SERM. not (and the rather, because they do VI. not) grieve for themselves. When he obferves the Scandalous Progrefs of Infidelity, the open Growth of Profaneness; the Emulation and Strife, the Oppreffion and Injustice, the Hatred and Cruelty, that abound in the World through Luft; in a word, when he fees the most immoral Practices and Pollutions of the Heathens reigning among those whe name the Name of Chrift, though in their Works they deny him; fuch a Scene of Sin and Misery wounds him to the Quick, and fills his Soul with unspeakPfa.cxix,able Sorrow. Rivers of Waters run down his Eyes, because Men keep not God's Law.

136.

'Tis true, his Mind is not always employed in this melancholy manner; he has also his Inward Joys and Confolations, arising from the Teftimony of a good Confcience, from the Affurances of God's Favour, and the Refreshing Influences of his good Spirit; but even Thefe, either for the Punishment of his Mifufe of them, or for a Tryal of his

Faith, are sometimes withdrawn; and SERM. then his Soul is forrowful even unto VI. Death, Fearfulness and Trembling come Matth. upon him, and his Heart within him is e- Pfal. lv.

xxvi. 38.

Pfal.xxi

ven like melted Wax. And this State of 5. Dereliction is what the most Experien-14 ced Saints and Servants of God have felt, and complained of: And no wonder; fince fomething not unlike it happened even to the Son of God himself.

Add to this, that even the Beft of Men, and those who are advanced nearest toward Perfection, have often fome peculiar Infirmity of Body or Mind, which fticks close to them, gives them great Interruptions in the Course of their Duty, and great Trouble and Uneafiness in the Performance of it; and this is permitted by God, in order to keep them Vigilant, Humble, Dependent; even to S. Paul there was given a Thorn2 Cor. in the Flesh, a Messenger of Satan to buf.xii. 7. fet him.

The Chriftian State then (even fetting aside the Extraordinary Case of Persecution for the Name of Chrift) is certain

ly

SERM. ly a State of Suffering: Hereunto are we VI. called, as many of us as have vowed Obedience to Chrift, and profess to believe, and to live, as he hath taught us. And if fo, let us all lay our Hands upon our Hearts, and examine ourselves, whether, and how far we may be faid to be in fuch a State, to have fulfilled the Duties, and undergone the Hardships, which entitle us to the Privileges of it.

Have we then lived according to the Flesh, or according to the Spirit? Have we exercised ourselves in the fevere and rugged Parts of our Duty? or have we chosen for our Lot, the Gratifications of Sense, and vain Pleasures which did not profit us? Have we called ourfelves often to account for our Miscarri ages, and made a serious, a ftrict, and impartial Scrutiny into our past Lives and Actions? Have we felt the Spirit of Compunction and Contrition moving in our Hearts, and condemning us for our Tranfgreffions? Have we deplored them? Have we prayed, and ftriven a

gainst them, and applied thofe harfh, Serm. but wholfome Remedies, which the VI. Christian Religion prefcribes for the Cure of fuch Diseases; Fafting, and Self-denial, and Mortification? Have we experienced the afflicting Hand of God, laying hold of us, when we tranfgreffed, and gently leading us back into the Paths of Vertue, from whence we had fwerved, by feasonable and merciful Chastisements? If this be our Cafe, we have some Reason to hope, that we are in fuch a State and Condition of Mind, as becomes a good Christian, Luch as God will accept, and improve, and reward.

But now, on the other fide, what if the Vanities of Life, and the Enjoyments of Sense have engroffed all our Thoughts and Affections? What, if we have been fo far from crucifying our Lufts, that we have indulged them to the utmost? from mourning for our Sins, that we have even boasted of them? from humbling ourselves in private, by voluntary Austerities, that we have not

regarded,

3

SERM. regarded, as we ought to do, even the VI. Aated Times of Publick and Solemn Humiliations? What if our Diversions have been pursued in prejudice to our Devotions? have taken up the Room, and eaten out the Life of them? Can fuch Inclinations, fuch Practices be reconciled to the Spirit of the Gofpel? Is this the Work, the Employment, whereunto we are called? Is this Temper of Mind agreeable to the Character of a Serious and Sincere Christian?

Believe it, a Life of uninterrupted Jollity and Mirth, of perpetual Pleasure and Amusement, is not, cannot be the Life of a true Difciple of Chrift. These things we may tafte, but we are not to reft in them; they are our Refreshments on the way, not the End and Design of our Journey. He that pretends to be a Chriftian indeed, (as S. Paul (peaks of 1 Tim. v. a Widow indeed) and liveth in Pleasure, is dead while he liveth; he favoureth not the things that be of God, hath no Relish of the Chief Duties and Offices of the Christian Life; and though he may put

6.

Matt xvi. 23.

on