the greatest Pleasure we are capable of enjoying in this Life. What can there be defirable in the Pleasures of the World, which tire us in their Pursuit, infatuate us in their Enjoyment, and torment us by their Lofs? Can you doubt that the Minds of the Wicked are agitated with perpetual Disquietudes, when the Word of God, and the Experience of all Ages affure us, that the Wicked are like the troubled Sea, never at Reft? Are these then the Persons we are to envy? Are these they we are to emulate? And being forgetful of our Immortal Souls, and our Duty to our Heavenly Father, shall we chuse to live with them wickedly, to die miferably, and to be tormented hereafter in unquenchable Flames? You meet, no doubt, continually with innumerable Impediments, in running that Race which leads to the Prize of Eternal Bliss; and which without great Care will hardly be furmounted. But amongst all these the most destructive Pest is the Lives and Conversations of those who, under the Prince of Darkness their Ruler, are wholly employed in ridiculing and destroying all Principles of Religion and Virtue, fighting under the Banner of Death and Hell, against God and his Christ. But do you cry out with the Prophet, let us break their Bonds asunder, and cast their Cords from us; for these are those whom God hath given up to Ignominy and a reprobate Life, that they may do those Things which are not convenient, full of all Iniquity, full of Envy, Adulteries, Uncleanness, Deceit, Haters of God, Proud, without natural Affection, Friendship, or Piety; who though they see the Justice of God daily, yet confider not that they who do fuch Things are worthy of Death, and not only they, but fuch as consent to those that do them. Conform Conform not your self therefore to those that despise and neglect Religion; but always remember what the Apostle faith, it is better to please God, than Man; and that if I please Men, I am not the Servant of Christ. When I consider these Men, I do not know whether to wonder at their Folly, or deplore their Condition. Certainly it is the Height of Madness not to believe the Gospel, the Truth of which the Blood of Martyrs hath testified, the Apostles have preached, Miracles proved, Reason confirmed, the Elements declared, and the Devils confessed. But far greater is that Madness, if not doubting of the Truth of the Gospel, we live as if we were fatisfied of the Falseness of it. If it is true, that a covetous Man shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, why are we so anxiously heaping up Riches? If it is true, that we are to feek Glory from God and not from Men, why are we so solicitous for their Applause? What shall I say more, there are indeed many that are called Christians, but few are so in Reality. Do you endeavour to enter in at the strait Gate, and not regard what others do, but what ought to be done. For neither will your Glory be less, if you are happy with a few, nor your Punishment lessened by the Multitude of Fellow-fufferers. There are two Remedies against the Allurements of the World and the Devil, which may be always present with you, namely, Charity and Prayer; for what can we do without the Assistance of God, or how will he assist us uninvoked, and invoked how will he hear us, who regard not the Cries of the Needy? It is written, with what Measure thou metest, it shall be measured to thee again. When I exhort you to Prayer, I do not mean long b2 Prayers, 4 Prayers, but those that come from the Secrets of the Be not concerned how long, but how ardent your. Prayer is, rather interrupted by Sighs, than continued. If you defire to be pleasing to God, and to be for ever happy, let no Day pass without approaching. the Throne of God, by humble Prayer, through the Interceffion of Christ Jesus our Redeemer; not with the Lips only, but with all the Affections of your Soul: Cry out with the Royal Prophet, Remember not the Sins of my Youth, but according to thy Mercy remember me for thy Goodness Sake, O Lord. I make it my humble Request to you, that you would not fail to read the Holy Scriptures Night and Morning with great Attention; for as it is our Duty to meditate upon the Law of God Day and Night, so nothing can be more useful. For there is in the Holy Scriptures a Celestial and efficacious Power, inflaming the Soul with the Divine Fear and Love. Lastly, you should never forget that the Son of God died for you, and that this Life is of a very short Continuance; with these two Spurs, the one of Fear, the other of Love, haften through this your short Stage of momentary and uncertain Life, to the Rewards of an eternal Bliss. Of Of the HOLY SCRIPTURES, their Authority and Excellence; how they are to be meditated upon, observed and obeyed. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. A LL Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness. That the Man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good Works. Rom. xv. 4. Whatsoever Things were written afore-time, were written for our Learning, that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures, might have Hope. Deut. viii. 3. Man doth not live by Bread only, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lord doth Man live. Luke xvi. 29, 31. Abraham faith unto him, They have Moses and the Praphets, let them hear them. If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded the one rose from the Dead. Deut. xi. 18, 19. Therefore shall ye lay up these my Words in your Heart, and in your Soul, and bind them for a Sign upon your Hands, that they may be as Frontlets between your Eyes. And ye shall teach them your Children, speaking of them when thou fittest in thine House, and when thou walkest by the Way, when thou lieft down, and when thou risest up. Heb. i. 1, 2. God who at fundry Times and in divers Manners spake in Time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets, Hath in these last Days spoken unto us by his Son. John v. 39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal Life, and they are they which testify of me. John xx. 31. These are written, that ye may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that believing ye might have Life through his Name. Luke xxiv. 44, 45. These are the Words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all Things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Pfalms concerning me. Then Then opened he their Understanding, that they might underftand the Scriptures. Mark xiii. 31. Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my Word shall not pass away. John xvii. 8, 20. I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest me, and they have received them, and have known furely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst fend me. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shalt believe on me through their Word. Heb. ii. 3, 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? God alfo bearing them Witness, both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own Will. Coloff. iii. 16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Pfalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, finging with Grace in your Hearts unto the Lord. Gal. i. 7, 8, 11. There be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Chrift. But the we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. I certify you, Brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after Man. 1 Tim. vi. 3. If any Man teach otherwise, and confent not to wholesome Words, even the Words of our Lord Jesus Chrift, and to the Doctrine that is according to Godliness, He is proud knowing nothing. 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the Form of found Words, which thou hast heard of me, in Faith and Love, which is in Chrift Jefus. 2 Tim. iii. 3, 14, 15. Continue thou in the Things which thou hast learned, and haft been affured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto Salvation, through Faith, which is in Christ Jefus. James i. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Wherefore lay apart all Filthiness, and Superfuity of Naughtiness, and receive with Meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to fave your Souls. But |