the Whole of Religion to confift in involuntary Pains and Torments, and in perpetual Gloom and Dejection of Spirit; and the Gofpel of Chrift is injured by both; by the one, as too rigid and fevere; by the other, as too four and ill-natured an Inftitution.-As to its Severity, the Difficulties of our Warfare are avowedly very great; were they not so, our Way would not be here called narrow, or our Gate ftraight; but thefe Difficulties are far from being infuperable; whoever throws the Benefits of Regeneration into the Balance will find himself more than equal to the strongest Enemy that can affault him.-And the proper Ufe to be made of them is, not to be difcouraged, but animated thereby; and to contend earnestly in the Work of our Calling with perpetual Joy and Thanksgiving to him, who will give the Victory to all who are stedfaft and immoveable in it, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. And as to the Sournefs of it, the Duties of Abftinence, Mortification, and SelfDenial, are indeed commanded in the Gospel, fo far as they tend either to fubdue Sin, or to work out Righteousness; and as oft as they are neceffary to these great Ends, or required by lawful Authority, they are required of us, either in order to the one, or in Obedience to the other. But to imagine that we ought therefore to be always forrowful, or always on our Knees; to infer from thence, that Sighs and Groans are the only proper Signs of Regeneration

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generation and Repentance, can be only the Inferences of Enthusiasm, or a Cloyster; and appear to be calculated more for the Purposes of Intereft and Vain-glory, than the Promotion of the great Ends and Defigns of Christianity.For the Chriftian Religion is both active and chearful; it requires us not to withdraw from a finful World, but rather to labour to do Good in it; and it places more Virtue in the fubduing one Luft, or conquering one Paffion, than in ten thousand empty Groans, or corporal Aufterities.-It makes the Reformation of our Lives the Measure and End of our Mortifications; and condemns an Over-fondnefs for outward Appearances, as tending rather to recommend us to the Love of Men, than of him who is and fees us in Secret.-And it is fo far from denying, as to command, a thankful Use and chearful Enjoyment of the Bleffings of Life, which are given us for our Comfort and Refreshment, to balance a little the Evils of it.-But as the great Danger here is of ufing them too much, and loving them too well, it requires us to remember, that we are not at Home, but in our Road thither, and must therefore only fo far set a Value upon them, as they leffen the Troubles of our Journey, and enable us the better to bear the Fatigues of it.-Which Temperance is not only the most pious Ufe of outward Bleffings, but really the trueft Enjoyment of them.

And

And I cannot therefore conclude without obferving,

Laftly, That notwithstanding the Narrowness of our Way, it is not only pasable, but pleafant.-The Walking in it, as has been represented, is the making a daily Progress in the Improvement of our Faculties and the Perfection of our Nature, from whence arise the only rational and the most substantial Pleasures of Life.-Thefe Delights are folid, manly, and lasting; such as no Art or Violence can take from us; and fuch as will be most useful when moft wanting; then most enlivening when we are moft oppreffed.-And as we proceed in the Way of Faith and Virtue, fo we shall grow in Strength; the Mind will grow more vigorous and chearful, the farther we advance; and the Effects of that Vigour will be Patience in Time of Affliction, and Magnanimity in Time of Danger.-For be Men's outward Condition what it will, the never-failing Fruits of the fpiritual Life are Love, Peace, and Joy.

SERMON

"EKWON

SERMON XI.

PSAL. cxix. 71.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy Statutes.

T

HIS Pfalm, however long or tedious it may appear to the ignorant, inconfiderate, or worldly-minded Men, will ever afford great Pleasure and Delight to ferious, attentive, and devout Minds.-There runs through it fuch a Warmth of Affection for God and his Laws, as will be very apt to kindle the like pious Flames in those who have a Taste for Divine Things.The general Subject is the Happiness of loving God above all Things, and going on in a fteddy Course of Obedience to his Commandments; and the holy Penman appears throughout poffeffed with fo ftrong a Sense of it, that every new Reflection makes him break out into new Refolutions of pursuing it, or moft paffionate Ejaculations and Prayers for it. -He begins with this Happiness, Bleffed are the Undefiled in the Way, who walk in the Law

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