are, have therefore thought themselves truly holy. But this is a great and dangerous mistake; which I defire you in an especial manner to beware that you be not overtaken with it. Never think your felves to be holy at all, unless you be holy in all manner of converfation, holy in your thoughts, holy in your affections, holy in your words, and all your actions, both to God and men. Neither muft you think that you can be holy at one time and not another. No, he that is ever holy is holy ever, in all places, upon all occafions, at all times and feafons, all his life long, Luke. i. 74, 75. For holiness is an univerfal principle that runs through the whole courfe of a man's life; yea, and where it is once fown it always comes up, grows higher and higher, and still brings forth more and more fruit, fo that it ftill adds one grace to another, 2 Pet. i. 5. 4. Yea, and it is always adding too, one degree of grace to another, untill at length every fparke of grace be blown up into a flame of glory: Infomuch that they who are truly holy, never think themfelves to be holy enough; but the more holy they are, the more holy they defire to be, ftill afpiring higher and higher, till at length they commence perfect and glorify'd faints in heaven.

BUT then you may fay, if this be the nature of true holiness, who then can be holy? Or how is it poffible for us to attain to fuch an excellent fpirit as to be thus holy in all manner of converfation

converfation? To which I anfwer; Firft, It is true indeed, that it is a very hard and difficult matter to be truly holy, whatsoever the greatpretenders to it may fancy or boaft. For queftionlefs as holiness is the higheft excellency that we can ever attain unto; fo is it the hardest matter in the world to attain unto it. However in the fecond place, I answer, that how hard foever it be, yet it is poffible for any or every one of us to be holy. For as our Saviour faid in the like cafe, Mat. xix. 23, 24, 25, 26. fo fay I; though it be impoffible for men ever to make themselves holy; yet with God all things are poffible and by confequence this too. There is no mind fo dark, but he can illuminate it : No heart fo hard but he can foften it: No will fo crooked, but he can ftraiten it: No affection fo diforderly but he can regulate it: No foul fo foul, but he can clenfe it: No man fo great a finner but he is able to make him as great a faint.

NEITHER is he lefs willing than able to do it for us, if we will but make use of the means which himself hath prefcribed in order thereunto: So that if any of you are not as holy as I have fhewn you ought to be, it is moft certainly your own faults; neither can you blame any one but your felves for it.

BUT I hope that what you have heard already concerning the Exellency of holy nefs, hath wrought fo far upon you, that you are now re-

I

ally

ally defirous to be holy indeed, and long to know how you may come to be fo. And to fatisfy your defires, I fhall endeavour to acquaint you with the ready way to do it. But you must give me leave to tell you, that I fear there are but few among you that will mind it? and that my pains will be in vain to many of you. For I know your hearts are generally fo much taken up with the affairs of this life, that you will hardly be perfuaded to obferve these rules exactly which I fhall fhew you to be neceffary in order to your being holy. However, it will be worth my while to declare them to you, if but any one of you should be prevailed upon to obferve them. And who knows but that whilft I am speaking to your cars, the great God himfelf may speak fo effectually to your hearts, that many of you may at this time be converted from fin to holiness, and from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, fo as for the future to become real faints? Or howfoever, whether you hear, or whether you forbear, I muft do my duty, and leave the iffue unto God.

Firft THEREFORE, if you would be holy indeed, you must refolve beforehand to make it your great care and principal bufinefs in this world to endeavour after it. You must not think that it is fo eafy a matter to be holy that you need not much concern your felves, nor take any great pains about it. For I verily believe one of the most principal reasons why there are

fo few holy perfons in the world, is because most perfons think it is fo eafy a matter to be holy, that if they do but read good books, and come to church now and then, they cannot mifs of it But do not mistake your felves: For I dare affure you, that if ever any fhall be made holy, as I hope many of you will, you'll find there is a great deal of care and pains to be taken before you can arrive at fo high and excellent a difpofition as that is; you must not only feek, it, but you must feek it in the firft place, or else you are not likely to find it, Matt. vi. 5. Holinefs is the ftrait gate which you must strive to enter at, Luke. xiii. 24. And therefore, if you really defire to be holy, you must fet your felves in good carneft upon the profecution of it, before all things in the world befides, ftill projecting and contriving how to get your lufts rooted up, and true grace and piety planted in your fouls. You must not make it only your business by the bye, but your only business; or else you'll never be able to effect it. And let me tell you this for your comfort and encouragement, that although none ever yet did, or ever can attain to holiness, that fought it only after a careless, indifferent and perfunctory manner; fo none that fincerely Jeek and endeavour after it before all things elfe ever did, or ever can fail of attaining to it. And whatfoever pains it cofis you, it cannot but be worth your while, as knowing that holiness is not only the highest, but the only excellency that

your

your fouls are capable of; and therefore no care, no pains, no cost, can be too much in order to it.

Well then: If you cordially defire as you pretend, to be holy, as you are here commanded, in all manner of converfation, let this be the first step you take in order to it. Halt no longer between two opinions: But refolve fully and ftedfaftly with your felves, by the bleffing and affistance of Almighty God, that from this day forward you will make holiness your only aim and design in this world; and by confequence, that you will leave no stone unturn'd, but use all means imaginable that may any ways conduce to your being and living holy. Do this, and your work will be half done.

2. YOUR mind being thus inflamed with the defire of holiness, and armed with refolution to perfue it, as humble fupplicants, in a reverend and folemn manner betake your felves to Almighty God, the only fountain of all true grace and virtue, implore his mercy, and befeech him for his Son,s fake to enftamp his image once, more upon you, and to make you holy as he is holy. Say with David, Pfal. ii. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10. And with Ephraim in the prophet, Turn thou me, and I fhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God, Jer. xxxi. 18. ch: xvii. 14. Let this be your daily, your conftant prayer, uttered not only with your mouths, but from the very bottom of your hearts, earneftly defiring nothing in the world fo much as this This is the way; C

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