There is a Provifion for the Flesh, that difpofes us to fulfil the Luft thereof; if we would extinguish the Flame, we fhould not add fuch Fuel as ferves only to increase it. Fafting has in all Ages been made ufe of to this Purpofe; and among the many Reasons that enforce the Practice of it, it is not the leaft confiderable, that it reftrains the loofer Ap petites of the Flesh, and difpofes us to Sobriety and Serioufnefs: and when we abate of the Rigour of Fafting, we fhould not forget to abftain from fuch Food as is the most nourifhing to the Body; for feeding to the full betrays us to loose Mirth; and pampers the unhappy Disease of our Nature, which our chief Bufinefs is to cure and conquer.

V. Apply yourself to fome innocent or commendable Study or Business. The Mind of Man is too active a Principle to continue free from the Exercife of its Faculties, and yet fo framed, as not to be able to profecute various Objects with equal Intenseness; the Appetites of our Bodies frequently follow the Bent of our Minds; that which we moft think of, we are readieft to put in Practice. The great Force of this Means confifts in diverting our Thoughts from dwelling upon forbidden Objects; for when we are profecuting any Art or Science, when we are employed in innocent Bufinefs, or any lawful Calling, we are not at Leifure to entertain Thoughts of Pleasure; the Defires and Appetites of the

Flesh

Flesh find no Encouragement, and therefore are neglected. Let thy great Care therefore be, to keep thyfelf always employed; if thou art engaged in a Calling, profecute it with Diligence and Application: If thy Condition and Quality fets thee above a Profeffion, the Care of thy own Eftate, and the acquiring fuch Knowledge as may be ferviceable to thyfelf and thy Neighbour, may very well challenge a great Share of thy Time; and by being thus profitably bufied, thou wilt leave no Room for the unclean Spirit to enter into thy Soul and tempt thee. We find the Men of Pleasure in the Number of those who are at a Lofs how to fpend their Time! Idlenefs is a proper Soil for all Vice to thrive in, and where it prevails, Chaftity can feldom maintain its Ground, but is facrificed to an Enemy always within us, ready to betray us. Grant, O Lord, that Imay always be piously or profitably employed: That I may have no Leifure to indulge the finful Lufts of the Flesh; nor Time to entertain my Mind with fuch Thoughts as defile the Soul.

VI. Diftruft thyfelf. How many Men have been ruined, by prefuming too much upon their own Strength; by running themfelves into Temptations, which they had the Confidence to think they could easily mafter? But fad Experience has convinced them of their Error, and want of Caution has betrayed their Virtue, and made Work for Repent

ance.

How juftly might we blame a Candidate in the Olympic Games, who fhould contend for Victory, without all thofe preparatory Exercifes which are neceffary to qualify him to win the Prize? Who fhould lay fuch Strefs upon his natural Powers as to neglect the Difcipline of Art and Diet, and all that preliminary Management which fits the Body to exert itself to the greatest Advantage? Solomon pronounceth that Man happy that feareth always, and makes Confidence the Portion of Fools: The Fool rageth, and is confident. We fhall find ourfelves deceived, if we think to go far in a flippery Path without a Fall, if we prefume to indulge ourselves to fuch a Point without Danger; for as a Man can have no Affurance of that, fo if one could, who can aniwer for themselves, that they shall keep within the Bounds they propofe? The Corruption of Nature is great and the Violence of our Appetites impetuous, fo that if we give them all the Liberty we lawfully may, they will quickly mafter us, and fnatch at fuch Gratifications that are unlawful to enjoy. From a fenfe therefore of thy own Weaknefs, and of the Power of Temptation, keep at a Distance from all fuch Circumstances that may poffibly corrupt thy Innocence: Truft not thyfelf in reading Books that are framed to move thy Paffions; to gaze upon Pictures that raife thy Defires; to converfe with Company that delight to thew their Wit

in filthy Subjects. The more diffident you are of yourself, the leíš liable you will be to expofe yourself to Danger.

VII. Avoid Familiarity with the contrary Ser. Love of all Paffions, is the most dangerous, because the most violent, and hardest to be overcome. Now all Intimacies of this kind, are Occafions that may fire our Paffions, and are therefore to be avoided. It is by this Method that our Affections are infen

fibly engaged; and when they are firmly bent towards an Object, they feek to gratify themfelves by Enjoyment. Even that Friendship that is founded purely upon Virtue and Merit, and is the leaft fupported by Senfe, may in the Iffue prove fatal and dangerous: For though at firft we are only charmed with the Beauties of the Mind, entertained with a good Understanding, edified by a modeft and virtuous Behaviour; yet, by Degrees, our Admiration and Delight in thofe Accomplishments extends itfelf to the whole Perfon, and the Talents of the Mind render the Body more pleafing and agreeable; fo that what begins in the Spirit, without great Care and the Grace of God, may end in the Flesh.

VIII. Pray frequently and fercently. This is the Way to procure that Grace of God which is fo neceffary to preferve us from falling, or to recover us if we are fo unfortunate as to tranfgrefs. The Frequency of it will fix our Minds upon fpiritual Objects, and fill us

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with

with a Senfe of God's being prefent every where; an Impreffion which is very proper to keep our Appetites under Government; for who will not be reftrained from gratifying them, when he remembers the all-feeing-Eye of God, who is infinite Purity? The Fervour of it will deaden our Affections to fenfual Enjoyments; for when we are importunate for Things more excellent, and of which we have greater Need, we fhall fo pass through Things Temporal, as not to forfeit our Title to thofe which are Eternal. Beg therefore of God, that He would create in you a perfect Abhorrence of all Impurity; that He would cleanfe you from all Filthinefs of Fleth and Spirit; that he would fet a ftri&t Guard on thy Senfes, turn away thine Eyes, stop thine Ears, bridle thy Tongue, and reftrain thy Hand from all Uncleannefs. That he would give thee Grace to fly all Incitements or Opportunities of corrupting thy Neighbour or thyfelf.

And when impure Thoughts are the Remains of a bad Life, and the Punishment of thofe evil Habits we had formerly contracted, we must endeavour to quench this Fire with the Tears of Repentance for what is past: We must confefs before God the Impurity of our former Lives, and abhor ourselves for thofe Follies, whereby we have offended Him: We muft beg him to strengthen our Refolutions, and in his good Time to caft out the Remains of the unclean Spirit: We

muft