shall be driven back. Indeed, though Perfection is afcribed to Men in Scripture, by Way of Oppofition to Characters wilfully and effentially defective', and of comparison with others of inferior Goodnefs", and in Refpect of God's gracious Acceptation through Chrift Jesus"; yet, strictly speaking, the Hope of ever attaining it here is vain, notwithstanding that the Struggle to advance towards it ought to be inceffant: for the nearer the Approach, the greater the Reward. But who can fay, I have made my Heart clean, I am pure from my Sin°? For there is not a juft Man upon Earth, that doth Good, and finneth not”. When we put off

thefe Bodies, and not before, that which is perfect being come, that which is in Part fhall be done away. Our Understandings shall be thoroughly enlightened, our Affections completely purified, our Wills intirely conformed to that of our Heavenly Father; we shall love ourselves only as bearing his Image, and God Shall be all in all'.

SERMON III.

TIT. ii. 6.

Young Men likewife exhort to be sober-minded.

Nftructing Men to remember their Creator

INA

in the Days of their Youth', is laying in their Hearts the only Foundation of every Thing good and happy: but the Work is far from being completed, when the Foundation is laid. Not only the general Duties of Life are to be built upon it; but the particular Duties of every one's Condition in Life: for thefe of all others, we are most concerned, and yet often leaft willing, to know and attend to. They should therefore be drawn out, and laid before us as minutely as they well can: and each be called upon to study thofe more especially, which he is more especially obliged to practise. Now as the feveral Tempers, Ranks, and Employments of Men, and the several Relations they

VOL. III.

a Eccl. xii. 1.

D

ftand

ftand in to each other, fo their feveral Ages alfo, lay them under peculiar Obligations: for which Reafon St. Peter and St. John in their Epiftles address themselves to younger Persons, and to elder separately; and St. Paul in this Epiftle directs Titus to do the fame Thing. But though both have much need of Admonition, yet the Young plainly need it most; as they are just entering into the World, with little Knowledge, lefs Experience, and yet scarcely ever any Diftruft; with lively Spirits and warm Paffions to mislead them, and Time to go a great Way wrong, if they do not go right. In the Spring-season of Life, especially as it advances towards Summer, whatever the Soil produces, (and the human Heart is fruitful of Evil) shoots out so fast, that a few Days Neglect of weeding and pruning, occafions a visible Alteration for the worfe. And therefore the utmost Care fhould be taken then, to keep all in good Order, by the continual Exercife of that Sobriety of Mind, that confiderate Self-government, which the Apostle prescribes indeed to every one, but which they who principally want it, ought to understand as principally prescribed to them. It is true, in this Verse he mentions only young Men: but in

the preceding he had given the fame Rule for young Women: and accordingly I fhall speak to both, without Diftinction, in two Difcourfes on this Subject.

I. The first and chief Thing, in which young People are concerned to fhew Sobriety of Mind, is moderating their natural Fondness for Pleasure; and the two Sorts of Pleasure, from which they are in Danger, are, fenfual Gratifications, and gay Amufements.

As to the former, St. Paul hath directed that Fornication and all Uncleanness be not once named amongft Chriftians. And the lefs they are named, even to caution against them, the better: provided it be well understood and considered, that they not only fill the Lives of those who are guilty of them, and of others, with a Variety of temporal Sufferings, too commonly experienced; but fatally indifpofe them to the Love of God and Virtue, and disqualify them for the spiritual Happiness of the World to come. Therefore dearly beloved, I befeech you, as Strangers and Pilgrims, whofe chief Intereft lies not here, but in another State, abftain from fleshly Lufts, which war against the Soul. All Ranks, both Sexes, how ftrangely foever

Eph. v. 3.

D 2

Pet. ii. 1.

Multitudes

Multitudes of one seem to forget it, are equaİly bound by this Restraint: bound to avoid every Thing likely to mifguide their Conduct, or to inflame their Defires; and to employ their Thoughts fo conftantly on what is good or lawful, as to exclude from them what is bad. For by fuch Care, early taken, the Prefervation of their Innocence will be eafy: which, for want of it, is falfly imagined impoffible. Thus then, to speak in the Words of our Apostle, Let every one know how to poffefs his Veffel in Sanctification and Honour, not in the Luft of Concupifcence, even as the Gentiles, which know not God. And to that End, Let every one, as Solomon advises, keep his Heart with all Diligence: for out of it are the Illues of Life".

Together with the Sins of this Kind, thofe of Intemperance in drinking, or even eating, which are closely connected with them, ought to be carefully fhunned, as peculiarly oppofite to the Character of fober-minded, by young People; who of all others have the leaft Need of fuch Indulgences, and are the most hurt by them; subjected to painful and dangerous Diseases; expofed to early Distress in their Circumftances; and befides, for the most e Prov. iv. 23.

di Theff. iv. 4, 5.

I

Part,