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run from one fyftem to another, till they fall at length into a fatal but just infatuation, and lofe the very power of believing.

Add to this ground-work of peace and hope the neceflity alfo of attending thofe facred ordinances, from which alone we may expect the gracious influences of God's holy Spirit. - We are not fufficient of ourselves to think and do any thing as of ourselves; but our fufficiency is of God. To Him, therefore, must we apply for it, through his word and facraments, with prayer and thanksgiving, which are the appointed means and inftruments of its conveyance,

Again-It is an indifpenfable prefervative against an evil confcience, that we be careful, as to understand the truth, fo to fhew forth the power of our religion; and in all our proceedings and dealings

dealings with each other, to act upon the principles of it. It is next to impoffible but that man, who makes a worldly intereft the fole end of his actions, must be oftentimes tempted to fin against his own fpirit. Hence the fraud and diffimulation, lying and perjury, which we fo often meet with in the commerce of the world. But "there is no peace, faith God, unto the wicked." Whatever may be the outward profperity of fuch perfons, yet are they within themfelves "like a troubled fea when it cannot reft, whose waters caft up mire and dirt." Whereas righteoufness and peace never fail to kiss each other, and he that maintains his integrity, fhall be fure to find tranquillity and fatisfaction at the last.

Moreover-As the bufinefs and traffick of the world, fo do its pleasures alfo demand our circumfpection; left our liberty in this respect become a fnare to

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the confcience.-To fix the exact boun daries of what is lawful or unlawful, with regard to the enjoyments of life, and determine precisely where the one ends and the other begins, is utterly impracticable and hence it comes to pafs that fuch numbers are deluded into fin, without ever intending to exceed their lawful liberty. To endeavour to perfuade a reasonable man, who has any fense of religion, into the direct commiffion of what is confeffedly finful, would, I prefume, be an affront of the highest nature; he might he might perhaps an fwer, as did Hazael to the Prophet, "Am I a dog, that I fhould do this

many

do we

how yet great thing?" and fee gradually feduced, or rather feducing themselves into thofe very fins they would be shocked at upon the first view, only by venturing to the extent of what may be called lawful, and thereby putting it out of their power to retreat without treading on forbidden ground? The

The truth of this will appear to every one, who either makes any observation on the actions of other perfons, or allows himself time to make any any reflection on his own. No man, I imagine, however cheerfully difpofed, fits down to his glass with a refolution of drowning his fenfes, and bringing upon himfelf debauchery and fhame: but whilst he looks with pleasure and fecurity" on the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright," (as Solomon expreffes it) the fin of Drunkenness fteals upon him, and he becomes guilty before he is aThe fame holds good in many other inftances that might be given ; in all which it frequently comes to pass, that what was begun in innocence, is continued with security till it terminates in fin, and all the fatal confequences of it to our present and future happiness.

ware.

Lastly, The ftricteft caution to be ob

ferved,

ferved, is against prefumptuous fins; "left they get the dominion over us." Sins of this kind against knowledge, light, and grace, are of a deadening and fearing nature; and the wounds received by them but rarely felt till there is no time for the application of any remedy; till the conscience is furprized out of its lethargy, by the agonies of death, and the dreadful apprehenfions of impending judgment. And though few men are so profligate as to run headlong into the commission of fuch fins; yet no one, who gives a loose to his paffions, can be affured to what extravagancies they may lead him. The firft tendencies therefore to evil are to be fuppreffed, and the temptations to it avoided; fo fhall we be undefiled and innocent from great offences.

After all-Should any be fo unhappy as to lie under the displeasure of an offended confcience; fhould the fpirit of any within them be wounded; it infi

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