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yet he hath appointed the marriage-bed as the ordinary means for the propagation of mankind. Though there must intervene a stroke of omnipotence to effect this mighty change in our souls, yet ought we to do what we can to fit and prepare ourselves. For we must break up our fallow ground, and root out the weeds, and pull up the thorns,* that so we may be more ready to receive the seeds of grace, and the dew of heaven. It is true, God hath been found of some who sought him not; he hath cast himself in their way, who were quite out of his; he hath laid hold upon them, and stopt their course on a sudden for so was St. Paul converted in his journey to Damascus. But certainly this is not God's ordinary method of dealing with men. Though he hath not tied himself to means, yet he hath tied us to the use of them; and we have never more reason to expect the divine assistance than when we are doing our utmost endeavours. It shall therefore be my next work, to shew what course we ought to take for attaining that blessed temper I have hitherto described. But here, if, in delivering my own thoughts, I shall chance to differ from what is or may be said by others in this matter, I would not be thought to contradict and oppose them, more than physicians do when they prescribe several remedies for the same disease, which, perhaps, are all useful and good. Every one may propose the method he judges most proper and convenient; but he doth not thereby pretend that the cure can never be effected, unless that be exactly observed. I doubt it hath occasioned much unnecessary disquietude to some holy persons, that they have not found such a regular and orderly transaction in their souls, as they have seen described in books; that they have not passed through all those steps and stages of conversion, which some (who perhaps have felt them in themselves) have too pe

* Jer. iv. 3.

remptorily prescribed unto others. God hath several ways of dealing with the souls of men; and it sufficeth if the work be accomplished, whatever the methods have been.

Again, though in proposing directions, I must follow that order which the nature of things shall lead to; yet I do not mean that the same method should be so punctually observed in the practice, as if the latter rules were never to be heeded, till some considerable time have been spent in practising the former. The directions I intend are mutually conducive one to another; and are all to be performed as occasion shall serve, and we find ourselves enabled to perform them.

We must shun all manner of sin.

But now, that I may detain you no longer, if we desire to have our sou's moulded to this holy frame, to become partakers of the divine nature, and have Christ formed in our hearts, we must seriously resolve, and carefully endeavour to avoid and abandon all vicious and sinful practices. There can be no treaty of peace, till once we lay down those weapons of rebellion wherewith we fight against heaven; nor can we expect to have our distempers cured, if we be daily feeding on poison. Every wilful sin gives a mortal wound to the soul, and puts it at a greater distance from God and goodness; and we can never hope to have our hearts purified from corrupt affections, unless we cleanse our hands from vicious actions. Now in this case we cannot excuse ourselves by the pretence of impossibility; for sure our outward man is some way in our power; we have some command of our feet, and hands, and tongue, nay, and of our thoughts and fancies too; at least so far as to divert them from impure and sinful objects, and to turn our mind another way: and we should find this power and authority much strength

yet he hath appointed the marriage-bed nary means for the propagation of manki. there must intervene a stroke of omnipo fect this mighty change in our souls, yet do what we can to fit and prepare oursel must break up our fallow ground, and weeds, and pull up the thorns,* that so more ready to receive the seeds of gra dew of heaven. It is true, God hath be some who sought him not; he hath ca their way, who were quite out of his; hold upon them, and stopt their cours den: for so was St. Paul converted in hi Damascus. But certainly this is not Go method of dealing with men. Though tied himself to means, yet he hath tied of them; and we have never more reas the divine assistance than when we are most endeavours. It shall therefore work, to shew what course we ought to taining that blessed temper I have hither But here, if, in delivering my own thoug chance to differ from what is or may others in this matter, I would not be tho tradict and oppose them, more than p when they prescribe several remedies f disease, which, perhaps, are all useful Every one may propose the method he proper and convenient; but he doth not tend that the cure can never be effected, be exactly observed. I doubt it hath much unnecessary disquietude to some h that they have not found such a regular transaction in their souls, as they have se in books; that they have passed throu steps and tage perhaps

ened and advanced, if we were careful to manage and exercise it. In the mean while, I acknowledge our corruptions are so strong, and our temptations so many, that it will require a great deal of stedfastness and resolution, of watchfulness and care, to preserve ourselves, even in this degree of innocence and purity.

We must know what things are sinful.

And first, let us inform ourselves well what those sins are from which we ought to abstain. And here we must not take our measures from the maxims of the world, or the practises of those whom in charity we account good men. Most people have very light apprehensions of these things, and are not sensible of any fault, unless it be gross and flagitious and scarce reckon any so great as that which they call preciseness: and those who are more serious do many times allow themselves too great latitude and freedom. Alas! how much pride and vanity, and passion and humour, how much weakness, and folly, and sin, doth every day shew itself in our converse and behaviour. It may be they are humbled for it, and striving against it, and are daily gaining some ground; but then the progress is so small, and their failings so many, that we had need to choose an exacter pattern. Every one of us must answer for himself, and the practices of others will never warrant and secure us. It is the highest folly to regulate our actions by any other standard than that by which they must be judged. If ever we would cleanse our way, it must be by taking heed thereunto according to the word of God.* And that word

which is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder. of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Psalm cxix. 9.