the Effects of it may be lefs vifible. For I, who taught them then, continue teaching ftill; Nay, I direct my Speech to All, but All will not hear it. For there are Many deaf to all my Charms, and therefore deaf, be caufe they ftop their Ears; bate my Inftru Prov. i. &tions, and will none of my Reproofs. They listen to the World much rather than to God, and are more difpofed to obey their own Corrupt and Senfual, than his Pure and Heavenly Will. The World invites them with fhort and tranfitory, trifling and empty Joys, and they greedily engage in its Service; I covenant for Eternal and Excellent Rewards; and the infenfible Wretches will not confider, or think them worth their Acceptance. This Folly is univerfal; For who among the Sons of Men, expreffes half that Zeal and Earneftnefs, that folicitous Defire to pleafe, and dutiful Fear to offend, in his Deportment towards me, which he does in Matters relating to this World, or in Obedience to Mafters upon Earth? Confider this, and blush for fhame; for What but Shame and Confufion of Face, can be the Effect of thy Reflection upon this unworthy Ufage, this moft abfurd Folly?

A fmall Preferment is esteemed a valuable Confideration for long and painful Journeys. Men fly for it eagerly, and haften all they can to get ground of their Competitors; This is every one's Care, and it is accounted a Reproach to be negligent in fuch Pursuits. But, when Advancement to Heaven and Eternal Happiness is offered, they are flothful and unactive, and scarce a Man to be found, who thinks it worth the while to mend his Pace, or fets one Step forward to meet, or to fecure, fo glorious an Advantage. A little fordid Gain engages all Mens Industry; a trifling Sum embroils them in tedious and expenfive Suits; And Promises of things fcarce worth their having,they are content to drudge for; to lofe the Eafe of their Days, and the Sleep of their Nights, and think their

Toil and Anxious Care well paid, if they can com pass them at laft: But a fubftantial and unchangeable Good, a Recompence greater than they know how to value juftly, Immortal Glory, and the Honours of the Saints, are funk fo low in wretched Mens Efteem, that the least. Pains and Hardship are thought too much for them.

And art thou not afhamed, lazy, infenfible, grumbling Wretch, that the Children of this World should purfue Death and Ruin, with a more vigorous Induftry and Zeal, than thou canft find in thy heart to beftow upon Life and Happinefs? Shall Toys and Vanities win more upon their Affections, than folid and true Good can upon Thine? Nay, even thofe Vanities whofe very Enjoyments are empty, do often mock their Hopes, and are never enjoyed at all; Their Friends promife and deceive; They labour but cannot attain; But my Promises are without Repentance; None taxeth, Me with Breach of Faith, or can complain, that his Dependance upon My Word hath at any time difappointed him. For I require only Love and Perfeverance; And, if these be not wanting, I anfwer to the full, nay, I far exceed my Servants largest Wishes and longing Expectations. Yet falfe and fickle Men can eafily perfuade, and the God, who cannot lye, calls and promifes in vain! I am the fure Rewarder of all that diligently feek me; and if fuch meet with Sufferings and fharp Temptations, these are not Marks of my Displeasure, but wifely ordered, and kindly intended, to prove the Sincerity of my Servants Zeal, and to illuftrate their Virtues.

Write then my Words in thy Heart; Grave them in deep and lafting Characters; Ponder them diligently, for thou fhalt find them a feasonable Relief, and neceffary Support in the Day of Tryal and Adverfi

What Reading only hath not taught thee, Affiction will interpret and make plain. For I do not

always

always vifit my Chofen alike. Sometimes the Comforts of my Grace are proper; at Others, the withdrawing thofe Comforts, and bringing their Patience and Conftancy to the Touch, by Outward Calamities, and Inward Anguifh of Spirit. Thus I daily train them up in Goodness, by chaftifing and making them hate their Sins, and cultivating and encouraging their Advancement in Virtue. The One Difpenfation engages their Love of Me, the Other abates their Fondnefs for the World. But loft and wretched is that flupid Creature, upon whom these Methods make no Impreffion; For He that rejecteth Me, and John xii. 46. receiveth not my Words, hath One that judgeth him in the laft Day.

CHA P. IV.

A Prayer for Heavenly Instruction and Devotion.

Difciple. Lord, my God, Thou art my All, my only Good; but Who, alas! am I, that I fhould take upon me to fpeak to fo Great, fo Glorious a Majefty? Poor finful Duft and Afhes; a wretched Worm; lefs than the leaft of all thy Servants; much lefs, much viler and more despicable than I dare to think, or am able to exprefs or conceive. And this very Vilenefs, Lord, I beg thou wouldft confider, that fo my helpless defolate Condition may move thy tender Pity, to a miferable Creature, who neither is, nor hath, nor can do any thing, without thee. For Thou only art Good, and Holy, and Powerful; and that of Power fo boundless, of Mercy fo diffufive, that thou filleft all things with thy Goodness; and none but thofe guilty Souls, who refufe to partake of thy Grace, are thut out from its kindly

Influences. Behold me then hungring and thirsting after thy Righteoufnefs, and let me not be fent empty away. Call up thy Bowels, and remember thy Compaffions and old Loving-kindneffes; and fill my Soul with thy Grace and Heavenly Difpofitions, that it may be a Dwelling fit to entertain that bleffed Inhabitant, who will not take up his Abode in defiled and defolate Places.

But how can I furnish a House for my Lord, except he vouchfafe to affift and fupply my Wants? How can I fuftain the Miferies and Temptations of a Troublefome Dangerous World, except thou gracioufly interpose and support my Weaknefs? Turn not then thy Face away from me; neither delay thy Fatherly Care for if thou grant not refreshing Dews, and water noe my Heart with thy Grace, it will remain a dry and barren Ground. Teach me, dear God, to know and do thy Will, and with fincere Humility, and indefas tigable Zeal, enable me to perfevere in my Obedience. For Thou art my Wifdom, and my Righteoufnefs; my Infirmities are hot hid from Thee; Thou knoweft me perfectly, and understoodeft all my Defects, not only before I was born, but even long before the World it felf was made.

С НА Р. V.

Walk humbly with thy God, and worship Him in

Truth.

Chrift.]

I

Do indeed, my Son, know thy Frailties, and thy Dangers, but let not these discoufage thy Endeavours. Seek and love the Truth, and let thy Heart be right with me, and all fhall be well at laft. For Truth and Sincerity will be thy Prote

ction, and defend thee from the Affaults of the Devil, and the Attempts of wicked and deceitful Men. Those who are thus fet free, fhall be free inJohn viii. deed, nor fhall the Seducements or the Dif couragements of Enemies to the Truth, be able to enfnare or divert them from their Duty.

Difciple.] True, Lord. And this Perfwafion makes me more earnestly implore thy Affiftance. That thou, who art Truth it felf, wouldít in much Mercy condefcend to inftruct, and direct me; to preferve and protect me; to break the Snares of the Ungodly to pieces; to deliver my Soul, and establish me unto the End; To purge me from all corrupt and inordinate Affections, that my own happy Experience may convince me of what I already believe, and render thy Service perfect Freedom.

Chrift.] My Children cannot be more zealously difpofed to ask thefe Bleffings, than I am ready and pleafed to grant them. Hear therefore the Truth, and how thou mayeft recommend thy felf to my Favour and Acceptance. Reflect with fad Remorfe upon thy paft Offences; let the Remembrance of thefe render thee vile in thy own Eyes; and take heed, that no Confidence in thy beft Actions, fwell thee with vain Conceits of thy own Deferts. For, fure it is, thou art a Sinner, laden with Guilt and many grievous Infirmities; prone in thy own Nature to Vanity, eafily feduced, quickly diverted from good Refolutions, and overcome by very flight Temptations. In fhort, No Excellence belongs to thee, which can in any degree justify thy Pride or Boafting; but infinite Occafions there are to exercife thy Humility and Lamentation, infinitely more in truth, than thou canft be duly fenfible of.

Let not then the mistaken Value of any thing thou art or doft, delude thee with falfe Appearances of Worth and Perfection; Let not thy Affections be fe

duced