finished and perfected them all; but heSERM. took a View of them every Day, and pro- IX. nounced them good: And did we but imitate our heavenly Father in taking a daily Survey of our Actions, and confidering their Quality and natural Tendency, it would very much conduce to make ours fo. For we should not be so easily tempted to commit Sin, when we know that we must give an Account of it, not only to God, but to our own Confciences; we should be more fenfible how numerous our Tranfgreffions are, and by Confequence more fearful of adding new Articles to that Indictment, which already lies fo heavy against us; our Confciences would be more tender and vigorous in their Admonitions, and more impartial in directing us in the Performance of our Duty, did we but call ourselves daily to an Account, and acquaint ourselves thoroughly with the Condition of our own Souls. This is Advice which I have frequently given you, and must infift upon ftill; nay, I cannot too frequently inculcate it: For, could I but perfuade my Hearers, to call themfelves to an Account daily, my other Inftructions would be more ufeful and effectual to them ; would they but thus frequently and diligently examine their

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SERM. Own Confciences, their Confciences would never rife up in Judgment against them, either in this World or the next.

IX.

6. and Laftly, LET us close up all with fervent Prayer to our good God, that he would forgive us all our past Offences, direct us what we ought to do, and help and affift us, by his Grace, to obey all his Commands, and, to keep a Confcience void of Offence, toward God and toward Men. For, by Prayer, we do not only acknowledge God to be the great Creator and Governor of the World, and beg of him thofe Supplies, which we have Need of, but also render our Souls fit and capable to receive them. By a ferious Confeffion of our Sins to God, we become fenfible of our Wants and Failings; by praifing him for his Benefits, we acknowledge our Dependance upon him; and by interceding for others, and begging a Supply for the Wants and Neceffities of our Neighbour, we fill our own Breafts with Pity and Compaffion, we blow up the Coals of Love towards him, and increase our Charity to all Mankind. And I am perfuaded, that, were but these two laft Directions perfectly learned, and confcientiously put in Practice, i, e. did we but call our ourselves

to

to an Account daily, and carefully exa- SERM. mine our own Hearts and Confciences; and IX, then devoutly and affectionately implore God's Pardon and Forgiveness for the Breaches of our Duty, and for his Grace and Affiftance to enable us to do better for the Time to come; it would be morally impoffible for any one to indulge himself in a wicked Courfe of Life,

AND therefore, that I may prevail with every one, to put in Practice thefe Directions, which are fo eafy, and yet neceffary in order to keep a Confcience void of Offence, toward God and toward Men, I fhall conclude with fome Motives to ftir up and invigorate our Endeavours; and thefe fhall be only two:

First, THE Confideration of the Terrors which attend an evil Confcience.

Secondly, THE Comforts and Satisfaction which naturally flow from a Confcience void of Offence. And,

I. LET us confider what Terrors and Agonies of Mind naturally flow from an evil Confcience. The Heathens defcribed them by the Punishments of the Furies, who wreaked their Anger upon wicked Men, by lashing and fcourging them, with Snakes and lighted Torches; and it is certain that there is no Trouble and

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Pain,

SERM. Pain, in this World, fo grievous and intol IX. lerable as that of a guilty Confcience. The Spirit of a Man may bear his Infirmities, i. e. may grapple with all thofe Diseases of Body and Troubles of Mind, which are the ufual Attendants of human Nature; but a wounded Spirit who can bear? The Question implies, that it is a Load infupportable. It is impoffible to describe to you the dreadful Fears and Agonies of a guilty Mind, and the Horror and Amazement which fills an evil Confcience; when a Man fhall run from one Place to another, and from one Company to another, and yet not find the least Diversion of his Pain, or Mitigation of his Torment; and at last, being swallowed up with Horror and Defpair, fhall fly to Death and Hell för Eafe Rev. ix. and Comfort: Their Torment is as the Torment of a Scorpion, when he ftriketh a Man; and in thofe Days fhall Men feek Death, and fhall not find it; and fhall defire to die, and Death fhall flee from them. And that which adds to the Misery of an evil Confcience is, that no earthly Comfort can mitigate and affwage it. The good Things of this World will be but like broken Reeds, which, by piercing their Hands, will enrage their Pain, who think to rest upon them. Do but confider

5, 6.

that

that mighty and potent Monarch Bel- SERM. fbazzar; how did he quake and tremble, IX. and his Knees fmite together for Fear, when he faw the Hand-writing upon the Wall; Dan. v. though at that Time he was in perfect 5, . Health, feasting and carousing with his Princes, furrounded with numerous Guards, and ignorant of the Import and Meaning of the Writing? And thus, when Cain had fiain his Brother, did he not wander about from Place to Place, fearful and distracted with his own Guilt? And, being left to be punished by the Terrors of his own Confcience, cried out, My Punishment is Gen. iv. greater than I can bear.

2. On the other Hand, let us confider the Pleasure and Happiness which attends a good Confcience, a Confcience void of Offence toward God and toward Men: This is a Bleffing which never comes fingle, but brings many other good Things along with it, amongst which this is not the least, that he, who has a good Confcience, has a perfect Tranquillity of Mind, Security and Refolution in his own Breaft, and, amidst the feveral Changes and Chances of this fublunary World, poffefes his Soul in Patience, compofes it to Reft, and remains Master of himself; he is not afraid when he hears of evil Tidings, for his Heart is

13.