world very fit for us to imitate and learn from them is this That they fix to themselves some certain end and so act not loosely and by chance but have a certain mark to aim at Each one Proposes some particular thing or other to himself so that his Actions are not loose and without a steady aim but he has every day a fixt Point whereto to direct them One sets up for Pleasure another for Power a third for Profit but generally all of them for one thing or other and this makes some order and coherence in Life their Actions are not loose or unrelated to each other but a second backs and promotes the former and all concurr to carry on and compass the end which is fixt for them Now this Point of their Wisdom is very fit to be imitated by the Children of Light Not that they must propose to themselves wrong aims like them Either such as are ill or low and mean ones which will be offensive to God and unworthy of themselves and no ways fit to recompence the pains which they lay out upon them But as they do Christians must fix to themselves some end They must not live in their way as unthinking men who have no design and whose Actions are altogether uncertain carried about here or there as chance occasions or undirected and ungovern'd Fancy or the Humour calls them But they must always propose some spiritual aims to themselves and fix their mark whereto they are to steer their Course and to direct their labours and endeavours And this Mark in one word is their doing their Duty to their Blessed Lord in all Points and at all times which is the only way to please God and to preserve a good Conscience and to love their precious and immortal Souls This is the end which they are to fix themselves upon who profess to have here no abiding City but to seek one to come Heb. 13.14 who have renounced this world and laid up their Treasures in heaven Mat. 6.20 who look for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ and would be accepted by him at his coming Tit. 2.13 2. Another Point of their Wisdom is that when once they have fix'd their end they openly own and profess it They espouse the same in the Face of all by making it their Trade their Occupation their Employment in the World And this way they do more publickly engage themselves to be careful and constant in the Prosecution thereof and bespeak the favour of all their Friends and well Wishers who may be in any Capacity to help and further them therein And this 't is very fit the Children of Light should learn from them They must not conceal and smother the Service which they bear to their ever Blessed Saviour but be ready to make it known and turn it into a free and avow'd Profession They must as occasion serves give all to understand that God is their great fear and that doing their Duty at all times towards him is and shall be their chief Profession and care And this way they will strongly and openly have engaged themselves ever after to make good their own religious Pretences and put a timely check upon ill men not to tempt them with any ill thing nor to speak nor do any thing offensive to God or to a good mind if they expect to keep them Company And this we are call'd to when we are call'd together in one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 Rom. 12.5 For that is to make open and united Profession of it as a visible Society And when we are bid to let our light shine before Men Mat. 5.16 To own our Saviour Christ and his laws in an evil and adulterous Generation Mar. 8.38 And with the mouth to make Confession to Salvation Rom. 10.10 3. Another is that they are particularly careful to be well skill'd in and thorowly to understand all the parts and Offices belonging to their Occupation or Profession A man may be ignorant of some things without blame and the ignorance of others may deserve Commendation For 't is both a part of Innocence and a Guard to it to be ignorant of the ways of doing ill And 't is a means of his quiet to be ignorant of other mens Affairs and not busily inquisitive into their Matters And 't is a sign of the well employ'd to be ignorant of trifles and empty things But 't is a shame for any Man to be ignorant of what he professes for that is to be at a loss in his own business And this all men are thorowly apprehensive of and therefore all Trades serve Apprenticeships and are train'd up for several years to be thorowly skill'd in all the parts of the Occupation which they profess yea even the ordinary Husband-man knows very well how to order and manage his ground when to Plow and when to Sow and when to Reap and what are the fittest and properest Seasons for the Market However ignorant they may be in other things they are careful to know their own business and Professions and to be well skill'd so as to need no Teachers in their own Employments And this is a most especial instance of Wisdom which it necessarily behoves the Children of Light to learn from them For one of the first things and of the most necessary in the way of a Christian man to Heaven is to be thorowly instructed in all those things which God has made Articles of his Salvation If he must at last be judged by them it is absolutely necessary that he set himself in the mean time carefully to observe them And if he must observe them he must first know them yea and have them made familiar to his Conscience so that it may readily remind him of them as oft as any Opportunities occurr in course of Life for him either to keep or break them This knowledge of every particular Duty which is to be a matter of our final Account as it is of prime necessity and singular advantage so will it cost pains and labour to attain it But I know not how any truly good and sincerely pious minds can employ themselves better They must read good Books where the Catalogues of such Duties are most particularly recited and explain'd and the particular necessity of our Observance of them that we may give up a good Account at the great day is shewn most particularly from the Holy Scriptures And these they must read attently and often till they have made themselves Masters of them and their Consciences are ready upon any occasion to remind them thereof as they are call'd at any time to observe them in the Course of Conversation and when their Conscience doth thus remind them of any of them in Conversation let them by no means take off their Eye from what their Conscience tells them is a matter of their final Account and instead thereof follow the Practice of other men it may be reputed good or men
they could not be his Disciples without forsaking houses and lands and parents and brethren yea and their own lives also Luk. 14.26 33. But even in these Cases and suffering times when Religion enjoyns such hard things yet are not they too hard for good men the increase of Difficulty is so answered by a proportionable increase of Strength as makes it no heavy but a tolerable Imposition For things are hard or easie in relation to our Strength according as we are more or less able to deal with them What is hard to a stripling is easie to a grown man and what would be an intolerable burden to an Infirm is a very supportable Load to an Healthy and Athletick person And in these suffering days when God adds to our Task he adds also to our Strength so that we are still well able to go thro' with it When I am weak says St. Paul in distresses and persecutions of the flesh for Christ then am I strong in Spirit to go thro' with them 2 Cor. 12.10 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so proportionably our consolation aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1.5 In extraordinary Tryals God is faithful saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 10.13 and will afford extraordinary Assistances and then however hard their Case may be looked upon by others who see only at a distance it will appear fairly tolerable and supportable nay full of Comfort to themselves as the numerous Army of Martyrs and Confessors have comfortably experienced who were enabled not only to bear but as the Apostle says To take pleasure in necessities and distresses for Christ yea who could sing and sometimes rejoyce and say they felt no Pain even in the hottest Flames So that take even Persecutions for God and a good Conscience for any first or second Table Duties which seems the hardest Case and the greatest Hardship in that is farthest off and men know least of it But when good men are call'd out to suffer for righteousness sake and adhere to their Duty inviolably and rely on God and intirely commit themselves to him in faithful discharge of the same they find such Assistances of Grace as renders them strong enough for what he calls them to they cannot only bear but thro' the rich supplies of spiritual Comforts the Applause of a good Conscience and the joyful prospect of a vast increase of future recompenses for their Surplusage of present Sufferings they can take pleasure and rejoyce therein counting such Losses for a good Conscience to be their greatest and truest Gain and that God instead of being hard upon them is therein most kind and beneficent to them 2. Other Hardships attributed to Religion concern only mens new Entrance upon it after they have done much to unfit themselves for it when indeed it requires more Pains And to this we may refer all those Scriptures which speak of cutting off right hands and plucking out right eyes i. e. Casting away all evil Habits and Inclinations which are very near and dear to us Matt. 5.29 30. Of mortifying our members which are upon the earth Col. 3.5 and the like These are Difficulties at our first Entrance on the Amendment of evil Courses for then we throw off all sinful Lusts and Inclinations It is very painful at the first but use makes it easier afterwards Custom rectifies our Inclinations and begets a new Nature and reconciles us to those things whereto we were very averse before so that the Hardship which these make in Religion is only when we begin the work of Repentance and Amendment And tho' it be harder then yet even at that time it is a tolerable thing It employs our Strength but it doth not excede it For when we do a little God still enables us to do more and so carries us on by degrees till at last we have Strength enough to Conquer And as we grow stronger our Duty grows easier till it advances at last beyond an ease into a pleasure So that this Difficulty is both tolerable while it continues and besides it is soon over 3. Other places of Scripture denoting the Hardships of Religion express only such diligent and just Care and Watchfulness thro' our whole Course as admits of Comfort and Delight enough to sweeten it to us And to this we may refer those Texts which require us to watch Mark 13.37 And to give all diligence 2 Pet. 1.5 10. To strive and labour and the like Religion is not the effect of doing nothing nor eternal Life a prize that can be gain'd by lazy careless men It requires Pains in all at first yea much and great Pains in those who have once corrupted themselves by contrary Lusts and wicked Customs And it also requires a constant Care and Watchfulness for ever afterwards But this Care and Labour is moderate It fairly comports not only with the necessary business but also with the prudent convenient and moderate Diversions and Entertainments of this Life so that our minding it will not force us to neglect our outward Comforts It is reasonable in degrees not holding us up at the utmost stretch of our Faculties But will do our work if it do but equal our Care and Pains for the Interests and Enjoyments of this world which Pains men are very well content to take without ever complaining of the Hardship of them For if we are any thing near so intent upon doing our Duty as ordinarily we are upon the getting an Estate and will watch the Opportunities of doing good as we do of growing rich or great it will abundantly suffice for it And besides as this Labour of Vertue is in it self very moderate so has it many Accessory Comforts and Considerations which greatly sweeten and recommend it to us It gives us at present the applause of a good Conscience and makes us pleas'd and satisfied with our selves and cherishes our heart with the joyful hope of eternal Life and Happiness And when all the Pains we take is so pleasing to our selves and with this prospect it will not only be found an ease but a delight too And thus I have endeavour'd from these words to assert this great and necessary Encouragement to all attempts in Religion viz. That by the Grace of Christ enabling them men shall be sure to succeed in them if they are not wanting to themselves And that when men continue wicked and say they cannot help it they urge a shameful and very false Pretence And the sum of what I have urged against this Plea is this They generally complain most of the impossibility of obeying God who least endeavour to obey him or who endeavour wrong without using those sit means whereby they should become obedient or when they use right means endeavour but by halves and do not go thro' with their Endeavours whereas would they endeavour diligently and discreetly and incessantly for this Obedience as they do for other things they might be sure to succeed because God commands
able to refrain swearing But besides his fervent Prayers to God has such a Complainer labour'd withal to possess his Conscience with a great sense and dread of it Has he particularly call'd to mind and resolved against it not only when it was at a distance but when he was expecting any Disappointment or coming into the way of any Provocation which would tempt him to it And because men subject to this Vice swear oft in eagerness of Spirit and do not know it has he desired some true Friend to be his Monitor to warn him of it before or tell him when 't is past that afterwards he may be more careful to prevent it or to punish himself for it And in regard men who shun it at other times are generally push'd on to swear in haste thro' the surprize of a Provocation in the eagerness of Sport or thro' the suddenness of some cross Accident and Disappointment Has he taken Care lastly to speak nothing rashly especially whilst he is in heat and eagerness of Spirit but to bridle his Tongue and consider what he is about to say before he utter it that so if it prove to be ill he may forbear it These and such like ways are the proper method for curing this Sin and if a man has labour'd against it without them he has sought the end without the means and pursued the cure without the right Prescriptions And therefore if he will correct that Errour and begin again to labour in right ways I question not but that he will succeed well and find the effect thro' God's blessing Thus do men who endeavour in vain for these or for any other Vertues plainly miscarry for want of chusing right ways the Duties are not impossible to be attain'd if the right Course were used to attain them but it is their own neglect of means or mistaken Choice of bad ones which makes the Disappointment And therefore if they would labour to effect let them be careful to pursue good things by wise and proper methods When they are resolved to endeavour after any Vertue let them learn from good Books or from their spiritual Guides or the advice of any wise or judicious Persons what Rules serve most to compass it And if they carefully and diligently follow them the Duty which seem'd before impossible will prove a very possible thing And this again would rid us of the greatest part of those Complainers who fail at last but yet endeavour something for most of them when they endeavour to obey do not endeavour wisely or in the use of such proper and discreet Methods a sure sit to work Obedience in them But if any complain still that they have taken advice about the best Course and follow'd it but yet all their labour has been without the desired effect Yet are they always 3. Such as when they use right means endeavour but by halves and do not go thro' with them A faint Endeavourer will never go thro' with any work which requires either length of time or strength of Labour If he put little strength to it that will not conquer the difficulty of the Task and if he is soon wearied he will give over before it comes to an end So that a man must apply himself to the same both earnestly and long if he would succeed when he has begun and go on to finish and compleat it Now our obeying God and amending of our Lives is a work of this kind For our sins being many in number they will require a considerable space of time before they are all amended and our hindrances in leaving them being great and the Temptations strong that daily assault and draw us to them and our own Lusts and a treacherous Enemy in our own Bosoms being always ready to take their parts and strike in with them it requires a great Watchfulness and a constant Care and an earnest vigorous endeavour to overcome them And this the Scripture tells us plainly we must use if ever we expect to prevail against them St. Peter tells us we must give all diligence 2 Pet. 1.5 10. St. Paul that we must be circumspect Eph. 5.15 Our Blessed Saviour that we must watch always and be ever standing upon our Guard Mark 13.37 and strive to enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13.24 which striving is call'd a warfare 2 Cor. 10.4 and a fight 1 Tim. 6.12 All which show the Greatness of that care and both the Earnestness and Constancy of that endeavour which we must lay out upon it And this now is the fault of all those Strivers who pursuing Obedience by right and proper Methods do yet miss of it at last They endeavour but by halves and seek it either by too short or too sleight Pains They have not either the Resolution to set manfully about it or the Patience to go thorow with it and so being either faint in their pursuit or falling off before they are got to the end they are not reclaim'd from their sins by all their Pains but continue subject and enslaved to them still But now when they fail on this account it is not because they cannot but because they will not help it They might become good if they would be at the trouble of it and persevere with Patience till they have finished it but if they will use only sleight Endeavours and short Onsets their missing of Success must not be charged upon the impossibility of God's Laws but upon their own sloth and remissness in performing them they can and do take great and incessant Pains to be rich or great or compass a worldly Interest And if they please they can labour as vigorously and as incessantly too to be good and do what God Commands them And if once they would do this it would be the best Demonstration how possible a thing Obedience is since less Pains than this comes to will ordinarily suffice them to that purpose And this will stop the mouths of all those Complainers who have not been silenced by the two former Considerations If they have not complain'd before they tryed and if in trying to be good they took a right method yet want they one thing still they endeavoured but by halves and were not vigorous and constant enough in their endeavours and that is the reason why they failed Whereas if they will try again and endeavour not only wisely but also vigorously and incessantly they will most certainly be enabled to perform their Duty And their doing it actually will be the most effectual Conviction that 't is possible to be done Having said this to remove the prejudice that lies against this possibility of performing the Laws of God from the Complaints of those who say they find it otherwise I proceed now 2. To shew that among Christians there is no cause for such Complaints and that they will be strengthned to the performance of all Duties if they are not wanting to themselves They must be careful
as I have observ'd to use their own endeavours because God that made them will not also save them without themselves And these endeavours must be in wise ways since we must not expect God should give effects to unsuitable means and be at the expence of Miracles to supply for our Follies And when we endeavour thus wisely we must do it also vigorously and incessantly Obedience being a work of time and Pains that requires both the earnestness and the continuance of our Applications These things are required on our part and if we take care to perform that the Grace of Christ will make up the rest and most certainly enable us as he did St. Paul to do all things which he indispensibly requires of us he will give us some strength at first and as we employ that according to that great Rule of Gospel Distribution To him that hath shall be given Matt. 25.29 he will add more till at last we perform as much as is indispensibly required i· e. as ◠noted either not sinning wilfully or sincerely repenting and amending whensoever we do If they are thus careful I say in their own endeavours this strength all Christians shall surely receive from the Grace of Christ to these performances as the Apostle in the Text declares of himself I can do c. Now that every wise earnest and incessant Endeavourer shall be thus enabled to perform all Duties will appear from these three things First Because God indispensibly requires and passionately exhorts us to this performance Secondly Because he has promised this Ability and Obedience to all who are so qualified and prepared for the same Thirdly Because all good men heretofore and at this present time do themselves find and experience it 1. That they shall be thus enabled to perform all Duties appears because God indispensibly requires and passionately exhorts us to this performance He indispensibly requires it For now as St. Paul says God commandeth all men every where to repent Acts 17.30 And that of all sins they being all lyable to the same Punishment The wrath of God being revealed against all unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 And he that offends in one point being guilty of all Jam. 2.10 And this he requires under the strictest condition as ever they hope to avoid the wrath to come or to obtain everlasting Salvation If the wicked turn from all his sins and keep all my Statutes then says God by Ezekiel but not before he shall surely live Ezek. 18.21 And they only that do his commandments have right to the tree of life saith Christ Rev. 22.14 Now since God thus requires us to obey all his Laws it must needs be possible for us to obey them for God never requires an impossible thing what he Commands he both desires and expects should be performed and therefore calls men to the performance of it to be not only hearers but doers of the Law Rom. 2.13 And 't is certain they may perform it since he is too wise either to desire or expect what is not to be had Nay he doth not only indispensibly require this Obedience but Friendly and passionately exhorts us to it Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Cast away from you all your transgressions and Thus have we an assurance that God will give us all so much Grace and Strength as will suffice to make us good if we diligently and discreetly apply our selves to become so This God engages and he doth not only permit but expect that we should believe him and take his word in this as well as in all other Promises He would not only have us to have faith in his mercy for the pardon of any Sins when we repent of them but likewise to have faith in his power and spirit enabling us to overcome our sins when we seriously strive against them When St. Paul bids us work out our own Salvation he gives God's working in us as the reason plainly directing us to work in that Expectation Phil. 2.11 12. And we are kept to Salvation by the power of God thro' faith i. e. thro' Faith in the Power saith St. Peter 1 Pet. 1.5 God has promised his Spirit to strengthen us against sin as well as his mercy to pardon and forgive sin And since he has promised both our Duty is to believe both and not distrust him in either of them And since we both may and ought to have this Confidence in God's Grace that will perfectly answer the main Objection against the possibility of this performance which is taken from ourselves and the reigning Power of our own Lusts. For our Lusts are not too strong for God tho' they be too strong for us Tho' there be great Might in corrupt Nature yet the Grace of Christ is mightier And therefore having that on our side we shall certainly be empowered to please God let our own sinful Lusts and the Temptations of the World oppose themselves never so much against it Greater is he that is in us says St. John Than he that is in the world 1 Joh. 4.4 And tho' we be able to do nothing of our selves as of our selves yet having the same Promise we shall all be enabled as St. Paul was To do all things thro' Christ that strengthens us And as this possibility of keeping the Commandments thro' our own Care and Pains appears because God indispensibly requires and exhorts to it and has promised his Holy Spirit and Grace to enable all who duely labour after the same So doth it yet farther 3. Because good men heretofore and at this present time do themselves find and experience it Whensoever they wisely and earnestly endeavour'd and did not grow weary or faint they always succeeded and were enabled to have such regard to their whole Duty as God required the true Servants of God in all Ages have been endow'd with so much strength as made them intire with God and able to perform all that he would exact of them Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord wholly Numb 32.12 David kept my commandments saith God and followed me with all his heart 1 Kin. 14.8 Zachariah and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless saith St. Luke Luk. 1.6 And what is so expresly said of all these is by plain Intimation implyed of all others They that are Christ's saith St. Paul have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin i. e. Sin must have no more Service from it than one would expect from a dead man but the spirit is life because of righteousness i. e. lives in righteous ways Rom. 8.10 They who do no iniquity walk in his ways Psal. 119.3 Thus is it a constant thing in Scripture account and Relations and so it was and is still in all following Ages for God's faithful
them And this our Saviour has plainly directed in two Similitudes that of a Builder who before he begins considers whether he have enough to finish and that of a King making war who first consults whether he is strong enough at least to defend himself if not to conquer for speaking to those who seemed desirous to become his Disciples he instructs them first to consider what they are going to undertake in these two Parables Which of you says he intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it Or what King going to War sitteth not down first and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand so that he may proceed not to fight but seek a Peace if he find his numbers are in that Disproportion Luk. 14.28 31. Thus when we resolve upon a good Life if we would have that Resolution take effect we must consider and weigh well what we do before we make it We must bethink our selves and attently view what that good Life is which we resolve upon and also what reason we have to resolve upon it and when we have thus considered all before there is the less cause to fear that any thing which we meet withal afterwards should make us alter or recede from it We must bethink our selves and consider what that good Life is which we resolve upon It is not enough that we resolve in the general to be good but in our thoughts we must survey the particular Instances of Goodness that so if we stick at any of them we may give it all its weight at first and that after we have once resolved it may not cause us to start back from it When we return to God then to live as he has requir'd we must run over the several Duties wherein we stand bound to God our Neighbour and our selves and observing all the Particulars ask our selves whether we are willing to perform all of them for his sake And if we resolve to do them after we have taken such particular notice of them this Resolution is like to do some good and we may expect the desired effect from it And when we have thus seriously considered what a good Life is we must next consider what great reason we have to resolve upon it and what those things are which may either discourage us from it or excite us to it To Discourse particularly upon these would of it self be sufficient for a Sermon and therefore upon this Point I shall barely mention them As for the Difficulties which may discourage us they are such as these When we enter upon a good Life we engage in a Course wherein for some time till use has made us Masters of it we must undergo the Toyl of Inexpertness and Act contrary to our former Customs and lay restraint upon our natural Inclinations and contend daily against the importunity of Temptations and sometimes it may be lose our Friends and disserve our temporal Interests all which are uneasie and discouraging Considerations Indeed if by the Earliness of his Conversion and by the advantages of his place and station his Lot being cast in innocent Employments and among good men and by the vertuous bent of his natural Temper and Complexion an invaluable Gift which God bestows on some Persons a mans Soul is originally disposed and timely secured to Holiness he will find little trouble in these things nor be much pain'd or hindred by them from the first entrance And if he has not been blest in all these Particulars to take off all Hardship from the first yet will he have this to mitigate and sweeten all the Labour which he lays out upon them the Toyl he undergoes is for the sake of one who has endured far more for him and infinitely deserved it of him and if there is no want in his endeavour by the help of God he shall be sure to conquer them and to reap a present Content of Mind and Peace of Conscience after every Conflict with them and in the end to gain the everlasting Joys of Heaven by them And when he has been used to them a little while use will take off all the Hardship and then instead of being burden'd by the ungrateful Duties he shall begin to like them and take a Pleasure therein All which are great Abatements of the foresaid Difficulties and very encouraging But let a good Life be difficult and uneasie as it will when Hell fire is threatned to a wicked Life that sure is incomparably more difficult and a reason for us to resolve to be good beyond all Contradiction For if the sight of Pain must discourage us from any Course I am sure Hell fire has infinitely the most of it and if Ease and Happiness may be any Inducement the Ease and Happiness of Heaven can never in any degree be equall'd so that if we seriously consider and look upon eternal Torment as inseparably annexed to every Sin and on endless Joys as the sure Reward of our being intirely obedient they are an answer to all Temptations in the World and bear down every opposite Argument and will make us resolve to lead a Holy Life be the Difficulties or Discouragements that attend it what they will Thus must our penitential Purpose be no rash and sudden Act but deliberate and well advis'd when we resolve to lead a Holy Life we must seriously consider with our selves what an Holy Life implys and what reason we have to resolve upon it attently viewing both what may discourage us from it and also what notwithstanding that Discouragement may and will induce us to it 2. The Second Qualifications of a penitential Purpose is that it must be without all reserve full and perfect When we resolve to amend our Lives and become good we must not except any Duties for God excepts none nor reserve to our selves an allowance of any Sins for God forbids and most severely punishes all sorts of Sin Our Resolution must know no other limits but our Duty and extend to every thing which God has required of us And this compass of religious Purpose the Commandment expresly calls for when we are enjoyn'd to love God with all our hearts Luk. 10.27 For if we keep a secret reserve for any sin our heart is given but by halves to God and is not whole with him Jehu walk'd not in the law of God with all his heart says the Scripture and the Proof is given because he had a reserve in one Point and departed not from the sins of Jeroboam 2 Kin. 10.31 but David says God followed me with all his heart which appear'd because he did that only which is right in mine eyes 1 Kin. 14.18 and what is said in this Case the Psalmist expresses more universally of all others They seek the Lord with their whole heart who do no iniquity Psal. 119.2 3. Thus must our
then than we do now for that which hinders us from an actual Reformation now is only the uneasiness of the work and if we take time only to sin more that as I have observ'd is the way to increase that uneasiness but not at all to lessen or abate it We have no Exception against the present time but only because it is present and because we would have difficult things always future and far distant from us and that Exception will lie equally against all other times when they come to be present too Nay 't will lie against them much more because the longer we put off this difficult work the harder will it be at last when we come to it the Hardships daily growing upon our hands and encreasing by continuance in a Course of wickedness So that when by reason of the Difficulty of an entire Reformation men deferr it to a distant time they will find to their Cost when that time comes that the same Difficulties are still in force yea have more added to them to make them delay it yet a little longer and that which hindred them at first if it be acknowledg'd a sufficient hindrance will equally nay much more hinder them for ever after And this St. Austin ingeniously Confesses he found When I delay'd repenting says he I said yet a little while and then again a little while and then I will repent till at last I found if I gave way to these little whiles they would be infinite and last always Thus if men would repent in earnest and have their holy Purposes take any good Effects they must resolve to do it out of hand and not delay it till their Sick-bed or some other time yet distant They are too late in all reason to have a work of that necessity and importance yet to begin and they may well be the farther from it but cannot expect to be more able or likely to begin it at another Season The present time is only that which they can call their own and that wherein they are like to go on most easily and surely with the work of Reformation So that when they resolve to repent the only wise Course is to resolve to do it instantly and use no delays at all But besides this That our penitential Purpose must not only be to repent at some time hereafter but instantly now at present It is necessary 2. That it be made against our sins not only when we are out of Temptations but also when we are under them Not only when we cannot Act them but also when we can act and repeat them too Some men are very zealous against their sins whilst they have no Temptation to them but their Indignation is quite cold and all their Resentment is laid aside when once they have They are never angry with them but when they are at a distance and are melted down again into Love and Compliance when once they come to a second Meeting Their holy Purposes are not owing to any strength of their virtuous Convictions but only to the absence of sinful Inducements so that as soon as they return upon them they are altogether the same men as unresolved and unreclaimed as they were before And others are firmly set against some sins only whilst they are incapacitated for them but instantly revolt when they are able and prepared to return to to them again A fit of sickness has cool'd the flames of Lust or dull'd the edge of Appetite and whilst they are in this impotent Estate they can easily resolve against intemperance and uncleanness because they are not fit to undergo them nor can take any pleasure in them but if once their bodily Indisposition is amended having recovered to the same Desires they are set as much upon the same Practices as ever Their good resolution was owing only to the weakness of Nature and so vanishes in Course when it becomes vigorous and strong again But a good resolution is made for the hour of Temptation it is to be our strength and guard and is then most especially to be put on when our virtue is assaulted and we have the greatest need of it So that we must not only put on resolutions whilst Dangers are at a distance but most of all when they are near at hand and ready to assayl us Besides these Qualifications of a penitential Purpose hitherto insisted on there remain two more which I recited at first and which I have not time now to explain and can do little more than mention 4. In the Fourth place then our penitential Purpose and Resolution of new Life must not only be upon the Duties but also upon the means and helps and not only against the sins but against the occasions and inducements to sin likewise The neglect of this resolving upon sit means and helps of living well and against the occasions of doing ill makes as many good Resolutions miscarry I believe as any other thing whatsoever For under some great Convictions and fright of mind men resolve to be good but at the same time they are not careful to resolve upon the right way and means of being so They do not resolve in order to it to store their minds with clear apprehensions of all particular Duties to think much of Heaven and Hell Death and Judgment and other Motives to obedience to make choice of religious Companions who will cherish in them a sense of good things to shew care in keeping out of Temptations and Watchfulness and Circumspection when they are under them and call themselves daily to an account of their miscarriages and be instant in Prayers for God's Grace and to use other wise means and expedients which may enable them to accomplish what they design and effectually perform that good Life which they resolve upon and for want of resolving thus wisely upon the means as well as upon the end all those good beginnings and holy purposes fall to nothing For a Man may as well resolve to be rich without resolving to mind his Business or resolve to be learn'd without a diligent Application to his Studies as resolve to be good without resolving also upon the right way and means of attaining Goodness A bare resolution of it will not do the work for we must not only firmly resolve but wisely endeavour it too And when we have thus considerately resolv'd to lead new Lives and have resolved it without reserve in all Points and that too in all times both at present and for the future in Temptations and out of them and that upon the Means as well as upon the Duties and against the occasions as well as against the sins When our penitential purpose I say is thus qualified in all these Particulars to make it strong and persevering in all times we must take care 5 thly That it be not only a transient Act but oftentimes repeated and renewed through our whole Lives As for the frequency of this renewal
of Note for knowledge and understanding For tho' 't is a sad Reflection yet 't is a very true one that numbers of Christians and those too of note and eminence for Piety and Understanding seem in their daily converse to make no Account at all of a great number of those Duties which God has declared he will call us all to a strict Account for And therefore having themselves happily attain'd this particular knowledge of all necessary Duties let them stick to their own knowledge on every occasion and follow it without disputing and not once think of leaving the same to follow the general neglect of many of these things which he may every where observe in other men And this we are call'd to in Scripture when we are bid To understand what the will of the Lord is Ep. 5.17 To be men in understanding 1 Cor 14.20 To give all diligence to add to our virtue or courage knowledge 2 Pet. 1.5 To be fill'd with all knowledge Rom. 15.14 To be fill'd with the knowledge of his will Col. 1.9 4. Another Point of their Wisdom is that having thus fix'd themselves upon their end and made it their Profession it is the constant mark in their Eye and the daily Care and Employment of their Life and they are still vigorously intending and driving it on It fills their thoughts that they can afford little room to any thing else It is the full Employment of their time and they labour in it with Pleasure and are ready to deny themselves their necessary food their rest their ease to serve the end of their Occupation And herein it is most fit and needful for the Children of Light to imitate them The doing their Duty faithfully and in all Points to their Blessed Lord which is their End and Profession should be the constant mark in their Eye and matter of their Care as being the chief thing they have set themselves to mind and daily to labour and employ themselves It is the one thing necessary which they have fix'd and propos'd to themselves and must be their every days thought and business For in every day and in all Companies and Dealings they will have Opportunities enough to do their Duty in sundry Points or transgress it And therefore every day their Eye must be kept earnestly intent and their Care watchful and they seriously and vigorously at work to do the business of their Profession and discharge faithfully as they are call'd to them all those Duties which their Blessed Lord requires of them And this we are call'd to in the Holy Scriptures under the several Expressions of walking with God Gen. 5.24 of walking before God Gen. 17.1 Of setting the Lord always before us Psal. 16.8 of being always upon our watch Mar. 13.35 37. and walking circumspectly or still having our Eyes intent in every Affair or time how we may keep off from all sin and faithfully discharge all those particular Duties which do await us therein Eph. 5.15 5. Another Point of their Wisdom is that they carefully and timely foresee and provide for Futurities so as that nothing may be wanting to set on this end and profession or fall out unawares to prejudice the same They are intent and careful not only to use what comes and make it serve their turn but to look on carefully to what may come and consider how it may be made serviceable to their Purpose or how to prevent or remedy what might likely be an hindrance or any ways hurtful to it And this part of their Wisdom in forecasting and making provision for Futurities I shall consider in these three Particulars First They forethink what means and methods to take as most proper for their End and Profession and fittest to serve it Secondly Having studied and laboured diligently and constantly to compass their desired End they are careful to secure their Claim and Title to it and carefully fift and inquire into it and take all ways they can to make it good when a Tryal is like to be brought upon it Thirdly They timely provide and forecast Supplies against streights and accidents that when they come they may be as little hurt by them as may be or otherwise provide against them the best they can 1. They forethink what means and methods to take as most proper for their End and Profession and fittest to serve it the Merchant wisely and carefully considers what Ports 't is fittest to send to and when and what Goods give greatest appearance of making the best return And men in all Trades consider well with themselves where 't is best to buy and what things are likeliest to sell and forecast in their own minds what ways and methods are likeliest to make them thrive in their several Occupations A King going to War as our Lord observes will first very carefully consider his forces And a Builder going to build must consider his Purse and what it is like to cost him both in Work and Materials Luk. 14.31 32. and Verse 28 29. and the unjust Steward forecasting for his future support in his way wisely resolves on passing false Accounts that he may find reception among his Lords Tenants Luk. 16.3 45 8. And this is another piece of Wisdom most fit for the Children of Light to imitate and learn from them They must wisely consider and observe before hand what things do most help and further what do most tempt and ensnare what do most obstruct and hinder them in the way of their Profession or in faithfully discharging all the Duties of a Christian. They must have carefully and discreetly forethought with themselves against they enter upon every days Actions and Business what Duties they will be likely call'd to exercise therein and how they may discharge them to the best advantage what Temptations also they may likely meet withal and how likely they are to withstand them or how to prevent or get seasonably out of their way if they are like to endanger or prove too hard for them They must by no means be off-hand and unstudied Livers but have their Actions wisely fore-thought and be still in a readiness to take the best ways of going on in the work of their Profession and sincerely discharging their Duty to their Blessed Lord in all the Points thereof And this wise and careful forecast and fixing on the fittest ways to serve our Purpose we are called to in the forecited Parables of the Builder and the King going to War and in the Parable of those who built their houses one upon a rock and another upon the sand Mat. 7.24 26. If forecast and wise contrivance doth not direct Actions and Undertakings Folly and Shame are but too like to be the issue and event of them But on this Point of their Wisdom in forecasting and fixing on the properest ways and methods I shall observe three other imitable Points of their Wisdom concerning the execution of them For they put them in execution
I. Speedily II. With Assiduity and Diligence III. With Resoluteness 1. They put their well chosen means of thriving in Execution speedily They stay for nothing but make the most of their good contrivance as soon as they can If they have put themselves in readiness against a good Market without more ado they take it If they have laid in for a good Bargain without any delay they are for making an end of it Where they have prepared an advantage they are for the first opportunity of taking Possession of it So that they lose nothing by delays or by slipping their times and seasons But earnestly desiring to accomplish their Ends they are still in a readiness hastily to accomplish any wise means which will make them Masters of it Now in this they should be followed by the Children of Light For it is not for them after once they are wisely and well resolved upon their Duty either a good Life at large or the Amendment and Improvement of some particular part thereof to use delays and put it off from one Duty to another They must not be on and off in this great work as men who are uncertain nor slow as men who are unwilling Delays shew nothing but the inability or insincerity of their own Purposes and are a loud call for themselves to renew and make them better But they must execute their wise Purposes of holy Living without more ado They must lose no time but be eager of growing more perfect in it the next day than they were the day foregoing they must make no stops but still earnestly push on and not cease till they have made themselves Masters of the Grace or good Improvements which they had propos'd to themselves And this we are call'd to in the Holy Scriptures when 't is said To day if ye will hear his voice Psal. 95.7 8. and I made hast and delayed not to keep thy commandments Psal. 119.60 work whilst it is day for the night cometh when no man can work Joh. 9.4 And in this great and most important business no day is to be neglected because no man knows but it may be his last 2. They put their well chosen ways of thriving in Execution with Assiduity and Diligence The Tradesman will stick to his Shop from morning till night And men of other Occupations will be constantly attending and ready to take all advantages in the way of their business And this they do with Good-will with great Diligence and Vigour of Application They will spare no pains they will miss no advantages they are not slothful but push on with all their might and shew how they can bestir themselves to gain their Purposes And this 't is extremely fit the Children of Light should learn from them 'T is not for them to be negligent or slothful in the work and service of the Lord. It is their one thing necessary the chief Point they have or profess to mind and therefore they must constantly attend upon it and stand ever ready to perform a Duty or avoid a Sin as any Affairs or Accidents of Life shall give them occasion for the same And this they must do heartily and earnestly diligently laying out themselves upon it and putting what strength they have to it which can never be better employ'd nor laid out in any thing for which it shall in any comparable degree be so happily and infinitely rewarded And this the Holy Scripture requires of us when it calls us to be always upon our watch Mar. 13.35 37. to attend this as the one thing necessary Luk. 10.42 To give all diligence in it 2 Pet. 1.5 10. and to serve the Lord with all our mind and with all our strength Mar. 12.30 and the like 3. They put these well chosen means in Execution with resoluteness they are not discouraged by occurrent Difficulties nor driven back by the Labour or Pains or by the length and tediousness of their business They are not weary of their work but overlook troubles and bear Self-denials and go on with Zeal and without Faintness till they have accomplish'd their desired Purpose All labour is easie to them that accomplishes their desire and they will not cease labouring till they have done their utmost to gain what they seek for And this also should be imitated by the Children of Light If they want Zeal and good Resolution they are not like to do much nor are sure to be constant in the work of good Living But they must go on without Fear or Slackness they must think no Pains too dear to perfect themselves in any Duties They must be ready and willing to part with any thing else rather than wittingly transgress their Duty in any particular or fall short of eternal Happiness That is the pearl of price which they must sell all to purchase Mat. 13.44 46. they must shun no troubles or fly from any losses which will surely be repaid with such an inestimable recompence Nay instead of shunning them they have the truest cause to give thanks and rejoyce therein And this the Holy Scripture requires when it calls us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes. 6.10 to be terrified in nothing by our adversaries Phil. 1.28 Not to put on the spirit of fear but of love to God of power or Courage and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 and to be always stedfast and unmoveable in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 To deny ourselves and to take up the Cross and bear it after Christ if we would be his disciples Mat. 16.24 and ch 10.38 2. Another instance of their forecast and provision for Futurities is that having studied and labour'd thus to compass their end they are careful to secure their Claim and Title to it But more especially careful to sift and inquire into it and to take all ways they can to make it good when a Tryal is like to be brought upon it If it be a Tryal for Estate or much more for Life how forecasting and busie are they in inquiring into the merit of their cause in collecting and clearing up Evidences in preparing Witnesses consulting Counsel and making their Case as good as it can be made against the Great Assize Now the Children of Light are absolutely inexcusable if they learn not this Point of Wisdom from them For the Interest which they have to secure is not like that of worldly men vain transitory and fading which may soon be taken from them or which they shall surely be soon taken from But it is an eternal life Mar. 10.30 A crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 a State where they need no sun to light them where all tears are wip'd away from their eyes and there shall be no more crying nor sorrow nor pain Rev. 21.4 and 23. Now all this most happy State depends upon our perfecting our Obedience to all the Laws of our Blessed Saviour whilst we are
here in this world And whether we have faithfully discharged the same or no must come to a most fair and just Examination and Account when we all come as we all most certainly shall soon come to be tryed upon the same at the last Judgment And therefore it infinitely concerns all good serious Christians to be often and carefully before-hand inquiring into the State of their Souls to see whether they are fit to stand in that Tryal or no. They must pose themselves upon all those Points upon which God will try them at least according to the best of their knowledge they have of them or under their Circumstances and Opportunities are sincerely able to compass of the same and where they find they have wilfully fail'd in any part of that Obedience which God necessarily requires they must instantly amend and recover themselves into a state of Bliss and Happiness And this they must do not only once or twice for mens spiritual State is often variable and their Life is always uncertain and therefore it is a thing that needs more frequent doing especially till they come to acquire a steadiness in a safe Condition that so they may be always ready and if God call them unawares they may not be surprized thereby but go with comfort to give up their Accounts to him And this God requires of us when he calls us To give all diligence to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 and to fear least having a promise left us of entring into his rest any of us should fall short of it Heb. 4.1 and to look diligently least any man fail of the grace of God Heb. 12.15 3. They timely provide and forecast Supplies against Straights and Accidents that when they come they may be as little hurt by them as may be or otherwise provide against them the best they can And this was the Wisdom which the Lord commended in the unjust Steward for he was in a great straight being warn'd out of his Lords Service and makes a wise speedy and seasonable provision for himself by taking Care to be received among his Lords Tenants And 't is the same with men of all other Occupations If straights or misfortunes are like to come upon them they foresee them in time and try all ways in due Season to prevent them or to keep them off as long as they can or to make them fall as light as may be when they do come But be it better or worse they are careful to make the best for themselves which they are able to do in their present Circumstances and Condition Now in this also it is very fit the Children of Light should learn from them They must have their eyes before them and timely foresee where they want Counsel and there provide instruction where they may be attacked on a weak side and there contrive how to keep out of the way of Temptation where they are like to be call'd to do their Duty and there forecast how to do it faithfully and profitably where they are like to meet with Difficulties and disoblige Friends and disserve Interests and there either wisely contrive how to withdraw themselves from them or vigorously and steadfastly resolve to break through them where Crosses are like to come how they may meet and receive them with Meekness and Patience A good Christian must not want fore-sight and be plung'd in Difficulties and fall into Folly unawares but must wisely and seasonably foresee what may happen and be ready to make the best of all when it comes And this the Holy Scripture calls for in the Parable of the wise and foolish Virgins the difference betwixt which two lay in their fore-cast and in making or not making seasonable and sufficient provision for Futurities Mat. 25.1 c. Of the two men building their houses one upon a rock and the other upon the sand Mat. 7.24 26. Of the Builder fore-casting well with himself how to defray all Charges and Accidents of work and Materials and how able he is to finish Luk. 14.28 and the like 6. A sixth Instance formerly noted of the Wisdom of worldly men in their Managements is that they are ready to cast off any Cares or Concerns when they either find or foresee that they are like to prove Impediments or Incumbrances in their main business If they have grasp'd at more business than they can manage to advantage they will ease their hands by laying that aside which is least for their Purpose If some proves to be but of little Profit and uncertain hazard and of much Pains they will try another way which is like to yield better with more ease and less uncertainties They are ever true to their Point and will not engage themselves in ways which make against it Now this likewise is very fit to be learnt of them by all good Christians 'T is not for them to engage themselves for any Inducement in any ill things for that is absolutely contrary to all their obedient Professions Nor in any Occupations or business which abound so much with strong Temptations that there is no reasonable expectation of their keeping Innocence and faithfully discharging their Duty therein In their Consideration and Choice of all these things the first thing to be looked at and cared for is keeping Innocence and whether their business is fairly consistent with an intire discharge of their Duty in all Points And where he can make a moderate and reasonable advantage by Innocence and Fairness there a good man will be easie and exemplary too in his Occupation Nor must they give way to over-much business Religion as our Saviour says being eat up by the Cares of this world Nor meddle with more than allows them daily to discharge their Duty both towards God and Man And faithfully to attend and acquit themselves in all the Duties of a Christian as they come before them Now this the Holy Scriptures require of us when they tell us that the world is crucified to us in Christ Jesus and we unto the world Gal. 6.14 to lay aside every weight that oppresses us Heb. 12.1 and not intangle our selves in any Affairs to the hindrance of his Service who hath chosen us to eternal Life in Heaven 2 Tim. 2.4 7. They are studious and observant to direct all Accidents and Occurrences and cast about how they may pick out any advantage from them or make them serviceable to their own great Purpose They are quick to espy an advantage and as quick to pursue it and let nothing pass by them neglected if they can serve themselves thereof And by this they bring in to themselves many an accidental Advantage in the way of their several Occupations And this 't is very fit the Children of Light should imitate them in In all they do and in all they receive or meet withal they should look about and carefully consider how they may turn it to give Praise or to do Honour
difficult work and desire some good Christian Friend to be their admonisher therein yea they are mutually to teach and admonish one another Col. 3.16 To exhort one another daily Heb. 3.13 To stand fast and strive together Phil. 1.27 To pray for one another Jam. 1.16 And earnestly to desire each others Prayers 1 Thes. 5.25 To pray earnestly themselves to God for his grace Jam. 5.13 1 Thes. 5.10 And to be liberal in Alms which send up a sweet smell before God and which though in the men of this World who get Money ill and spend it ill it be call'd the Mammon of unrighteousness yet in Christians who get it justly and lay it out virtuously and charitably our Blessed Lord tells us it will make them friends in everlasting habitations Luk. 16.9 Such as these are the Instances of Wisdom which I thought fit pursuant to our Lord's Direction in the Text to note in the Managements of worldly men and earnestly to recommend to the Children of Light from them And 't is not to be imagined what advantage they would find to themselves in the perfecting of their spiritual Course if they would but wisely observe and remember these excellent Rules of their Managements and carefully use and follow them in pursuing their own infinitely better and more happy Purposes For this way their Duty would continually be their Mark and in their Eyes they would not only secretly propose but openly profess it they would study to be thorowly inform'd in every part thereof that they might not be wanting in the knowledge of their Profession they would make it as their daily Mark so their daily Care and Employment and be continually driving it on they would timely and carefully foresee and provide for Futurities contriving and fixing on the fittest means of improvement in their way and executing them with speed Assiduity and Resoluteness and look oft and inquire before hand into the state of their Souls to see whether they are fit to give a good Account of themselves to God in the last Judgment and if they are not to supply what is wanting and that without delay now whilst they have time for it and timely provide and fore-cast against any spiritual streights and accidents that when they come they may not be unready or surprized by them they would be ready to cast off any Cares and Concerns which prove or are like to prove an hindrance an incumbrance or any ways a snare to them in the way of their Holy Obedience They would study how to direct all Accidents and Occurrences and seek how they may spiritualize or pick any thing out of them for the Honour of God and Improvement of themselves or others in the way of Holy Obedience and Religion When any thing were offer'd to them their first Reflection and Inquiry would be whether it were innocent and lead to good and made for the easier and more profitable discharge of their Duty not staying to give the least ear thereto if it tend to the contrary they would even be jealous about doing their Duty and keep all Dangers far off and not come near any thing that may any wise lessen their Aversion to what is ill or tempt them to the Commission of it And they would be very studious and industrious to gain Succours seeking out for all good and proper spiritual Helps when they are needful to their Holy Obedience Now what a Body of Christians would these ways make would they all govern themselves thereby in the faithful discharge of their Duty as I have directed We should hear no Complaints of the impossibility or extreme difficulty of doing their Duty We should see a Generation of Saints fit to be Lights to the World to live without any imputable fault or blemish and die with Comfort and enter into everlasting joy and peace Which God of his infinite Grace and Mercy grant unto us all for the sake of the Son of his Love and our only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Blessed for evermore Amen DISCOURSE V. About the Return of Prayers or when we may and when we may not promise our selves the particular things we ask for On Matt. 7.7 8. Ask and it shall be given you for every one that asketh receiveth IF we consider all those Blessings which God has promis'd to this Duty of Prayer we shall presently be induced to conclude that a man who can make use of it can stand in need of nothing For so abundantly has God engaged himself to all Supplicants and so comprehensive the Promises which he has made to our Prayers that we may seem to have it in our Power to have every thing for asking The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him says David to all that call upon him in truth Psal. 145.18 and in another place Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee Psal. 86.5 And whatever you shall ask in prayer believing says our Saviour you shall receive Matt. 21.22 Thus ample and munificent full and comprehensive are those Promises which God has made to our Prayers If we want pardon for our sins he bids us ask and we shall have it If we need strength and aid to overcome Temptations he orders us to seek it at his hands and we shall find it If we want any Mercy either spiritual or temporal he directs us to address our selves to him for a supply and binds himself to grant what we desire of him But yet notwithstanding all these rich and extensive Promises which God has made to our Prayers we daily see that vast numbers of men who pray to God are not thus better'd or supply'd by them For how many are there in the world who are it may be every Morning and Evening upon their knees desiring pardon for their sins who will yet be eternally condemn'd and punish'd for them How many men are frequently and importunately asking Grace and strength to overcome Temptations who are still ordinarily overcome by them They pray for Sobriety but yet they continue intemperate they sue for Meekness but still they are fierce and passionate they ask for Peace but yet they remain unruly and turbulent they beg Humility Contentedness Charity and several other Vertues and after all they rest still as proud and covetous wrathful and contentious as ever Now here God's Promises are not perform'd and mens Prayers are not answered so that 't is certain there must be a failure some where Either God doth not give men what he Promises or they do not ask as they ought to do who shall receive Some fault there is either in God's Faithfulness or our Prayers which renders them so unsuccessful and makes them so often bring down nothing to us where they are promised all And in this Competition it is an easie thing to Apologize for my Maker and to assert the Honour of his truth and Faithfulness in this business He is always