him: This is fomewhat eafie to be appre hended: But how fhall a poor Creature loaden with many infirmities do it? For the prefent, I cannot think of any better way then this, even in the fpiritual out-goings, and actings of the principle of godli nefs, immediately upon God himself, fo as to compofe our affections, thoughts, purpofes, defires, refolutions, and all the inward workings of our hearts in a fuitable proportion to those glorious difcoveries, that God hath made of his name, as infinitely holy, wife, juft and gracious, prefent every where, feeing all things, obferving all things, ordering all things according to the counsel of his own will. The inftance, the Prophet Ifaiah gives, makes for this: For when he had called them to their duty, To fanctifie God in their hearts, he directs them how to do it. [ Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.] Thus the Prophet Habakkuk fanctified God's Name, in his heart, drawing in all his hopes, and all his comforts, into God alone, refolving to rejoice in him, when he had nothing else to rejoice in, Hab. 3. 17, 18. according to Phil. 4. 4, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I fay, Rejoice. This is that which is required in the first, and great Commandment; wherein indeed (if we confider it well) we shall find all the other Commands wrapt up; for always before

before we do any thing amiss against God, we either think amifs of God, or think not of him at all. Therefore as ever we desire our Souls fhould profper, let us be careful, at all times, in all places, thus to fanctifie God's Name in our hearts. And whatever our condition be, how fad foever it be with us, ftill both think well, and fpeak well of God, as fuch a God ought to be spoken of, and thought of Satan hath baffled many eminent Perfons, when they have been under tryal, with temptations contrary to this Jeremiah, in his diftrefs, lets fall fuch fad words as thefe, Chap. 15. 18, Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refufeth to be healed? Wilt thou be altogether unto me, as a lyar, and as waters that fail? And David being (as we fay) under hatches, faid in his hafte, (though upon fecond thoughts, he call'd in his words again) that he had ferved a hard Master, and that all his exercifing himself unto godliness, had been in vain, Pfal. 73.13. 14. It concerns us therefore, (as we defire our Souls fhould profper) fo to exercife the principles of godliness, we have received, that even when the dealings of God with us, are moft contrary to our defires, and hopes, to think of God, according to that representation which he makes of himself, Exod. 34. 6, 7, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, &c. We

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may observe, that David, (when he acted like a Man after God's own heart) did so, Pfal. 119. 68, Thou art good, and doeft good: Yet how it was with him, in his outward condition, we fee verf. 61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me and verf. 28. My Soul melteth for heaviness. So Pfal. 31. af ter he had expreffed his fad condition; verf. 9, 10, I am in trouble; mine eye is confumed with grief: My life is spent with grief, and my years with fighing: Yet he breaks out into admiration; verf. 19, 0, how great is thy goodness, which thou haft laid up for them, that fear thee? And yet he faw but little of it laid out upon him; Pfal. 52. I,- -the goodness of God endureth continually.

This is the first way proposed, wherein we ought to exercise our felves unto godlinefs.

2. I proceed to the fecond thing propofed. How these principles of godliness ought to be exercifed, as they are to be drawn forth, and clothed, as it were, with the External duties of Religion,or any thing else wherein the vifible part of Religion (fo far as it may be made vifible to Men) doth confift.

And here note two things, as to External duties of Religion.

1. That we ought to exercise our selves in them all.

2. That

2. That these principles of godliness ought to be exercised in them all.

1. For the former. Those that really mind, as we all ought to mind the profperity of our Souls must compass them all, and take them all in, in their walk, though not all at once, nor all, it may be, every day, but all in their Seafon. It is a dangerous, yea a desperate thing, To perform one duty, that we may difpence with our felves in the neglect of another. As to perform duties in conjunction with others; and give our felves, on that account, a difpenfation to neglect perfonal, and private duties. It is our duty (as I Tim. 5.21.) to do all things without partiality; efpecially all things in Religion. This I defire may be confidered. There is no Duty or Ordinance of Gods own appointment, which he hath not blessed at one time, or other; to fome one or other, of his People; fo as fometimes they have found him in one, when they have not found him in another. As for inftance, God hath been found in Prayer, private Prayer, Pfal. 34:6, This poor man cried unto the Lord, and he faved him out of all his troubles. In praying with others, Act. 4. 31, And when they had prayed, the place was fhaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. In private reading of the word, as the Eunuch, At. 8.27, 28. In hearing the word, Alt. 2.

37. 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. While the two Difciples that went to Emmaus, were discourfing of Chrift, Chrift himself drew near to them, and went with them, Luk. 24. 15: And their hearts burned within them, while be talked with them by the way, and opened the Scriptures to them, verf. 32. So in finging, 2 Chron. 20. 22, And when they began to fing, the Lord fet ambafhments against the children of Ammon, &c. That is, He cut them off fuddenly, as when Men are cut off by their enemies that lye in ambush against them; and fo accomplished what was foretold, verf. 17, Te fhall not need to fight in this battels ftand still, and fee the Salvation of the Lord. Memorable is that ftory of the Protestants of Mountaban in France, who, when they were befieged (being compelled to take up Arms in their own defence) always when they went out to fight, went out finging of Pfalms, which was fo terrible to the Enemy, that, in the end, when they heard them finging, which they ufually began, before the Portcullis was drawn up, and the Gates opened, their hearts failed them, and away they would run, crying out, They come, they come. And as this is true, that there is no duty, but that at fome time, or other, God hath been found in it, by fome or other; fo they have fometimes found him in one, when they could not find him in another.

Cant.