SERM. any
Man what his Condition is, as to ano-
XIX. ther World, and what his State will be
hereafter.

LET us therefore confider feriously with ourselves, Do we love God and our Neighbour? Are we peaceable, juft, and temperate? Do we govern our Appetites and Paffions? Are we content with our Lot and Portion in this World, and can we fubmit ourselves chearfully and contentedly to the Hand of God in all Conditions, and under all Calamities, without Murmuring or Repining? If we find in ourselves thefe Fruits of the Holy Spirit, we may be affured, that the Spirit of God is in us, that we have received the Adoption of Children, are Heirs of God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. But on the Contrary, if we find that we are of a malicious, envious, revengeful, and implacable Temper; that we are given up to any unlawful Luft, any ambitious or fordid Defire; if we give the Reins to our inordinate Paffions, and fuffer ourselves to be tranfported beyond all Measure and Reafon; if we are of a fordid and narrow Principle, not willing to do good Offices to any Man; if we are factious, turbulent, and feditious,

uneafy

uneafy to the Government we live un- SERM. der, and troublesome to our Neigh- XIX. bours, either by Lying, Backbiting, Talebearing, Envying, or Railing; of a proud, cenforious, and uncharitable Temper, we for a Certainty may conclude, that we are in a wrong Way, that we are the Children of our Father the Devil; for these are the Works of the Flesh, which are manifeft ; which are therefore called the Works of the Devil; and his Servants we are, whofe Work we do: It will not avail us at the last Day, though we cry, Lord, Lord; though Mat. vii. we make an open Profeffion of Reli- 22. gion; nay, though we have prophefied in his Name, and in his Name done many wonderful Works, i. e. though we fhould preach the Gofpel to others, and perform Miracles for the Confirmation of it; yet, if we do not practise its Precepts, our Lord and Saviour in that Day will bid us, Depart from him, because we are Workers of Iniquity. If we allow ourselves in any of thefe Works of the Flesh, we cannot be Inhabitants of the heavenly Jerufalem. I do not fay, if we are guilty of any of these Sins: I would not be mistaken; a good

Man

may be guilty of many

SERM Man Sins through XIX. the Frailty and Infirmity of his Nature; he may be betrayed into grievous and prefumptuous Sin, as David was ; but then he washes the Guilt of it off by a folemn and unfeigned Repentance, he waters his Couch with his Tears, he endeavours to obtain God's Pardon by a long Courfe of Contrition, and a thorough Reformation of Life, a fincere Defire and hearty Endeavour of living better for the Time to come, and of never falling into the fame Sin again. He brings forth Fruits meet for Repentance, even thofe Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the Text, Love, foy, Peace, Long-fuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against which there is no Law, and to which the Word of God promiseth eternal Happiness. May we all practise thefe Virtues, and fo obtain the promifed Reward, through Jefus Chrift, the Prince of Peace, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

The End of the First Volume.