A

COUNSEL

FOR

PERSONAL AND FAMILY GODLINESS.

            BELOVED, I despair of ever bringing you to salvation, without sanctification; or possessing you of happiness, without persuading you to holiness. GOD knows I have not the least hope of ever seeing one of your faces in heaven, except you he converted, and sanctified, and exercise yourselves unto Godliness. I beseech you to study Personal Godliness, and Family Godliness.

            I. Personal Godliness. Let it be your first care to set up CHRIST in your hearts: see that you make all your worldly interests to stoop to him, and that you be entirely and unreservedly devoted unto him. If you harbour any sin, you are undone. See that you unfeignedly take the law of CHRIST as the rule of your words, thoughts, and actions; and subject your whole man, members, and mind, faithfully unto him. If you have not a true respect to all GOD's commandments, you are unsound at heart. O study to get the image and impress of CHRIST upon you within. Begin with your hearts, else you build without foundation. Labor to get a saving change within, or all external performances will be to no pur­pose and then study to show forth the power of Godliness in your life. Let piety be your first and great business. It is the highest justice to give GOD his due. Beware that none of you be a prayerless person; for that is a most certain discovery of a CHRISTless and a graceless person. Suffer not your Bibles to gather dust: see that you converse daily with the word. That man can never lay claim to blessedness, whose delight is not in the law of the LORD. Let meditation and self-examination be your daily exercise.

            But piety without charity is but half of Christianity, or rather impious hypocrisy. We may not divide the tables: see therefore that you do justly, and love mercy; and let equity and charity run like an even thread throughout all your dealings. Be you temperate in all things; and let chastity and sobriety be your undivided companions. Let truth and purity, seriousness and modesty, be the constant ornament of your speech. Let patience and humility, simplicity and sincerity, shine in all the parts of your conversation. See that you forgive wrongs, and requite them with kindness, as you would be found children of the Most High. Be merciful in your censures; and put the most favorable construction upon your brethren's carriage, which their actions will reasonably bear. Bc slow in promising, punctual in fulfilling. Let meekness, innocency, affability, yieldingness, and courtesy, com­mend your conversations to all men. Let none of your relations want that love and loyalty, that reverence and duty, that tenderness, care, and vigilancy, which their several places and capacities call for. I charge you, before the 1\iost High GOD, that none of you be found a swearer, or a liar, a lover of evil company, or a scoffer, or malicious, or covetous, or a drunkard, or a glutton, unrighteous in his dealing, unclean in his living, or a quarreller, or a thief, or a backbiter, or a railer: for I denounce unto you, from the living GOD, that destruction and damnation are the end of all such.

            II. Family Godliness. He that has set un CHRIST in his heart, will be sure to set him up in his house. Let every family with you be a Christian church, every house a house of prayer. Let every householder say, with JOSHUA, " I and my house will serve the LORD;" and resolve, with DAVID, " I will walk within my house with perfect heart." Let me press upon you a few duties in general.  First, Let religion be in your families, not as a matter by the bye, (to be minded at leisure, when the world will give you leave,) but the standing business of the house: let them have your prayers as daily as their meals. Is there any of your families but have time to take food? Wretched man! Can you not find time to pray in?

            Secondly, Settle it upon your hearts, that your souls are bound up in the souls of your families. They are committed unto you, and if they be lost through your neglect, will be required at your hands. Sirs, if you do not, you shall know that the charge of souls, if neglected, exposes you to a heavy guilt. O man, have you a charge of souls to answer for, and dost you not yet bestir thyself for them, that their blood be not found in thy skirts? Wilt you do no more for immortal souls than for thy beasts that perish? What dost you for thy children and servants? You providest meat and drink for them, and (lost you not the same for thy beasts? You givest them medicines, and cherishest them, when they are sick; and dost you not as much for thy swine? More particularly,

            1. Let the solemn reading of the word, and singing of psalms, be your family exercises.

            2. Let every person in your families he duly called to an account of their profiting by the word heard or read, as they are about doing your own business. This is a duty of consequence unspeakable, and would be a means of bringing those under your charge to remember and profit by what they receive.

            3. Often take an account of the souls under your care, concerning their spiritual states. Make inquiry into their (ondi'ions; and insist much upon the sinfulness and misery of their natural state, and upon the necessity of conver­sion in order to their salvation. Admonish them gravely of their sins, and encourage their good beginnings. Fol­low them earnestly, and let them have no quiet from you, till you see in them a saving change. This is a duty of high consequence, but (I am afraid) fearfully neglected. Does not conscience say, "You art the man?

            4. Look to the strict sanctification of the Sabbath by all your household. Many poor families have little time else. O improve but your Sabbath-days as diligently in doing your Master's work, as you do the other days in doing your own work, and I doubt not but you may cone to some proficiency.

            5. Let the morning and evening sacrifice of solemn prayer be daily offered up in all your families. O miser-able families, without GOD in the world, that are without family-prayer! What! have you so many family-sins, family-wants, family-mercies, and yet no family-prayers? How do you pray with all prayer and supplication, if you do not use family-prayer? Say not, "I have no time." What, have you not all thy time on purpose to serve GOD, and save thy soul? And yet is this the business for which you can find no time? Find but a heart, and [ will find time. Pinch out of your meals, and sleep, rather than want time for prayer. Say not, " My busi­ness will not give leave." This is the greatest business, to save thyself, and the souls committed to thee. In a word, the blessing of all is to be got by prayer. Helps are to be had, till you art better able: but if there be no other remedy, you must join with thy abler neighbor. GOD has special regard to joint prayer; and therefore you must improve family advantages for the performance of it.

            6. Put every one in your families upon private prayer. Observe whether they perform it. Get them the help of a form, if they need it, till they are able to do without it. Direct them how to pray, by reminding them of their sins, wants, and mercies, the materials of prayer.

            7. Set up Catechising in your families, at least once in every week. Have you no reverence for the Almighty's charge, that you should "teach these things diligently unto your children, and talk of them as you sit in your houses;" and " train them up in the way wherein they should go?" has GOD so commended ABRAHAM, because he would " teach his children and household," and given such a promise to him thereupon; and will not you put in for a share, either in the praise or the promise? has CHRIST honored Catechising with his presence, and will you not own it in your practice? You will call them up, and force them to do your work; and should you not'be as zealous in putting them upon GOD'S work? Say not, they are dull, and are not capable. If they be dull, GOD requires of you the more pains and patience. But dull as they are, you will make them learn how to work; and can they not learn as well how to live? Are they capable of the mysteries of your trade, and are they not capable of the plain principles of religion?

            Would you answer the calls of Divine Providence? Would you plant nurseries for the Church of GOD? Would you that GOD should build your houses, and bless your substance? Would you that your children should bless you? O then set up piety in your families, as ever you would be blessed, or be made a blessing. Let your hearts and your houses be the temples of the living GOD, in which his worship may be constantly and reverently performed. O be wise in time, that you be not miserable to eternity!

VOL. 14

CASES OF CONSCIENCE

TWO

PRACTICAL CASES OF CONSCIENCE
RESOLVED.

THE FIRST CASE OF CONSCIENCE.
ON MATT. 5: 47

What do ye more than others?

            QUEST. Wherein should Christians be singular in their obedience? Or, what may they and must they do more than others?

            ANSW. Take the answer in these ten Rules, containing the character of a Christian.

            Rule 1: Heartily love them that slight you; and wish and seek the good of those that hate you, and seek to hurt you. This is the very thing urged in the text, " If you salute your brethren only, and love them that love you, do not even the publicans the same?" (Matt. 5: 46, 47.) To love them that respect and value us, is what every one can do: but to love them truly that think meanly of us, and have prejudices and hard thoughts against us, and to speak well of them that speak evil of us,—that is to do more than others. Thus did the martyr CR1NMER; of whom it was a proverb, " Do the Archbishop of Canter-bury a displeasure, and you shall ever have him your friend." Thus that holy man said, in his parting words," I had never any greater pleasure in all my life, than to forget and forgive injuries, and to show kindness to them that sought evil to me." Consider who have offended you, and disobliged you, and slighted you; and keep up good thoughts of them, if the case will bear it,—speak nothing but good of them,—think what kindness you may show them,—pray for them, and wish well for them; " so shall you be the children of_ your Father which is in heaven."

            Rule 2: Swim against the strewn. The dead will swim with, but the living against the stream. When religion is in fashion, every one will be in it: but to make head against the current of the times,—to be for strict Godliness in all your ways, when the stream runs quite against it,—and to resolve, as DAVID did, " to be yet more vile,"—this is to be and to do more than others. To be singular in your good choice and resolutions, with JosuuA, though all should vote against you; with NOAH, to be perfect in your generations, when ever so adulterous; and to walk with GOD, when all flesh have corrupted their way;—this is to do more than others.

            Rule 3: Take most care of that which is most out of sight. A Christian's eye is most on the things least seen: namely, 1. Upon his heart; herein he does exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, whose great care was to keep all fair and clean that came to view. Make great conscience of your behavior in secret, and let your main guard be upon your heart.—2. Upon his hope. Others look to the things seen,—things in hand: but the true believer walks by faith, not by sight, and lives a quite different life from that of any others in the world; as living upon the hopes of heaven does differ from living on the pleasures, profits, and honors of the world.

            Rule 4: Be merciful to others' failings, and very severe to your own. To aggravate our own evils, and to have an. excuse ready for our brother's,--to censure ourselves freely, and to come with a mangle behind us to cover our brother,—this is to do more than others. The servant of GOD rebukes others with meekness, but falls out easily and bitterly with himself.

            Rule 5: Suer rather than sin. To go so far with CHRIST as our way lies together, is to do no more than an unsound professor may do. The trial is, when CHRIST'S interest and ours do cross; so that we must either balk our duty, or our safety and advantage. The famous martyr, under JULIAN, would not give one half-penny towards the building of the idol's temple, though he was offered his life on those terms. When a man lies in outward misery, and has a door of deliverance open, if he will but sin, and yet will not accept it,—this is to do more than others.

            Rule 6: Rejoice in losses for CHRIST, and glory in the cross. When we take pleasure in infirmities and tribula­tions, and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of CHRIST, this is to do more than others. When the servants of GOD not only patiently but triumphantly undergo the crosses which rack the hearts of others; when PAUL and SILAS sing in the stocks, and the martyrs embrace the faggots, and kiss the stake; when the valiant PHILPOT shall say of his prison, " In the judgment of the world we are in hell, but I find in it the sweet consolation of heaven;" and the holy BRADFORD, « My prison is sweeter to me than my parlor, or than any pleasure I have had in all my life;"—this is to exceed others.

            Rule 7: Make a true conscience of the least sin, but most conscience of the greatest. In one of these will the unbeliever be found tardy. It may be, he will fly from open sins, and startle at gross and staring sins, but of little sins he makes little conscience; or else, he will be very tender of little things, so as to scruple the picking of ears of corn on the sabbath-day, or the curing of the sick, and thus strain at the gnat,—when he will in other *}rings swallow a camel, and devour widows' houses. The sincere Christian will indulge no sin; he grieves for, groans under, cries out feelingly against his very infirmi­ties; but most dreads what GOD most hates.

            Rule 8: Allow yourselves in the neglect of no duty, but reserve yourselves for the duties of most weight. To tithe mint and cummin, and neglect judgment, mercy, and faith; to be zealous for human ceremonies, ordi­nances, and wen's traditions, and omit the weightier matters of the law, is the way of the Pharisees. To eye both the tables; to join sweetly together, morality and piety; to be punctual with amen, but not careless of GOD; to give to CEESAa the things that are CAESAR'S, but first to give to GOD the things that are GOD’s;—this is to do more than others. The sincere Christian has respect to all GOD’s commandments; walks in all his statutes; and is through-out with GOD; but he is most zealous in those things which he next the heart of religion.

            Rule 9: Love your reprovers. Herein David doth more than AHAB: see their contrary frames in I Kings 22: 8, and Psal. cxli. 5.

            Rule 10: Subject all your worldly interest to your Maker's glory; and perform holy duties with holy ends. While others do their best actions with carnal aims, you must do your common actions with heavenly aims.

            Quest. How may we know, when we do more Man others who are unsound?

I shall answer this question by propounding eight questions to you; beseeching you to retire to the most solemn and strict examination, and make conscience to give a clear answer to these few interrogatories.

            Quest. 1: When others pick and choose, have you respect to all GOD’s conznzandrnents? The sound Christian sets all GOD’s commands before him. He eyes all his copy, and heartily studies a thorough conformity. He does not fear the LORD and serve other GODs, nor divide his service between GOD and Mammon; but he is intent on uniformity, and entirely devoted to GOD’s service and fear alone. He has a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly, and does forsake all his sins, and keep all GOD's statutes, which are known to him.

            Let me therefore ask you two questions:

            (1.) When others divide the tables, do you join them in your practice? The hypocrite may be just and square towards men, but follow him to his family or closet, and you shall find but little of GOD. His family is neglected; and his soul is neglected. Or, it may be, Ile is a forward first-table man; but you shall find him tardy in the second. He will make many prayers, and long prayers, yet no conscience of devouring widows' houses. He is a great pretender to piety; but mean while neglects judg­ment and mercy. But the sincere man joins all together. He is so far careful for justice towards men, that, mean while, he will not neglect the first and greatest part of justice, to give GOD his due. He does justly; he loves mercy; but, withal, he walks humbly with GOD. He walks soberly with respect to himself, righteously towards his neighbor, and in a Godly manner *towards his Maker. He is not one of those who are good only on his knees; but you shall find him every where conscientious. You shall have temperance at his table, chastity and modesty in his behavior, grace and truth in his works, charity in his deeds, faithfulness in his trust, and justice in his dealings. He does not only seem to be religious, but bridleth his tongue; he is not only a good Christian, but a good neighbor; not only a good man, but a good husband, a good master, a dutiful child, a diligent and faithful servant, and a good subject. In a word, he makes great conscience of discharging the duties of his relations among men.

            (2.) When others rest in externals, do you look to the spiritual part of every command, and principally mind the inward vitals of religion? Do you not only make conscience of performing duties, but carefully look to the manner of performing them, and the ends for which you

perform them? Do you not only make conscience of abstaining from open, but also from secret sins? Do you abound, above all, in secret duties? Do you keep a watch upon your hearts, and make conscience of avoiding not only the gross acts of sin, but even sinful thoughts, inclinations, and desires?

            Quest. 2: When others have had their reserves in closing with CHRIST, do you give up all to him entirely? Have you taken CHRIST deliberately, understandingly, sitting down first, and counting the cost? 1-Iave you not secret reserves for your own ease, safety, estate, or beloved sin? Have you, upon solemn consideration, accepted CHRIST as the LORD your righteousness, for better, for worse, for all changes of times and conditions, so as to run all hazards with him, and to take your lot with him, fall as it will?

            Quest. 3: When others are for a little religion by the bye, do you make religion your business? Do you not put off GOD with the world's leavings, and serve him only when you are at leisure? Must not GOD stand by, while the world is first served? And are not your souls the least of your cares, and put off with some scraps of your time? Is religion your trade, and is your conversation irr heaven? Do you walk with GOD, or have you only now and then a turn with him? When you have ended your prayers, is there an end of your religion till you come to them again; or do you carry on a design of religion throughout your whole course? Have you only a list of religion at the outside of the piece; or is the woof of religion woven into the whole cloth, into heart and life, into your discourse, and trades, and tables? Do you " first seek the kingdom of GOD, and the righteousness thereof?" Is it the chief care of your lives, that GOD may be served, and your souls saved? And is this the one thing necessary with you, about which you are most solicitous? Do your very hearts say, with DAVID, "One thing have I desired of the LORD, and that I will seek after?"

            Quest. 4: When others are for the wages of religion, are you for the work? Can you say, with DAVID, " I have chosen thy precepts? " Had you rather be holy than otherwise, if you were left to your choice? Had you rather be God’s servants, and live at his command, than serve your own lusts? Do you count the laws of CHRIST your heritage, or rather do you not count them your bondage? Do you choose not only the wages of right­eousness, but the ways of righteousness? Are GOD’s com­mandments your delight? And are the sweetest hours of your lives the hours which you spend with him? Do you never enjoy yourselves so much as when you most enjoy GOD? Is his service your greatest comfort? And is it meat and drink to you to do his will? Do you make use of holy duties, only as men do of physic when they are ill at case, when conscience lashes, or afflictions sting, or to pacify GOD, that he may not hurt you? Or, do you use them as your daily bread, the staff of your life, and the means of your comfort?

            Quest. 5: When others are for a cheap and easy religion, are you for self-denial? When others are for the religion that will serve them best, are you for that which will serve GOD best? When others are all upon the sparing plan, and will spare what may be spared, and study how they may best save charges in going to heaven, are you of such princely spirits, as to resolve not to serve the LORD with that which will cost you nothing? Is your course of religion such as does mortify your flesh, and cross and curb its desires; or do you love to give it what it craves, and suffer it to take its own way? Have you no enemy you dread so much as self? Do you pamper and please it, and make provision for it; or do you pray and watch against it, and grieve for its infirmities, and had you rather that this enemy were under your feet, than have all the world?

            Quest. 6: When others are for no more of religion, than they deem to be absolutely necessary, are you for the height of religion? Some are very inquisitive what is the lowest degree of religion that a man may have, and go to heaven. But the sincere Christian, though satisfied that his state issafe, will rest in no attainments in grace; but reaches for-ward, and presses on, " if by any means he may attain to the resurrection of the dead." He that does not desire, and design, and endeavor after perfection, never yet came up to sincerity. A true believer desires holiness for holi­ness' sake; and therefore is set upon perfecting holiness. Others desire it only for heaven's sake; and therefore are only for so much of it as will bear their charges thither. They make use of holiness only as a bridge to heaven; and therefore are for no more than will just serve their turn. The true believer has a holy nature, and therefore holiness is his element and natural employment; and he must needs desire holiness in its height, because every nature aspires after perfection in its kind. He desires not holi­ness, merely because it is the way to heaven; but he loves heaven the better for the holy way that leads to it, and for the perfect holiness which is there.

            Quest. 7: When others are only intent on salvation from hell by CHRIST, are you as truly intent on sanctifica­tion by CHRIST? Do you take CHRIST as GOD offers him, with all his offices and benefits, to be both a PRINCE and a SAVIOR, to give repentance as well as remission of sins? Are you desirous of the dominion of CHRIST, as well as of deliverance by CHRIST? Do you close with his burden, as well as his benefits? Do you count his laws your liberty; his service your freedom? Do you go in CHRIST'S ways as one in fetters, or do you run with enlargement of heart?

            Quest. 8: When others make self their end, do you set up GOD above all as your highest end? Is it your great design, in your whole course of life, to glorify and enjoy GOD? Do you count this your whole business and blessedness? Do you make other business stoop to this, and other interests yield to this? Do your souls breathe after this, above all worldly good, that CHRIST may be magnified in you? Do you count your name, and your estate, but as loss, and the delights of sense but as puddle-water, in comparison of CHRIST?

            If conscience give a comfortable and clear answer to these questions, go in peace. Blessed are you of the Loa')! GOD is your friend: heaven is your portion: CHRIST is yours: all is yours. For "he that has these things shall never be moved."

THE
SECOND CASE OF CONSCIENCE.
ON 1 THESS. 4:1

            Furthermore then, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the LORD JESUS, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please GOD, so ye would abound more and more.

            QUEST. What may and must a Christian be, and do, that he may please GOD?

            Answ. To your pleasing GOD, something is necessary as to your Persons, and something as to your Performances.

            First. As to your Persons, it is necessary, in general, that you be in a state of reconciliation with GOD. If you would "walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing," you must first be friends with him. Labor to get the breach made up, to have the enmity slain, to have divine dis­pleasure removed. Till your pardon be obtained, and your peace made, nothing you can do will please GOD. Come in then, and touch the golden sceptre; yield to mercy; "kiss the SoN;" resign yourselves to CHRIST; accept of the peace tendered to you in the word of recon­ciliation; and then GOD will be your friend. More par­ticularly, that you may be in a state of reconciliation, and so in a capacity of pleasing GOD, you must follow these directions:

            I. Put away every sin. It is thy iniquity that separated' between thee and thy GOD. If you wouldest have GOD pleased, turn every sin out of doors; " pluck it out and cast it from thee." If you art of them that have pleasure in unrighteousness, the LORD has no pleasure in thee. He is not a GOD that has pleasure in wickedness; evil shall not dwell with him; the foolish shall not stand in his sight; he hateth all the workers of iniquity. See that you abandon every sin that you knows; spare not one AGAG, not a right eye, not an HERODIAS; for then GOD will not spare thee. Give the darling of thy boson' a bill of divorce. Say to all thy idols, " Get thee hence." GOD will not look to that man who looks pleasantly upon any sin. Though you be very diligent in GOD's service, and presentest him with multitudes of sacrifices, and many prayers, he will be pleased with nothing, but hide his face, and stop his ears, whilst you keepest thine iniquities in thine hands. O look into thy hands, look into thy heart, look into thy house, into thy shop, thy trade, thy calling! See if there be not some way of wickedness that you art found in. You can not have peace with GOD, nor he pleasure with thee, till this be removed.

            II. Put on the LORD JESUS CHRIST: viz.

            1. The red robe of his righteousness [or merits] for justification. The LORD will never give thee a good look, nor a good word, but in CHRIST. He is a consuming fire out of CHRIST; but get on this robe, and he will be well pleased. ENOCH had this testimony, that he pleased GOD: but CHRIST had much more, namely, a testimony that GOD is well pleased with penitent and believing sinners, in and for him. Away with these rags, and with these fig-leaves! How can the righteous soul of GOD but abhor you, whilst you trust in your own righteousness? Dare not come to GOD, but with CHRIST in your arras: approach him not but in the garments of your Elder Brother, lest you carry away the curse. JOSHUA'S filthy garments must be put off, (Zech. 3: 4,) and CHRIST's raiment put on, or else you cannot stand before the comely garment. This grace does eminently honor GOD, and therefore GOD Both put a peculiar honor upon it, and manifest a most special delight in it. Of all the men in the world, this is the man that GOD will look unto, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word. As you wouldest have GOD well-pleased with thee, be thoroughly displeased with thyself. If you dost thoroughly loathe thyself, GOD Both love thee. If you abhorrest thyself, GOD delighteth in thee. Be angry with thyself, and the Almighty will turn away his anger from thee: condemn thyself, and GOD will acquit thee. In no wise extenuate thy sins, nor justify thyself. Think the worst of thyself; be willing that others should think meanly of thee; and heartily love them that slight thee. This is the frame with which GOD is well-pleased. Pass sentence on thyself, and GOD will absolve thee: set up thyself at his footstool, and he will lift thee up into the throne.

            (2.) Put on a spirit of zeal and activity. There is nothing with which GOD is more displeased, than remiss­ness, lifelessness, and indiflerency in religion. Lukewarm water is not a greater offence to the stomach, than the lukewarm professor is to GOD: and therefore he will spew such a one out of his mouth. Christians, where is your zeal for the LORD of hosts? CHRIST'S redeemed must be zealous of good works: " not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the LORD." Not only do that which is right in the sight of the LORD, but do it with all your heart. The LORD loves a willing servant. Bestir yourselves for the LORD. Be ye followers of CHRIST, who went up and down doing good. Every Christian should be a common blessing, a public good. This is to be the " children of your Father which is in heaven," who is {' good unto all, and whose tender mercies are over all his works:" and be sure that the Father does best love that child who is like himself. A private, narrow spirit, is a low and a base spirit, unworthy of a Christian. A catholic, communicative spirit is full of great desires, and

bright and burning eyes of infinite holiness. Put on the LORD JESUS by believing; that is; accept of him in all his offices, and with all his inconveniences, and deliver up thyself to him, and this will entitle thee to his merits and righteousness. without this nothing will avail. If thy head were waters, and thine eyes a fountain of tears, if you should wear thy tongue to the root with praying, if, you should weep an ocean, all could not get out one spot of guilt. Nothing can be accepted, while you art out of CHRIST: and therefore in the first place apply thyself to him.

            2. The white robe of his grace for sanctification. You that art " in the flesh," that is, unrenewed and unsanctified, " can not please GOD." Never think to make up the matter by a little mending and reforming in particular acts. Man! thy heart must be renewed, and thy state altogether altered; or GOD cannot be pleased. The tree must be made good, and the fountain healed; or else the stream will be salt, and the fruit sour. If CHRIST be once formed in thee, that is, his image, likeness is the ground of love; similitude, and suitableness of nature, are the loadstone of affection. GOD cannot but love his own likeness. Wouldest you have his favor? Wouldest you be the object of his delight? Then conform to his pleasure; study to be like him; purify thyself as he is pure. The righteous LORD loves righteousness. He desireth truth in the inward parts; and takes infinite com­placency in the graces of his people. Therefore " as the elect of GOD, holy, and beloved, put on bowels of mercy, kindness; " and " put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, filthy communication." Particularly let me recommend to you some special graces, with which GOD does manifest himself to be wonderfully pleased.

            (1.) Be clothed with humility. This is a garment which must be put on, or else you cannot be saved. It is the dress in which you must come to GOD. He must be served with humility of mind. You must humble your-selves to walk with him.  Humility is a plain, but yet a great designs. A large heart set upon doing good,—whose fire, though ever hottest within, will be breaking forth, and provoking others,—whose love will not be con-fined to a party, but gladly and thankfully owneth CHRIST wherever it sees him,—this catholic spirit, I say, is the glory of religion, the church's blessing, and Con's delight.

            (3.) Live by faith. If you would so walk as to please GOD, you must walk by faith. Christians must look to the things unseen; they must not live at the common rate; CHRIST must be their life, prayer their breath, and the promises their daily bread. By faith did the elders obtain that good report. Live in the power of faith, and you wilt please Him to the heart. Give glory to Him by believing. Let the life you now live " in the flesh, be by faith of the SON of Gone" Faith, as one well says, is the nourishment of morality.

            Live by faith in prosperity. Though you have the world about thee, let it not be above thee; keep it at thy feet; use it as thy servant; live much in the view of glory, and the contemplation of eternity; be as though you possessedst not; rejoice as though you rejoicedst not; love as though you lovedst not; use this world as not abusing it; it is but a fashion, not a substance, and one which passes away; use it therefore with mortified affections.  Live by faith in adversity. Weep as though you wept not, enduring the cross, and despising the shame, looking unto JESUS, accounting CHRIST'S reproach your riches, and his shame your glory. Compare these light afflictions with the weight of glory. Encourage your heart with the promises. Count, if you can, the riches that are laid up in them. Roll yourselves upon the LORD; and know that your heavenly Father has no greater delight than to see his children trust him, when all visible helps are out of sight.

            (4.) Put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit: for this is " in the sight of GOD of great price." Studyto be, like your Father, slow to anger, ready to forgive, forgetting injuries, loving enemies, requiting ill will with kindness, ill words with courtesies, neglects with benefits; and if any wrong you, do him a kindness the sooner: so shall you bear His likeness, and be His delight. O " seek meekness! " How can the Hots DovE rest in a wrathful heart? CHRIST IS a Iamb, in point of meekness: how can He take pleasure in an unquiet and contentious spirit? Verily with the froward, He will show himself froward: if you will not forgive others, He will not forgive you. Art you hard to be pleased, a froward wife, a froward master, a cross and self-willed servant? Surely Goss will not be pleased with thee: He will mete to us as we measure to others.

            (5.) Get a spirit of self-denial. Be content to be empty, and to be abased, that GOD may be honored; be willing to decrease, that he may increase. Forget thyself; renounce thine own wisdom, thine own wor­thiness, thine own will; bite in thy passions, curb thine appetite, bridle thy tongue. This do, and you shall be greatly accepted, and shall find that GOD’s favor will infinitely reward thee for all the murmuring oppositions and discontents of the flesh.

            (6.) Maintain a spirit of resolution and constancy in the ways of GOD. This was the renown of the three worthies, mentioned in Dan. 3: They feared not the fierceness of NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S rage, nor the fire of the furnace; all the world could not make them bow; and how gloriously did Goss own them, and evidence his pleasure in them? Stand your ground; resolve to live and die by substantial Godliness; cleave to the LORD with full purpose of heart; let no difficulties make you change your station; then shall you be an honor and a pleasure to the GOD that made you.

            Well, then, would you know what frame of heart is pleasing to GOD? Why, this humble, zealous, active frame; this believing, meek, self-denying, and resolved frame! This is the frame that is well-pleasing in the sight of GOD.

                        Secondly, As to your Performances, I shall briefly state, that in order that they may please GOD, you must look to these five things.

            I. That they be done by the right Rule; which is GOD's Nord. You must not follow the imaginations of your own hearts; you must not do that which is right in your own eyes. In all sacred actions, you must have GOD's command to warrant you. You may not offer to GOD that of which you are not able to say, "You requirest these things at our hands." In all civil actions, you must have GOD's allowance. Be sure, He will never accept that which his word condemns, and therefore under pain of GOD's displeasure dare not to set your hands to what the Word forbids.

            II. That they be done to the right End; which is GOD's Glory. How damnably did the Pharisees err! How miserably did JEHL miscarry! And both in acts which were, as to their matter, commanded, but which were faulty in not aiming at this end.

            III. That they proceed from right Principles: namely, 1. Faith; without which it is impossible to please GOD. Prayer will not avail, except it be the prayer of faith. We believe, and therefore we speak. 2. Love. If we should give our goods to the poor, and our bodies to the fire, and not from love, it would profit us nothing. 3. Fear. We cannot serve GOD acceptably, without "reverence and Godly fear,"—not a slavish fear. The LORD " taketh pleasure in them that fear him," in them that hope in his mercy. Observe the happy mixture; where these two are conjoined, there is a true filial fear. DAVID says, " I will come to thy house in the multitude of thy mercy;"—behold his faith; " and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple;"—there is his fear with faith. Faith without Fear is presumption; Fear without Faith is despair: join these together, and GOD is well-pleased.

            IV. That they be done in a right Manner:—Preparedly, not rashly and inconsiderately, in the presence of sodreadful a Majesty; and prudently, for lawful acts may be spoiled, and be done unlawfully, without consideration had to the offence that may in some cases attend them; yea, holy duties, as well as common actions, may be turned into sins, by being ill-timed, and for want of a due attention to the present circumstances.

            V. That they be directed through the right Means: that is, JESUS CHRIST, the only way to the FATHER. Bring all thy sacrifices to this High-Priest, and offer all upon this altar; else all is lost. It is not enough to say, "through our LORD JESUS CHRIST," at the end; but in every duty you must come with a lively dependence on him for right­eousness and strength, for assistance and acceptance. Remember to do all in the name of the LORD JESUS, and to come leaning upon his hand. without this, all your services will be rejected.