mortal stab will effectually kill the body, without mangling every limb. I would not be understood here to mean accidental failings or surprize, or even some deliberate and wilful acts of sin. But this I say, every beloved lust heartily espoused, indulged, and continued in, will defeat all our hopes of entering into the kingdom of heaven.

The gospel covenant has treasures of mercy for those who have not obeyed the law in the strictness of unerring obedience. Evangelical righteousness shall be accepted where the legal is not to be had; but then we must take care to make honest and punctual payment of the evangelical.

Seeing, then, the best of men are surrounded with infirmities, which they can no more part with than they can shake off their flesh, can it be matter of wonder to any Christian, if he find himself not only tempted to evil, but incessantly urged and stimulated to the commission of it? Or need he, as not knowing the cause of his inward struggle between inclination and duty, enquire with St. Paul how it comes to pass that he sees a law in his members warring against the law of his mind, and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin? This is a case far from being new or uncommon. The utmost man can pretend to, is not to fall totally and finally. But to get above temptations, out of the reach of the allurements of sense is (as I said just now) beyond the measure of flesh and blood. What then, shall we lay down in sloth, complaining of our weakness, but use no

endeavours of recovery? Or, shall we charge the blame upon God the author of Nature? No, he made us upright; depravity and corruption are the work of our own hands.

Still, at the worst, our case is not desperate; nor are we sunk into a total degeneracy. Though our inclinations to vice are strong, yet it is our fault if we are enslaved by them.

To swim against the current of impetuous desires, and to turn Nature from its bent, it must be confessed, are no easy undertakings, not to be effected with cold wishes and lazy hands. But a vigorous resolution will do the business. Old sturdy habits will give way to it, much more will it prevail to check our vicious inclinations, and stop their growth into habits.

Let us then search and examine in which of our affections we stand most exposed to temptation; which passions give the most frequent alarm to our virtue; and what is the sin that doth so easily beset us. Here lies our greatest danger; here then let us post our whole strength, and implore the assistance of heaven to protect and defend us. Let us not (in the Apostle's phrase) beat the air, but single out our favourite bosom lust, and let us level all our arrows against it. Let us go out, therefore, against Satan, as David did against the Philistine, in the name of the Lord; and let us cut off the head of our spiritual Goliab, and make an offering of it worthy of God. This is a sacrifice resembling, by a faint similitude, that of Abraham when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar. Take

notice how highly God was pleased with this noble act of faith and obedience. Now I know, says he, that thou fearest God; and, by myself have I sworn, that because thou hast done this thing, in blessing I will bless thee. A declaration which we may be bold, in some measure, to extend to all who, at the command of God, are ready to give up what is most dear and precious to them, and so shall entitle themselves to the character of Abraham's children, who is the father of the faithful.

But, alas! how few copies are to be found of this fair original! Every darling lust is dearer to us than Isaac was to his father Abraham, and we strive not to conquer the evil affections of our nature.

Let us weigh the danger against the enjoy

ment.

If the sin be pleasant, yet it is not so to be in hell. Is it profitable? But will it countervail the loss of heaven? Shall we accept of such base momentary satisfactions in exchange for our immortal souls? Far be it from us to be deluded into so foolish a choice!

If, therefore, we are in earnest, and indeed resolved to mortify and kill our beloved lust, let us pinch and starve it by degrees; add no fuel to the flame, but cut off all occasions that may give advantage to the sin which doth already but too easily beset us. Let us be frequent and assiduous in the exercise of that grace which is most opposite to our darling lust; and so, by degrees, nourish a virtuous habit, in order to root out and supplant its

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contrary. Above all, watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, nor fall under it.

Simon, sleepest thou in this article of danger? Judas doth not sleep. The emissaries of Satan are up and busy, ready to betray and apprehend us. Watch, therefore, and pray, and assure yourselves that your prayers shall not return unto you void, but shall accomplish your desires and prosper in the thing whereunto you send them.

Let us begin, therefore, and go on in the power of faith, of watchfulness, and prayer; nor be discouraged at our frequent backslidings, and manifold failings, in the conquest of our beloved sin; the sin which doth so easily beset us. Allowance, 'tis to be hoped, will be made by that God who knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth that we are but dust. But let us not go back, much less quit the field. God will at last give us the desired success; grace and peace here, and eternal happiness hereafter.

Let us, then, my brethren, constantly implore the Divine assistance to guard and protect us in every station of life; that his grace may always prevent and follow us; and make us continually to be given to all good works.

I conclude with that most earnest and passionate wish of St. Peter. The God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, (struggling and maintaining a doubtful fight against your spiritual enemy) make you perfect, strengthen, stablish, settle you.

And now, O thou eternal, inexhaustible fountain of all goodness! Thou Father and

Friend of mankind! Hear the prayers of thy humble servants, and grant us grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God, through Jesus Christ our Lord: to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour, glory, and power, now and for evermore. Amen.