highest disparagement to his Senfe and Vol. II. Reason, take any pains, run any hażard for it; I would to God I could gain this point to day, that no Man would hence-forward pursue any Sin, which did not reward him with fubftantial Pleasure then I am fure that those fowre and mischievous Sins of the Spirit, Pride, Revenge, Sedition, Faction, would gain no Profelytes, would find no Patrons; for I can as foon believe Demoniacks happy, as Men poffefs'd by fuch an evil and tormenting Spirit; then I am fure that though veterane Sinners may continue fuch, they would not be able to make many Converts; for the first Effays of Sin are ftill accompanied with uneafie frightful Apprehenfions and keen Reproaches; nay all, who have any thing of Confcience left, would renounce their Vice, for while they gratifie the Body, they crucifie the Soul, and the Pains of one outweigh the Pleafures of the other.

But 2ly, If Sin be not only a fruitlefs but a shameful Work too, then no Man pretending to Senfe or Honour can own it any longer; I would to God I could gain this point to day, I fhould then have wrefted out of the hands

Y 2

Vol. II. hands of Sin, one of the keenest of its Weapons, one of its most common, as well as moft fatal Temptations; for no Man would hence-forward think himfelf bound to be ungrateful to his God out of respect or complement to Man ; no Man would think that so black a Guilt as that of Perjury and Falfhood, which cleaves to all our Sins, could be protected or excus'd by the Fashions or Gallantry of this Age. But.

3dly, Beyond all this, If Death, Eternal Death, be the wages of Sin, then though no Shame (hould attend it, though the Pleasures of Sin were as rich as the Fancy, and ravishing as the Dotage of the moft Ingenious, as well as most sensual Sinner, no Man in his Wits can think it worth his while to be damn'd for it, or that it can make amends for the lofs of a Heaven.

I know after all, in how clear a light foever I may put these things, as I think I have, it will be a very hard matter for the inveterate Sinner to receive them; it will be a very hard matter for him thus to perfwade himself of the Deformity of Sin, and the Juftice of its Punishment: But whatever thoughts Atheists and Infidels, and all

that

that have been long harden'd in wick- Vol. II. edness may have of Sin, methinks every one that believes the Gospel, and has any spark of natural Confcience in him, cannot but fee, after what I have faid, an inexpreffible loathfomness and horrour in it; fuch a one cannot but fee, that 'tis a flat Contradiction to the Gospel, to his Profeffion, and to his Hopes; and that thereof he must be oblig'd to renounce his Sin, if he will retain his Faith; for such a one, though he should be able to Sin with so much caution and discretion, as to fuffer no mischief by it, which 'tis hard to imagine; nay, though he should be able to fin with so much dexterity, as to be able to reap much Fruit, much Pleafure or Profit from his Sins, yet he must believe all the while, that he must one day pay dear for them; for what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and loofe his own foul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his foul? Ah! were this point gain'd, would fuch as profefs to believe the Gospel, heartily and thoroughly renounce every evil way, how glorious would be the face of Religion; then indeed the Kingdom of Heaven would be in all of us, Righteousness, and Peace

Y 3

Vol. II. Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost ; Ah! then how happily fhould we live, and how comfortably fhould we dye; and as we should be transform'd daily from Glory to Glory, so should we finally be tranflated from the Joys of this World to the Beatitudes of another : To which God of his Mercy bring us; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Chri

εtion.

Eph. V. 15, 16.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wife; redeeming the time because the days are evil.

TH

335

HEY are but few, I believe, who perish through Infidelity; but many, ah! too too many, are undone and loft by a lukewarm and imperfect Compliance with Religion,and a form of godliness without the power thereof fuch is the weight and moment of Christianity, that it is not ea fily to be contemn'd; fuch its Evidence and Authority, that 'tis not easily to be out-fac'd and born down: This kind of Attempt therefore fucceeding with few,Man generally betakes himself to other Arts, and fince Religion is too hard for our Reason, though not for our Luft, he refolves to deceive that Conscience which he cannot baffle, and to practice fuch a Conformity to its Precepts, as, if it do not entirely fatisfie Conscience, may at least take off the edge of its Perfecution, and procure a false and deceitful Peace.

Y 4

But