SERMON XI.

Come now to the third Particular; The reasons why thefe principles of godliness ought to be ftirred up: So as to be fet about, and kept close to their proper work; that they may bring forth their proper, and peculiar fruit, in due feason, and that in order to Soul-prosperity.

1. This is that which specially falls under the authority of Command. Obferve it, and you will find, that when the Scripture fpeaks to profeffing Chriftians, the principles are fuppofed to be infufed; and the exercife is fpecially required, as Eph. 4. 24, Put on the new Man, faith the Apoftle. Not by Converfion, that is fuppofed; for he owns them as faithful Brethren in Chrift, Ch, 1. verf. 1. But put them on, for operation, for exercise. The new Creature, the first day of its birth, is a new Man: It is born at once, though it grows up by degrees; and every particular principle of godliness is a member of this new Man. Put them on fo, as ye may have them ready, and nothing may

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be wanting, when Providence calls for their exercife; fo that Tour loins be girded about, and your lights burning, Luk. 12. 35. Thus allo, Eph. 6. 10, Put on the whole armour of 6.10, God. Be ready furnished to break through whatever fnares, and temptations ye may meet withal, in running that race, which God hath fet before you. Several inftances were given, wherein this is required of us, in the third exercise upon this fubject.

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2. They are given for this very end, Ezek. 36.27, I will put my Spirit within you, and caufe you to walk in my ftatutes. Therefore that inference is rational, Gal. 5.25, If we live in the Spirit, let us alfo walk in the Spirit. Thefe fpiritual principles are that fpiritual flock, which God hath given us, to drive on our fpiritual trade withal, for converfe with God, which cannot be attained, unless they be exercifed. As unless principles of Reafon be exercifed, which are for making human fociety useful, there can be no dealing, nor profitable converfe between Man, and Man. 1 Sam. 21.14. What fhall I do with a Mad-man, faid Achish, for fo David feigned himself to be; and therefore he drave him away. This fhould be ferioufly confidered of, for these two things we find.

(1) That for neglect of this, in not anfwering God's end herein, that thofe that

have lived most highly in the favour of God, have met with many a brush from the hand of God, Luk. 1. 20, Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak--because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their feafen. Num. 20. 12, Because ye believed not me, to fanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Ifrael: therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the Land, which I have given them. It was not for want of faith, either in the one, or in the other, that the hand of God was fo heavy upon them, but for want of the exercise of faith.

(2.) This we find, That, though it be true, God will reward every good Man, for every good work; And he hath a Book of Remebrance, for that purpofe, Mal. 3. 16. Yet this is true," That how good foever, a. Mans actions be, in their own nature, and for the kind of them, there is no reward to be expected from God, farther then grace is exercised in them. Alms-giving, Prayer, and Faftings are good works, and commanded of God, but if these principles of god liness be not well exercised in them, fee what becomes of them, Matth. 6. 2, 5. And on the contrary, Whofoever shall give to drink, unto one of thefe little ones, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a Difciple; Verily I fay unto you, he fhall in no wife lofe his reward, Matth. 1o. 42. This fhould have

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some weight with us, that God will call us to account, what fpiritual Trade we have driven with our fpiritual ftock, Luk. 19.

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3. The neglect of this exercife is that which Satan watcheth for, and will be fure to improve to his advantage, and our prejudice, Matth: 13.25, While Men flept, his enemy came, and fowed tares among the wheat. It feems he knows our flumbering fits, yea without doubt he doth: for he knows not only what orders Men obferve in their walks abroad, what company they keep, what discourse they have with them, and how they spend their time, but also, much of what they do within doors: For though he have not a key to the heart (that is God's prerogative) yet he stands, as it were, in the Room by. Though he knows not our thoughts, yet when they are clothed with words, as when we are at Prayer, he observes our Petitions, and Confeffions; and can make a fhrewd guess thereby, what the frame and temper of our hearts are. It cannot be denied, but that he may know as much by us, as any Man may do, and more too. Now Solomon faith, Prov. 20. 5, Counfel in the heart of man is a great deep. i. e. The thoughts, defigns, intentions, and purposes of Men are a great deep, like deep waters, where it is a great way to the bot

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tom; a Man cannot eafily dive into them, to find out what they are; but an understanding Man, by prudent and constant obfervation of them; of what they do, and what company they keep, of the words that fall from them, and of their looks, and ge ftures, may give (and fometimes have gi ven a conjecture not much amifs of them. And if fo; then Satan much more, who goes about continually, ftudying always as he goes, obferving, and diligently confidering Mens temper, and difpofitions, Mens calling and conditions; and as he finds things, fo he cafts about what is fit to be done to fuch or fuch a Perfon; how to fit the Key for the Lock, and which way he may affault him fo, as his temptation may take; and where he may have moft advantage against him. And this he knows, that fo far as he can difcern that fpiritual flothfulness creeps upon a Man, and that the exercise of these principles is neglected, fo far the day is his own. He knows there is nothing but this armour of God, whereby he can be refifted; and this too as put on, and kept in exercife, Ephe 6. 13. Upon this account, unless we are willing to betray our Souls unto him, that was a murderer from the beginning; we ought to be conftant in this duty, and put on this armour of God, both on the right hand, and on the left, as the Apostle speaks, 2 Cor. 6.7.

4. It