are to compare our Hearts and Ways with the Word of God, which will be the Rule of Judgment in that Day when the Secrets of all Hearts will be difclofed, and the hidden Things of Darkness will be brought to Light. Think not that because an Evil Action was committed for a long Time past, and concealed from the Eye and Knowledge of Fellow Mortals, that you are therefore fecure from a Sentence of Condemnation. Nothing but fincere Repentance can procure Pardon and Life. 'Tis not Length of Time that obliterates or erafes the Guilt and Pollution of Sin. Let us think of our Ways, and be as ftrict as we can in the Examination of ourfelves by the Word of God; and thus we may anticipate the future Judgment, and provide for it; and, by regulating our Hearts and Lives by the Word of God, may have a joyful and comfortable Prospect of the great Day of the Lord. We ought fo to judge ourselves now, that when we shall be judged we may not be condemned by the Lord the Supreme Judge.

3. Mankind fhould think on their Ways FREQUENTLY. This is a good Method of keeping our fpiritual Accounts ready, and free from Intricacy, and perplexing Doubts. They who feldom think on their Ways are in great Danger of being ignorant of the true

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State of their Souls, or at least of involving themselves in a Cloud of Doubts and Fears. "Tis very ufeful and beneficial frequently to call ourselves to an Account; for thus any Swervings or Deviations from God's Precepts will be speedily recollected, and revived in our Memories. Such frequent Thoughtfulness will haften, and not fuffer us to delay our Repentance, and probably will guard from future Follies and Iniquities: Whereas he who lives on in a thoughtless State, feldom examining his Life and Conduct, rarely infpecting into the Nature and Quality of his paft Actions, is liable to fall a Prey to Satan's Temptations. He who is fedate and confiderate in reflecting on any paft Errors, and frequently employed this Way, will preserve and promote a lively Senfe of the Difference between Good and Evil, and takes the most effectual Method of leffening the Number of Errors in future Life. The Man who is cautious of acting, till he knows whether he fhall please or difpleafe God; fuch Confideration, and ftated Watchfulness, will preserve from many Temptations; or, if not preferve from them, it will, by Divine Assistance, render us victorious over them. Most of the Follies and Sins into which Men fall is owing to their Inadvertance and Inconfideration. May not fome fay, Had we been more attentive and watchful, we fhould not

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• have been ensnared by fuch a Stratagem of the Enemy.' Another, Had I been more frequently employed in thinking on my Ways, I fhould not have lain fo long under the Guilt of Sin, but should have been moved to a more speedy Humiliation, and Contrition of Soul, for past Errors. Let it be noted, that 'tis no fufficient Excuse to say, that you were drawn into Sin in a thoughtless unguarded Moment. Does it become thofe whom God hath endowed with Rational Powers to fay, we did not think as we ought? "Tis no valid Excufe to plead, that we were surprised by the Devices of the Enemy of Souls, or overborne and vanquished by the Allurements of the Flesh, or the Enticements of bad Examples: For 'tis our Duty and Wisdom to be watchful, and to pray that we may not enter into Temptation. We fhould frequently think on our Ways, that we may rectify any Errors in paft Life, and guard against them for the future. He who walks thus circumspectly and cautiously walks wifely.

4. Mankind fhould think on their Ways, and be refolved to reform, and to renounce and forfake every evil Way. Calmly confider the Nature and Quality of your Actions, whether virtuous or vicious. Meditate on the Confequence of them, however plea

fing or flattering the Ways of Sin may be; however grateful to corrupt Nature, remember that the End of them is Death. Proverbs xiv. 12. There is a Way which Jeemeth right to a Man, but the End thereof are the Ways of Death. There are some Courses of Iniquity which may carry fome plausible Appearance of being right, and justifiable ; fuch an Error and Mistake may be owing to Ignorance, or to Self-love and Flattery; to a partial and biaffed Turn of Mind, or to the Delufions of Satan; which they are subject to, who have no Love to the Truth, but have Pleasure in Unrighteousness. If there are any, who, for fuch Reasons, have mistaken, and vainly deluded themselves with the Notion that their Ways are right, let fuch earnestly beg of God that their Minds may be enlightened, & their fatal Errors may be rectified. Because that Sentence is fo very weighty and momentous, we have it repeated, Prov. xvi. 25. The Design of SOLOMON was, no doubt, to prevent or correct that dangerous Self-deceit which is fo common. If Men would impartially confider their Ways (though they may at present seem to be right in their own Eyes) they would by the Light of God's Word be undeceived, and fee that the End of them, unless they turn from them, are the Ways of Death, Prov. xxi. 2. We have the fame repeated,

peated, together with a very good Reason added, to make all Perfons confiderate, and fincere in examining themselves and their Actions; Every Way of Man is right in his own Eyes, but the Lord pondereth the Heart. And fince he fearcheth the Heart, and hath Pleasure in Uprightness, and requires Truth in the inward Parts, is perfectly acquainted with all the Springs and Principles of our Actions, this fhould make us careful that we do not, by any wrong Biafs of Judgment, please ourselves in any Courses which are forbidden, and condemned, in his Word. Let none, through Partiality or Self-flattery, deceive themselves, thinking those Ways to be right which will furely have a fatal and pernicious Iffue. Think on that great and awful Day of Judgment, when God, who pondereth our Hearts, will render to every Man according to his Works, whether they have been good or evil.

Thus I have fhewn in what Manner, and with what Difpofition of Soul, all are obliged to think on their Ways: - impartially and ftrictly; - comparing them with the Rule of right Reason and the Word of God; frequently, with a Resolution of knowing the Nature and Quality of them, and of reforming whatever Part of our Conduct has been regular; with great Se

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