SERM. which ceases any longer to mislead, or to III. excuse him.

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And this fhall fuffice concerning the certain ill Effects of not making hafte, but delaying to keep the Commandments of God. There remains yet a probable one, (highly and fadly probable) no less than final Impenitence, and the Fruit of it, final Deftruction.

But THAT can at present only be mentioned. Yet in Confequence of what has been faid, let us feek Wisdom early, left it foon prove too late to find her and apply every Man to himself that of the Apoftle: Behold, Now is the accepted Time; Behold, Now is the Day of Salvation. And herein, I beseech you, let us be warn'd effectually to flee from the Wrath to come.

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PART II.

EFORE I proceed in the Method entered upon in my former Dif course, I am perfuaded it may be useful to remove a Miftake that has fince occurred to me in meditating on this Subject;

as

as it appears to influence many Perfons to SE RM. be at prefent Eafe, while they delay to III. keep the Commandments of God. Many, especially of those above the lowest Ranks, have entertained a Notion, that they cannot ferve God acceptably, till they have done with the Affairs of this World. The neceffary Employment of Time and Thought on the Business of their Profeffions and Engagements, is taken to be inconfiftent with performing the Duties of Religion to any worthy Degree: So they look forward, and imagine fome distant Scene of Life, when they shall have found a Retreat, in Freedom and Quiet from their present Hurries and Confinement. Then they propose to apply their Minds, without Interruption, to rectify the Errors of the Life paft, and prepare for a happy Paffage to another.

When this Conceit hath settled itself in the Mind, a natural Effect is, that the Guilt of omitting religious Duties is borne with little Remorfe or Concern; and, in a while, the Offences of Commiffion, (which ever follow the other apace,) come to fit as easy upon their Spirits. Their VOL. I. prefent

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SERM. prefent Circumftances are fet down as inrIII. proper for undertaking effectually the Work of Reformation; and more undisturb'd and happy Days are reckoned upon to be entirely dedicated to that Service. By this Account do Men spend their Lives with little Regard to Religion; which has only affign'd to it an imagin'd vacant Space, at which, generally, they never arrive; and of those few that do, very few can or will employ it, as they have fo long promised to God and themfelves. Such is the Mischief of this fpecious Pretext. Men have, it feems, high and awful Thoughts of Religion, and therefore hold it beft not to engage in it, till they can absolutely devote themselves, for which they expect a purer and lefs incumber'd State; and thus with much Respect and Reverence, order Matters fo, as never to approach it at all.

But, What, will they fay, must be done? Should they immediately abandon the Service of their Prince and Country, their Profeffions, Interefts, and Families? Yes, doubtless, (if the Matter were as they fup pofe) they should. If thofe Services were

incompatible with that of God; they fhould SER M. immediately quit the fecular Condition of III. of Life, and enter upon fuch a one as the Name of Religious is appropriated to in the Church of Rome. Indeed, the magnifying of the Monkish State, and their pretended Retirement from the World, as the only spiritual, fublime, and fanctify'd Way, has been the main Occasion of this Mistake. But the Truth of the Matter is just contrary: Thofe Services perform'd in the Manner, and with the Mind they ought to be, are fo far from incompatible with ferving God, that they are themselves the Service of God. And he that has the largest Compafs of Bufinefs, publick or private, is answerable for the greatest Num ber of Opportunities to do Good, and prevent Evil; to promote, for God's Sake, the Ends of Juftice and Charity, and that exemplarily. And are not these the Ends of his Creation, and of the Divine Providence that hath placed him in such a Station and therefore furely the serving them an acceptable Service to the Divine Majefty?

SERM. Thus is the Man, that alledges fuch III. Employments, to excufe his delaying the Work of good Life, only the more guilty and the more inexcufeable for the very Matter of his Plea. But left it fhould seem strange to any one, that the labouring in worldly Affairs, (where the Matter is lawful and the Intention pure) should be doing the Work and Will of God, as well as the Exercise of Prayers, and Praises, and Meditations; let him hear what St. Paul fays concerning the Employment even of Servants under Bondage, Eph. v. 6, &c. Servants, be obedient to them that are your Mafters according to the Flesh, with Fear and Trembling, in Singleness of your Heart, as unto Chrift; not with EyeService, as Men-pleafers, but as the Servants of Chrift, doing the Will of God from the Heart; with Good-will doing Service, as to the Lord, and not to Men; knowMan ing that whatsoever good Thing any doth, the fame fhall be receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And again, to the fame Effect, and in Expreffions little Now if the faithdifferent, Colof. iii. 21.

ful Industry of a Man under Servitude, in

performing