you not Reafon to adopt the 
 Words of David y and fay. How many are Thy gra- 
 cious Thoughts unto me. Oh Lord ! How great is the 
 Sum of thcra ! JVhen I would count them, they are 
 more in Number than the Sand (c). You indeed 
 know, where to begin the Survey ; for the Fa- 
 vours of G o D to you begun with your Being. 
 Com mt" mora te it then fore with a grateful Heart, 
 that the Eyes, which faiv your Subjlance, being yet 
 imperfect, beheld you with a friendly Care, when 
 you were made in Secret, and have watched over 
 you ever fince ; and that the Hand, which drew 
 the Plan of your Members, when as yet there was 
 none of them (d), not only faflmned them at firft, 
 but from that Time has been concerned in keep- 
 ing all your Bones, fo that not one of them is bro- 
 ken (e) ; and that indeed, it is to this you owe it, 
 that j^» live. Look back upon the Path you have 
 trod, fr(v,n the Day that God brought you out of 
 th:M^omb, and lay, whether you do not (as it were)^ 
 fw-e all the Road thick jet with the Marks and 
 Memorials of the Divine Goodnefs. Recoiled: 
 the Places where you have lived, and the Perfons 
 with v/hom you have moft intimately converfed -, 
 and call to mind the Mercies you have received 
 in thofe Places, and from thofe Perfons, as the 
 Inftruments of the Divine Care and Goodnefs. 
 Recollcdl: the Difnculties and Dangers, with 
 which you have been lurrounded ; and refled: at- 
 tentively on what God hath done to defend you 
 from them, or to carry you through them. 
 Think, how ofccn there has been but a Step be- 
 tween you and Death ; and how fuddenly God hath 
 fometimes interpofed to fet you in Safety, even' 
 
 before 
 
 (c) Pfal. cxxxix. 17, 18. 
 (e) Pial.xxxiv. io. 
 
 (d) Pfal. cxxxix ic- 16 
 
'V. 
 
 3.'«- 
 
 352 UJhouldfill him with Joy to reflet Ch. 27, 
 
 before you apprehended your Danger. Think 
 of thofe Chambers of Illnefs, in which you have 
 been confined, and from whence perhaps you 
 once thought you fhould go forth no more *, but 
 faid (with Hezekiab) in the cutting off of your Days , 
 IJhall go to the Gates of the Grave ^ I am deprived of 
 the Reftdue of my Tears (i). God has, it may be, 
 fince that Time, added many Years to your 
 Life ; and you know not how many may be in 
 Refcrve, or how much Ufcfulnefs and Happinefs 
 may attend each. Survey your Circumftances 
 in Relative Life ; how many kind Friends are 
 furrounding you daily, and ftudying how they 
 may contribute to your Comfort. Reflect on 
 thofe remarkable Circumftances in Providence, 
 which occafioncd the knitting of iome Bonds of 
 this Kind, which, next to thofe which join your 
 Soul to God, you number among the happieft. 
 And forget not, in how many Inftances, when 
 thefe dear Lives have been threatned. Lives per- 
 haps more fcnfibly dear than your own, God 
 hath given them back from the the Borders of 
 the Grave, and fo added new Endearments ari- 
 fing froni that tender Circumftance to all your 
 After-Converfe with them. Nor forget, in how 
 gracious a Manner He hath fupported fome 
 others in their laft Moments, and enabled them 
 to leave behind a fweet Odour of Piety, which 
 hath embalmed their Memories, revived you 
 when ready tofliint under the Sorrows of the firft 
 Separation, and, on the whole, made even the 
 Recolledion of their Death delightful. 
 
 §. 4. But it is more than Time, that I lead 
 on your Thoughts to the many Spiritual Mercies 
 which God hath beftowed upon you. Look 
 
 back, 
 
 (f) Ifai. xxxviii. 10. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 Ch. 27. on his Temporal and Spiritual Mercies, 353 
 
 back, as it were, to the Rock from whence you were 
 bewn^ and to the Hole of the Pit from whence ym were 
 ^^gg^Hg)' Refled: ferioufly on the Stat , wher.an 
 Divine Grace found you : Under how much 
 Guilt ; under how much Pollution ! In what 
 Danger; in what Ruin! Think what was, and 
 Oh think with yet deeper Rffledtion, what 
 would have been the Cafe. The Eye of God, 
 which penetrates into Eternity, faw what your 
 Mind, amufed with the Trifles of prefent Time 
 and fenfual Gratification, was utterly ignorant 
 and regardlefsof. It faw you on the Borders of 
 Eternity, and pitied you ; faw, that you would 
 in a little Time have been fuch a helplefs, wretch- 
 ed Creature, as the Sinner that is juft now dead, 
 and has to his infinite Surprize and everlafting 
 Terror met his unexpe(5led Doom, and would 
 like him ftand thunder-ftruck in Aftonifhment 
 and Defpair. This God faw, and He pitied 
 you ; and being merciful to you. He provided 
 in the Counfels of his eternal Love and Grace a 
 Redeemer for you, and purchafed you to himil^If 
 with the Blood of his Son: A Price, which if you 
 will paule upon ir, and think ferioufly what it 
 was, muft furely affeft you to fuch a Degree, as 
 to make you fall down before God iri Wonder 
 and Shame, to think that it fhould ever have 
 been given for you. To accomplifii thefe blelTed 
 Purpofes, He fent his Grace into your Heart ; fo 
 that iho' you were once Darhefs^ you are Jtow Light 
 in the Lord (h). He made that happy Change 
 which you now feel in your Soul, and ly his Holy 
 Spirit which is given to you He Jhed abroad that 
 Principle of Love (i), which is inkindled by this 
 Review, and now flames with greater Ardor 
 
 A a than 
 
 (g) Kai. li. I. (h) Eph.v. 8. (i) Rom.v.s. 
 
 I \ 
 
 I 
 
354 He Jhculd look forward to an Eternal State^ Ch. 27 . 
 than before. Thus far He hath fupported you in 
 your Chriftian Courfe •, and having obtained Help 
 from him it is, ih^it you continue even to this Day{k), 
 He hath not only llejed you^ but made you a Blef- 
 fing (1) : And tho* you have not been fo ufcful, as 
 that holy Generofity of Heart, which he has ex- 
 cited, would have engaged you to defire, yet 
 fome Good you have done in the Station in 
 which he has fixed you. Some of your Brethren 
 of Mankind have been relieved, perhaps too fome 
 thoughtlefs Creature reclaimed to Virtue and 
 Happinefs, by his Blefling on your Endeavours. 
 Some in the Way to Heaven, are praifing God 
 for you •, and fome perhaps already there, are 
 longing for your Arrival, that they may thank 
 you in nobler and more exprefllve Forms for Be- 
 nefits, the Importance of which they now fuffi- 
 ciently underftand, tho' while here they could 
 never conceive it. 
 
 §. 5. Christian, look round on the num- 
 berlels Blefllngs of one Kind and of another, with 
 which you are already encovifajfed ; and advance 
 your Profped: (till farther, to what Faith yet dif- 
 covers within the Veil Think of thofe now un- 
 known Tranfports, with which thou (halt drop 
 every Burthen in the Grave, and thine immor- 
 tal Spirit Ihall mount, light and joyful, holy and 
 happy, to God, its Original, its Support, and its 
 Hope; to God, the Source of Being, of Holi- 
 nefs, and of PJeafure -, to J e s u s, thro' whom 
 all thefc Mercies are derived to thee, and who 
 will appoint thee a Throne near his own, to be 
 for ever the Spectator and Partaker of his Glory. 
 Think of the Rapture, with which thou (halt 
 attend his Triumph in the Refurredion Day, and 
 
 receive 
 
 (k) Ads xxvi. 22. (1} Gen. xii. &. 
 
 1 
 
 
 Ch. 27. and confider the Joy that others pojfefs. 355 
 
 receive this poor mouldering corruptible Body 
 transformed into his glorious Image ; and then 
 think, '^ Thefe Hopes are not minr alone, but 
 the Hopes of Thoufands and Millions. Mul- 
 titudes, whom 1 number among the deareft 
 of my Friends upon Earth, are r ioicingwith 
 me in thefe Apprchenfions and Views : And 
 GoD gives me fometimes to fee the Smiles on 
 their Cheeks, the Iwccr humble Hope that 
 fparkles in their Eyes, and fliines thro* the 
 *' Tears of render Gratitude ; and to hccir that 
 little of their inward Complacency and Joy, 
 which Language can exprefs. Yea, and Mul- 
 titudes more, who were once equully dear to 
 me with thefc, tho' I have laid them in :he 
 Grave, and wept over their Dait, arc Uving 
 to GOD, living in the Poficiucn of incon- 
 " ceivable Delights, and drinking large Draughts 
 of the IVater of Ltfe^ which flows in perpetual 
 Streams at his Right Hand.** 
 §. 6. Oh Chriltian, thou art (lill intimately 
 united and allied to them. Death cannot break 
 a Friendfhip thus cemented, and it ought nor to 
 render thee infenfible of the Happmef- of thofe 
 Friends, for whofe Memory thou retaineft (b juft 
 an Honour. They live to GOD^ as his Servants 5 
 they ferve him^ and fee his Face (m) ^ and they 
 make but a fmall Part of that glorious A(rcmbly. 
 Millions, equally worthy of thine Eileem and 
 Affedion with themfelves, inhabit thofe blifsful 
 Regions : And wilt thou not rejoice in their 
 Joy ? and wilt thou not adore that everlafting 
 Spring of Hohnels and Happinefs, from whence 
 each of thefe Streams is derived ? Yea, I will 
 add, while the blefled Aniyfls are fo kindly re gard- 
 ing us, while they are miniftring tojbeey Oh Chri- 
 
 Ara 2 • ftian, 
 
 (m) Rev. xxii. 3, 4. 
 
 i( 
 
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 4 ( 
 
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356 -i'l Exhortation to this Holy 'joy, Ch. 27. 
 ftian, and bearing thee in their Arms, as an 
 He,r of Sak-aim'n), wilt thou not rejoice in their 
 Felicity too ? and wilt thou not adore that God, 
 who gives them all the fuperior Glory of their 
 more exalted Nature, and gives them a Heaven 
 which fills them with Bleffcdnefs. even while they 
 feem to withdraw from it, that they may attend 
 
 on Thee ? . , , ., • 
 
 6, 1 This, and infinitely more than this, 
 the Bkni-d God is, and was, and (hall ever be 
 The Felicities of the bleffed Spirits that furround 
 his Throne, and thy Felicities, Oh Chrift.an 
 are immortal. Thefe Heavenly Luminaries Ja 
 glow with an undecaying Flame-, and thou (halt 
 Aine and burn among them, when the Sun and 
 the Stars are gone out. Still (ha U the unchang- 
 ing Father of Ugbts pour forth his Beams upon 
 thfm; and the Luftre'they refleft tromh.m, and 
 their Happinefs in him, (hall be^^';rfa7?'«^ f ^'J 
 be ever gro'wtng. Bow down, Oh thou Child of 
 God. thou Heir of Glory, bow down, and let 
 all that is within thee unite in one Adt o 
 grateful Love •, and let all that is around 
 thee, all that is before thee in the Profpeds 
 of an unbounded Eternity, concur to ele- 
 vate and tranfport thy Soul •. that thou may ft, 
 as flir as poflible, begin the Work and Bleffed- 
 nefs of Heaven, in falling down before the God 
 of it, in opening thine Heart to his gracious In- 
 fluences, and in breathing out before him that 
 Incenfe of Praile, which thefe warm Beams ot his 
 Prefence and Love have fo great a Tendency to 
 produce, and to ennoble with a Fragrancy relem- 
 bling that of his Paradife above. 
 
 (n)Heb. i. 14. 
 
 '■ •■> 
 
 i\\ 
 
 Ch. 27. with an Example of the JVorkings of it, 357 
 
 ^he grateful 6'<?«/ rejoicing in the Bleffings of Provi- 
 dence and Grace^ and pouring out itfelf before GOD 
 in vigorous and affectionate Exercifes of Love and 
 Praife. 
 
 OH M y G o D, It is enough ! I have 
 mufed,, and the Fire burnetb (o) / But 
 Oh, in what Language (hall the Flame break 
 forth ! What can I lay but this, that my Heart 
 admires Thee, and adores Thee, and loves 
 Thee ! My little Veflel is as full as it can hold ; 
 and 1 would pour out all that Fulnefs before 
 Thee, that it may grow capable of receiving 
 more and more. Thou art my Hope^ and my 
 Help ; my Glory^ and the Lifter up of my Head (p). 
 My Heart rejoices in Thy Salvation (q) *, and when 
 1 fet myfelf, under the Influences ot Thy good 
 Spirit, to converfe with Thee, a Thoufand de- 
 lightful Thoughts fpring up at once ; a Thou- 
 fand Sources of Pleafure are unfealed, and 
 flow in upon my Soul with fuch Refreihment 
 and Joy, that they feem to croud into every 
 Moment the Happinefs of Days, and Weeks, 
 and Months. 
 
 ^' I blefs Thee, Oh God, for this Soul of 
 mine^ which thou hafl: created •, which Thou 
 hafl: taught to fay, and I hope to the happieft 
 Purpofe, JVhtre is GOD my Maker {r)? I blefs 
 Thee for the Knowledge, with which Thou 
 had adorned it. I blefs Thee for that Grace, 
 with which, I truft I may (not without hum- 
 ble Wonder) fay. Thou haft fandlified it ; 
 tho' alas, the Celeftial Plant is fixed in too 
 
 A a 3 *' barren 
 
 (0) Pfal. xxxix. 3. (p) Pfal. iii. 3. (q) Pf^l- xiii. 5- 
 (r) Job XXXV. 10. .• 
 
 i^B 
 
 i 
 
4 
 
 
 358 y*i Example of thegemine Workings Ch. 27. 
 
 barren a Soil, and does not flourifn to the De- 
 gree 1 could wifh. 
 
 " I blefs Thee alfo for that Body which Thou 
 halt given me, and which Thou preferveft as 
 yet in its Strength and Vigour \ not only ca- 
 pable of nlifhing the Entertainments which 
 Thou provid. A for its various Senfes, but 
 
 ** (which I cfieem far more valuable than any of 
 them for its own Sake,) capable of acting 
 with fome Vivacity in Thy Service. I blels 
 Thee for that Eafe and Freedom, with which 
 thefe Limbs of mine move themfclves, and 
 obey the Dilates of my Spirit, I hope as 
 guided by Thine. I blefs Thee, that the Keep^ 
 ers of the Houfe do not yet tremble^ nor the Strong 
 Men bow thcmjches -, that they that look cut of 
 the Windows are not yet darkened^ nor the 
 Daughters of Mufick brought low: 1 blefs Thee, 
 Oh God of my Life, that the Silver Cords are 
 not yet loofed^ nor the Golden Bowl broken (s) : 
 For it is Thine Hand that braces all my 
 Nerves, and Thine Infinite Skill that prepares 
 thofe Spirits, which flow in fo freely, and when 
 
 " exhaufted recruit fo foon and fo plentifully. 
 " I praife Thee f(;r that Royal Bounty, with 
 which Thou provided for the daily Support of 
 Mankind in general, and for mine in particu- 
 lar; for the various -r^/^/f which Thou fpread eft 
 before me, and for the overflowing Cup which 
 Thou putteft into my Hands (t). I bids Thee, 
 that thefe Bounties of Thy Providence do not 
 ferve, as it were, to upbraid a dilabled Appe- 
 tite, and are not like Meffes of Meat fet before 
 the Dead. I blefs Thee too, that 1 eat not my 
 Morfel alone (u), but Ihare it with fo many 
 
 " agrce- 
 
 8)EccI . xii. 3, 4, 6. (t) Pfal. xxiii. 5. (u) Job. xxxi. 17. 
 
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 Ch 27. of a grateful Joy in GOD. 359 
 
 » aereeable Friends, who add the Relifli of the 
 « Social Life to that of the Animal at our Sea- 
 " fons of common Repaft. 1 thank Thee for 
 » fo many dear Relatives at Home, for fo many 
 <' kind Friends Abroad, who are capable of 
 » fervin<T me in various Inftances, and difpoled 
 - to make an obliging Ufe of that Capacty. 
 
 " Nor would I forget to acknowledge Ihy 
 i« Favour, in rendering me capaMe of fervwg 
 » others, and giving me in any Inftances to 
 .' know, how much more Ikjfed it ts to give than 
 .' /. recetve (x) 1 thank Thee for a Heart 
 cc which feels the Sorrows of the Neceflitous, 
 cc and a Mind which can make it my early Care 
 cc and Refrtftiment to contrive, according to my 
 cc little Ability, for their Relief : For thts alfo 
 cc Cometh forth from 'Hne, Oh Urd{y), the great 
 cc Author of every benevolent Inclmation of 
 cc every prudent Scheme, of every fuccefsful 
 " Attempt to fpread Happinefs around us, or m 
 cc any Inftance to kffen Diftrefs. 
 
 c. And furely. Oh Lord, if thus acknow- 
 » ledge the Pleafures of Sympathy with the At- 
 cc fliall, much more muff I blefs Thee for thofe 
 cc of Sympathy with the Happy, with thofe hat arc 
 cc compleatly Bkfftd. 1 adore Thee for the 
 c. Streams that water Parad.fe, and ma.ntam it 
 « in ever-flourifhing, ever-growing Delight. 1 
 " praife Thee for the Reft, the Joy, the Tranf- 
 cc ^ort, Thou art giving to many that were once 
 cc Kar to me on Earth; whole Sorrows it was 
 cc my Labour to footh, ^nd whofe Joys efpe- 
 - cially in Thee, it was the Dehght o my 
 cc Heai;t to promote ^ I pralfe Thee^^the 
 
 (X) Afts XX. 35- (y) ^^- '^""- '^- 
 
 to 
 
In 
 
 I 
 
 C( 
 
 
 <c 
 
 
 cc 
 
 3 60 72?^ grateful Soul exprejfmg its Joy Ch . 2 7 . 
 " Blefftrdnefs of every Saint, and of every An- 
 *' gel, that furrounds Thy Throne above-, and 
 " I praif- Thee, with Accents of diftinguifhed 
 " Plcafure, for that reviving Hope which Thou 
 ha/l implanted in my Bofom, that I (hall 'ere 
 long know by clear Sight, and by everlafting 
 Experience, what that Felicity of theirs is, 
 which I now only difcover at a Diftance, thro! 
 the comparatively obfcure Glafsof Faith. Even 
 liow, thro' Thy Grace, do I feej myfelf borne 
 forward by Thy fupporting Arm to thofe Re- 
 gions of Bleffcdnefs. Even now am I waiting 
 " for Tby Zahation (z), with that ardent Defire 
 *^ on the one hand, which its fublime Greatnefs 
 cannot but infpire into the believing Soul, and 
 that calm Relignation on the other, which 
 the Immutability of Thy Promife eftablidies. 
 " And now, Oh my God, What Jloall I fay 
 unto Thee ! What, but that I lov^ Thee above 
 all the Powers of Language to exprefs! That I 
 love Thee for what "thou art to "thy Creatures^ 
 who are in their various Forms every Moment 
 deriving Being, Knowledge and Happinefs, 
 from Thee' in Numbers and Degrees, far be- 
 yond what my narrow Imagination can con- 
 *' ceive. But Oh I adore and love Thee yet 
 *' far more, for what TIjou art in Thyjdf, for thofe 
 '* Stores of Perfecflion which Creation has not 
 " diminifhed, and which can never be exhauded 
 " by all the Etfeds of it whichThou imparted to 
 ^' Thy Creatures -, that infinite Perfection, which 
 makes Thee Thine own Happinefs, Thine own 
 End ; Amiable, infinitely amiable and vene- 
 rable, were all derived Excellence and Happi- 
 nefs forgot. ' ' 
 
 «0h 
 
 (z)Gcn. xlix. it. 
 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 c. 
 
 cc 
 
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 (C 
 
 it 
 
 ' •■s 
 
 cc 
 
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 Ch. 27. /// f? lively Exercife of JLove and Praife. 361 
 
 *' Oh Thou firft,Thou greateft. Thou faireft of 
 all Objeds ! Thou only great. Thou only fair, 
 poffefs all my Soul I And furely Thou doft pot 
 fefs it. While I thus feel Thy Sacred Spirit 
 " breathing on my Heart, and exciting thefe 
 " Fervours of Love to Thee, I cannot doubt 
 it any more, than I can doubt the Reality of 
 this Animal Life, while I exert the Adlings 
 of it, and feel its Senfations. Surely, if ever 
 I knew the Appetite of Hunger, my Soul 
 hungers after Right eoufnefs (a), and longs for 
 " a greater Conformity to Thy B'eflcd Nature 
 and Holy Will. If ever my Palate felt Thirft, 
 my Soul tbirfleth for GOD^ even for the living 
 GOD (bj, and panteth for the more abundant 
 " Communication of His Favour. If ever this 
 *' Body, when wearied with Labours or Jour- 
 *' nies, knew what it was to wi(h for the Re- 
 " frefhment of my Bed and rejoiced to reft 
 *< there, wy Soul with fweet Acquiefcence refts 
 " upon Thy gracious Bofom, Oh my Heavenly 
 " Father, and returns to its Repofe in the Em- 
 braces of its God, who hath dealt fo bountifully 
 with it (c). And if ever I faw the Face of a 
 beloved Friend with Complacency and Joy, I 
 rejoice in beholding Thy Face, Oh Lord, 
 and in calling Thee my Father in Chrifl, Such 
 Thou art, and fuch Thou wilt be, for Time, 
 and for Eternity. What have I more to do, 
 ♦' but to commit myfelf to Thee for both ? 
 leaving it to Thee to chufe mine Inheritance ^ and 
 to order my Afi^airs/^rw^ (d), while all my 
 " Bufinefs is to ferve I'hee, and all my Delight 
 
 (( 
 
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 to 
 
 (a) Mat. V. 6. 
 (d) Pfal. xlvii. 4. 
 
 (b) Pfal. xUi. 2. (c) Pfal. cxvi. 7. 
 
 m 
 
362 "He grateful Soul rejoicing in GOD. Ch . 2 7 . 
 
 * to praife Thee. My Soul follows hard after 
 ' GOD, becaufc His Right Hand upholds me (e). 
 « Let it dill bear me up, and I fhall prcfs on 
 ' towards Thee, till all my Defires be accnm- 
 ' plifhed in the Eternal Enjoyment of Tliee ! 
 
 * Amen.** 
 
 (e) Pfal. Ixiii. 8. 
 
 * 
 
 f'^l 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 ■M^ 
 
 
 .r 
 
 Ch. 28. "The Chrijlian fhould aim to be ufeful 363 
 
 CHAP. XXVIII. 
 
 The Eftabliflied Christian urged to exert 
 himlelf for Purpofes of Ufefulnefs. 
 
 Aftncere Love to GOD will exprefs itfelf^ not only in 
 Devotion., but in Benevolence to Men. §. i, 2. 
 This is the Command of GOD. §. 3. The true 
 Chrijlian feels his Soul wrought to a Holy Confor- 
 mity to it\ %, Af. and therefore will defer e In- 
 jlru^ion on this Head. §. 5. Accordingly Dire^fi- 
 ens are given for the Improvement of various Ta- 
 lents: Particularly., (i.) Genius and Learning, 
 § 6. (2.) Power. §. 7. (3.) Dome flick Autho- , 
 rity. §. 8. (4.) E/leem, §. 9. (5.) Rtches.^. 10. 
 Several good Ways of employing them hinted at. 
 §. 1 1. Prudence in Expence urged, for the Support 
 of Charity. §. 12, i^ Divine Dire5iion in this 
 Refpecl to be fought. §. 14. The Chrijitan breath- 
 ing after more extenfrue Ufefulnefs. 
 
 §. I. CJ U C H as I have defcribed ir the for- 
 1^ mer Chapter, I truft, are and will be 
 the frequent Exercifes of your Soul before God. 
 Thus will your Love and Gratitude breathe itfelf 
 forth in the Divine Prcfence, and will, thro* 
 Jesus the great Mediator, come up before it as 
 Incenfe^ and yield an acceptable Savour. But 
 then you muft remember, this will not be the 
 only Effea oi that Love to God, which I have 
 
 fuppofed 
 
.f\ 
 
 364 ^ Dejlre of Conformity to GOD Ch. 28. 
 
 fuppofed fo warm in your Heart. If it be fin- 
 cere, it will not fpend itfelf in Words alone -, but 
 will difcover itfelf in Adions, and will produce, 
 as its genuine Fruit, an unfeigned Love to your 
 Fellow-Creatures, and an unwearied Defire and 
 Labour to do them Good continually. 
 
 §. 2. " Has the great Father of Mercies," 
 will you fay, " looked upon me with fo gracioqs 
 " an Eye ; has He not only forgiven me Ten 
 " Thoufind Offences, but inriched me with 
 " fuch a Variety of Benefirsj 0\\ what fjcill I ren- 
 *' der to him for them all! Inilrucl me, (Dh ye Ora- 
 " cles of Eternal Truth I Inilru(5l me, ye elder 
 " Brethren in the Family of my Heavenly Fa- 
 " ther! Inilru(5h me above all. Oh thou Spirit 
 *' of Wildom and of Love, what I may be able 
 ** to do, to exprefs my Love to the great Eter- 
 " nal Fountain of Love, and to approve my Fi- 
 *' delity to Him, who has already done fo much 
 '" to engage it, and who will take fo much Plea- 
 " fure in owning and rewarding it!" 
 
 §. 3. This, Oh Chriftian, is the Command 
 which we have heard from tie Beginning, and it 
 will ever continue in unimpaired Force, that he 
 who loveth GOD^ fhould love his Brother aljo (a) ; 
 and fhould exprefs that Love, not in PVord and 
 in Profeffwn alone, hut in Deed and in Truth (b). 
 You are to love your Neighbour as yourfelf\ to love 
 the whole Creation of GOD ; and, fo Hir as your 
 Influence can extend, muft endeavour to make 
 
 it happy. 
 
 §. 4. " Yes," will you fay, " and I do love 
 <* it. I feel the golden Chain of the Divine Love 
 *' incircling us all, and binding us clofe to each 
 *' other, joining us in one Body, and diffufing 
 *' (as it were) one Soul thro' all. May Happinefs, 
 
 " true 
 
 Ch.7.8. willmake himaimat eictenfiveUfefulnefs. 365 
 *' true and fublime, perpetual and evergrowing 
 ** Happinefs, reign thro' the whole World of 
 " God's rational and obedient Creatures in Hea- 
 *' ven and on Earth! And may every revolted 
 '' Creature, that is capable of being recovered 
 '' and reftored, be made obedient ! Yea, may 
 *« the nectfTary Punifliment of thofe, who are 
 " irrecoverable, be over-ruled by Infinite Wif- 
 " dom and Love to the Good of the whole!" 
 
 §. 5. These are right Sentiments ; and if they 
 are indeed the Sentiments of your Heart, Oh 
 Reader, and not an empty Form of vain Words, 
 they will be attended with a ferious Concern to 
 ad in Subordination to this great Scheme of Di- 
 vine Providence, according to your Abilities in 
 their utmoil Extent. And to this Purpofe, they 
 will put you on furveying the peculiar Circum- 
 ftanccs of your Life and Being •, that you may 
 difcover what Opportunities of Ufefulnefs they 
 now afford, and how thofe Opportunities and 
 Capacities may be improved. Enter therefore 
 into fuch a Survey •, not that you may pride 
 yourfelves in the Diftin(ftions of Divine Provi- 
 dence or Grace tov/ards you, or having received^ 
 v\-\?iy glory as if you had not received {q) \ but that you 
 may deal faithfully with the great Proprietor, 
 whole Steward you are, and by whom you are 
 intrufted with every Talent, which, with Refpeft 
 to any Claim from your Fellow-Creatures, you 
 may call your own. And here, having Gifts dif- 
 fering according to the Grace which is given unto «i (d), 
 let us hold the Balance with an impartial Hand, 
 that fo we may determine what it is that God 
 requires of us-, which is nothing lefs, than doing 
 the mofl we can invent, contrive, and effeft, for 
 
 the 
 
 (c) I Cor. iv. 7. 
 
 (p) Rom. xii. 6. 
 
 (a] I John iv. 21. 
 
 (b) I John iii. 18. 
 
f* 
 
 nl' 
 
 366 He fhould improve bis Capaciiyy Ch. 28. 
 
 the general Good. But Oh, how feldom is this 
 Eftimate faithfully made ! And how much does 
 the World around us, and how much do our own 
 Souls fuflFer, for Want of that Fidelity ! 
 
 €.6. Hath God given you Genius znd Learn- 
 ing? It was not, that you might amufe or deck 
 yourfelf with it, and kindle a Blaze which (hould 
 only ferve to attra6t and dazzle the Eyes of Men. 
 It was intended, to be the Means of leading both 
 yourfelf and them to the Father of Lights, And 
 it will be your Duty, according to the peculiar 
 Turn of that Genius and Capacity, either to en- 
 deavour to improve and adorn Human Life, or, 
 by a more dire6l Application of it to Divine 
 Subjefts, to plead the Caufe of Religion, to de- 
 fend its Truths, to enforce and recommend its 
 Praftice, to deter Men from Courles which 
 would be difhonourable to God and fatal to 
 themfelves, and to try the utmoft Efforts of all 
 the Solemnity and Tendernefs with which you 
 can clothe your Add reffes, to lead them into the 
 Paths of Virtue and Happinefs. 
 
 §. 7. Has God invefted you with Power^ whe- 
 ther itbe in a larger or fmalUr Society ? Remember, 
 that this Power was given you, that God might 
 be honoured, and thofe placed under your Go- 
 vernment, whether Bomejlick or Publick^ might 
 be made happy. Be concerned therefore, that 
 whether you be intruded with the Rod, or the 
 Sword, it may not be borne in vain (e). Are you 
 a Magijtrate? Have you any Share in the great 
 and tremendous Charge of ena^ing Laws .? Reve- 
 rence the Authority of the fupream Legiflator, 
 the great Guardian of Society : Promote none, 
 
 confent to none, which you do not in your own 
 
 Confcience 
 
 (e) Rom. xiii. 4. 
 
 Ch. 28. and all the Power he l^as, to this End, 3^7 
 Cnnfci'-nce eftecm, in prefent Circumftances, an 
 i /.i:.^ of hts mil ; and in the Eftabhjiment 
 of which you do not firmly believe you {hall be 
 \ It. Minijlcrfor Good (f ) Have you the Charge 
 oi executing Laws? Put Life into them by a vigo- 
 rous and ftrenuous Execution, according to tne 
 Nuure of the particular Office you bear. Re- 
 tain not an empty Name of Authority. Permit 
 not yourfelf, as it were, to fall afleep on the 1 n- 
 bunal. Be adive, be wakeful, be obfervant ot 
 what paffeth around you. Prote6t the Upright, 
 and the Innocent. Break in Pieces the Power of 
 the Oppreffor. Unveil every difhoneft Art. 
 Diferace, as well as defeat the Wretch, that 
 makes his ditlinguilhed Abilities the DifguUe or 
 Protedion of the Wickednefs, which he ought 
 rather to endeavour to expofe, and to drive out 
 of the World with Abhorrence. „ \ r 
 
 6^ 8 Are you placed only at the Head of a 
 private Famly? Rule it >r GOD. Adminifter 
 the Concerns of that little Kingdom with the 
 fame Views, and on the feme Principles, whidi 
 I have been inculcating on the Powerful and the 
 Great •, if by an unexpected Accident any ot 
 them (hould fuffer their Eye to glance upon the 
 Paffaffc above. Your Children and Servants arc 
 your natural Subjeds. Let good Order be efta- 
 blifhed among them, and keep them under a 
 rcc^ular Difcipline. Let them be inftruclied in 
 the Principles of Religion, that they may know 
 how reafonable fuch a Difcipline is ; and let them 
 be accuftomed to aft: accordingly. You cannot 
 indeed change their Hearts, but you may very 
 much influence their Conduft -, and by that 
 Means may prefcrve them from many Snares, 
 
 may 
 
 (f) Rom. xiii. 4. 
 
. J- 
 
 I?" r 
 
 368 The Reputation he has in the Worlds Ch . 2 8 . 
 
 may do a great Deal to make them good Mem- 
 bers of Society, and n]d.y/et them as it were in the 
 Way of GOUs Steps (g), if peradventure pafTing 
 by He may blefs them with the Riches of his 
 Grace. And fail not to do your utmoft to con- 
 vince them of their Need of thofe BlefTings ; la- 
 bour to engage them to an high Efteem of 
 them, and to an earned Defire after them, as 
 incomparably more valuable than any Thing 
 elfe. 
 
 §.9. Again, Has God been pleafed to 
 raife you to Efteem among your Fellow-Creatures^ 
 which is not always in Proportion to a Man's 
 Rank or PofTefTions in Human Life ? Are your 
 Counfels heard with Attention ? Is your Com- 
 pany fought? Does God give you good Accep- 
 tance in the Eyes of Men, fo that they do not 
 only put the faireft Conftruftion on your Words 
 but overlook Paults of which you are confcious to 
 yourfelf, and confider your Aftions and Perfor- 
 mances in the mod indulgent and favourable 
 Light? You ought to regard this, not only as a 
 Favour of Providence, and as an Encourage- 
 ment to you chearfully to purfue your Duty, in 
 the feveral Branches of it, for the Time to come-, 
 but alfo, as giving you much greater Opportuni- 
 ties of Ufefulnels, than in your prefent Station 
 you could otherwife have had. If your Cha- 
 rader has any Weight in the World, throw it 
 into the right Scale. Endeavour to keep Virtue 
 and Goodnefs in Countenance. AfFedionately 
 give your Hand to modeft Worth, where it 
 feems to be depreffed or overlooked *, tho' Ihi- 
 ning, when viewed in its proper Light, with a 
 Luftre which you may think much fuperior to 
 
 your 
 
 (g) Pfa'. Ixxxv. 13, 
 
 1 
 
 Ch. 28. and lis Riches, Jhould he thus improved, 369 
 
 your own. Be an Advocate for Truth -, be a 
 Counfcllor ot Peace •, be an Example of Can- 
 dour ; and do all you can to reconcile the Hearts 
 ot Men, and tfpccially of Good Men, to each 
 other, however they may diifcr in their Opini- 
 ons about Matters which it is pjflible for Good 
 Men to dilpute. And let the Caution and Hu- 
 mility of your Behaviour, in Circumftances of 
 Inch iupcrior Eminence, and amidil fo many 
 Tokens of general Edeem, filently reprove the 
 Raihnefs and Haughtinefs of thofe, who perhaps 
 are remarkable for little clfe -, or who, it their 
 Abilities were indeed confiderable, mud be de- 
 Ipifed, and vvhofe Talents mud be in a great 
 Meafure lod to the Publick, till that Rafhnefs 
 and Haughtinefs of Spirit be fubdued. Nor fuf- 
 fcr yourlclf to be interrupted in this generous and 
 worthy Conrfe, by the little Attacks of Enrvy and 
 Calumny, which you may meet with in it. Be 
 ilill attentive to the general Good, and deadily 
 rcfolute in your Efix)rts to promote if, and leave 
 it to Providence, to guard or to refcue your Cha- 
 rader Irom the bale AiTaults of Malice and 
 Falichood \ which will often, without your La- 
 bour, confute themfelves, and heap upon the 
 A\xi\\ov9> greater Shame, or (if they are inaccelTible 
 to that,) greater InfaiT:, than your Humanity 
 will allow you to wiib them. 
 
 §. 10. Once more, Has God bled yon with 
 Ruhes? Has he placed you in fuch Circumdan- 
 ces, that you have more than you absolutely 
 need for the Subfidence of yourfelf and your Fa- 
 mily ? Remember your approaching Account. 
 Remen;bcr what an Incumbrance thefe Things 
 often prove to Men in the Way of their Salva- 
 tion, and how often, according to our Lord's 
 
 B b exprefs 
 
 ki 
 
 ^i».Bt.. ■■«'«.'».<»-»»..■-■> :q,Taiiii,iitriav*abMWiftai8lSlhli^^ 
 
r 
 
 i 
 
 'i.' 
 
 . » 
 
 3 70 How Charily Jhould he regulated, Ch . 2 8 . 
 exprefs Declaration, they render it as difficult to 
 enter into the Kingdom of GOD^ as it is for a Camel 
 to go thro' the Eye of a Needle (h). Let it there- 
 fore be your immediate, yout earned, and your 
 daily Prayer, that Riches may not be a Snare 
 and a Shame to you, as they are to by far the 
 greater Part of their Pofl<rirors. Appropriate^ 1 
 befeech you, Jome certain Part and Proportion of 
 your Ellate and Revenues, to charitable Ufes\ 
 with a provifional Increafe, as GOD fball profper 
 you, in any extraordinary Inftance. By this Means 
 you will always have a Fund of Charity at Hand : 
 And you will probably be more ready 10 com- 
 municate, when you look upon what is fo depo- 
 Ated, as not in any Senfe your own ; but as al- 
 ready adtually given away to thole Uies, the' 
 not yet affixed 10 particular Objeds. It is not 
 for me to lay, what that Proportion ought to be. 
 To thofe who have large Revenues, and no Chil- 
 dren, perhaps a Third or one Half may be too little : 
 To thofe whofe Incomes are fmall, and their 
 Charge confiderable^ tho' they have Ibmething 
 more than is abiblutely necelTary, it is poflible a 
 Tenth may be too much. But pray, that God 
 would guide your Mind •, make a Trial for one 
 Year, on fuch Terms, as in your Confcience 
 you think will be moil: pleafing to Him •, and let 
 your Oblervations on that, teach you to fix your 
 Proportion for the next •, alway.> remembring, 
 that He requires Jujlice in the firft Place, and 
 Alms-deeds only fo tar as may confill with that. 
 Yet at the fame Time take Pleed of that treache- 
 rous, delufive, and in many Inllances deftruc- 
 tive Imagination, — that Juflice to your c'lvn Family 
 requires that you (hould leave your Children very 
 
 rich ; 
 
 (h) Mat. xix. 24. 
 
 Ch . 2 8 . Several good IVays of fhewing it. 3 7 1 
 rich ; which has perhaps coft fome parcimonious 
 Parents the Lives of thofe Darlings, for whom 
 they laid up the Portion of the Poor-, and what fa- 
 tal Confequences of Divine Difpleafure may at- 
 tend it to thofe that yet furvive, God only 
 knows, and I heartily pray, that you or your's 
 may never learn by Experience. 
 
 §. II. And that your Heart may be yet more 
 opened, and that your Charity may be diredled 
 to the bell Purpofes, let me briefly mentloji a 
 Variety of good Ufes, which may call for the Con- 
 fideration of thofe, whom God has in this Re- 
 fped diftinguilhed by an Ability to do good. To 
 aililt the Hints I am to offer, look round on the 
 Neighbourhood in which you live. Think how 
 many honeit and induftrious, perhaps too I might 
 add religious People, are making very hard 
 Shifts to flruggle thro' Life. Think what a 
 Comfort that would be to them, which you 
 might, without any Inconvenience, fpare from 
 that Abundance which God hath given you.— 
 Hearken alfo to any extraordinary Calls of Chari- 
 ty which may happen, efpecially thofe of a pub- 
 lick Nature ; and help them forward with your 
 Example, and your Intereif, which perhaps may 
 be of much greater Importance than the Sum 
 which you contribute, confidered in itfelf. Have 
 a Tongue to plead for the Neceflitous, as well as 
 a Hand to relieve them ; and endeavour to dif- 
 countenance thofe poor fliameful Excufes, which 
 Covetoufnefs often dilates to thofe, whofe Art 
 may indeed fet fome VarniQi on what they fug- 
 ged, but fo flight a one, that the coarfe Ground 
 will appear thro' it. — See how many poor Children 
 are wandering naked and ignorant about the Streets, 
 and in the Way to all Kind of Vice and Mifery •, 
 
 Bb 2 and 
 
 m 
 
( * 
 
 372 A Variety of Cafes, in which Ch. 28. 
 
 and confider what can be done, towards cloth- 
 ing feme of them at leaft, and inftruding them 
 in the Principles of Religion. Would every tbriv^ 
 in? Family in a Town, which is able to afford 
 Help on fuch Occafions, caft a pitymg Eye on 
 one poor Family in its Neighbourhood, and take it 
 under their Patronaae, to aflift in teeding, and 
 clothing, and teaching the Children, in lupport- 
 ine; it in AfTliaion, in defending it from Wrongs, 
 and in advif.ng thofe that have the Management 
 of it, as Citaimlbnccs might require, how great 
 a Difference would ioon be produced in the Ap- 
 pearance of Things amongft us?-— Obierve 
 who are Sick, that it there be no publtck hfirmary 
 at hand to which you can introduce them, 
 (where your Contribution will yield the largeit 
 Increafe,) you may do fomething towards reliev- 
 ine; them at Home, and fupplying them with 
 Advice and Medicines, as well as with proper 
 
 Diet and Attendance. Confider alfo ihehpi- 
 
 ritual Neceffittes of Men •, in providing for which, 
 I would particularly recommend to you the very 
 important and noble Charity, of ajfifitng ycmg 
 Perfonsof Genius and Ptely, with what is neccflary 
 tofupport the Expence of their Education for the M- 
 niflry in a proper Courfe of Grammatical or Aca- 
 demical Studies. And grudge not fome Propor- 
 tion of what God hath given you, to thofe, who 
 refigning all Temporal Views to nnnipr to you the 
 Gofpel ofChrifi, have furely an equitable Claim to 
 be lunported by you in a Capacity of rendering 
 you thofe Services, however laborious, to whicu 
 for your Sakes, and that of our common Lord, 
 they have devoted their Uves. And while j^« are 
 fo abundantly /^//i>^ with tbeGocdnefs of GUUs 
 
 Ch . 2 8 . Riches may he ufc fully employed, 373 
 
 Houfe, even of bis holy Imple (i), have Compaffm 
 en thofe who dwell in a Defart Land-^ and rejoice 
 to do fomething towards lending among the di- 
 ftant Nations of the Heathen World, that glorious 
 Gofpel v/hich hath fo long continued unknown to 
 Multitudes, the' the Knowledge of it, with be- 
 coming Regard, be Life everlafiing. Thefe arc 
 
 a few important Charities which I would point 
 out to thofe, whom Providence has enriched with 
 its peculiar Bounties: And it renders Gold more 
 precious, than it could appear in any other 
 Light, that it is capable of being employed for 
 fucTi Purpofes. But if you fiiould not have Gold 
 to fpare for them, contribute your Silver : Or as ^ 
 Farthing, or a Mite, is not overlooked by GOD, 
 v;hen it is given from a truly generous and charita- 
 ble Heart (k), let that be chear fully dropped into the 
 Treafury^ where richer OJerings cannot be af- 
 forded. 
 
 §. 12. And, that amidft fo vndiny preffingDe- 
 mandsfor Charity, you may be better furniflied to 
 anfwer them, feriouriy rcfled on your Manner of 
 Living. I fay not, that God requires, you fhould 
 become one of the many Poor^ relieved out of 
 your Income. The Support of Society, as at 
 prefent eliablifhed, will not only permit, but 
 require, that fome Perfons (bould allow them- 
 felvcs in the Elegancies and Delights of Life ; 
 by iurnilhing which, Multitudes of poor Fami- 
 lies are much more creditably and comfortably 
 fubfilled, with greater Advantage to them- 
 fclves and Safety to the Pubiick, than they could 
 be, if the Price of their Labours, or of the 
 Commodities in which they deal, were to be 
 given them as an Alms: Nor can I imagine it 
 
 B b 3 grateful 
 
 (i) Pfal. Ixv. 4. (k) Mark xii. 42, 4 3. 
 
■is"? \ 
 
 3 74 Expences Jkould be prudently managed ^ Ch .28. 
 
 grateful to God, that his Gifts fhould be refufed, 
 as if they were meant for Snares and Curies, ra- 
 ther than Benefits. This were to fruflrate the 
 benevolent Purpofcs of the gracious Father ot 
 Mankind, and if carried to its Rigour would 
 be a Sort of Confpirncy againjt the ivhole Sxflem cf 
 N^Mire. Let the Bounties of Providence be 
 ufed ; but let us carefully fee to it, that it be in 
 a moderate and prudent Manner, led, by our 
 own Folly, that which pculd have been for cur Wei- 
 fare^ heccme a Trnp(\). Let Conlcience lay, my 
 dear Reader, with regard to your feU, what Pro- 
 portion of the good Things you polTefs j^«r Hea- 
 venly Father intends for yourjelf^ and vvhat/?r your 
 Brethren •, and live not, as if you had no Bre- 
 thren^ as if pleafing yourfelf, in all the Magnifi- 
 cence and Luxury you can devifc, were the End 
 for which you were fent into the World. I fear, 
 this is the Excefs of the prefent Age, and not 
 an Excefs of Rigour and Mortification. Exa- 
 mine therefore ja/r Expences^ and compare them 
 with your Income. That may be fliamefully ex- 
 travagant in you, which may not only be pardon- 
 able, but commendable in another of fuperior 
 Eflate. Nor can you be fure, that you do not 
 exceed, merely becaufe you do r.ot plunge your- 
 felf in Debt, nor render yourfelf incapable of 
 laying up any Thing for your Family. If you 
 be difabled from doing any Thing for the Poor^ 
 or any Thing proportionable to your Rank in 
 Life, by that genteel and elegant Way of Liv- 
 ing which you afFedl, God muft difanprove of 
 fuch a Condu6l, and you ought, as you will an- 
 fwer it to him, to retrench it. And tho' the 
 Divine Indulgence will undoubted I v be exercifed 
 
 to 
 
 (fj Pfal.lxix. 22. 
 
 
 Ch . 28. iJoiih a Concern to be more ufifid. 375 
 to thofe, in whom there is a fincere Principle of 
 Faith in Chrifi, and undiflemblcd Love to GOD 
 and Man, tho' it ad not to tha,t Height of Be- 
 neficence and Ufefulnefs which might have been 
 attained ; yet be aflured of this, that He v;ho 
 rendereth to every oie ccccrding to his V/crks., will 
 have a flricl Regard to the Degrees of Goodnefs in 
 tiie Diflribution o{ final Rewards: So that every 
 nec^lcdled Opportunity draws after it an irrepara- 
 ble^Lofs, which will go into Eternity along with 
 you. And let mc add too, that every Inliance 
 of Negligence indulged renders the Mind f^ill 
 more luid more indolent and weak, and conle- 
 quently more indifpofed to recover the Ground 
 which has been loll, or even to maintain that 
 which has hitherto been kept. 
 
 §. 13. Complain nor, that this is impofing 
 hard Things upon you. I am only directing your 
 Plcafures into a nobler Channel \ and indeed that 
 Frugality, which is the Source of fuch a Gene- 
 nerofity, far from being at all injurious to your 
 Reputation, will rather, amongil Wife and Good 
 Men, greatly promote it. But you have far 
 nobler Motives before you, than tholie which a- 
 rife from their Regards. I fpeak to you, as to^? 
 Child of GOD, and a Member of Chrifl •, as join- 
 ed therefore by the moft intimate Union to all 
 the Poorefi of thofe that believe in htm, I fpeak 
 to you, as an Heir of Eternal Glory, who ought 
 therefore to have Sentiments great and fublime, 
 in fome Proportion to that expeded Inheri- 
 tance. 
 
 §. 14. Cast about therefore in your Thoughts, 
 what Good is to be done, and what You can do, 
 either in your own Perfon, or by your Intereft 
 with others-, and go about it with Refolution, 
 
 Bb 
 
 4 
 
 as 
 
^"^^ 
 
 376 rhe cfiaHified Chijlir.n hrcatUng Ch . 2 8 . 
 as in the Name and Prtfcnce of the Lord. And 
 as the Lord gheih lVij..om, and out of his Mouth 
 rmeth Knowledge MiidUmi€rfidndwg{n\), goto the 
 F-orllr 'of iiis Throve, and there Tcek that 
 
 lif'it Grace, which may fuit your 
 
 anccs, and may be cftcaual to 
 
 • : ih. Fruits cf HoHncls and Ufcfulnefs, 
 
 more abunr'ant Glory, and to the Honour 
 
 r Chrillian Profefiron. 
 
 1U Eftablificd Christian hvcathing cficr mere 
 
 extenftve Ufefulnefs, 
 
 *' {^ ^ Rountiful Father, and Sovereign 
 '' Vv^ Author of ail Good, whether Natu^^l 
 " or Spin: al ! I bids Tliee for the various Ta- 
 *' knts, v.'i.h which Thou halt enriched fo un- 
 " delerving a Creature, as 1 muft acknowledge 
 " mylelf to be. My Soul is w. the d.-epefl Con- 
 '' tufion before Thee, when I confuicr to how 
 '^ Jittle Pjr|x>re I have hitherto improved them 
 " Alas! what have I done, in Proportion to 
 '' what Thou mFghteft reafonablv have exncdt 
 " ed, with the Gifts of Nature wU f hou 
 *' haft bellowed upon me, with mv Qipaciries 
 *' or Life, with my Time, with mv Polilfiions, 
 " with my Influence over others!' AlaO thro* 
 " my own Negligence and Foljy, I look back 
 *• on a barren Wildernefs Nvhere I might have 
 " feen a fruitful Field, and a fpringing I larvdl ! 
 " Jullly do I indeed dcferve to be iiripped of 
 '' all, to be brought to an immediate Account 
 *' for all, to be condemned as in many Refpedc 
 '^ unfaithful to Thee, and to the World, and 
 '* to my own Soul ; and, in confequence of that 
 
 " Con- 
 
 (nij Prov. ii. 6. 
 
 Ch. 28. after more extenftveUfefulnefs, 377 
 
 «' Condemnation, to be caft into the Prifcn of 
 ^« Eternal Darknefs I But Thou, Lord, hzfc freely 
 " forgiven the dreadful Bebt of Ten Thcufand To- 
 *' lents. Adored be Thy Name for it! Accept, 
 " Oh Lord, accept that renewed Surrender, 
 " which I would now make of myfelf, and of 
 " all I have, unto Thy Service I I acknowledge, 
 " that It is of nine own that I give Thee (n). 
 *' Make me, I befeech Thee, a faithful Steward 
 " for my great Lord -, and may I think of no 
 " feparate Intereft of my own, in Oppofition to 
 *' Thine! 
 
 " I adore Thee, Oh Thou God of all Grace, 
 '' if while 1 am thus fpeaking to Thee, I feel 
 " the Love of Thy Creatures arifing in my Soul ; 
 " if I feel my Heart opening to embrace nr^ 
 " Brethren of Mankind ! Oh make me Thy faith- 
 " ful Almoner, in diftributing to them all that 
 '' Thou haft lodged in mine Hand for their Re- . 
 *' liet! And in determining what is wj^zt'«5/^^r^, 
 " may I hold the Balance with an equal Hand, 
 " and judge impartially between myfelf and 
 " them ! The Proportion Thou alloweft, may I 
 " thanji4blly take for myfelf, and thofe who are 
 " immediately mine! The reft, may I diftributc 
 " with Wifdom, and Fidelity, and Chearful- 
 nefs! Guide mine Hand^ Oh ever merciful Fa- 
 ther, while Thou doft me the Honour to 
 '' miake me Thine Inftrument in dealing out a 
 " few of Thy Bounties ; that I may beftow 
 " them where they are moft needed, and where 
 " they v/ill anfwer the beft End ! And, if it be 
 " Thy gracious Will, do Thou multiply the Seed 
 " Jown(o)', profper me in my worldly Affairs, 
 " that I may have more to impart to them that 
 
 " need 
 
 (n) I Chron, xxix, 14. (o) 2 Cor. ix. 10. 
 
 cc 
 
 (( 
 
378 7be Soul defiring to be ufeful. Ch. 2 8. 
 
 *' need it \ and thus lead me on to the Region of 
 *' everlafting Plenty, and everlafting Bcnevo- 
 *' lence ! There may I meet with wam^ to whom 
 " I have been an affe^ionate Benefd5ior on Earth ; 
 *' and, if it be Thy Blcffcd Will, with many, 
 *' whom I have alfo been the Means of conducl- 
 '' ing into the Path to that blifsful Ajodel There 
 «' may they entertain me in their Habitations ot 
 '' Glory! And in Time and Eternity, do Thou, 
 *' Lord, accept the Praife of all, thro' Jefus 
 *' Cbrijt j at whofe Feet 1 would bow •, and at 
 " whole Feet, after the moll uleful Courfe, 
 I would at lad die, with as much Humility, 
 as if I were then exerting the firft A61 of 
 Faith upon Him, and had never had any Op- 
 portunity, by one Tribute of Obedience and 
 Gratitude in the Services of Life, to approve 
 '« its Sincerity I" 
 
 Ch. 29. ^be Cbriftian may welcome Death, 379 
 
 cc 
 
 4C 
 
 (C 
 
 4C 
 
 i« 
 
 C H A P. 
 
 CHAP. XXIX. 
 
 The Christian rejoicing in the Views of 
 Death and Judgment. 
 
 Death and Judgment are near •, but the Cbrijlian has 
 Reafon to welcome both : §. i. Tet Nature re- 
 icib from the Sclcmmty of than, §. 2. j^n At- 
 tempt to reconcile the Mind, [1.] To the Profpe5l 
 of Death, §.3. from the Confideraticn, (i.) Of 
 the marry Evih that furrotmd us in this Mortal 
 Lfe, §.4. (2.) Of the Rernainder cf Sin which 
 we feel within us, §.5. And, (3.) Of the Hap- 
 pinefs which is immediately tofucceedDeah. §. 6, 7. . 
 All which might make the Chrifiian willing to die, 
 in the mofl agreeable Circumftances of Human Life, 
 $.8. fH-] "^be Cbriftian has Reafcn to rejoice in 
 the Profpe^l of Judgment : §.9. Since, however 
 awful it be, Cbrijl will then come, to vindicate 
 His Honour, to dtfplay His Glcry, and to triumph 
 over Hts Enemies : §. 10. As alfo to compleat the 
 Happincfs of every Believer, §. 11, and cf the 
 whole Church, §. 12, 13. The Meditation cf a 
 Cbrijlian, whofe Heart is warmed with thefe 
 Profpe5is, 
 
 §. I .X "V 7 H E N the Vifions of the Lord were 
 Y Y clofingupon John, the beloved Dif. 
 ciple, in the Ifland oi Patmos, it is obfervable, 
 that He who gave him that Revelation, even Je- 
 sus the faithful and true fVitneJs^ concludes with 
 
 thofe 
 
 % 
 
3^0 ^d* Death and Judgment be awfuly Ch. 29. 
 
 thofe lively and important Vv^'ords: He zvbo tefti- 
 Jieth thefe T'hings faith ^ Surely I come quickly : And 
 John anfwers with the greateft Readinefs and 
 Pleafure, Amen^ even fo cotne^ Lord Jefus ("a) / 
 Come, as thou haft iiiid, furely^ and quickly! And 
 remember, Ob ChrijliaUy whoever you are that 
 are now reading thefe Words, your Divine Lord 
 fpeaks in the lame Language to you: Behold^ 1 
 come quickly. Yes, very quickly will Ho come by 
 Death, to turn the Key, to open the Door of 
 the Grave for thine Admittance th.ither, and 10 
 lead thee thro' it into the now unknown Rciii- 
 onsof the Invifible World. Nor is it long be- 
 fore the Judge ^ who ftandeth at the Door (b), will 
 cppear alfo to the univerfal Jud'^ment : And tho* 
 perhaps, not only Scores, but Hundreds of 
 Years may lie between that Period and the pre- 
 fent Moment, yet it is but a very Imall Point o[ 
 Time to Him, who views at once all the unmea- 
 furablc Ages of a paft and future Eternity, yl 
 Thoufand lluirs are ivith 11 an iut as One Day^ and 
 One Day as a Thou/and Tears (c). In both thefe 
 Senfes then does He come quickly: And I trufr, 
 you can anfwer with a glad yhs'en^ that the 
 Warning is not terrible, or unplealant to your 
 Ears •, bur rather, that His Comings His certain^ 
 Wis fpeedy Comings is the Objed; of your delight- 
 ful Ilope, and of your longing Expcdlation. 
 
 §. 2. I AM furc, it is realoiiable it ftctdd Lefo : 
 And yet perhaps Nature, fond of Lire, and un- 
 willing to part with a long known Aboiic, to 
 enter on a State to which it is entirely a Stranger, 
 may recoil from the Thoughts of Dying •, or» 
 Jlruck with the awful Ponip of an expiring and 
 diffoiving World, may look on the judgment- 
 Day 
 
 (a) Rev. y.vii. 20. (b) Jam. v. 9. ft) 2 Pet. iii. S. 
 
 i 
 
 Ch. 29. he may rejoice in the Profpe5i. 381* 
 
 Day with fome Mixture of Terror. And there- 
 fore, my dear Brother in the Lord^ (for as fuch I 
 can now efteem you,) I would reafon with you 
 a little on this Head, and would intreat you to 
 look more attentively on this folemn Objeff, 
 which will, 1 truft, grow lefs difagreeable to 
 you, as it is more familiarly viewed. Nay, I 
 hope, that inftead of darting back from it, you 
 will rather fpring forward towards it with Joy 
 and Delight. 
 
 §. 3. Think, Oh Chriftian, when Christ 
 comes to call you away by Deaths He comes — 
 to fet you at Liberty from your prefent Sorrows, 
 to deliver you from your Struggles with re- 
 maining Corruption, and to receive you to 
 
 dwell with himlllf in compleat Holinefsand Joy. 
 You fliall be abfent from the Body^ a7id be prefent 
 with the Lord (d). 
 
 §.4. He will indeed call you away from this 
 World. But Oh, what is this World, that yoii 
 fliould be fond of it, and cling to it with fo much 
 Kagernefs? How low are all thofe Enjoyments 
 that are peculiar to it -, and how many its Vexa- 
 tions, its Snares, and its Sorrows ? Review your 
 Pilgrimage thus far ; and tho' you muft acknow- 
 ledge, that Goodnefs and Mercy have followed you 
 all the Days of your Life (e), yet has not that very 
 Mercy itfelf planted fome Thorns in your Paths, 
 and given you fome v/ife and neceffary, yet pain- 
 ful Intimations, that this is not your Refl (f)F Re- 
 view the Monuments of your withered Joys, of 
 your blafted Hopes ; if there be yet any Monu- 
 ments of them remaining, more than a mourn- 
 ful Remembrance they have left behind in your 
 afflidled Heart. Look upon the Graves, that 
 
 have 
 
 (d) 2 Cor. V. 8. (c) Pfal. xxiii. 6. (f) Mic. ii. 10, 
 
 M 
 
 ^^^^^•*^»''-'!^^miaiti^dAisgMgSllliiiMi>i 
 
383 Death will end the Sorrows of Life^ Ch. 29. 
 
 have fwallowed up many of your deareft and mod 
 amiable Friends, perhaps in the very Bloom of 
 Life, and in the greatelt Intimacy of your Con- 
 verfe with them ; and reflcdl, that if you hold it 
 out a few Years more. Death will renew its 
 Conqueftsat your Expence, and devour the moll 
 precious of thole that yet furvive. View the Li- 
 ving, as well as the Dead : Behold the State of 
 Human Nature, under the many grievous Marks 
 of its Apoftacy from God -, and fay, whether a 
 wife and good Man would wi(h to continue al- 
 ways here. Methinks were / m\Jelf fecure from 
 being reached by any of the Arrows that fly a- 
 round me, I could not but mourn, to fee the 
 Wounds that are given by them, and to hear the 
 Groans of thofe that are continually falling un- 
 der them. The Difeafes and Calamities of Man- 
 kind are fo many, and (which is mod grievous 
 of all,) the Dijiempers of their Minds are fo various 
 and fo threatning, that the World appears al- 
 moft like an hhfpital: And a Man, whofe Heart 
 is tender, is ready to feel his Spirits broken, as 
 he walks thro' it, and furveys the lad Scene ; 
 efpccially when he fees, how little he can do for 
 the Recovery of thofc whom he pities. Are you 
 a Chrijlian^ and does it not pierce your Heart, to 
 fee how Human Nature is funk, in Vice, and in 
 Shame ? To fee with what amazing Infolcnce 
 fome are making themfelves openly vilc^ and how 
 the Name of Christ is difhonoured by many 
 too that call themfelves His People ? To fee the 
 unlawful Deeds ^ndfltby Practices of them that live 
 ungodly^ and to behold, at the lame Time, the 
 Infirmities at leaft, and Irregularities of thofe, 
 concerning whom we have better Hopes ? And 
 do you not wifh to efcape from fuch a World, 
 
 where 
 
 Xb. 29. ami will deliver him from Sin, 583 
 
 where a righteous and compalTionate Soul mull 
 ht vexed from Day to Day by fo many Speftacles 
 of Sin and Mifcry (g) ? 
 
 §. 5. Yea, to come nearer Home, do you 
 not feel fomething within you, which you long 
 to quit, and which would imbitter even Paradiie 
 itieU ? Something, v/hich were it to continue, 
 would grieve and diflreis you even in the Soci- 
 ety of the Blclfcd } Do you not feel a Remain- 
 der oi Indwelling Sin^ the lad Confequence of the 
 Original Revolt of our Nature from God ? Are 
 you not ftruggling every Day with fome Refidue 
 of Corruption, or at leaft mourning on Account 
 of the Weaknefs of your Graces ? Do you not 
 often find your Spirits dull and languid, when 
 you would defire to raife them to the greateft 
 Fervour in the Service of God ? Do you not find 
 your Hearts too often infenfible of the richeft In- 
 ftances of his Love, and your Hands feeble in his 
 Se r V i c e , e ve n w h c n to ivill is prefent with you ( h ) ? ' 
 Does not your Lite, in its beft Days and Hours, 
 appear a low unprofitable Thing, when com- 
 pared with what you are fenfible it ought to be, 
 and with what you wifh that it were ? Are you 
 not frequently, as it were, flretching the Pinions of 
 the Mind, and faying, Ob that 1 had Wings like a 
 Dcve, that I might fly away^ and he at Refl (i) ? 
 
 §.6. Should you not then rejoice in the 
 Thought, that Jesus comes to deliver you from 
 thefe Complaints ? That He comes to anfwer 
 your Wifhcs, and to fulfil the largefl Defires of 
 your Hearts-, thofe Defires, that He himfelf has 
 infpired } That He comes to open upon you a 
 World of Purity and Joy, of ailive, exalted, 
 and unwearied Services ^ 
 
 §. 7. Oh 
 
 (g) 2 Pet. ii. 8. (h) Rom. vii. 18. (i) Pfal. Iv. 6. 
 
i 
 
 2S4. Death will bring him to Chrijt^ Ch. 29. 
 
 §. 7. Oh Chriftian, how often have you caft 
 a longing Eye towards thofe happy Shores, and 
 wifhed to pals the Sea, the boiltcrous, unplea- 
 fant, dangerous Sea, that feparates you from 
 them ? When your Lord has condefcended to 
 make you a (hort Vifit in his Ordinances on 
 Earth, how have you bled the Time, and the 
 Place, and pronounced it, amidft any other Dil- 
 advantage of Situation, to be the very Gate of 
 Heaven (k)? And is it fo delightful to behold 
 this Gate, and will it not be much more fo to 
 enter into it ? Is it lb delightful to receive the 
 Vifits of Jesus for an ?Iour, and will it not be 
 infinitely more fo to dwell with him for ever ? 
 " Lord," may you well fay, " when I dwell 
 " with Thee, I ihall dwell in Holinefs, for 
 " Thou Thvfelf art Holinefs -, I Ihall dwell in 
 " Love, for Thou Thyfclf art Love •, I Ihall 
 *' dwell in Joy, for Thou art the Fountain of 
 " Joy, as noil art in the Father^ and the Father in 
 *' Thee (1)." Bid welcome to His Approach 
 therefore, to take you at your Word, and to 
 fulfil to you that Saying of His, on which your 
 Soul has fo often refted with Heavenly Peace and 
 Pleafure ; Father^ I will^ that they whom Thou hajl 
 given me^ be with me where I am^ that they tnay be- 
 hold my Glory which Thou haft given me (m). 
 
 §.8. Surely you may lay in this View, 
 '« The [ooncv Christ comes, the better." What 
 tho' the Refidue of your Days be cut off in the Midfl^ ? 
 What tho' you leave many expetfled Pleafures in 
 Life untafted, and many Schemes unaccompliflv 
 ed ? Is it not enough, that what is taken from a 
 mortal Life lliall be added to a glorious Eternity v 
 and that you Ihall fpend thofe Days and Years in 
 
 the 
 
 (k) Gen, xxviii. 17. (I) John xvii. 21. (m) John xvii. 24. 
 
 Ch. 29. md Judgment will be welcome to him, 385 
 the Prefence and Service of Christ in Heaven, 
 which you might otherwife have fpent with him 
 and for him in the impcrfed: Enjoyments and 
 Labours of Earth ? 
 
 §. 9. But your Profpefls reach not only be- 
 yond Death, but beyond the feparate State, For 
 with regard to His final Appearance to Judg^ 
 mnt OUT Lord fays. Surely I come quickly, in the 
 Scnfe illuftrated before : And fo it will appear to 
 us, if we compare this Interval of Time with the 
 blifsful Eternity which is to fucceed it *, and pro- 
 bably, if we compare it with thofe Ages which 
 have already pafled, fince the Sun began to 
 ineafure out to Earth its Days and its Years. 
 And will you not here ^Kojing your Part in the 
 joyful Anthem, ji-mc?!, evenfo come, Lordjefus! 
 
 §. 10. It is true, Chriftian, it is an awful 
 Bay J a Day, in which Nature fhall be thrown 
 into a Confufion as yet unknown. No Earth- 
 quake, no Eruption of burning Mountains, no 
 Defolation of Cities by devouring Flames, or of 
 Countries by overflowing Rivers or Seas, can 
 give any juft Emblem of that dreadful Day ; 
 when the Heavens being on Fire /hall be diffolved, as 
 well as the Earth, and all that is therein, fljall be 
 burnt up (n) •, when all Klature fhall flee away in 
 Amazement ^<?/^r^ the Face of the univerf al Judge {o)\ 
 and there fhall be a great Cry, far beyond what 
 was known in the Land of Egypt, when there was 
 not a Houfe in which there was not one dead (p). 
 Your Flefh may be ready to tremble at the 
 View ; yet your Spirit muft furely rejoice in GOD 
 your Saviour (q). You may juflly fay, " Let 
 *' this illuflrious Day come, even with all its 
 
 Cc « Horrors!" 
 
 (n) 2 Pet. iii. I o, 1 2 . (o) Kcv. xx. 1 1 . (p) Exod. xii. 30. 
 (q) Luke i. 47. 
 
386 With Joy he will fee the Triumph ofChriffX^- 29 . 
 
 " Horrors!" Yea, like the Chriftians defcribed 
 by the Apoftle(r), you may be looking for^ a?jd 
 hajling to that Day of terrible Brightnefs and uni- 
 verfal Doom. ¥ov your Lord will then come^ to 
 vindicate the ^itjlice of thofe Proceedings^ which have 
 been in many Inftances fo much obfcured, and 
 becaufe they have been obfcured have been alio 
 blafphemed. He will come^ to dijplay His Magni- 
 ficence^ defcending from Heaven with a Shouts 
 with the Voice of the Archangel^ and with the Trump 
 of GOD (s) •, taking his Seat upon a Throne infi- 
 nitely exceeding that of Earthly, or even of Ce- 
 leftial Princes, clothed with His Father^ s Glory ^ 
 and His own (t) ; fur rounded with a numberlefs 
 Hofl: of /hining Attendants^ when coming to be glori- 
 fed in His Saints^ and admired in all them that be- 
 lieve {u). His Enemies fhall alfo be produced to 
 grace His Triumph ; The Serpent fhall be feen 
 there rolling in the Duft, and trodden under 
 Foot by Him and by all His Servants : Thofe, 
 who once condemned Him, fhall tremble at His 
 Prefence •, and thofe, who bowed the Knee be- 
 fore Him in profane Mockery, fhall in wild 
 Defpair call to the Mountains to fall upon them^ and 
 to the Rocks to hide them from the Face of that 
 Ijimb of GOD (x), whom they once led away to 
 the moft inhuman Slaughter. 
 
 §. 1 1. Oh Chriftian, does not your loyal Heart 
 bound at the Thought? And are you not ready, 
 even while you read thefe Lines, to begin the 
 vidlorious Shout in which you are then to join ? 
 He juftly expefts, that your Thoughts fhould be 
 greatly elevated and imprefTed with the Views of 
 His Triumph i but at the fame Time He permits 
 
 you, 
 
 (r) 2 Pet. Hi. 12. (s) i ThefT iv. 16. (t) Lukeix. z6, 
 (u) 2 ThefT. i. 10. (x) Rev. vi. 16. 
 
 Ch . 2 9 . and be happy himfeJf in that Day. 387 
 you, to remember your own perfonal Share in the 
 foy and Glory of that bleffedDay: And even now 
 He has the View before Him of what His Power 
 and Love fliall then accomplifh for your Salva- 
 tion. And what fhall it not accomplifh? He 
 fhall come, to break the Bars of the Grave, and 
 to reanimate your fleeping Clay. Your Bodies 
 muft indeed be laid in the Duft, and be lodged 
 there as a Teftimony of God's Difpleafure agatnft 
 Sin ; againft the firft Sin that was ever commit- 
 ted, from the fad Confequences of which the 
 deareft of His Children cannot be exempted. 
 But you fhall then have an Ear to hear the Voice 
 of the Son of GOD, and an Eye to behold the 
 Luftre of His Appearance -, and fliall//«f forth 
 like the Sun^y) arifing in the clear Heaven, which 
 is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber (z). 
 Your Soul fhall be new dreflfed, to grace this 
 high Solemnity ; and be clothed, not with the 
 Rags of Morality, but with the Robes of Glory ; 
 for He fhall change this vile Body, to fafhion it like 
 His own glorious Body{2i). And when you are 
 thus royally arrayed. He fhall confer publick 
 Honours on you, and on all His People, before 
 the afTembled World. You may now perhaps be 
 loaded with Infamy, called by reproachful Names, 
 and charged with Crimes, or with Views which 
 your very Soul abhors : But He will then bring 
 forth your Righteotijnefs as the Light (h), and your 
 Salvation as a Lamp that burneth (c). Tho* you 
 have been difloonourcd by Men, you fhall be acknow- 
 ledged by GOD ', and tho' treated as the Filth of the 
 florid, and the Off-fcouring of all Things (d), He 
 will fhew, that He regards you as His Treafure^ 
 
 Cc 2 in 
 
 (y) Mat. xiii. 43. (z) Pfal. xix. 5, (a) Phil. lii. 1 1. 
 (D) Pfal.xxxvii. 6. (c) Kai. Ixii. i. (d) i Cor. iv. 13. 
 
388 The Hafpinefs of every Believer Ch. 29. 
 
 :n the Bay that He makes up His Jeiiels (e V When 
 He (\^2l\\ put away all the IVicked of the Earth like 
 Brofs{S)y you fhall be pronounced Righteous in that 
 full AfTembly ; and though indeed you have 
 broken the Divine Law, and might in ftridt 
 Juftice have been condemned, yet being clothed 
 with the Righteoufnefs of the great Redeemer, 
 even that Righteoufnefs which is of GOD by Faith [g)^ 
 Judice itfrlf fhall acquit you, and join with Mer- 
 cy in befl owing upon you a Crown of Life (h). 
 Christ will confefs you before Men and Angels (i), 
 will pronounce -^om good and faithful Servants^ and 
 call you to enter into the Joy of your Lord{k) : He 
 will fpeak of you with Endearment as his Bre- 
 thren^ and will acknowledge the Kindneffes which 
 have htenfhewn toyou^ as if He had received them 
 in his oim Perfon (1). Yea, then fhall you. Oh 
 Chriftian, who may perhaps have fate in fome of 
 the lowed Places in our Aflemblies, tho* (it may 
 be) none of the Rich and Great of the Earth 
 would condefcend to look upon or to fpeak to 
 you, be called to be Affeffors with Chrifl on His 
 Judgment-Seat, and to join with Him in the 
 Sentence He (hall pafs on wicked Men and re- 
 bellious Angels. 
 
 §.12. Nor is it merely one Day of Glory 
 and of Triumph. But when the Judge arifes 
 and afcends to His Father's Court, all the Bleffed 
 (hall aicend with Him, and v<7« among the rell : 
 Tou fhall afcend together with your Saviour, to His 
 Father and your Father^ to His GOD and your 
 GOD(m). You (hall go, to make your Appear- 
 ance in the New Jerufalem^ in thofe new ihining 
 Forms that you have received, which will no 
 
 doubt 
 
 (e) Mai. ill. 17. 
 (h) 2 Tim. iv. 8. 
 (I) Mat. XXV. 40. 
 
 (0 Pfal. cxix. 119. (g) Phil.iii. 9- 
 (i) Luke xii. 8. (k) Mat. xxv. 21. 
 (m) John XX. i 7. 
 
 Ch . 29. will he then compleated, 389 
 
 doubt be attended with acorrefpondent Improve- 
 ment of Mind *, and take up your perpetual 
 Abode in that Fulnefs of Joy^ with which you 
 fhall be filled and fatisfied in the Prefence of 
 GOD (o), upon the Confummation of that Hap- 
 pinefs, which the Saints in the intermediate State 
 have been wifhing and waiting for. You (hall 
 go, from the Ruins of a diffolving World, to 
 the nezv Heavens and new Earthy wherein Righte- 
 oufnefs for ever dwells (p). There all the Number 
 of GOD' s Ele6l (hall h^accomplifljed^ and the Hap- 
 pincfs of e;ach (hall be compleated. Th^ whole 
 Society fhall be prefented before GOD^ as the Bride ^ 
 the Lamb'*s Wife (q), whom the Eye of its Celeflial 
 Bridegroom fliall furvey with unutterable Delight, 
 and confefs to be without Spot or IVr inkle ^ or any 
 fuch Thing (r) ; its Charadler and State being jull 
 what He originally defigned it to be, when He 
 firll engaged to give himfelf for //, to redeem it to 
 GOD by His Blood (s). So fhall you ever be with 
 each other, and wtth the Lord{t)\ and immortal 
 Ages fhall roll away, and find you ftill un- 
 changed ; your Happinefs always the fame, and 
 your Relifh for it the li\me ; or rather ever grow- 
 ings as your Souls are approaching nearer and 
 nearer to Him, who is the Source of Happinefs, 
 and the Centre of Infinite Perfedion. 
 
 §.13. And now, look round about upon 
 Earth, and fingle out, if you can, the Enjoy- 
 ments or the Hopes, for the Sake of which you 
 would fay, Lord^ delay thy Coming j or for the Sake 
 of which you any more (hould hefitate to exprefs 
 your Longing for it, and to cry, Even fo come^ 
 Lord Jefus^ come quickly ! 
 
 C c 3 The 
 
 (o) Pfal. xvi. 11. (p) 2 Pet. iii. 13. (q) Rev. xxi. 9, 
 (r) Eph. V. 27. (s) Rev. V. 9. (t) 1 Their, iv. 17. 
 
<c 
 
 (( 
 
 390 rhe Meditation of a CbrisJwn Ch. 2 9. 
 
 The Meditation ^//iPRAVER of a Chris- 
 tian, whofe Hecjt is warmed with thefe 
 Profpc^s, 
 
 On BLESSED LORD ' My Soul is en- 
 kindled in thefc Views; and rtfes to 
 Thee /;; the Flame {u). Thou haft tejlified. 
 Thou comeft quickly: And I repeat my jovful 
 " AfTcnt, Amen, even fo come. Lord Jcfus (x) / 
 *' Come, for I long to have done with this low 
 " Life; to have done with its Burthens, itsSor- 
 *' rows, and its Snares! Come, for I long to 
 '' afcend into Thy Prefencc, and to fee the 
 *' Court Thou art holding above! 
 
 '' Bleifed Jesus, Death is transformed, when 
 " I view It in this Light. The King of Terrors is 
 " feen no more as fuch, fo ntxv the King of Glory 
 *' and of Grace, I hear with Pleafure the Sound 
 " of Thy Feet, approaching ftill nearer and 
 V nearer: Draw afide the Veil, when ever Thou 
 *' pleafeft! Open the Bars of my Prifon, that 
 *' my eager Soul may fpring forth to Thee, and 
 '' caft jtfclf atThy Feet; at the Feet of that 
 '' Jesus, whom having not feen. Hove-, and in 
 " whofn, tho' now 1 fee Thee not, yet believing, I 
 *' rejoice with Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory {^) ' 
 *' ^^/^^^ ^ord, fjalt Jfjew me the Path of Life: 
 
 " Tr "^ ^'^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^'^^ ^"^ ^o Thy blifsful 
 '' Abode, where there is Fulnefs of Joy, and Rivers 
 *' oj everbfiing Pleafure {z). Thou ilialt afTign 
 ^'1 nit an Habitation with Thy faithful Scr- 
 " vants, whofe feparate Spirits are now living 
 « with Thee, while their Bo&^sfleep in tkeDufl. 
 
 " Many 
 
 Ch. 29. in the Views of Death and Judgment. 391 
 
 *' Many of them have been my Companions \n Thy 
 *' laborious Work, and in the Patience and Tri- 
 " bulation of Thy Kingdom (a) ; my dear Compa- 
 ** nions, and my Brethren. Oh fhew me, BlelTed 
 " Saviour, how glorious and how happy Thou 
 *' haft made them ! Shew me, to what new Forms 
 *' of better Life Thou haft conducted them, 
 ** whom we call the Dead! In what nobler and 
 '' more extenfive Services Thou haft employed 
 *' them ! That I may praife Thee better than I 
 " now can, for Thy Good nefs to them ! And Oh 
 " give me to fhare with them in their Bleftings 
 " and their Services, and to raife a Song of 
 *' grateful Love, like that which they are 
 " breathing forth before Thee ! 
 
 " Yet, Oh my Blcfled Redeemer, even there 
 " will my Soul be afpiring to a yet nobler and 
 *' more glorious Hope ; and from this as yet un- 
 " known Splendour and Felicity, fhall I be 
 " drawing new Arguments to look and long for 
 " the Day of Thy final Appearance, There (hall I 
 *' long more ardently than I now do, to fee 
 " Thy Condudl vindicated, and Thy Triumph 
 " difplayed ; to fee the Duft of Thy Sc::rvants re- 
 animated, 2iX\d Death, the lajl of thtiv Enemies 
 and of Thine, fwallowed up in Victory (b). I 
 " fhall long for that fuperior Honour that Thou 
 " intendeft me, and that compleat Blifs to 
 " which the whole Body of Thy People (hall be 
 " conduced. Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly, 
 " will mingle itielf with the Songs of Paradife, 
 *' and found from the Tongues of all the Millions 
 " of Thy Saints, whom Thy Grace has tranf- 
 " planted thither. 
 
 Co 4 «« In 
 
 (a) Rev. i. 9. (b) 1 Cor.xv. 26, 54. 
 
 (C 
 
 C( 
 
 iMil^Siift^ilfaii^^-'''-'^''-'''-^ 
 
392 The Chri^ian waiitng for D^ath. ChTsp. 
 
 " In the mean Time, Oh my Divine Mafler, 
 accept the Homage which a grateful Heart 
 now pays Thee, in aSenfe oi the glorious Hopes 
 with which Thou haft infpired it! It is Thou, 
 that haft put this Joy into it, and haft raifcd 
 my Soul to this glorious Ambition •, whereas 
 I might otherwife have now been groveling in 
 the loweft Trifles of Time and Senfe, and 
 been looking with Horror on that Hour, 
 which is now the Obie(5l of my moft ardent 
 Wifhes. 
 
 " Oh be with me always^ even to the End of 
 this mortal Life! and give me, while waiting 
 for Thy Salvation^ to be doing Tljy Command^ 
 ments ! May my Loins he girded about ^ and my 
 Lamp burning (c) ; and mine Ears be ftill 
 watchful for the blefltd Signal of Thine Ar- 
 rival: That my glowing Soul may with Plea- 
 fure fpring to meet Thee, and be ftrength- 
 ened by Death to bear thofe Vifions of Glory, 
 under the Extafies of which feeble Mortality 
 would now expire !" 
 
 (c) Luke xii. 35. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Ch. 30. The dying Chri^iancalfd to honour GOD. 393 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 The Christian honouring Go d by his 
 
 Dying Behaviour. 
 
 Reflexions on the Sincerity with which the preceding 
 Advices have been given. §. j. The Author is de- 
 firous^ that {if Providence permit) he may ajfift the 
 Chriffian to die honourably and comfortably. §. 2,3. 
 With this View it is advifed^ {i.) To rid the 
 Mind of all Earthly Cares. §.4. {2.) To renew 
 the Humiliation of the Soul before GOD, and its 
 Application to the Blood of Cbrift. §.5. {'^.) To 
 exercife Patience under bodily Pains and Sorrows. 
 §.6. {^.) At leaving the PVprld.^ to bear an ho- 
 nourable Tejlimony to Religion. §.7. (^.) To give 
 a folemn Charge to furviving Friends^ §.8. efpe- 
 daily recommending Faith in Chrift. §.9. (6.) 
 To keep the Promifes of GOD in View. §. 10, 11. 
 And., (7.) To commit the departing Spirit to GOD^ 
 m the genuine Exercifes of Gratitude and Repen- 
 tance^ Faith and Charity \ §. 12. which are ex- 
 emplified in the concluding Meditation and Prayer. 
 
 i 
 
 I. 
 
 THUS, my dear Reader, I have en- 
 deavoured to lead you thro' a Varie- 
 ty of Circumjiances ; and thofe, not fancied and 
 imaginary, but fuch as do indeed occur in the 
 Human and Chriftian Life. And I can truly 
 and chearfully fay, that I have marked out to 
 you the Path which I have myfelf trod, and in 
 
 which 
 
394 Advices offered to cffift the Chrifiian Ch. 30, 
 
 which it is my Define flill to go on. I have ven- 
 tured my own Everlafting Interefts on that Foun- 
 dation, on which I have diredled you to adven- 
 ture yours. What I have recommended as the 
 grand Bufinefs of your Life, I defire to make 
 the Bufinefs of my own : And the moft confi- 
 derable Enjoyments, which I expeft or defire 
 in the remaining Days of my Pilgrimage on 
 Earth, are luch as I have direded you to feek, 
 and endeavoured to affift vou in attainino;. Such 
 Love to God, fuch conllant A^^ivity in his Ser- 
 vice, fuch pleafurable Views of what lies beyond 
 the Grave, appear to me (God is my Witnefs,) 
 a Felicity incomparably beyond any Thing elf: 
 which can offer itfclf to our Affection and Pur- 
 luit : And I would not for Ten Thouland Worlds 
 refign my Share in them, or confcnt even to the 
 Sufpcnfion of the Dehghts which they afford, 
 during the Remainder of my Abode here. 
 
 §.2. I WOULD humbly hope, thro' the Di- 
 vine Blefllng, that the Hours you have fpent in 
 the Review of thefe plain Things may have turn- 
 ed to fome profitable Account *, and that in Con- 
 iequence of what you have read, you have ei- 
 ther been brought into the Way of Life and 
 Peace, or been induced to quicken your P^^ce 
 in it. Moft heartily fhould 1 rejoice in being 
 further ufeful to you, and that even to the lalt. 
 Now there is one Scene remaining ^ a Scene, thro' 
 which you muff inf^dlibly pafs •, which has fome- 
 thing in it fo awful, that I cannot but attempt 
 doing a little to afTift you in it : I mean, the 
 dark Valley of the Shadow of Death. I could ear- 
 neftly wifli, that for the Credit of your Profef- 
 fion, the Comfort of your own Soul, and the 
 Joy and Edification of your furviving Friends, 
 
 ^ou, 
 
 Ch. 30. to die homurally and comfortably, 295 
 
 you might diCy not only fafely^ but honourably too : 
 And therefore \ would offer you a few parting 
 Advices. I am fenfible indeed, that Providence 
 may determine the Circumftances of your Death 
 in fuch a Manner, as that you may have no Op- 
 portunity of afting upon the Hints I now give 
 you. Some unexpected Accident from without, 
 or from within, may as it were whirl you to Hea- 
 ven before you are aware \ and you may find your- 
 felf fo fuddcnly there, that it may feem a TranT 
 nation, rather than a Death. Or it is poffible, the 
 Force of a Diftemper may affed your Under- 
 ffanding in fuch a Manner, that you may be 
 quite infenfible of the Circumftance in which 
 you are ; and foyour Diflblution (tho' others may 
 fee it vifibly and certainly approaching,) may be 
 as great a Surprize to you, as if you had died in 
 full Health. 
 
 §.3. But as it is on the whole probable ^ you 
 may have^ more fenfible Paffage out of Time into 
 Eternity •, and as much may, in various Re- 
 fpedts, depend on your dying Behaviour \ give mc 
 Leave to propofe fome plain Directions with Re- 
 lation to it, to be pracflifed, if God give you 
 Opportunity, and remind you of them. It may 
 not be improper to look over the xxixth Chapter 
 again, when you find the Symptoms of any 
 threatning Diforder: And I the rather hope, 
 that what I fay may be ufeful to you, as me- 
 thinks I find myfelf difpofed to addrefs you with 
 fomething of that peculiar Tendernefs which we 
 feel for a dying Friend \ to whom, as we expe<5t 
 that we ffiall fpeak to him no more, we fend 
 out as it were all our Hearts m every Word.^ 
 
 §. 4. I WOULD advife then, in the firft Place, 
 ^^ that as foon as poffible you would endeavour 
 
 " tQ 
 
I 
 
 396 ' Get rid of Earthly Cares^ Ch. 30, 
 
 ** to get rid of all further Care with Regard to 
 " your temporal Concerns, by fettling them in 
 " Time in as Reafonable and Chriftian a Man- 
 *' ncr as you can." I could wifh, there may be 
 nothing of that Kind to hurry your Mind when 
 you are lead able to bear it, or to diflrefs or di- 
 vide thofe who come after you. Do that, whicii 
 in the Prefence of God you Judge mofi equitable^ 
 and which you verily br^iicve will be moft pleafing 
 to Him. Do it in as prudent and cftccT-iial a 
 Manner, as you can : And then, confider the 
 World as a Place you have quite done with, and 
 its Affairs as nothing further to you, more than 
 to one adually dead ; unlefs as you may do any 
 Good to its Inhabitants, while yet you continue 
 among them-, and may, by any Circumllance 
 in your laft Anions or Words in Life, leave a 
 Blejfing behind you to thofe, who have been your 
 Friends and Fellow-Travellers, while you have 
 been difpatching that Journey thro' it, which 
 you are now finifhing. 
 
 §. 5. That you may be the more at I^illire, 
 and the better prepared for this, " enter into 
 " fome ferious Review of your own State ; and 
 *' endeavour to put your Soul into as fit a Pof- 
 '' ture as poffibic, for your folcmn Appearance 
 *' before God:" For a folemn Thing indeed it 
 is, to go into his immediate Prefence \ to (land 
 before Him, not as a Supplicant at the Throne 
 of his Grace, but at his Bar as a feparate Spirit, 
 whofe Time of Probation is over, and whole 
 Eternal State is to be immediately determined. 
 Renew your Humiliation before God for the 
 Imperfedions of your Life, tho' it has in the 
 Main been devoted to his Service. Renew your 
 Application to the Mercies of God as promifed 
 
 ill 
 
 Ch. 30. look to Chriiiy and exercife Patience. 397 
 
 in the Covenant of Grace, and to the Blood of 
 Christ as the blefled Channel in which they 
 flow. Refign yourfelf entirely to the Divine 
 Difpofal and Conduft, as willing to ferve God, 
 either in this World or the other, as He fhall fee 
 fit. And fenfible of your Sinfulnefs on the one 
 hand, and of the Divine Wifdom and Goodnels 
 on the other, fummon up all the Fortitude of 
 your Soul to bear as well as you can whatever his 
 afflicting Hand may further lay upon you, and 
 to receive the laft Stroke of it, as one who would 
 maintain the moll entire Subjection to the great 
 and good Falher of Spirits. 
 
 §.6. Whatever you fuffer, ** endeavour to 
 " Ihew yourfelf an Example of Patience.^* Let 
 that amiable Grace have its perfe^ JVork (a) ; and 
 fince it has fo little more to do, let it clofe the 
 Scene nobly. Let there not be a murmur- 
 ing; Word ; and that there may not, watch 
 ag'ainft every repining Thought : And when you 
 fe'el any Thing of that Kind arifing, look by 
 Fiith upon a dying Saviour, and afk your own 
 Heart, " Was not His Crofs much more pain- 
 " ful, than the Bed on which I lie ? Was not 
 '' His Situation among Blood-thirfty Enemies in- 
 *' finitely more terrible, than mine amidft the 
 *' Tenderneis and Care of fo many affedlionate 
 " Friends ? Did not the heavy Load of my 
 " Sins prefs Him in a much more overwhelming 
 '' Manner, than I am preffed by the Load of 
 " thefe Affliaions .? And yet He bore all as a 
 " Lamb that is brought to the Slaughter (bj." Let 
 the Remembrance of His Sufferings be a Means 
 to fweeten yours •, yea, let it caufe you to re- 
 ioice, when you are called to bear the Crofs for 
 
 a little 
 
 (a) Jam. i. 4. 
 
 (b} Ifai. liii. 7- 
 
39 S Bear an honourable Teflimony to Religion^ Ch . 5 o. 
 
 a little while, before you wear the Crown. Count 
 it all Joy^ that you have an Opportunity yet once 
 more of honouring God by your Patience, 
 which is now adling its laft Part, and will in a 
 few Days, perhaps in a few Hours, be fuperfed- 
 ed by compleat everlafting BiefTednefs. And 
 I am willing to hope, that in thefe Views you 
 will not only fupprels all pafTionate Complaints, 
 but that your Mouth will be filled with the 
 Praifes of Ggd •, and that you will be fpeak- 
 ing to thofe that are about you, not only of 
 His Juftice, but of His Goodnefs too. So that 
 you will be enabled to communicate your in- 
 ward Joys in fuch a Manner, as may be a live- 
 ly and edifying Comment upon thofe Words of 
 the Apoftle, Tribulation worketh Patience •, and Pa- 
 tience^ Experience ; and Experience^ Hope ; even a 
 Hope which maketb not ajljamed^ while the Love of 
 GOD is Jhed abroad in our Hearts^ by the HolyGhoJl 
 which is given unto us (c). 
 
 §. 7. And now, my dear Friend, " now is 
 ** the Time, when it is efpecially expefted from 
 " you, that you bear an honourable Teflimony to Re- 
 " ligiony Tell thofe that are about you, as 
 well as you can, (for you will never be able ful- 
 ly to exprefs it,) what Comfort and Support you 
 have found in it. Tell them, how it has bright- 
 ened the darkeft Circumftances of your Life : 
 Tell them, how it now reconciles you to the 
 near Views of Death. Your Words, will carry 
 with them a peculiar Weight, at fuch a Seafon : 
 There will be a Kind of Eloquence, even in the 
 Infirmities with which you are ftruggling, while 
 you give them Utterance •, and you will be heard 
 with Attention, with Tendernels, with Credit. 
 And therefore, when //fe Time of your Departure 
 
 is 
 
 (c) Rom. V. 3, 4, 5. 
 
 Ch. 30. and charge thofe about you to ?mnd it. 399 
 
 is at handy with unaffeded Freedom breathe out 
 your Joy, if you then feel (as I hope you will,) 
 an holy Joy and Delight in God. Breathe out 
 however your inward Peace and Serenity of 
 Mind, if you be then peaceful and ferene : 
 Others will mark it^ and be encouraged to tread 
 the Steps which lead to fo happy an End. Tell 
 them, what you feel of the Vanity of the 
 World -, and they may learn to regard it lefs : 
 Tell them, what you feel of the Subftantial Sup- 
 ports of the Gofpel ; and they may learn to va- 
 lue it more : For they cannot but know, that 
 they mud lie down on a dying Bed too, and 
 mull then need all the Relief which the Gofpel 
 itfelf can give them. 
 
 §. 8. And to inforce the Conviftion the more, 
 " give a folemn Charge to thofe that are about 
 " you, that they fpend their Lives in the Service of 
 " GODy and govern them/elves by the Principles of 
 " real Religion.'* You may remember, that 
 Jopua^ and David^ and other good Men did fo -, 
 when they perceived, that the Days drew 7tearm 
 which they Ihould die. And you know not, how 
 the Admonitions of a dying Friend, or ('as it may 
 be with refpeft to fomc,) of a dying Parent, may 
 imprefs thofe who may have difregarded what 
 you and others may have faid to them before. 
 At leaft, make the Trial ; and die, labouring to 
 glorify God, to fave Souls, and generoufly to 
 few the Seeds of Goodnefs and Happinefs in a 
 World, where you have no more Harvefis to reap. 
 Perhaps they may fpring up in a plentiful Crop, 
 when the Clods of the Valley are covering your 
 Body: But if not, God will approve it; and 
 the Angels, that wait around your Bed to re- 
 ceive your departing Soul, will look upon each 
 other with Marks of Approbation in their Coun- 
 tenance, 
 
■:'% 
 
 4( 
 
 £C 
 
 &C 
 
 iC 
 
 cc 
 
 400 Declare your Dependance on Chriff : Ch . 3 o . 
 
 tenance, and own, that this is to expire like a 
 Chriftian^ and to make a glorious Improvement 
 of Mortality. 
 
 §. 9. And in this lajl Addrefs to your Fellow^ 
 Mortals, who ever they are that Providence 
 brings near you, " be fure that you tell them, 
 how entirely and how cheartully your Hopes 
 and Dependance in this Seafon of the laft Ex- 
 tremity are fixed^ not upon your own Merits 
 and Obedience, but on what the great Redeemer 
 has done, and has fuffered for Smners." Let 
 them fee, that you die as it were at the Foot of the 
 Crofs : Nothing will be fo comfortable to your- 
 felves, nothing fo edifying to them. Let the 
 Name of Jesus therefore be in your Mouth, 
 while you are able to fpeak ; and when you can 
 fpeak no longer, let it be in your Heart, and 
 endeavour that the laft Aft of your Soul, while 
 it continues in the Body, may be an A61 of 
 humble Faith in Christ. Come unto GOD by 
 Him : Enter into that which is within the Veil^ as 
 with the Blood of Sprinkling frefh upon you. It 
 is an awful Thing for fuch a Sinner, (as you, my 
 Chriftian Friend, with all the Virtues the World 
 may have admired, know yourielf to be,) to 
 Hand before that infinitely pure and holy Being, 
 who has leen all your Ways, and all your Heart, 
 and has a perfect Knowledge of every Mixture 
 of Imperfection which has attended the beft of 
 your Duties : But venture in that Way, and you 
 will find it both Hife and pleafant. 
 
 §. 10. Once more, " To give you Comfort 
 
 in a dying Hour^ and to fupport your feeble Steps 
 
 while you are travelling thro' this dark and 
 
 painful Way, take the Word of GOD as a Staff 
 
 in your Hand,'* Let Books, and mortal 
 
 Friends, 
 
 cc 
 
 66. 
 
 CC 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Ch. 30. A'jdkeep the Promifes of G&D in View, 401 
 
 Friends, now do their lajl Office for you. Call, if 
 you can, feme experienced Chrifiian^ who has feU 
 the Power of the Word of GOD upon his own 
 Heart ; and let him bring the Scripture, and turn 
 vou to fome of thole precious Promifes, which 
 h.ive been the Food and Rejoicing of his own 
 Soul. It is with this View, that I may carry the 
 good Office I am now engaged in as far as poffi- 
 bie, I flvill here give you a Colletlion of a few 
 luch admirable Scriptures^ each of them infinitely 
 more valuable than Thoufands of Gold and Silver ^ (d). 
 And to convince you of the Degree in which I 
 elleem them, I will take the Freedom to add^ 
 that I defire, they may (if God give an Oppor- 
 tunity,) be read over to me, as I lie on my dying 
 Bid, with port Intervals between them ; that I 
 may paufe upon each, and renew fomething of that 
 delightful Relifh, which, 1 blefs God, I have often 
 found in them. May your Soul and mine be 
 then compofed to a facred Silence, (whatever be 
 the Commotion of Animal Nature,) while the 
 Voice ot God fpeaks to us, in Language which 
 He fpake to his Servants of old, or in which He 
 inftruded them how they fliould fpeak to Him, 
 in Circumftances of the greateft Extremity ! 
 
 §. II. Can any more Encouragement be 
 wanting, when He fays. Fear not, for I am with 
 thee ; be not difmayed, for I am Thy GOD : I will 
 /htiigthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will up- 
 hold thee with the Right Hand of my Righteouf- 
 nefs (c). And He is not a Man, that He fhould lie, 
 cr the Son of Man, that He fhoM repent : Hath He 
 [aid, and fhall He not do it ? Or hath He Jpoken, and 
 
 (I jail He not make it good (f).^ The Lord is my 
 
 Light, and my Salvation, whom fhall I fear ? The 
 
 D d Lord 
 
 (4) Pfal. cxix. 71. (e) Ifai. xli. 10. (f) Num.xxiii. 19, 
 
402 A Colle5iion of fuitabk PromifeSy Ch. 30. 
 
 Lord is the Strength of my Life, of whomfl:^aU I be 
 afraid (g) ? This GOD is our GOD for ever and 
 ever : He will be our Guide even unto Death (h). 
 Therefore, tho* I walk thro" the Vadey of the Shadow 
 of Death y I will fear no Evil-, for Thou art with 
 mc. Thy Rod and Thy Staff, they comfort me (i). I 
 have zvaited for Thy Salvation, Oh Lord (k). Oh 
 continue ny Lovin]^ Ktndnefs unto them that know 
 Thee, and ^hy Righteoufmfs to the upright in Heart t 
 For with Thee is the Fountain of Ltfe •, in Thy 
 Light fioall we fee Light (\). Thou wilt /hew we the 
 Path of Lfe \ in Thy Prefence is Fulnefs of Joy, at 
 Thy Right Hand there are Pleafures for evermore (m). 
 As for me, I fhall behold Thy Face in Righteoufnefs : 
 I fhall be fatisfied, when I awake, zvith Thy Like- 
 nefs (n). For I know inzvhom I have believed, and 
 am perfuaded that He is able to keep what I have com- 
 mitted to Htm until that Day (o). Therefore my 
 Heart is glad, and my Glory rejoiceth •, my FUfh alfo 
 fhall refl in Hope Cp). For if we believe, that Jefus 
 died, and rofe again, thofe alfo thatflcep in Jefus will 
 
 GOD bring with him (q). 1 give unto my Sheep 
 
 Eternal Life, (faid Jesus, the good Shepherd,) and 
 they [hall never per ifh, neither fhall any pluck them cut 
 of my Hand (r). This is the IVill of Him that fent 
 me, that every one that believeth on me Jhould have 
 Everlafiing Life \ and I will raife him up at the lafi 
 Day (s). Let not y cur Heart be troubled-, ye believe 
 in GOD, believe alfo in me. In my Father's Houfe 
 are many Man/ions -, if it were not fo, I would have 
 told you : I go to prepare a PLue foryou : And if I 
 go ajtd prepare a Place foryou, 1 will come again, and 
 
 receive 
 
 (g) Pfal. xxvii. I. (h) Pfal. xlviii. 14. (i) Pfal. xxiii. 4. 
 (k) Gen. xlix. 18. (1) Pfal. xxxvi. 9, 10. (m) Pfal. xvi. n. 
 (n) Pfal. xvii. 15. (o) 2 Tim. i. 1 2. (p) Pfal. xvk 9* 
 
 tq) I Theff. iv. 14. (r) John x. 28. (s) John vi. 40. 
 
 Ch. 50. for the Ufe of the Dying Chrijlian. 40^ 
 
 receive you to myfelf, that where lam, there ye may be 
 alfo (t). Go, tell my Brethren, I afcend unto npf Fa-- 
 ther and your Father, and to my GOD and your 
 GOD (u). Father, I will that thofe whom Thou 
 hqft given me, be with me where 1 ajn, that they may 
 khold my Glory which Thou hajt given me\ that tht 
 JjDve wherewith Ihou has! loved me, may be in them, 
 
 and 1 in them (x). He that teflifieth thefe Things 
 
 faith. Surely I come quickly. Amen : Even fo come^ 
 Lord Jefus (y).' Oh Death, where is thy Sting? Oh 
 Gruve, where is thy ViHory ? Thanks be to GOD^ 
 who giveth us the Victory thro' our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift (z). 
 
 §.12. Thus may that God, who knows the 
 Souls of his Children in all their Adverjities (a), and 
 /;/ whofe Sight the Death of his Saints is precious (b), 
 chear and fupport you and me in thofe laft Ex- 
 tremities of Nature ! May he add us to the hap- 
 py Number of thofe, who have been more than 
 Conquerors in Death ! And may he give us thofe 
 Supplies of His Spirit, which may enable us to 
 pour out our departing Souls in fuch Sentiments, 
 as thofe I would now fugged •, tho' we (hould be 
 no longer able to utter Words, or to underftand 
 them it they were to be read to us! Let us at 
 lead review them with all proper Affe<5lions now, 
 and lay up one Prayer more for that awful ^/!k>- 
 ment ! Oh that this, and all we have ever offer- 
 ed with Regard to it, may then come in Remem- 
 (trance before GOD (c) / 
 
 Dd 2 
 
 ^Me- 
 
 (t) John xiv. I, 2, 3. (u) John xx. 17. (x) John xvii. 
 24, 26. (y) Rev. xxii. 20. (z) i Cor. xv. 55, 57. (a) PfaU 
 ^xxi. 7. (b) Pfal. cxvi. 15. (c) Afts x. 4, 3 r. 
 
\ 
 
 im 
 
 404 
 
 A Meditation ani Prayer, Ch. 30. 
 
 
 yf Mt D I T A T ION rt«i Pr A Y i: R , /^'/^^ /<5? /^^ C^/^ 
 
 ef a dying Christian. 
 
 ic y^ H Thou fupream Ruler of the Vifibic 
 *c II and Invifible Worlds! Thou Sovereign 
 *« ot Life, and of Death •, of Earth, and oi 
 Heaven ! Bleffcd be Thy Name, 1 have otten 
 been taught to feek Thee. And now once 
 more do I pour out my Soul, my departing 
 Soul, unto Thee. Bow down thy gracious Ear, 
 Oh GOD, and let my Cry come before Tbce with 
 
 Acceptance ! 
 
 " The Hour is come, when Thou wilt feparate 
 *' me from this World, with which I have been 
 «> fo long and fo familiarly acquainted, and lead 
 ** me to another, as yet unknown. Enable me, 
 " I befeech Thee, fo make the Exchange, as 
 ** becomes a Child of Abraham, who being called 
 *« ot Thee to receive an Inheritance, obeyed, and 
 went out, tho' he knew not particularly whither 
 he went (d) ; as becomes i^ tt/W of GOD, who 
 knows, that, thro' Sovereign Grace, it is his 
 Father'* 5 good Pleafure to give him the King- 
 dom (e) / n- r 
 *' I acknowledge. Oh Lord, the Juftice ot 
 " that Sentence by which I am expiring ; and 
 *' own Thy Wifdom and Goodnefs, in appoint- 
 «* incT my Journey thro' this gloomy Vale which is 
 •' now before me. Help me to turn it into the 
 *' happy Occafion of honouring Thee, and a- 
 <f doming my Profeflfion ! and I will blefs the 
 « Pangs, by which Thou art glorified, and this 
 « mortal and finful Part of my Nature is dii- 
 
 '* folved. _ 
 
 " Gra- 
 
 ce 
 
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 iC 
 
 cc 
 
 ■ t 
 
 (d)TT-b.xi.8 
 
 !c) Luke xii. 32. 
 
 Ch. 30. fuited to the Cafe of a dying Chriftian, 405 
 
 *' Gracious Father, I would not quit this 
 <* Earth of Thine, and this Houfe of Clay in 
 «' which I have fojourned during my Abode up- 
 *< on the Face of it, without my grateful Acknow- 
 «* ledgments to Thee, for all that abundant Good- 
 «' nefs which Thou haft caufed to pafs before me 
 '' here (f). With my dying Breath I bear Wit- 
 ** nefs to ^faithful Care, I hzvt wanted no good 
 « Thing (g)." I thank Thee, Oh my God, that 
 *' this guilty, forfeited, unprofitable Life was 
 *« fo long fpared : That it hath been ftill main- 
 '* tained by fuch a Rich Variety of Thy Bounty. 
 " I thank Thee, that Thou haft made this Be- 
 " ginning of my Exiftence fo pleafant to me. 
 '' I thank Thee, for the Mercies of my Days 
 '' and Nights, of my Months and Years, which 
 *' are now come to their Period : I thank Thee, 
 " for the Mercies of my Infancy, and for thofe 
 " of my riper Age ; for all the agreeable Friends 
 " which Thou haft given me in this Houfe of 
 " my Pilgrimage, the Living and the Dead ; 
 *« for all the Help I have received from others, 
 " and for all the Opportunities which Thou 
 " haft given me of being helpful to the Bodies 
 or Souls of my Brethren of Mankind. Surely 
 Goodnefs and Mercy have followed me all the Days 
 of my Life (h), and I have Reafon to rife a 
 thankful Gueft from the various and pleafant 
 Entertainments with which my Table has 
 '' been furnifhed by Thee. Nor (hall I have 
 Reafon to repine, or to grieve at quitting 
 them : For, Oh my God, are Thy Bounties ex- 
 haufted? I know, tUat they are not. I will not 
 wrong Thy Goodnefs and Thy Faithfulnefs fo 
 ^' much, as to imagine, that becaufe 1 am going 
 
 " from 
 
 (0 Exod. xxxiii. 19. (g) Pfal. xxxiv. 10. (h) Pfal xxiii. 6- 
 
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4o6 A Meditation and Prayer^ Ch. 30. 
 
 from Earthy I am going from llappinefs. I 
 adore Thy Mercy, that Thou haft taught me 
 to entertain nobler Views thro* Jesus Thy 
 Son. I blefs Thee with all the Powers of my 
 Nature, that I ever heard of His Name, and 
 heard of His Death : And would fain exert a 
 more vigorous Afl of thankful Adoration, 
 than in this broken State I am capable of, 
 while I am extolling Thee, for the Riches of 
 Thy Grace manifcltcd in Him *, for His In- 
 ftruftions and His Example, for His Blood 
 and His Righteoufncfs, and for that Bleffed 
 Spirit of Thine which Thou haft given me, to 
 turn my finful Heart unto Thyfelf, and to 
 bring me into the Bonds of ^hy Ccvenant •, ot 
 that Covenant^ which is ordered in all Things and 
 *' fure(\), and which this Death, tho' now fepa- 
 rating my Soul from my Body, fhall never be 
 able todiflblve. 
 
 " I blefs Thee, Oh Lord, that I am not dy- 
 ing in an unregenerate and impenitent State •, 
 " but that Thou didft gracioufly awaken and 
 convince me; that Thou didft renew and 
 fandify my Heart, and didft by Thy good 
 Spirit work in it an unfeigned Faith, a real 
 Repentance, and the Beginning ot a Divine 
 Life. I thank Thee, for Minifters and Or- 
 ^' dinances: I thank Thee, for my Sabbaths 
 and my Sacrament- Days-, for the Weekly 
 and Monthly Refrelhments which they gave 
 me : 1 thank Tnee, for the Fruits cf Canaan^ 
 which were lent mc in the IVildernefs^ and arc 
 now fent me on the Brink of Jordan. I thank 
 Thee, for Thy Bleffed IVord^ and for thole ex- 
 ceeding rich and precious Promifes of it, which 
 
 *' now 
 
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 Ch. 30. fuiled to the Cafe of a dying dhriflian. 4.07 
 
 now lie as a Cordial warm at my Heart in this 
 chilling Hour*, Promifes of Support in Death, 
 and of Glory beyond it, and of the Refur- 
 redion of my Body to Everlafting Life. Oh 
 my God, I firmly believe them all^ great and 
 wonderful as they are, and am waiting for the 
 Aiconiplifloment of them., thro' Jefus Chrtfl ; in 
 whom they are all 7ea and Amen (k). Remember 
 Thy Word unto Thy Servant ^ on which Thou haft 
 caitfed me to hope (1) / I covenanted with Thee, 
 not for Worldly Enjoyments, which Thy 
 Love taught me comparatively to defpife ; 
 but for Eternal Life^ as the Gift of Thy Free 
 G^ace thro* Jefus Chrtfl my Lord {m) : And now 
 permit me in His Name to enter my humble 
 Claim to it! Permit me to confign this depart- 
 ing Spirit to Thine Hand ; for Thou haft redeemed 
 it., Oh Lord GOD of Truth (n)/ / am Thine: 
 Save me Co), and make me happy ! 
 " But may I indeed prefume to fay, / am 
 Thine? Oh God, now I am ftanding on the 
 Borders of both Worlds, now I view Things 
 as in the Light of Thy Pre fence and ^/ Eternity^ 
 how unworthy do I appear, that I fhould be 
 taken to dwell with Thy Angels and Saints in 
 Glory! Alas, I have Reafon to lookback 
 with deep Humiliation, on a poor unprofita- 
 ble finful Life, in which I have daily been defer- 
 vin9 to be ca^ into Hell. But I have this one 
 comfortable Refleclion, that I h3.yQ fled to the 
 Crofs of Chrifl ; and I now renew my Applica- 
 tion to it. lb think of appearing before God 
 in fuch an imperfect Righteoufnefs as my own, 
 were Ten Thouland Times worfe than 
 
 " Death. 
 
 (k) 2 Cor. i. 20. (1) Pfal. cxix. 49. (mj Rom. vi. 23- 
 (n) Pfal. xxxi. 5. (o) Pfal. cxix. 94. 
 
4C 
 
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 40& A Meditation and Pr^^er^ Ch. 30. 
 
 *' Death. No, Lord ! I come unto Thee as a 
 *' Sinner ; but as a Sinner, who has believed in 
 *' Thy Son for Pardon and Life : I fall down 
 ** before Thee as a guilty px)lluted Wretch *, 
 ^' but Thou haft made Him to be unto Thy Peo- 
 ple for JVifdom and Rightcoufnefs^ for Sanclifica- 
 tion and Redemption (p). Let nie have my Lot 
 among the Followers of Jesus! Treat me, as 
 ** Thou treateft thofe who are His Friends and 
 " His Brethren ! for Thou knowcft, my Soul has 
 *' loved Him, and trufted Him, and folemnly 
 " ventured itfelf on the Security of HisGofpcl. 
 And 1 know^ in whom I have believed {q). The 
 Infernal Lion may attempt to dilmay me in 
 •' this awful Paflage : But 1 rejoice, that I am 
 " in the Hands of the good Shepherd (r) -, and I de- 
 fy all my Spiritual Enemies, in a chearful 
 Dependance on His faithful Care. I lift up 
 my Eyes and my Heart to Him, who was 
 dead and is alive a^ain % and behold^ He lives for 
 " evermore^ and hath the Keys of Death and of the 
 *' unfeen fVorld (s). Bleflcd Jesus, Idiebyl'bine 
 '^ Hand^ and I fear no Harm from the Hand of 
 " a Saviour! 1 fear not that Death, which is 
 *' allotted to me by the Hand of my deareft 
 *' Lord, who Himfelf died to make it fafe and 
 happy. I come. Lord, I come, not only 
 with a willing, but with a joyful Confent. I 
 ** thank Thee, that Thou rcmemberefi me for 
 *' Good ; that Thou art breaking my Chains^ and 
 '' calling mt to the glorious Liberty of the Children 
 '* of GOD (t). I thank Thee, that Thou wilt 
 *' no longer permit me to live at a Diftance 
 ** from Thine Arms \ but after this long Ab- 
 
 fence, 
 
 (p) I Cor. i. 30. (q) 2 Tim. i. 12. (r) Johnx. 11, 18. 
 (s) Rev. i. 18. (t) Rom. viii. 21. 
 
 (C 
 
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 41 
 
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 44 
 
 Ch, 30. fuited to the Cafe of a dying Chriflian. 409 
 
 " fence, wilt have me at Home, at Home for 
 *' ever. 
 
 " My feeble Nature faints in the View of that 
 Glory, which is now dawning upon me : But 
 Thou knowcft how, gracious Lord, to let it 
 in upon my Soul by juft Degrees, and lomah 
 Thy Strength perfe^ in my Weaknefs (u). Once 
 ** more, for the iaft Time, would J look down 
 on this poor World which I am going to quit, 
 and breathe out my dying Vows for itsProf- 
 perity, and that of TJoy Church in it. I have 
 loved it. Oh Lord, as a living Member of 
 the Body ; and I love it to the Iaft. I hum- 
 bly befeech Thee therefore, that Thou wilt 
 guard it, and purify it, and unite it more and 
 more ! Send down more of Thy Blefled Spirit 
 upon it, even the Spirit of Wifdom, of Holi- 
 nefs, and of Love; till in due Tmie the Wil- 
 der nefs be turned into a Garden of the Lord{^^^ 
 and all Flefi fhall fee Thy Salvation (x) / 
 •' And as for me, bear me, Oh my Heavenly 
 Father, on the Wings of cverlafting Love 
 to that peaceful, thatholy, tliat joyous Abode, 
 which Thy Mercy has prepared for me, and 
 which the Blood of my Redeemer hath pur- 
 I* chafed ! Bear me to the general Affembly and 
 " Church of the Firfi-born, to the innumerable Corn- 
 par^ of Angels^ and to the Spirits of jufi Men 
 made perft5l (y) .' And whatever this Fie(h may 
 fuffer, let my ftcady Soul be delightfully fixtd 
 on that Glory to which it is rifing ! Let Faiih 
 perform its Iaft Office in an honourable Man- 
 ner! Let my few remaining Moments on 
 Earth be fpcnt for Thy Glory 5 and fo let me 
 
 E e « afcend, 
 
 (u) 2 Cor. xii. 9. (w) Ifai. IL 3. (x) Luke iii. 6. 
 (y) Heb. xii. 22, 23. 
 
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 26 
 
4IO The dying Chrifiian's Prayer. Ch 30. 
 
 alcend, with Love in my Heart, and Praife 
 on my taultcring Tongue, to the World 
 where Love and Fraile fhall be compkat! Be 
 
 *« this rny lafl Song on Earth, which I am going 
 to tune in Heaven •, Bi'Jfmg^ and Honour^ and 
 Glory, end Power be unto Hun that fit lelh on the 
 Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever (/ j / 
 
 " Amen.'' 
 
 (z) Rev. V. 13. 
 
 cc 
 
 «( 
 
 t( 
 
 iC 
 
 4C 
 
 C( 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Pub a/he d by the fame AUTHOR. 
 
 1, -'T-^IIE Family Expositor: Or, a Parsphrafe and 
 X Vctfioii or the Four Evangeliih, difpoted in the 
 Orsltr of an Harmony : With Critical Note?, and a Pradical 
 Improvement of e.ich Sedtion. The Second Edition. In 
 Two Volumes, .jto. 
 
 II. Sermons on the Religious Education of Children. The 
 Third Edition. 
 
 III. Fiee Thoughts on the moft probable Means of reviv- 
 ing the DifTcnting Intcrelh 
 
 i\\ Sermons to Young Perfons, on the following Subjeds ; 
 f/z. I . The Importance of the Rifing Generation. 2. Chrilt 
 formed in the Soul the Foundation of Mope. 3. A Diffua- 
 five from keeping Wicked Company. 4. The Young Chri- 
 Uian invited to an early Attendance on the Lord's-Table. 
 5 . 'I he Orphan's Hope. 6. The Reiieaions of a Pious Parent 
 on the Deuth of a Wicked Child. 7. Youth reminded of ap- 
 proaching Judgment. The Third Edition. 
 
 V. The Care of the Soul urged as the One Thing needful; 
 a Sermon preached June 22, 1735. The Third Edition. 
 
 VI. The Abfurdity and Iniquity of Perfecution for Confci- 
 ence (ake, in all its Kinds and Degrees ; a Sermon preached 
 at Northampton. 
 
 VII. Ten Sermons on the Power and Grace of Chrift, and 
 on the Evidences of his glorious Gofpel ; preached at Norths 
 limp ton The Second Edition. 
 
 ym. Submiffion to Divine Providence in the Death of 
 Children, recommended and inforced, in a Sermon preached at 
 Northampton, on the Death of a vtry amiable and hopeful 
 Child about Five Years old. 7"he Second Edition. 
 
 IX. The 'Femper and Conduft of the Primitive Miniflers of 
 the Gofpel illuftratcd and recommended, in a Sermon preached 
 at IViJleach, June 8, 1737. at the Ordination of the Reve- 
 rend AJr. William Johnjton. 
 
 X. Pradical Reflcaions on the Charafter and Tranflation 
 cf Enoch ; in a Strmon preached at Welford. March Q, nq7-8 
 en the Death of the Reverend ]^ri';j^^/,/;.Ajri-/;, \ . \ : \ 
 
 Xr. A Sermon preached at to//-i7^^6W«^;^, "N^-y <y I'-j-g 
 u hich was obferved as a Day of Failing and Prayer^ on Account 
 of the late dreadful Fire tiieiel.^ :Wkh an Hvy^n'^Vci^e^ [o t^ie 
 Uccanon. . ; .» • '••';! 
 
 XII. The Neceflity of a General Reformation.' in order to 
 a well-grounded Hop:: of S>icccf5 iji-.W^iij; repreftitted in a 
 Sermon preached at i\:'///7«;*//^;/>.CH;t>iei:knvfAV4iK 74». 9, 
 
 XIII. The 
 
 \M 
 
Puhlijhed by the fame AUTHOR. 
 
 XIII. The Scripture- DoftrineorSalvatioi by Grace through 
 Faith, illunratcd and improved in Two Sermons, preached at 
 
 XIV. Praftical Difcourfes on Regeneration, in Ten Ser- 
 mons, preached at Northampton, on the following Subjcds ; 
 I . The Charaaer of" the Unregenerate. 2. 3. The Nature of 
 Regeneration. 4, 5, 6. The Neceffity and importance of it. 
 7. The Divine Influences neceffary to produce it. 8. The 
 various Methods in which thofe Influencfs operate. 9. Direc- 
 aions to the awakened Sinner. 1 o. An Addrefs to the Rege- 
 nerate. The Second Edition. 
 
 XV. The Evil and Danger of negleaing the Souls of Men, 
 plainly and ferioufly reprelented, in a Sermon preached at a 
 Meeting of Minifters at Kettering in Northamptoujhire, Oao- 
 her 15, 1741. and publifhcd at their Requelt. 
 
 XVI. An Anfwer to a late Pamphlet, entitled, Chrifiianity 
 not founded on Argument, ^c. In Tiirce Letters to the Au- 
 thor. 
 
 Xyil. The Principles of the Chriftian Religion, exprefleJ 
 in plain and eafy Verfe, and divided into Ihort LefTons for the 
 Ufe of little Children. 
 
 XVIII. Comp-iffion to the Sick recommended and urged, in 
 a Sermon preached at Northampton, Sep. 4. 1743. In Favour 
 of a Defign then opening to ered a County Infirmary there 
 for the Relief of the Poor Sick and Lame. 
 
 XIX. Chriftian Preaching, and Miniiknal Service : A 
 Sermon prenched at St. Ives in Huntingdon/hire, at the Ordi- 
 nation of the Reverend Mr. John Jennings, Augujt 1 2, 1 742. 
 By Danjid Jennings. To which is added a Charge delivered 
 on that Occafion, by P. Doddridge, D. D. 
 
 XX. Sermons on feveral Subjeds : Preacbed by the late 
 Reverend Mr. Thomas Steffe, of Taunton. With fome Ex- 
 trads from his Letters, in an Account of his Life and Cha- 
 rafter. Publilhed, at the Defire of feverj of his furviving 
 Friends, by P. Doddridge, D. D. The Second Edition. 
 
 XXI. The Friendly Inftru^or ; or, a Companion for 
 young Ladies and young G^:itlenfien. In plain and familiar 
 Dialogues. Recommendtid by* the 'Reverend Dr. Doddridge. 
 The Second Edition! ' • * * - • 
 
 
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