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vinces; who has fpared neither Labour nor Blood to make the Arms of the Prince victorious; what does he long for more, than to come to Court, to produce the fpoils taken from the Enemy; to fhew his Wounds, and to relate to his Prince the Detail of fo glorious a Campaign? it is a terrible Thing to be obliged to give an Account of fo great and fo important an Administration, as that which we are entrusted with, when it has been the leaft Part of our Care faithfully to discharge it; when the Intereft of our Mafter has been totally neglected. But can any Thing be more grateful than giving an Account when Gains and Profits, and Increase can be pleaded; When they can fay with the faithful Servant in the Gofpel, Lord, thou gavest me five Talents, behold, I have gained five Talents 'I acknowledge, O Lord, I ought to have made a greater Improvement of thy Gifts; however, I have not wrapt up my Talents in a Napkin, but by thy Grace I ' have been enabled to increase them. Thou haft given me Riches, but I have not used them to fupport Luxury and Vanity; the 'Poor have had their Share, as well as my Family; I have clothed thy Members, and adorned the Place where thy Honour dwelleth. Thou haft given me the Command of Time; I never thought fo great a Treasure was granted me only to be trifled away: I

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have confecrated my Leifure to the Medi⚫tation of thy divine Laws, to the Contemplation of the Chriftian Myfteries, to the • Inftruction and Sanctification of others; my Vifits have been' made to the Sick and 'Weak; my Bufinefs has been to comfort 'the Diftreffed, to pacify and reconcile those "Differences which have unhappily rifen among my Neighbours. Thou haft given me Eyes, I have used them in reading pious and devout Books. Thou haft given me Ears, which have been always open to thy Word, and to fuch Difcourfe as was edifying. Thou haft given me a Tongue, 'whofe greatest Pleasure has been to speak either to Thee, or of Thee. I have en'deavoured to make a good Ufe of all thy holy Infpiration Thou haft difpofed me to Retirement, and I have avoided the 'Conversation of the great World. Thou haft inclined me to mortify my Senfes, and I have deprived myself of the most tempt'ing Pleasures. Thou haft given me a De'fire to pray and I have perfisted in it, in Defpite of all Difcouragements. Thou

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haft required me to love my Brother; and "Thou knoweft, O Lord, I have never ' omitted praying for my Enemies. Thou haft fent me Sickness, and I have borne it ' with Patience, without Murmuring; great Loffes, and I have bleffed thy holy Name; • Calamities

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'Calamities and Afflictions, and I have re'ceived them with Thanksgiving.'

When Accounts are in this State and Condition, there is Joy and Comfort in the Examination of them. And the well-grounded Hope of God's Favour, and of receiving that joyful Sentence, Come ye Blessed; is fo great a Source of Confolation in that gloomy Seafon, upon the approach of Death, when' the Men of this World are feized with Trembling and Aftonishment, that it is impoffible to exprefs the Satisfaction and Transport to a devout Soul, upon the Point of concluding a toilfome and laborious Life, exposed to fo many and fo great Dangers; and ready to take Poffeffion of those durable Riches, thofe lafting Honours, and thofe never failing Pleasures, which are at God's right-Hand for

evermore.

So that if the Love of the most perfect and most amiable Object is Wisdom; and if the continual and delightful Enjoyment of what one loves, and the certain Expectation of enjoying it eternally, may be accounted Pleasure I hope the devout Man's Choice may be fufficiently juftified. Grant only O Lord, who haft prepared for them that love Thee fuch good Things as pafs Man's UnderStanding, that my Heart may be inflamed with fuch Love towards Thee, that I loving Thee

above all Things, may obtain thy Promises, will exceed all that I can defire, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE

THE

PRACTICE OF TRUE DEVOTION,

IN RELATION BOTH TO THE

END AND MEANS

OF

RELIGION.

CHAP. I.

A General Method for the Exercise of

TRUE DEVOTION.

BEFORE I Come to treat of particular Virtues, which are the End of Religion, and of thofe Methods which are established for the attaining of them, which are the Means of Religion, I defign to lay down fome Rules for the general Conduct of a Chriftian Life; and to acquaint. Men at the fame Time, with thofe Occafions and Opportunities when

they

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