A sermon preached before the Queen at White-Hall, February 22d, 1688/9 by Edward Stillingfleet ...
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1689
        
      
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             A sermon preached before the Queen at White-Hall, February 22d, 1688/9 by Edward Stillingfleet ...
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [3], 36 p.
           
             Printed for Henry Mortlocke ...,
             London :
             1689.
          
           
             Marginal notes.
             Errata: p. 36.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Peter, 1st, IV, 18 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           QUEEN
           AT
           WHITE-HALL
           ,
           
             February
             22d
          
           .
           1688
           /
           9.
           
           By
           
             EDW.
             STILLINGFLEET
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Henry
             Mortlocke
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Phoenix
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-yard
           ,
           1689.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           Imprimatur
           ,
        
         
           
             
               Hen.
               Wharton
            
             ,
             R.
             R.
             in
             Christo
             P.
             ac
             D.
             D.
             Wilhelmo
             Archiep.
             Cant.
             à
             Sacr.
             Domest
             .
          
           
             Ex
             Aed
             .
             Lamb.
             
               March
               1.
               1688.
               
            
          
        
         
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             I.
             PETER
             4.
             18.
             
          
           
             And
             if
             the
             Righteous
             scarcely
             be
             saved
             ,
             where
             shall
             the
             Vngodly
             and
             the
             Sinner
             appear
             .
          
        
         
           THIS
           Epistle
           was
           written
           by
           S.
           Peter
           for
           the
           Incouragement
           of
           Christians
           under
           all
           their
           Sufferings
           ;
           but
           these
           Words
           seem
           to
           carry
           so
           much
           Terrour
           and
           Severity
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           though
           none
           but
           Martyrs
           and
           Confessours
           could
           have
           any
           Reason
           to
           hope
           for
           Salvation
           ,
           and
           all
           others
           were
           to
           be
           left
           in
           Despair
           .
           Although
           Mankind
           be
           not
           easily
           satisfied
           concerning
           the
           Punishment
           denounced
           against
           
             the
             Vngodly
             and
             Sinner
          
           ,
           yet
           the
           Justice
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Equity
           of
           his
           Commands
           ,
           the
           Freedom
           of
           their
           Choice
           ,
           the
           Contempt
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           their
           Wilfull
           and
           Obstinate
           Impenitency
           take
           away
           all
           just
           Cause
           of
           Complaint
           :
           But
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Righteous
             should
             scarcely
             be
             saved
             ,
          
           seems
           hardly
           reconcilable
           with
           the
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Design
           ,
           and
           Promises
           ,
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           
           For
           the
           righteous
           here
           are
           not
           vain
           ,
           proud
           ,
           self-conceited
           Hypocrites
           ,
           such
           who
           
             think
             they
             need
             no
             Repentance
          
           ,
           but
           such
           who
           by
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           were
           brought
           off
           from
           their
           former
           Sins
           ,
           
           and
           were
           
             redeemed
             from
             their
             vain
             Conversation
             with
             the
             pretious
             bloud
             of
             Christ
             ,
             who
             had
             purisied
             their
             Souls
             in
             obeying
             the
             Truth
             through
             the
             Spirit
          
           ;
           
           Who
           were
           
             a
             chosen
             Generation
             ,
             a
             royal
             Priesthood
             ,
             an
             holy
             Nation
             ,
             a
             peculiar
             People
          
           ;
           yet
           of
           such
           as
           these
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
             If
             the
             righteous
             scarcely
             be
             saved
             .
          
           But
           how
           can
           this
           agree
           with
           the
           Infinite
           Goodness
           and
           Mercy
           of
           God
           declared
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           whereby
           Sinners
           are
           courted
           and
           encouraged
           to
           repent
           with
           the
           Hopes
           and
           Promise
           of
           Salvation
           ?
           Did
           not
           
             Christ
             come
             to
             save
             Sinners
          
           ,
           and
           St.
           Paul
           call
           this
           
             a
             faithfull
             saying
             and
             worthy
             of
             all
             acceptation
          
           ;
           
           and
           yet
           after
           all
           ,
           
             shall
             the
             righteous
             scarcely
             be
             saved
             ?
          
           What
           
             Ioy
             in
             Heaven
             can
             there
             be
             over
             one
             Sinner
             that
             Repents
             ,
          
           
           if
           after
           his
           Repentance
           it
           be
           so
           hard
           to
           come
           to
           Heaven
           ?
           Doth
           not
           Christ
           himself
           invite
           those
           who
           are
           
             weary
             ,
             and
             heavy
             laden
             ,
             to
             come
             to
             him
             ,
          
           with
           a
           Promise
           that
           
             he
             will
             give
             rest
             to
             their
             Souls
             ?
          
           
           But
           what
           Rest
           can
           they
           have
           ,
           who
           ,
           notwithstanding
           their
           coming
           to
           him
           ,
           do
           with
           so
           much
           difficulty
           attain
           to
           Eternal
           Rest
           ?
           How
           can
           that
           be
           said
           to
           be
           
             an
             easie
             yoke
          
           ,
           
           
             and
             a
             light
             burthen
          
           ,
           which
           is
           of
           it self
           so
           hard
           to
           be
           born
           ,
           and
           the
           Reward
           which
           
           is
           to
           make
           it
           easie
           so
           hard
           to
           be
           attained
           ?
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           said
           
             that
             this
             Expression
          
           ,
           that
           
             the
             righteous
             are
             scarcely
             saved
          
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           understood
           of
           some
           Sufferings
           ,
           and
           Persecutions
           ,
           
             which
             the
             Christians
             were
             then
             to
             undergo
             ,
          
           and
           it
           was
           very
           hard
           
             for
             any
             ,
             though
             never
             so
             righteous
             ,
             to
             escape
             ;
             and
             that
             to
             this
             v.
             17.
             refers
             ,
          
           I
           answer
           ,
           That
           this
           doth
           not
           clear
           the
           Difficulty
           ;
           For
           from
           whence
           doth
           this
           Necessity
           of
           Suffering
           arise
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           enough
           to
           repent
           and
           forsake
           our
           Sins
           ,
           but
           we
           must
           undergo
           some
           Punishment
           for
           them
           in
           this
           Life
           ,
           although
           God
           remits
           that
           of
           the
           World
           to
           come
           ?
           But
           how
           is
           this
           consistent
           with
           the
           Fulness
           of
           Christ's
           Satisfaction
           ,
           and
           the
           Freeness
           of
           God's
           Remission
           of
           Sins
           ?
           And
           if
           God's
           Justice
           be
           satisfied
           and
           the
           Sins
           be
           forgiven
           ,
           what
           need
           can
           there
           be
           that
           Persons
           must
           here
           suffer
           for
           their
           Sins
           before
           they
           can
           come
           to
           Heaven
           ?
        
         
           So
           that
           for
           the
           clearing
           this
           Subject
           these
           thing
           must
           be
           spoken
           to
           :
        
         
           
             I.
             In
             what
             Sense
             the
             righteous
             are
             said
             to
             be
             
               scarcely
               saved
            
             .
          
           
             II.
             How
             this
             is
             consistent
             with
             the
             Grace
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             III.
             What
             Incouragement
             there
             is
             for
             us
             to
             hope
             for
             Salvation
             ,
             when
             the
             righteous
             are
             said
             to
             be
             
               scarcely
               saved
            
             .
          
        
         
         
           I.
           In
           what
           sense
           the
           righteous
           are
           said
           to
           
             be
             scarcely
             saved
          
           .
           That
           may
           be
           understood
           Two
           ways
           ;
        
         
           
             (
             1.
             )
             With
             Respect
             to
             Accidental
             Difficulties
             arising
             from
             the
             particular
             Circumstances
             of
             Times
             and
             Seasons
             .
          
           
             (
             2.
             )
             With
             Respect
             to
             the
             General
             Terms
             of
             Salvation
             ,
             which
             are
             common
             to
             all
             Persons
             and
             Times
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           With
           respect
           to
           Accidental
           Difficulties
           arising
           from
           the
           particular
           Circumstances
           of
           Times
           and
           Persons
           .
           For
           the
           Difficulties
           of
           Religion
           are
           not
           alike
           in
           all
           Times
           ,
           nor
           to
           all
           Persons
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           not
           like
           a
           Geometrical
           Measure
           ,
           which
           is
           always
           exactly
           the
           same
           ;
           but
           rather
           like
           a
           Voyage
           at
           Sea
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           be
           managed
           by
           the
           same
           Compass
           and
           to
           the
           same
           Port
           ;
           but
           it
           sometimes
           proves
           Calm
           and
           Pleasant
           ,
           and
           at
           other
           times
           Stormy
           and
           Tempestuous
           .
           Which
           chiefly
           happens
           ,
           when
           a
           Religion
           appears
           New
           ,
           or
           goes
           about
           to
           Reform
           the
           Old
           ;
           for
           then
           it
           is
           sure
           to
           meet
           with
           all
           the
           Opposition
           ,
           which
           the
           Passions
           ,
           and
           Interests
           ,
           and
           Prejudices
           of
           partial
           Men
           can
           raise
           against
           it
           .
           It
           s
           true
           ,
           he
           that
           
             stills
             the
             raging
             of
             the
             Sea
             ,
             and
             the
             Madness
             of
             the
             People
             ,
          
           can
           ,
           when
           he
           pleases
           ,
           calm
           the
           most
           violent
           Passions
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           make
           way
           for
           the
           Reception
           of
           Truth
           in
           their
           Minds
           ;
           but
           he
           thinks
           fit
           by
           such
           means
           to
           trie
           and
           
           discover
           what
           is
           in
           Men.
           Who
           never
           shew
           their
           Passions
           more
           violently
           and
           unreasonably
           than
           when
           they
           are
           mask'd
           under
           a
           pretence
           of
           Zeal
           against
           Heresie
           and
           Innovation
           .
           For
           that
           blinds
           their
           Understandings
           ,
           corrupts
           their
           Wills
           ,
           inflames
           their
           Passions
           ,
           hardens
           their
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           shuts
           up
           all
           bowels
           of
           Pity
           and
           Compassion
           towards
           Brethren
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           among
           the
           Iews
           towards
           the
           Christians
           ,
           both
           in
           Iudea
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           several
           Places
           of
           their
           Dispersion
           :
           For
           they
           looked
           on
           them
           as
           Apostates
           and
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           treated
           them
           ,
           not
           onely
           with
           the
           utmost
           Scorn
           and
           Contempt
           ,
           but
           with
           all
           the
           Fury
           and
           Rage
           imaginable
           ,
           and
           where
           their
           own
           Power
           fell
           short
           ,
           they
           called
           in
           the
           Assistence
           of
           the
           Roman
           Governours
           ,
           representing
           the
           Christians
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           an
           Upstart
           and
           Pernicious
           Sect
           ,
           Seditious
           and
           Turbulent
           ,
           and
           therefore
           ought
           by
           all
           means
           to
           be
           supprest
           :
           By
           such
           Insinuations
           the
           poor
           Christians
           in
           the
           Eastern
           Provinces
           of
           the
           Iewish
           Dispersion
           ,
           were
           miserably
           harassed
           and
           proceeded
           against
           as
           Malefactours
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           at
           that
           time
           when
           S.
           Peter
           wrote
           his
           Epistle
           to
           the
           Iewish
           Christians
           ,
           who
           were
           scattered
           throughout
           Pontus
           ,
           
           
             Galatia
             ,
             Cappadocia
             ,
             Asia
          
           ,
           and
           Bithynia
           ,
           where
           there
           were
           abundance
           of
           Iews
           ,
           and
           many
           Converts
           ,
           but
           very
           hardly
           used
           among
           them
           .
           St.
           Peter
           having
           been
           imployed
           much
           among
           them
           ,
           
           
             (
             the
             Apostleship
             of
             the
             Circumcision
             being
             committed
             
             to
             him
             )
          
           and
           being
           withdrawn
           into
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Parthia
           ,
           
           where
           he
           had
           planted
           a
           Church
           at
           Babylon
           ,
           (
           not
           so
           desolate
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           sufficient
           for
           such
           a
           Number
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           Strabo
           and
           Iosephus
           )
           from
           thence
           he
           writes
           this
           excellent
           Epistle
           for
           the
           Advice
           and
           Comfort
           of
           the
           suffering
           Christians
           .
           He
           adviseth
           them
           to
           behave
           themselves
           with
           great
           Prudence
           and
           Care
           of
           their
           Actions
           ,
           to
           give
           no
           Advantage
           against
           themseves
           ,
           by
           doing
           any
           ill
           things
           ;
           and
           then
           ,
           if
           it
           pleased
           God
           to
           call
           them
           out
           to
           suffer
           ,
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           murmur
           ,
           or
           complain
           ,
           or
           mistrust
           his
           Gracious
           Providence
           towards
           them
           ,
           but
           
             commit
             themselves
             to
             God
             in
             well
             doing
             ,
          
           
           
             as
             unto
             a
             faithfull
             Creatour
          
           .
           And
           if
           they
           did
           think
           it
           hard
           for
           them
           to
           suffer
           these
           things
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           consider
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           Wise
           Directour
           of
           them
           above
           ,
           who
           had
           beforehand
           appointed
           such
           a
           Series
           of
           Events
           ,
           that
           although
           their
           Enemies
           rejoyced
           to
           see
           them
           suffer
           in
           the
           first
           Place
           ,
           
           yet
           their
           Turn
           would
           come
           not
           long
           after
           ,
           and
           then
           these
           Enemies
           of
           the
           Gospel
           would
           feel
           the
           Severity
           of
           God's
           Wrath
           and
           Displeasure
           against
           them
           .
           Which
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           foregoing
           Verse
           ,
        
         
           
             For
             the
             time
             is
             come
             that
             Iudgment
             must
             begin
             at
             the
             House
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             first
             begin
             at
             us
             ,
             what
             shall
             the
             end
             be
             of
             them
             that
             obey
             not
             the
             Gospel
             of
             God
             ?
             i.
             e.
          
           Christ
           hath
           foretold
           Desolation
           and
           Ruine
           to
           come
           upon
           the
           Jewish
           Nation
           ,
           for
           rejecting
           him
           when
           he
           came
           to
           save
           them
           ;
           but
           he
           withall
           saith
           ,
           that
           
             before
             these
             things
          
           ,
           
           
             they
             shall
             lay
             their
             hands
             on
             you
             and
             persecute
             you
             ,
             delivering
             you
             up
             to
             the
             Synagogues
             ,
             and
             into
             Prisons
             ,
             being
             brought
             before
             Kings
             and
             rulers
             for
             my
             name's
             sake
             .
          
           Which
           implies
           a
           severe
           persecution
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           begun
           by
           the
           Iews
           ,
           but
           carried
           on
           by
           the
           Governours
           of
           Kingdoms
           and
           Provinces
           .
           And
           therefore
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           although
           
             the
             time
             be
             now
             come
             that
             Iudgment
             begins
             at
             the
             House
             of
             God
             ,
          
           yet
           it
           will
           not
           end
           there
           ;
           but
           that
           which
           is
           onely
           a
           Cup
           of
           Trembling
           and
           Astonishment
           to
           them
           shall
           be
           a
           Cup
           of
           Fury
           and
           Destruction
           to
           the
           Obstinate
           and
           Impenitent
           Iews
           .
           The
           case
           was
           hard
           to
           the
           poor
           Christians
           ,
           but
           it
           would
           be
           much
           more
           severe
           towards
           their
           cruel
           Persecutours
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           righteous
           ,
           whom
           God
           loves
           ,
           meet
           with
           such
           sharp
           usage
           by
           his
           Permission
           
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           the
           day
           will
           come
           when
           God
           will
           avenge
           the
           Cause
           of
           his
           suffering
           People
           ,
           and
           make
           their
           
             ungodly
             and
             perfidious
          
           Enemies
           feel
           the
           smart
           of
           his
           displeasure
           in
           such
           manner
           that
           they
           shall
           not
           know
           where
           to
           hide
           themselves
           ,
           
             Where
             shall
             the
             sinner
             and
             ungodly
             appear
             .
          
        
         
           But
           that
           which
           I
           observe
           from
           hence
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           some
           Accidental
           Circumstances
           which
           depend
           on
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           which
           may
           make
           the
           condition
           of
           some
           Men
           ,
           as
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           much
           more
           difficult
           than
           that
           of
           others
           :
           For
           it
           is
           no
           such
           easie
           matter
           
             to
             go
             through
             many
             Tribulations
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
          
           
           
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           be
           content
           to
           be
           contemned
           and
           reproached
           as
           the
           worst
           of
           Men
           ;
           to
           be
           torn
           from
           Friends
           and
           Relations
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Comforts
           of
           Life
           ;
           to
           be
           cast
           into
           loathsome
           Prisons
           ,
           and
           more
           loathsome
           Company
           in
           them
           ;
           to
           be
           in
           continual
           expectation
           of
           such
           cruel
           Usage
           and
           Torments
           ,
           as
           make
           Death
           be
           look'd
           on
           as
           their
           best
           Friend
           and
           most
           seasonable
           Deliverer
           .
        
         
           If
           Sufferings
           do
           not
           rise
           so
           high
           ,
           yet
           when
           men
           cannot
           keep
           Faith
           and
           a
           good
           Conscience
           ,
           without
           hazarding
           the
           loss
           of
           what
           mankind
           are
           apt
           to
           set
           too
           great
           a
           value
           upon
           ,
           their
           Ease
           ,
           and
           Riches
           ,
           and
           Expectations
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           even
           these
           make
           it
           harder
           for
           such
           Persons
           to
           get
           to
           Heaven
           ;
           because
           Sincerity
           and
           Constancy
           
           are
           the
           necessary
           Conditions
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           tryed
           much
           more
           in
           some
           than
           it
           is
           in
           others
           .
           We
           must
           all
           have
           the
           same
           Journey's-end
           ,
           if
           we
           hope
           to
           get
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           but
           some
           may
           meet
           with
           a
           freer
           Road
           ,
           and
           a
           calmer
           Season
           ,
           and
           better
           Company
           ,
           in
           their
           Journey
           than
           others
           .
           However
           it
           happens
           we
           must
           go
           through
           all
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           discourag'd
           at
           any
           appearance
           of
           Difficulties
           upon
           our
           way
           .
        
         
           But
           herein
           Mankind
           are
           apt
           to
           be
           deceived
           ,
           as
           though
           all
           the
           Difficulties
           lay
           in
           a
           suffering
           Condition
           ;
           whereas
           a
           soft
           ,
           and
           careless
           ,
           and
           voluptuous
           Life
           is
           rather
           more
           dangerous
           to
           their
           Souls
           ,
           because
           persons
           are
           less
           apt
           to
           suspect
           their
           danger
           .
           He
           that
           is
           set
           upon
           by
           force
           and
           violence
           endeavours
           to
           defend
           himself
           as
           well
           as
           he
           can
           ;
           but
           he
           that
           is
           betrayed
           under
           a
           pretence
           of
           Kindness
           is
           drawn
           into
           his
           Ruine
           before
           he
           is
           aware
           ,
           and
           goes
           on
           chearfully
           to
           his
           own
           Destruction
           .
           Prosperity
           hath
           the
           true
           nature
           of
           an
           Opiate
           ,
           for
           it
           stupifies
           and
           pleases
           at
           the
           same
           time
           .
           The
           Temptations
           of
           the
           suffering
           Side
           are
           apt
           to
           allarm
           ,
           awake
           ,
           and
           rouse
           up
           the
           sleepy
           Powers
           of
           the
           Soul
           ;
           whereas
           the
           gentle
           and
           easie
           Condition
           of
           Life
           either
           lays
           them
           asleep
           ,
           by
           a
           kind
           of
           Intoxication
           ,
           or
           so
           diverts
           them
           from
           all
           serious
           things
           ,
           as
           puts
           them
           out
           of
           the
           very
           way
           to
           Heaven
           .
           For
           ,
           the
           first
           thing
           in
           it
           is
           a
           steady
           and
           serious
           Resolution
           
           of
           Mind
           to
           doe
           what
           lies
           in
           them
           to
           go
           thither
           ;
           which
           can
           never
           be
           done
           without
           a
           true
           Consideration
           of
           the
           vanities
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           how
           pleasing
           soever
           ;
           and
           a
           fixed
           and
           settled
           Judgment
           ,
           preferring
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Heaven
           before
           all
           the
           most
           alluring
           Pleasures
           of
           this
           Life
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           different
           Circumstances
           of
           Life
           do
           make
           the
           way
           of
           Salvation
           more
           difficult
           to
           some
           than
           to
           others
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           is
           not
           all
           ;
           for
           there
           are
           many
           things
           which
           make
           it
           more
           difficult
           to
           some
           than
           to
           others
           ,
           which
           are
           of
           another
           Nature
           .
           Some
           Tempers
           are
           more
           flexible
           and
           pliable
           than
           others
           ;
           more
           capable
           of
           hearkning
           to
           Reason
           ;
           and
           more
           apt
           to
           reflect
           on
           their
           own
           Actions
           ;
           whereas
           others
           are
           naturally
           Stiff
           and
           Obstinate
           ,
           who
           stick
           as
           fast
           to
           an
           Opinion
           or
           Prejudice
           which
           they
           have
           once
           taken
           up
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           fatally
           determined
           to
           it
           ;
           and
           such
           as
           these
           can
           hardly
           ever
           be
           convinced
           they
           are
           in
           an
           Errour
           ,
           unless
           by
           a
           Power
           superiour
           to
           Nature
           .
           Some
           again
           ,
           are
           very
           easily
           convinced
           of
           a
           Fault
           ,
           but
           very
           hardly
           reclaimed
           ;
           for
           that
           facility
           of
           Temper
           which
           makes
           them
           easie
           to
           be
           convinced
           ,
           lays
           them
           open
           to
           the
           next
           Temptation
           ,
           which
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           withstand
           .
           These
           are
           always
           repenting
           and
           amending
           and
           beginning
           to
           reform
           ,
           but
           without
           
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           not
           able
           to
           go
           through
           with
           it
           .
           Some
           are
           modest
           and
           bashfull
           Sinners
           ,
           whom
           Fear
           and
           Shame
           may
           restrain
           ;
           others
           are
           so
           hardned
           and
           impudent
           in
           their
           Wickedness
           ,
           that
           they
           deny
           even
           the
           very
           first
           Principles
           of
           Morality
           as
           well
           as
           Religion
           ,
           and
           not
           onely
           refuse
           to
           hearken
           to
           Reproof
           ,
           but
           reject
           it
           with
           Scorn
           and
           Indignation
           .
           And
           it
           cannot
           be
           supposed
           that
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           working
           on
           mens
           Minds
           in
           a
           way
           suitable
           to
           them
           ,
           should
           have
           as
           easie
           an
           Admittance
           into
           one
           as
           into
           the
           other
           ;
           for
           the
           one
           are
           like
           a
           House
           with
           doors
           shut
           ,
           but
           easily
           opened
           ;
           the
           other
           like
           a
           House
           not
           onely
           shut
           ,
           but
           bolted
           and
           barracadoed
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           some
           have
           had
           the
           Advantage
           of
           a
           Pious
           and
           Religious
           Education
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           Principles
           of
           Piety
           and
           Vertue
           have
           made
           an
           early
           Impression
           on
           their
           minds
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           a
           continual
           Check
           upon
           evil
           Inclinations
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           have
           been
           too
           weak
           to
           subdue
           them
           ,
           yet
           they
           have
           been
           strong
           enough
           to
           prevent
           their
           Extravagancies
           ,
           or
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           a
           speedy
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           up
           firmer
           Resolutions
           ;
           and
           such
           are
           more
           easily
           brought
           to
           themselves
           and
           settled
           in
           a
           vertuous
           course
           of
           Life
           .
           But
           the
           generality
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           through
           a
           wretched
           Carelesness
           ,
           mind
           not
           the
           early
           Improvement
           of
           their
           Children
           in
           what
           is
           good
           ;
           and
           what
           education
           they
           give
           them
           tends
           to
           
           any
           thing
           more
           than
           the
           Planting
           the
           sense
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           true
           Religion
           ,
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           in
           them
           .
           It
           were
           well
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           but
           let
           Nature
           alone
           in
           their
           Children
           ;
           but
           instead
           of
           that
           ,
           they
           often
           place
           such
           about
           them
           ,
           who
           humour
           them
           in
           their
           worst
           Inclinations
           ,
           and
           give
           them
           an
           early
           taste
           of
           Profaneness
           and
           Irreligion
           ;
           so
           that
           when
           they
           come
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           they
           run
           into
           all
           manner
           of
           wickedness
           ,
           and
           commit
           it
           with
           greediness
           ,
           having
           so
           quick
           a
           Relish
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           then
           indeed
           it
           is
           a
           very
           hard
           matter
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           Repentance
           ;
           for
           that
           is
           to
           take
           Shame
           and
           Dishonour
           to
           themselves
           ,
           to
           say
           they
           have
           been
           Fools
           ,
           and
           have
           done
           wickedly
           ;
           and
           rather
           than
           doe
           this
           ,
           they
           chuse
           to
           go
           on
           in
           their
           Impieties
           ,
           
             and
             treasure
             up
             wrath
             against
             the
             day
             of
             wrath
             .
          
        
         
           Those
           who
           magnify
           the
           Freedom
           of
           Will
           in
           Mankind
           in
           this
           degenerate
           State
           ,
           seem
           to
           consider
           them
           onely
           in
           Theory
           and
           Speculation
           ;
           not
           as
           they
           are
           ,
           but
           as
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           been
           .
           It
           is
           like
           that
           which
           they
           call
           the
           Spring
           in
           some
           Bodies
           ,
           which
           are
           apt
           to
           dilate
           and
           expand
           themselves
           ,
           but
           may
           be
           easily
           oppressed
           with
           such
           a
           weight
           as
           makes
           it
           impossible
           for
           them
           to
           inlarge
           themselves
           till
           it
           be
           removed
           .
           There
           is
           no
           doubt
           in
           Mankind
           ,
           considered
           in
           it self
           ,
           a
           Power
           of
           acting
           according
           to
           Reason
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           truest
           Freedom
           ,
           (
           for
           a
           Power
           of
           acting
           
           otherwise
           is
           Weakdness
           and
           Folly
           ,
           )
           but
           what
           through
           the
           Natural
           Propensity
           to
           Evil
           ;
           what
           through
           the
           Power
           of
           bad
           Examples
           ;
           what
           through
           the
           violence
           of
           some
           Tempers
           and
           Passions
           ;
           what
           through
           the
           cloudiness
           of
           some
           Understandings
           ,
           from
           bodily
           Distempers
           ;
           what
           through
           the
           strength
           of
           evil
           Habits
           ,
           and
           corrupt
           Dispositions
           ,
           there
           is
           scarce
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Freedom
           of
           Will
           left
           ,
           especially
           as
           to
           matters
           of
           Salvation
           .
           So
           that
           if
           the
           Scripture
           did
           not
           so
           plainly
           express
           the
           Necessity
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           for
           the
           Conversion
           of
           Sinners
           (
           as
           it
           doth
           ,
           )
           the
           mere
           Consideration
           of
           the
           state
           of
           human
           :
           Nature
           would
           make
           me
           believe
           it
           ,
           supposing
           that
           any
           part
           of
           Mankind
           be
           designed
           to
           be
           fitted
           for
           Heaven
           .
           For
           although
           the
           Difficulties
           be
           not
           alike
           in
           all
           ,
           yet
           ,
           of
           one
           kind
           or
           other
           ,
           they
           are
           such
           as
           cannot
           be
           overcome
           by
           our selves
           ,
           without
           the
           Power
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           
             Exciting
             ,
             Preventing
          
           ,
           and
           Assisting
           of
           us
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Having
           thus
           shewed
           what
           Difficulties
           there
           are
           which
           arise
           from
           the
           Different
           Circumstances
           of
           Times
           and
           Persons
           ,
           I
           am
           now
           .
           to
           consider
           those
           which
           arise
           from
           the
           Terms
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           which
           are
           common
           to
           all
           Persons
           and
           Times
           .
        
         
           Here
           we
           must
           suppose
           Salvation
           to
           be
           the
           thing
           aimed
           at
           ,
           as
           the
           Chief
           End
           or
           Happiness
           
           of
           such
           Men
           ;
           and
           here
           are
           two
           kinds
           of
           Difficulties
           to
           be
           enquired
           into
           ;
        
         
           
             (
             1.
             )
             Such
             as
             are
             implied
             in
             the
             general
             Pursuit
             of
             Happiness
             .
          
           
             (
             2.
             )
             Such
             as
             immediately
             relate
             to
             this
             kind
             of
             Happiness
             .
          
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           Such
           as
           are
           implied
           in
           the
           general
           Pursuit
           of
           Happiness
           :
           For
           Happiness
           is
           not
           a
           thing
           of
           Chance
           or
           Necessity
           ,
           but
           a
           Matter
           of
           Choice
           and
           Design
           .
           It
           is
           a
           vulgar
           mistake
           (
           and
           I
           wish
           it
           were
           onely
           among
           the
           vulgar
           )
           to
           account
           those
           Happy
           ,
           who
           are
           fortunate
           :
           But
           this
           Notion
           of
           Happiness
           was
           unanimously
           rejected
           by
           all
           the
           Ancient
           Moralists
           .
           Some
           of
           them
           indeed
           have
           thought
           it
           repugnant
           to
           common
           Sense
           ,
           to
           call
           those
           happy
           who
           were
           under
           great
           Calamities
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           who
           were
           ,
           in
           the
           sense
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           miserable
           :
           But
           then
           they
           utterly
           denied
           ,
           that
           the
           best
           outward
           Circumstances
           could
           make
           a
           Man
           happy
           ;
           for
           that
           must
           depend
           upon
           the
           Temper
           of
           a
           Man's
           mind
           ,
           and
           his
           Improvement
           in
           Vertue
           .
           These
           are
           some
           things
           which
           the
           Moralists
           agreed
           in
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           of
           great
           use
           to
           us
           for
           clearing
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           in
           this
           matter
           about
           the
           Difficulty
           of
           attaining
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           Happiness
           did
           consist
           in
           one
           Uniform
           Design
           of
           Life
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           that
           a
           Man
           must
           
           chuse
           one
           proper
           and
           chief
           End
           to
           himself
           ,
           and
           so
           order
           his
           Thoughts
           and
           Actions
           that
           he
           may
           attain
           it
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           dissolute
           and
           careless
           liver
           ,
           that
           minds
           or
           thinks
           of
           nothing
           but
           Eating
           ,
           and
           Drinking
           ,
           and
           Sleeping
           ,
           and
           passing
           away
           his
           time
           ,
           was
           no
           more
           capable
           of
           Happiness
           than
           a
           Brute
           ,
           which
           exceeds
           him
           in
           that
           which
           he
           accounts
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Life
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           That
           there
           must
           be
           a
           Carefull
           and
           Attentive
           Mind
           to
           pursue
           this
           Design
           .
           And
           that
           is
           by
           keeping
           close
           to
           those
           Maxims
           ,
           which
           were
           laid
           down
           as
           necessary
           to
           attain
           it
           .
           For
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           different
           Notions
           ,
           they
           had
           different
           Maxims
           ,
           or
           Rules
           of
           Practice
           ,
           either
           as
           to
           Vertue
           or
           Pleasure
           ,
           and
           as
           Men
           did
           observe
           these
           ,
           they
           were
           nearer
           to
           their
           Happiness
           :
           But
           if
           they
           broke
           their
           Rules
           ,
           they
           must
           blame
           themselves
           if
           they
           missed
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           That
           any
           Man
           who
           desired
           to
           be
           happy
           ,
           must
           above
           all
           things
           take
           Pains
           about
           himself
           ;
           For
           without
           that
           they
           concluded
           it
           impossible
           for
           a
           man
           to
           be
           happy
           ,
           let
           his
           outward
           Condition
           in
           the
           World
           be
           what
           it
           would
           :
           For
           that
           was
           too
           uncertain
           a
           foundation
           to
           build
           such
           a
           Structure
           upon
           .
           Therefore
           it
           was
           necessary
           for
           any
           one
           that
           pretended
           to
           happiness
           ,
           to
           have
           a
           true
           Notion
           of
           what
           conduced
           to
           it
           in
           his
           Mind
           ;
           and
           to
           bring
           his
           Passions
           into
           Order
           .
           For
           all
           the
           world
           cannot
           make
           one
           
           whose
           Passions
           are
           violent
           and
           extravagant
           ,
           to
           be
           happy
           ;
           no
           more
           than
           him
           to
           be
           a
           sound
           and
           healthfull
           Man
           ,
           that
           hath
           a
           Fever
           ,
           and
           a
           Dropsy
           ,
           and
           Convulsions
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           upon
           him
           .
           For
           the
           violence
           of
           Lust
           is
           an
           inward
           burning
           Fever
           ;
           Covetousness
           ,
           or
           an
           infatiable
           Desire
           of
           Riches
           ,
           a
           perpetual
           Dropsy
           ,
           which
           encreases
           the
           Thirst
           by
           an
           endeavour
           to
           quench
           it
           ;
           and
           Excessive
           Anger
           is
           a
           Convulsion
           of
           those
           Powers
           of
           the
           Soul
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           sedate
           ,
           and
           composed
           ,
           in
           any
           one
           who
           pretends
           to
           Happiness
           .
           But
           when
           they
           considered
           the
           force
           of
           natural
           Inclinations
           ,
           they
           found
           it
           was
           no
           easie
           matter
           to
           make
           the
           Unreasonable
           part
           to
           be
           governed
           by
           the
           Reasonable
           .
           For
           the
           less
           of
           Reason
           ,
           the
           more
           wilfulness
           and
           stubbornness
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           harder
           to
           be
           brought
           to
           Reason
           and
           to
           be
           govern'd
           by
           it
           .
           And
           herein
           lay
           the
           main
           Difficulty
           ;
           and
           after
           all
           their
           Arguments
           ,
           and
           Rules
           ,
           and
           Directions
           ,
           humane
           Nature
           was
           found
           too
           refractory
           to
           submit
           ;
           and
           the
           violence
           of
           Man's
           Passions
           overthrew
           all
           the
           plausible
           Schemes
           of
           Happiness
           which
           the
           Philosophers
           had
           set
           up
           .
           To
           which
           I
           add
           ,
        
         
           (
           4.
           )
           That
           those
           who
           consulted
           most
           the
           Ease
           and
           Pleasure
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           were
           forced
           to
           put
           Men
           upon
           some
           hard
           and
           unpleasant
           things
           to
           make
           any
           thing
           like
           Happiness
           to
           consist
           in
           Pleasure
           .
           For
           they
           cast
           off
           all
           Riot
           and
           Excess
           ,
           all
           Intemperance
           
           and
           Luxury
           ,
           because
           the
           Pain
           which
           followed
           exceeded
           the
           Pleasure
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           made
           Temperance
           and
           Chastity
           necessary
           to
           the
           true
           Pleasure
           of
           Life
           .
           They
           reduced
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Pleasure
           to
           a
           fixed
           and
           setled
           State
           ,
           and
           so
           took
           it
           off
           from
           that
           which
           was
           onely
           sensual
           .
           They
           brought
           Mens
           Desires
           within
           so
           narrow
           a
           Compass
           ,
           that
           the
           true
           Lovers
           of
           Pleasure
           would
           abhor
           such
           Confinements
           as
           they
           made
           necessary
           .
           And
           although
           they
           could
           never
           conquer
           the
           Fears
           of
           Invisible
           Powers
           ,
           and
           of
           Death
           ,
           yet
           they
           thought
           no
           Happiness
           was
           to
           be
           had
           without
           it
           .
           So
           that
           all
           were
           agreed
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           impossible
           to
           attain
           to
           any
           thing
           that
           looked
           like
           Happiness
           without
           some
           real
           Difficulty
           ,
           which
           was
           necessary
           to
           be
           undergone
           ,
           although
           the
           Success
           were
           uncertain
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Let
           us
           now
           consider
           the
           Difficulties
           relating
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           or
           that
           Happiness
           which
           Christians
           expect
           .
           And
           here
           I
           shall
           shew
           ,
        
         
           
             (
             1.
             )
             That
             it
             is
             far
             more
             Reasonable
             to
             go
             through
             Difficulties
             ,
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             (
             2.
             )
             That
             they
             are
             not
             such
             ,
             but
             that
             we
             may
             reasonably
             hope
             to
             overcome
             them
             .
          
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           It
           is
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           expect
           Difficulties
           in
           the
           way
           of
           Salvation
           .
           For
           the
           more
           excellent
           and
           desirable
           the
           Happiness
           is
           ,
           the
           more
           it
           is
           worth
           the
           while
           for
           us
           to
           take
           pains
           
           about
           it
           ;
           especially
           when
           there
           is
           a
           Certainty
           of
           attaining
           it
           .
           The
           Moralists
           had
           but
           very
           dark
           ,
           and
           confused
           ,
           and
           uncertain
           Notions
           of
           Happiness
           ;
           something
           they
           saw
           ,
           but
           with
           a
           very
           glimmering
           light
           :
           They
           found
           that
           all
           Men
           desired
           it
           ,
           and
           wise
           Men
           sought
           after
           it
           ;
           but
           wherein
           it
           lay
           ,
           and
           how
           to
           be
           attained
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           agree
           .
           The
           most
           considering
           Men
           were
           convinced
           it
           must
           be
           in
           the
           best
           part
           of
           our selves
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           our
           minds
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           greatest
           Perfection
           of
           that
           ,
           viz.
           Vertue
           and
           Goodness
           .
           But
           they
           met
           with
           insuperable
           Difficulties
           in
           the
           way
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           best
           among
           them
           sadly
           lamented
           the
           state
           of
           humane
           Nature
           ,
           after
           all
           the
           pains
           and
           endeavours
           they
           had
           used
           to
           rectifie
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           and
           to
           subdue
           their
           Passions
           .
           For
           they
           found
           it
           too
           restiff
           and
           untractable
           ,
           too
           much
           under
           the
           Sway
           and
           Dominion
           of
           the
           sensitive
           Appetite
           ,
           for
           them
           ever
           to
           hope
           by
           the
           mere
           Power
           of
           Reason
           to
           bring
           it
           into
           such
           Subjection
           ,
           as
           to
           pretend
           to
           a
           total
           Conquest
           .
           And
           those
           who
           refined
           Pleasure
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           it
           a
           Happiness
           fit
           for
           Mankind
           to
           own
           ,
           did
           make
           a
           Happiness
           just
           as
           they
           made
           their
           Gods
           ,
           viz.
           a
           Fine
           ,
           Subtil
           ,
           Airy
           ,
           Pleasant
           No-thing
           ,
           or
           that
           had
           no
           Solidity
           in
           it
           :
           For
           the
           Epicurean
           Happiness
           ,
           with
           all
           its
           Refinements
           ,
           was
           rather
           a
           matter
           of
           Speculation
           than
           Practice
           ;
           and
           after
           all
           was
           
           not
           worth
           so
           much
           pains
           about
           it
           ,
           but
           like
           the
           Gourd
           ,
           which
           after
           its
           paring
           ,
           and
           cleansing
           ,
           and
           dressing
           ,
           is
           fit
           onely
           to
           be
           cast
           upon
           the
           Dunghill
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           cannot
           be
           said
           that
           the
           Happiness
           offered
           to
           Christians
           is
           of
           such
           a
           Nature
           :
           For
           it
           is
           really
           the
           best
           ,
           the
           most
           valuable
           and
           desirable
           Good
           ,
           not
           promised
           to
           be
           enjoyed
           in
           this
           mean
           ,
           despicable
           ,
           and
           uncertain
           state
           of
           Life
           ,
           but
           reserved
           for
           a
           more
           free
           ,
           spiritual
           and
           continuing
           State.
           
           So
           our
           Apostle
           calls
           it
           ,
           
             an
             Inheritance
             ,
             incorruptible
             and
             undefiled
             ,
             and
             that
             fadeth
             not
             away
             ,
             reserved
             in
             heaven
             for
             you
             .
          
           Such
           is
           the
           Condition
           of
           the
           World
           without
           us
           here
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Passions
           and
           Infirmities
           within
           us
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           vain
           thing
           to
           expect
           a
           true
           Happiness
           to
           be
           enjoyed
           in
           this
           Life
           ;
           the
           utmost
           we
           can
           hope
           for
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           prepared
           for
           a
           better
           ;
           and
           God
           knows
           there
           is
           Difficulty
           enough
           in
           that
           .
           We
           have
           Hearts
           so
           vain
           and
           sensual
           ,
           so
           addicted
           to
           the
           Pleasures
           and
           Impertinencies
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           so
           prepossessed
           with
           the
           Objects
           of
           Sense
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           no
           easie
           matter
           to
           bring
           them
           so
           much
           as
           in
           earnest
           to
           consider
           of
           another
           World.
           But
           it
           is
           yet
           harder
           to
           fix
           the
           Thoughts
           of
           it
           upon
           our
           Minds
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           make
           a
           deep
           Impression
           upon
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           must
           do
           ,
           if
           we
           make
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Heaven
           our
           Chief
           End
           and
           Design
           .
           Supposing
           that
           Paradise
           were
           still
           
           upon
           Earth
           in
           its
           first
           Glory
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           found
           by
           the
           Description
           which
           Moses
           gives
           of
           it
           ;
           a
           man
           may
           think
           often
           concerning
           it
           ,
           where
           it
           lies
           ,
           what
           the
           Rivers
           are
           by
           which
           it
           is
           to
           be
           discovered
           ;
           but
           all
           this
           amounts
           but
           to
           a
           mere
           Speculation
           :
           But
           suppose
           that
           he
           takes
           up
           a
           Resolution
           to
           go
           thither
           ,
           what
           other
           kind
           of
           thoughts
           hath
           he
           then
           about
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Truth
           and
           Certainty
           of
           the
           Place
           ,
           and
           the
           Way
           that
           leads
           thither
           ,
           and
           the
           Difficulties
           he
           is
           like
           to
           meet
           with
           ?
           Which
           make
           another
           kind
           of
           Impression
           than
           the
           former
           dry
           Speculation
           did
           .
           If
           a
           Man
           doth
           not
           think
           Heaven
           worth
           all
           the
           Pains
           and
           Difficulties
           which
           lie
           in
           our
           way
           to
           it
           ,
           he
           never
           yet
           had
           one
           serious
           and
           becoming
           thought
           concerning
           it
           .
           For
           the
           Happiness
           proposed
           is
           really
           so
           great
           and
           invaluable
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           we
           think
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           more
           we
           shall
           esteem
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           we
           shall
           despise
           and
           triumph
           over
           the
           greatest
           Difficulties
           in
           order
           to
           it
           ;
           it
           being
           no
           less
           than
           the
           Perfect
           Enjoyment
           of
           the
           most
           Perfect
           Good
           ,
           in
           a
           most
           Perfect
           State
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           nothing
           can
           be
           desired
           by
           humane
           Nature
           greater
           than
           this
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           The
           Difficulties
           in
           our
           Way
           to
           Salvation
           are
           not
           such
           ,
           but
           we
           may
           reasonably
           hope
           to
           overcome
           them
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           if
           we
           set
           our selves
           about
           it
           ;
           otherwise
           a
           very
           mean
           Difficulty
           will
           appear
           too
           great
           for
           us
           .
           Therefore
           we
           must
           
           suppose
           not
           onely
           a
           willing
           Mind
           ,
           but
           a
           firm
           Resolution
           to
           doe
           what
           lies
           in
           us
           .
           And
           there
           are
           two
           things
           to
           shew
           that
           we
           may
           hope
           to
           overcome
           them
           ;
        
         
           
             (
             1.
             )
             That
             the
             most
             difficult
             Duties
             are
             in
             themselves
             reasonable
             to
             be
             performed
             by
             us
             .
          
           
             (
             2.
             )
             That
             God
             offers
             his
             Gratious
             Assistence
             for
             the
             Performance
             of
             them
             .
          
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           the
           most
           difficult
           Duties
           are
           in
           themselves
           reasonable
           .
           I
           mean
           such
           whose
           Difficulty
           doth
           not
           arise
           from
           accidental
           outward
           Circumstances
           ;
           but
           from
           a
           respect
           to
           the
           present
           state
           and
           condition
           of
           humane
           Nature
           .
           Such
           as
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           
             True
             Repentance
          
           ;
           which
           is
           one
           of
           the
           hardest
           Works
           of
           a
           Man's
           Life
           ,
           when
           he
           hath
           been
           long
           engaged
           in
           a
           Course
           of
           Sinning
           against
           Conscience
           .
           It
           is
           not
           hard
           for
           such
           a
           one
           to
           be
           made
           sensible
           that
           he
           hath
           done
           amiss
           ;
           for
           he
           that
           acts
           against
           his
           Judgment
           is
           ,
           as
           Aristotle
           observes
           ,
           
           
             apt
             to
             Repent
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           find
           fault
           with
           himself
           for
           his
           own
           Actions
           ,
           and
           to
           resolve
           to
           amend
           .
           There
           is
           a
           sort
           of
           Displeasure
           against
           Sin
           ,
           which
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           Practice
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           called
           by
           the
           Casuists
           ,
           
             Attritio
             Impoenitentium
          
           ;
           but
           they
           say
           it
           is
           without
           a
           purpose
           of
           forsaking
           it
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           such
           a
           purpose
           that
           they
           say
           is
           
             Attritio
             Poenitentium
          
           ;
           but
           if
           it
           be
           an
           ineffectual
           Purpose
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           
           no
           where
           calls
           it
           Repentance
           .
           For
           as
           long
           as
           the
           habitual
           Practice
           continues
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           man's
           Love
           to
           his
           Sin
           exceeds
           his
           Hatred
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           what
           Repentance
           can
           that
           be
           which
           is
           consistent
           with
           a
           prevailing
           Love
           of
           Sin
           ?
           When
           persons
           were
           first
           made
           Christians
           ,
           their
           Repentance
           was
           easily
           discerned
           ,
           whether
           true
           or
           false
           ,
           because
           it
           was
           a
           publick
           and
           sol●mn
           Renunciation
           of
           all
           their
           former
           Sins
           ;
           but
           when
           men
           have
           accustomed
           themselves
           to
           Sin
           under
           a
           Profession
           to
           renounce
           their
           Sins
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           harder
           matter
           to
           find
           out
           the
           Sincerity
           of
           their
           Repentance
           as
           to
           those
           Sins
           .
           And
           here
           a
           difference
           must
           be
           made
           as
           to
           the
           Nature
           and
           Kind
           of
           Sins
           :
           For
           there
           are
           some
           Sins
           which
           all
           agree
           to
           be
           Sins
           ,
           yet
           is
           a
           hard
           matter
           to
           convince
           Persons
           that
           they
           are
           guilty
           of
           them
           ,
           such
           as
           
             Hypocrisie
             ,
             Schism
          
           ,
           and
           Idolatry
           ,
           which
           men
           will
           find
           something
           to
           excuse
           themselves
           from
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           clearest
           Evidence
           against
           them
           .
           Some
           are
           such
           Strangers
           to
           themselves
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           not
           suspect
           themselves
           for
           those
           Sins
           which
           others
           easily
           discern
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           is
           common
           in
           the
           case
           of
           ●ride
           ,
           and
           Envy
           ,
           and
           Covetousness
           ,
           and
           Superstition
           .
           It
           cannot
           be
           supposed
           that
           Persons
           should
           so
           particularly
           repent
           of
           such
           Sins
           which
           they
           are
           not
           sensible
           of
           ;
           but
           where
           Self-love
           blind●
           it
           cannot
           excuse
           .
           And
           where
           such
           evil
           habits
           prevail
           ,
           persons
           must
           repent
           ▪
           
           and
           search
           ,
           and
           examine
           themselves
           in
           order
           to
           a
           particular
           Repentance
           .
           There
           are
           other
           Sins
           which
           are
           really
           perpetual
           burthens
           to
           a
           good
           Mind
           ,
           but
           it
           knows
           not
           how
           to
           get
           rid
           of
           them
           with
           the
           utmost
           Care
           ;
           such
           as
           inward
           Motions
           to
           Sin
           ,
           sudden
           Heats
           and
           Surprises
           ,
           mixt
           Infirmities
           ,
           Coldness
           in
           Devotion
           ,
           Distractions
           in
           Prayer
           ,
           and
           many
           Omissions
           of
           Personal
           Duties
           ;
           in
           such
           Cases
           as
           these
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           allow
           Sincerity
           of
           Repentance
           without
           through
           Amendment
           ,
           we
           make
           a
           General
           Repentance
           insignificant
           ,
           and
           make
           the
           Condition
           of
           many
           good
           Men
           desperate
           ;
           for
           none
           can
           be
           saved
           without
           true
           Repentance
           .
           And
           if
           there
           can
           be
           no
           true
           Repentance
           without
           actual
           forsaking
           all
           such
           kinds
           of
           Sins
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           true
           Repentance
           to
           be
           found
           .
           But
           there
           are
           other
           Sins
           of
           a
           more
           dangerous
           and
           malignant
           Nature
           ,
           which
           argue
           a
           very
           bad
           Mind
           ;
           such
           as
           Malice
           and
           
             Hatred
             ,
             a
             rooted
             Aversion
             to
             what
             is
             Good
          
           ;
           and
           
             a
             strong
             Inclination
             to
             Evil.
          
           There
           are
           some
           Sins
           that
           are
           gross
           and
           notorious
           ,
           of
           which
           St.
           Paul
           saith
           ,
           
             The
             lusts
             of
             the
             Flesh
             are
             manifest
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           such
           Sins
           are
           easily
           known
           to
           be
           Sins
           ,
           and
           Mens
           Consciences
           condemn
           them
           even
           while
           they
           commit
           them
           ;
           such
           as
           
             Murther
             ,
             Adultery
             ,
             Intemperance
             ,
             Injustice
             ,
             Perjury
             ,
          
           and
           such
           like
           .
           Of
           which
           the
           Apostle
           after
           declares
           ,
           
             That
             they
             who
             
             doe
             such
             things
             shall
             never
             come
             to
             Heaven
             .
          
           
           Therefore
           as
           to
           them
           ,
           such
           a
           Repentance
           is
           necessary
           as
           implies
           not
           merely
           a
           dislike
           and
           sorrow
           for
           them
           ,
           but
           a
           thorough
           Change
           of
           a
           Man's
           Mind
           ,
           and
           the
           Course
           of
           his
           Life
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           them
           .
           And
           surely
           it
           is
           no
           easie
           matter
           to
           new
           mold
           the
           Temper
           of
           ones
           Mind
           ,
           and
           to
           turn
           the
           Tide
           of
           our
           Actions
           ;
           to
           break
           off
           our
           beloved
           Sins
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           forth
           fruits
           worthy
           of
           Repentance
           .
           This
           is
           indeed
           a
           hard
           Work
           ;
           but
           yet
           it
           is
           a
           most
           reasonable
           Work.
           It
           is
           hard
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           like
           the
           taking
           violent
           Physick
           in
           some
           Diseases
           ,
           where
           the
           humour
           must
           be
           purged
           out
           ,
           or
           the
           Party
           must
           dye
           ;
           the
           Uneasiness
           is
           not
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           but
           the
           Necessity
           ;
           and
           in
           such
           a
           Case
           the
           Mind
           cannot
           be
           at
           Ease
           till
           it
           be
           done
           .
           So
           that
           the
           very
           Difficulty
           of
           Repentance
           lays
           the
           Foundation
           for
           greater
           Peace
           of
           Mind
           afterwards
           .
           And
           who
           will
           think
           much
           of
           such
           a
           Difficulty
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           necessary
           to
           Peace
           with
           God
           and
           his
           own
           Conscience
           ?
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           
             The
             Love
             of
             God
             is
             above
             all
             things
             .
          
           This
           is
           so
           Fundamental
           a
           Duty
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           place
           our
           Happiness
           in
           God
           without
           it
           .
           For
           if
           we
           do
           not
           love
           God
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           we
           must
           love
           somewhat
           else
           so
           ;
           and
           whatever
           we
           love
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           that
           we
           make
           our
           Happiness
           .
           But
           I
           am
           affraid
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           World
           love
           all
           things
           above
           him
           :
           For
           we
           are
           
           to
           judge
           of
           Mens
           love
           and
           esteem
           by
           what
           they
           court
           ,
           and
           pursue
           ,
           and
           desire
           ,
           and
           delight
           in
           ;
           it
           is
           impossible
           there
           should
           be
           such
           a
           Love
           of
           God
           ,
           where
           the
           Stream
           of
           the
           Affections
           and
           Course
           of
           Actions
           run
           quite
           another
           way
           ;
           I
           mean
           ,
           to
           the
           vanities
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           of
           which
           the
           Apostle
           hath
           said
           ,
           
           
             If
             any
             man
             loves
             it
             ,
             the
             love
             of
             the
             Father
             is
             not
             in
             him
             .
          
           But
           this
           is
           a
           hard
           Point
           :
           For
           some
           degree
           of
           love
           to
           this
           World
           is
           allowable
           ;
           else
           how
           can
           we
           thank
           God
           for
           the
           Comforts
           of
           it
           ?
           And
           all
           Persons
           who
           know
           God
           do
           grant
           ,
           that
           his
           Perfections
           are
           far
           above
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           seem
           to
           have
           a
           value
           and
           esteem
           for
           him
           above
           it
           .
           We
           must
           here
           distinguish
           a
           Notional
           Esteem
           from
           that
           which
           is
           Practical
           .
           A
           Notional
           Esteem
           implies
           no
           more
           than
           a
           mere
           Conviction
           that
           God
           must
           exceed
           all
           the
           Excellencies
           which
           are
           scattered
           in
           the
           Creatures
           ;
           but
           a
           Practical
           Esteem
           is
           ,
           when
           the
           Acts
           of
           our
           Souls
           towards
           him
           are
           suitable
           to
           the
           Apprehensions
           we
           have
           in
           our
           Minds
           concerning
           him
           .
           When
           we
           adore
           his
           infinite
           Perfections
           ,
           and
           delight
           in
           the
           Meditation
           of
           them
           ;
           when
           we
           desire
           to
           doe
           all
           things
           pleasing
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           avoid
           what
           we
           know
           to
           offend
           him
           ;
           when
           we
           believe
           ,
           and
           hope
           ,
           and
           trust
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           commit
           our selves
           to
           his
           Conduct
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           in
           hopes
           of
           being
           happy
           with
           him
           in
           another
           .
           This
           is
           the
           Love
           
           of
           God
           above
           all
           things
           ;
           but
           alas
           !
           Where
           is
           this
           Love
           of
           God
           to
           be
           found
           ?
           It
           is
           no
           very
           hard
           matter
           to
           work
           up
           a
           heated
           and
           devout
           Imagination
           to
           the
           Fancy
           of
           Raptures
           and
           Ecstasies
           and
           Mystical
           Unions
           ;
           
           but
           after
           all
           ,
           
             This
             is
             the
             love
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             we
             keep
             his
             Commandments
             .
          
           As
           the
           true
           Love
           of
           a
           Prince
           is
           not
           to
           flatter
           and
           admire
           him
           ,
           and
           watch
           for
           his
           Smiles
           ;
           but
           to
           observe
           his
           Directions
           ,
           and
           obey
           his
           Orders
           ,
           and
           to
           doe
           what
           is
           most
           for
           his
           Service
           .
           And
           although
           such
           a
           Love
           of
           God
           be
           hard
           to
           those
           whose
           hearts
           are
           full
           of
           carnal
           Affections
           ,
           and
           are
           taken
           up
           with
           the
           Follies
           and
           Vanities
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           yet
           we
           cannot
           take
           one
           true
           step
           in
           the
           way
           to
           Heaven
           without
           the
           Love
           of
           God.
           For
           even
           those
           who
           have
           most
           corrupted
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Repentance
           do
           confess
           ,
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           true
           Contrition
           of
           Sin
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           founded
           on
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           as
           the
           Principle
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           however
           they
           have
           dangerously
           flattered
           and
           deceived
           those
           who
           are
           so
           weak
           to
           believe
           them
           ,
           that
           Attrition
           with
           the
           Sacrament
           of
           Penance
           is
           sufficient
           to
           put
           men
           into
           the
           state
           of
           Grace
           ;
           yet
           St.
           
           Peter's
           Keys
           must
           have
           an
           extraordinary
           virtue
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           change
           Nature
           into
           Grace
           ,
           or
           Fear
           into
           Love
           ,
           or
           mere
           Horrour
           of
           Conscience
           into
           true
           Repentance
           .
        
         
           But
           although
           such
           a
           Love
           of
           God
           above
           all
           things
           be
           so
           hard
           a
           thing
           to
           minds
           prepossessed
           
           with
           the
           Love
           of
           other
           things
           ;
           yet
           no
           one
           can
           deny
           that
           it
           is
           the
           most
           reasonable
           Duty
           in
           the
           World.
           The
           very
           Thoughts
           of
           God
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           such
           as
           we
           ought
           to
           have
           ,
           imply
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           the
           Best
           ,
           the
           Wisest
           ,
           the
           most
           Perfect
           Being
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           most
           amiable
           and
           desirable
           Object
           .
           And
           whither
           then
           should
           the
           most
           natural
           Stream
           of
           our
           Affections
           run
           ,
           but
           towards
           him
           ?
           What
           do
           we
           mean
           to
           suffer
           so
           much
           earth
           and
           filthiness
           to
           obstruct
           the
           free
           passage
           of
           them
           in
           their
           most
           proper
           Course
           ?
           What
           can
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           this
           deceitfull
           World
           ,
           that
           can
           bear
           the
           least
           proportion
           to
           such
           Infinite
           Goodness
           ?
           Oh
           what
           a
           difference
           is
           there
           between
           our
           Reason
           and
           our
           Love
           ?
           We
           verily
           believe
           that
           God
           deserves
           our
           Love
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           yet
           how
           small
           a
           share
           hath
           he
           in
           it
           ?
           We
           love
           what
           we
           profess
           to
           despise
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           viz.
           our
           Sins
           and
           this
           vain
           World
           ;
           and
           we
           really
           too
           much
           despise
           what
           we
           still
           profess
           to
           love
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           viz.
           God
           and
           our
           Eternal
           Happiness
           .
           O
           miserable
           condition
           of
           Humanity
           !
           Made
           to
           be
           Happy
           ,
           and
           yet
           fond
           of
           Misery
           ;
           Loving
           what
           's
           vain
           ,
           and
           yet
           despising
           Vanity
           ;
           Hating
           what
           's
           Good
           ,
           and
           yet
           accounts
           it
           best
           ;
           And
           therefore
           fittest
           for
           our
           Choice
           and
           Love.
           The
           Love
           of
           God
           above
           all
           things
           is
           so
           just
           and
           reasonable
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           doe
           it
           least
           approve
           it
           as
           the
           
           most
           excellent
           Imployment
           of
           our
           Minds
           ;
           and
           those
           that
           doe
           it
           most
           ,
           think
           they
           fall
           short
           of
           what
           God
           deserves
           from
           them
           .
           The
           more
           we
           know
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           more
           we
           know
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           love
           and
           delight
           in
           him
           ;
           and
           all
           our
           Difficulty
           in
           the
           Practice
           of
           it
           can
           never
           make
           us
           think
           it
           is
           unreasonable
           to
           love
           Him
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           without
           whom
           nothing
           can
           make
           us
           happy
           ,
           and
           who
           alone
           can
           doe
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           
             Vniversal
             Holiness
             of
             Heart
             and
             Life
             .
          
           If
           this
           were
           not
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           our
           Apostle
           would
           not
           have
           pressed
           it
           with
           so
           much
           earnestness
           as
           he
           doth
           ;
           
           
             As
             obedient
             children
             ,
             not
             fashioning
             your selves
             according
             to
             the
             former
             lusts
             in
             your
             ignorance
             ,
             but
             as
             he
             which
             hath
             called
             you
             is
             holy
             ,
             so
             be
             ye
             holy
             in
             all
             manner
             of
             conversation
          
           ;
           because
           it
           is
           written
           ,
           
             be
             ye
             holy
             ,
             for
             I
             am
             holy
             .
          
           
           Again
           ,
           
             Dearly
             beloved
             ,
             I
             beseech
             you
             ,
             as
             Strangers
             and
             Pilgrims
             ,
             abstain
             from
             fleshly
             lusts
             which
             war
             against
             the
             Soul.
          
           
           And
           again
           ,
           
             That
             he
             no
             longer
             should
             live
             the
             rest
             of
             his
             time
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             to
             the
             lusts
             of
             men
             ,
             but
             to
             the
             will
             of
             God.
          
           This
           is
           a
           hard
           saying
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           who
           part
           with
           nothing
           so
           hardly
           as
           with
           their
           Sins
           ;
           yet
           these
           must
           be
           parted
           with
           ,
           if
           ever
           we
           hope
           to
           get
           to
           Heaven
           .
           I
           do
           not
           say
           ,
           that
           a
           Perfection
           in
           Holiness
           is
           required
           ,
           (
           for
           that
           were
           to
           suppose
           Happiness
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           since
           there
           can
           be
           no
           perfect
           holiness
           without
           it
           ,
           )
           but
           there
           
           must
           be
           a
           constant
           ,
           uniform
           ,
           and
           sincere
           endeavour
           after
           it
           ;
           by
           avoiding
           all
           known
           and
           wilfull
           Sins
           ,
           and
           doing
           all
           our
           Duties
           to
           God
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           as
           our
           Conscience
           cannot
           charge
           us
           with
           gross
           Neglect
           or
           Insincerity
           .
           There
           are
           some
           things
           we
           cannot
           say
           are
           downright
           Sins
           ;
           yet
           if
           they
           lead
           to
           them
           ;
           if
           they
           indispose
           our
           Minds
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           Service
           ;
           if
           they
           tend
           to
           Lightness
           and
           Vanity
           ,
           and
           make
           us
           more
           easie
           to
           entertain
           the
           Devil's
           Temptations
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           avoid
           them
           as
           the
           Snares
           of
           the
           Devil
           .
           So
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           there
           are
           some
           things
           which
           we
           cannot
           say
           are
           plain
           ,
           and
           express
           ,
           and
           necessary
           Duties
           of
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           they
           tend
           so
           much
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           Life
           and
           Spirit
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           a
           general
           Design
           of
           Holiness
           is
           enough
           to
           recommend
           them
           .
           As
           to
           positive
           Duties
           of
           Religion
           ,
           we
           cannot
           exactly
           fix
           the
           Time
           ,
           and
           Measure
           ,
           and
           Season
           of
           their
           Performance
           ,
           which
           must
           vary
           according
           to
           Circumstances
           ;
           but
           this
           we
           can
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           Persons
           set
           themselves
           to
           the
           Practice
           of
           Holiness
           ,
           and
           the
           greater
           Preparation
           they
           make
           for
           another
           World
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           will
           delight
           in
           the
           performance
           of
           God's
           Service
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           ready
           to
           embrace
           any
           Opportunities
           for
           it
           .
           Those
           who
           would
           have
           all
           Religious
           Duties
           determined
           as
           to
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           them
           ,
           are
           like
           Men
           who
           
           would
           have
           punctual
           Rules
           set
           down
           ,
           how
           often
           two
           Friends
           should
           converse
           with
           each
           other
           ,
           and
           how
           long
           time
           they
           are
           to
           stay
           together
           .
           True
           Friendship
           will
           need
           none
           of
           those
           things
           ,
           but
           will
           incline
           them
           to
           embrace
           the
           best
           opportunities
           for
           mutual
           Conversation
           ,
           lest
           too
           long
           distance
           beget
           a
           Coldness
           first
           ,
           and
           then
           the
           Friendship
           dissolves
           .
           It
           is
           no
           hard
           matter
           to
           pray
           as
           far
           as
           words
           go
           ;
           but
           to
           pray
           with
           Zeal
           and
           Devotion
           ,
           to
           attend
           upon
           God
           with
           that
           seriousness
           of
           Mind
           we
           ought
           to
           doe
           ,
           will
           require
           our
           utmost
           Attention
           .
           And
           it
           is
           no
           easie
           matter
           to
           keep
           our
           Minds
           composed
           and
           fit
           to
           converse
           with
           God
           in
           Prayer
           ,
           and
           other
           solemn
           Duties
           of
           Religion
           .
           But
           as
           hard
           as
           this
           appears
           to
           us
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           fit
           and
           reasonable
           that
           we
           should
           doe
           it
           :
           For
           what
           an
           unbecoming
           thing
           it
           is
           to
           worship
           God
           in
           a
           careless
           ,
           trifling
           ,
           perfunctory
           manner
           ;
           as
           though
           nothing
           less
           deserved
           the
           imploying
           the
           Vigour
           of
           our
           Minds
           about
           ,
           than
           the
           Service
           of
           God.
           But
           how
           can
           we
           love
           him
           with
           all
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           serve
           him
           with
           all
           our
           Mind
           and
           Strength
           .
        
         
           (
           4.
           )
           
             Resignation
             of
             our selves
             to
             God
          
           ;
           This
           the
           Apostle
           calls
           
             casting
             all
             our
             Care
             upon
             him
             .
          
           
           This
           is
           a
           very
           wise
           Duty
           if
           we
           can
           attain
           to
           it
           ,
           because
           it
           eases
           our
           minds
           of
           many
           Fears
           and
           Perplexities
           ,
           both
           as
           to
           our selves
           and
           others
           :
           
           But
           it
           is
           no
           easie
           thing
           to
           set
           our
           minds
           free
           from
           solicitous
           thoughts
           ,
           about
           possible
           Evils
           .
           We
           cannot
           mend
           our
           Condition
           ,
           nor
           prevent
           what
           is
           determined
           by
           our
           most
           anxious
           Care
           ;
           but
           we
           may
           enjoy
           our selves
           with
           far
           greater
           Peace
           and
           Tranquillity
           ,
           if
           we
           can
           be
           content
           to
           commit
           our selves
           to
           the
           best
           Conduct
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           of
           him
           that
           Governs
           the
           World.
           And
           whatever
           strugglings
           we
           may
           find
           within
           our selves
           about
           it
           ,
           yet
           the
           more
           we
           search
           ,
           and
           weigh
           ,
           and
           consider
           things
           ,
           the
           more
           we
           shall
           be
           satisfied
           ,
           that
           the
           Resignation
           of
           our selves
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           to
           all
           our
           Concernments
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           is
           the
           best
           means
           to
           calm
           our
           Passions
           ,
           to
           abate
           our
           Fears
           ,
           to
           prevent
           our
           Impatience
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           attain
           to
           that
           
             Ornament
             of
             a
             meek
             and
             quiet
             Spirit
             ,
          
           
           
             which
             is
             with
             God
             of
             great
             Price
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           all
           these
           Duties
           be
           so
           necessary
           to
           our
           being
           saved
           ,
           and
           we
           lie
           under
           such
           Difficulties
           as
           to
           the
           Performance
           of
           them
           ,
           their
           appearing
           to
           be
           Reasonable
           makes
           our
           Condition
           so
           much
           worse
           :
           For
           to
           find
           it
           so
           hard
           to
           doe
           what
           we
           are
           convinced
           is
           most
           Reasonable
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           is
           one
           of
           the
           worst
           Circumstances
           of
           our
           Condition
           .
           It
           s
           true
           we
           do
           not
           want
           Faculties
           of
           Understanding
           and
           Will
           ;
           but
           what
           then
           ,
           if
           our
           Moral
           Indispositions
           make
           these
           useless
           to
           our
           Spiritual
           Advantage
           ?
           A
           man
           that
           is
           like
           to
           be
           stifled
           in
           a
           
           large
           Vessel
           full
           of
           Downy
           Feathers
           ,
           cannot
           complain
           of
           the
           hardness
           of
           what
           he
           lies
           upon
           ,
           for
           all
           things
           feel
           soft
           and
           easie
           about
           him
           ,
           yet
           he
           may
           be
           stifled
           with
           them
           ;
           our
           evil
           Habits
           ,
           and
           corrupt
           Inclinations
           ,
           have
           nothing
           that
           feels
           hard
           or
           troublesome
           to
           us
           ;
           but
           if
           we
           cannot
           overcome
           them
           ,
           they
           will
           certainly
           Ruine
           and
           Destroy
           us
           .
           There
           is
           therefore
           a
           Necessity
           of
           a
           higher
           Principle
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           to
           enable
           us
           to
           break
           thorough
           all
           these
           Difficulties
           .
           Which
           Grace
           is
           so
           abundantly
           promised
           by
           the
           Gospel
           to
           those
           who
           seek
           it
           ,
           that
           it
           comes
           at
           last
           to
           be
           our
           own
           fault
           ,
           if
           we
           be
           not
           saved
           .
        
         
           II.
           And
           this
           helps
           us
           to
           Reconcile
           the
           Difficulty
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           with
           the
           Easiness
           of
           the
           Terms
           of
           the
           Gospel
           :
           For
           that
           which
           is
           not
           onely
           hard
           ,
           but
           impossible
           to
           us
           ,
           in
           our
           own
           strength
           ,
           may
           ,
           by
           the
           mighty
           Power
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           become
           not
           onely
           possible
           but
           easie
           to
           us
           :
           And
           withall
           those
           things
           are
           accounted
           easie
           which
           bring
           ease
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           a
           light
           burthen
           which
           rids
           one
           of
           a
           far
           harder
           .
           And
           thus
           the
           Commands
           of
           Christ
           ,
           however
           hard
           in
           themselves
           to
           us
           ,
           yet
           being
           considered
           with
           the
           Grace
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           the
           blessed
           effect
           of
           inward
           Peace
           ,
           which
           follows
           Sincere
           Obedience
           ,
           even
           
             his
             Yoke
          
           ,
           which
           keeps
           us
           most
           in
           ,
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           
             Easie
             ,
             and
             his
             Burthen
          
           ,
           
           which
           sits
           hardest
           upon
           us
           ,
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           light
           .
        
         
           III.
           And
           from
           hence
           we
           see
           what
           Encouragement
           there
           is
           still
           for
           us
           to
           hope
           to
           be
           saved
           ,
           if
           we
           be
           righteous
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           none
           for
           the
           
             Vngodly
             and
             Sinner
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           for
           the
           profane
           contemner
           of
           God
           and
           Religion
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           wicked
           Liver
           .
           For
           however
           they
           may
           flatter
           themselves
           with
           vain
           and
           presumptuous
           hopes
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           more
           ground
           to
           think
           that
           the
           
             righteous
             shall
             be
             saved
          
           ,
           than
           that
           
             the
             ungodly
             and
             sinner
             shall
             not
             :
          
           For
           both
           are
           alike
           made
           known
           by
           the
           same
           Word
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           
             But
             what
             Comfort
             is
             it
             (
             may
             some
             say
             )
             to
             hear
             that
             
               the
               righteous
               are
               scarcely
               saved
            
             ,
             when
             we
             are
             so
             conscious
             to
             our selves
             of
             our
             own
             unrighteousness
             ?
             If
             we
             could
             think
             our selves
             righteous
             before
             God
             ,
             there
             were
             some
             hopes
             ,
             but
             we
             are
             Sinners
             ;
             and
             if
             we
             should
             deny
             or
             excuse
             it
             ,
             we
             should
             be
             so
             much
             more
             so
             ;
             what
             hope
             can
             there
             be
             then
             for
             us
             ?
          
        
         
           To
           this
           I
           shall
           answer
           ,
           and
           conclude
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           The
           righteous
           
             here
             spoken
             of
             were
             once
             great
             Sinners
          
           ;
           
           
             for
             St.
          
           Peter
           mentions
           their
           former
           lusts
           ,
           
           and
           working
           the
           will
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           in
           lasciviousness
           ,
           lust
           ,
           excess
           of
           wine
           ,
           revellings
           ,
           banquetings
           ,
           and
           abominable
           idolatries
           .
           
             Yet
             these
             are
             
             said
          
           ,
           
           to
           be
           redeemed
           from
           their
           vain
           conversation
           by
           the
           precious
           bloud
           of
           Christ
           ;
           
           and
           to
           be
           begotten
           again
           to
           a
           lively
           hope
           of
           an
           inheritance
           incorruptible
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           There
           is
           therefore
           ,
           not
           merely
           a
           Possibility
           of
           being
           saved
           ,
           but
           a
           just
           and
           grounded
           Hope
           ,
           if
           we
           renounce
           our
           former
           Sins
           ,
           and
           become
           righteous
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Terms
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           if
           we
           sincerely
           repent
           of
           our
           Sins
           ,
           and
           turn
           from
           them
           ,
           and
           live
           the
           rest
           of
           our
           time
           ,
           not
           to
           the
           Lusts
           of
           Men
           ,
           
           but
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           God.
           But
           if
           God
           had
           declared
           ,
           that
           he
           expected
           from
           Mankind
           an
           entire
           and
           perfect
           Righteousness
           without
           any
           Sin
           ,
           it
           were
           all
           one
           ,
           as
           to
           publish
           a
           general
           and
           irreversible
           Decree
           of
           Damnation
           to
           all
           ,
           
           
             for
             all
             have
             sinned
             and
             come
             short
             of
             the
             glory
             of
             God.
          
           From
           whence
           the
           Apostle
           well
           argues
           ,
           that
           Men
           cannot
           save
           themselves
           :
           But
           God
           ,
           of
           his
           infinite
           Pity
           and
           Mercy
           towards
           the
           deplorable
           Condition
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           hath
           found
           out
           a
           way
           to
           save
           them
           ,
           
             by
             the
             redemption
             which
             is
             in
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
             whom
             he
             hath
             made
             a
             propitiation
             for
             their
             sins
             .
          
           Although
           therefore
           as
           to
           our selves
           we
           have
           no
           hopes
           ,
           yet
           herein
           God
           hath
           magnified
           his
           abundant
           Love
           towards
           Sinners
           ,
           that
           although
           they
           have
           sinned
           to
           a
           high
           degree
           ,
           yet
           if
           they
           be
           so
           far
           wearied
           with
           the
           burthen
           of
           their
           Sins
           ,
           as
           to
           take
           Christ's
           Yoke
           upon
           them
           ,
           then
           he
           hath
           promised
           Ease
           
           and
           Rest
           to
           their
           Souls
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           greatest
           Blessing
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           especially
           to
           Repenting
           Sinners
           .
        
         
           
             But
             (
             some
             may
             again
             say
             )
             we
             have
             repented
             and
             sinned
             ,
             and
             sinned
             and
             repented
             again
             ,
             and
             can
             hardly
             yet
             tell
             which
             will
             get
             the
             better
             at
             last
             ;
             we
             cannot
             say
             that
             we
             have
             entirely
             submitted
             our
             Necks
             to
             Christ's
             Yoke
             ,
             for
             that
             requires
             a
             great
             deal
             more
             than
             we
             can
             perform
             ;
             how
             then
             can
             we
             be
             thought
             Righteous
             ?
          
        
         
           I
           answer
           therefore
           ,
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Where
           there
           is
           a
           sincere
           and
           honest
           endeavour
           to
           please
           God
           ,
           and
           keep
           his
           Commandments
           ,
           although
           Persons
           fail
           in
           the
           manner
           of
           doing
           it
           ,
           God
           will
           accept
           of
           such
           as
           Righteous
           :
           But
           where
           they
           please
           themselves
           in
           their
           Unrighteousness
           ,
           and
           go
           on
           in
           it
           ,
           hoping
           that
           God
           will
           accept
           some
           kind
           of
           Repentance
           in
           stead
           of
           it
           ;
           or
           ,
           where
           there
           hath
           been
           long
           struggling
           ,
           and
           many
           Acts
           of
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           the
           Interest
           of
           Sin
           prevails
           ;
           the
           Case
           of
           such
           is
           very
           dangerous
           ,
           but
           not
           desperate
           .
           For
           as
           long
           as
           there
           is
           hopes
           of
           a
           true
           Repentance
           ,
           there
           is
           of
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           still
           hopes
           of
           Repentance
           where
           Mens
           hearts
           are
           not
           hardned
           by
           an
           incorrigible
           Stiffness
           :
           For
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           best
           Measures
           we
           can
           take
           by
           the
           Rules
           of
           
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           none
           are
           effectually
           excluded
           from
           the
           hopes
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           exclude
           themselves
           by
           their
           own
           Impenitency
           .
        
         
           THE
           END
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           Page
           24.
           line
           22.
           dele
           is
           .
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61620-e230
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             18
             ,
             19
             ,
             20.
             
          
           
             c.
             2.
             v.
             9.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             1.
             15.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             15.
             7
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             11.
             28.
             
          
           
             v.
             30.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             1.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             2.
             8.
             
          
           
             Although
             Babylon
             were
             very
             much
             exhausted
             ,
             by
             the
             Neighbourhood
             of
             Seleucia
             first
             ,
             and
             afterwards
             of
             Ctesiphon
             ;
             yet
             I
             see
             no
             Reason
             to
             conclude
             that
             Babylon
             was
             not
             then
             capable
             of
             having
             a
             Church
             in
             it
             ,
             when
             S.
             Peter
             wrote
             this
             Epistle
             .
             For
             Iosephus
             ,
             lib.
             18.
             owns
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             in
             Babylon
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             in
             the
             time
             when
             Hyrcanus
             was
             sent
             thither
             ;
             and
             out
             of
             such
             
               a
               multitude
               of
               Iews
            
             a
             Church
             might
             easily
             be
             gathered
             .
             The
             Calamities
             which
             befell
             the
             Iews
             of
             those
             parts
             afterwards
             rather
             reach
             to
             the
             Country
             than
             the
             City
             of
             Babylon
             .
             And
             when
             such
             Numbers
             of
             Iews
             are
             allowed
             to
             have
             been
             after
             them
             in
             
               Ctesiphon
               ,
               Nearda
            
             and
             Nisibis
             ,
             which
             were
             all
             Cities
             in
             those
             parts
             ,
             I
             see
             no
             cause
             to
             question
             that
             there
             were
             great
             Numbers
             of
             Iews
             at
             that
             time
             in
             Babylon
             ;
             since
             even
             in
             
             Trajan's
             time
             ,
             they
             are
             confessed
             to
             have
             been
             very
             numerous
             in
             
               Mesopotamia
               .
               Strabo
            
             ,
             lib.
             16.
             saith
             ,
             
               that
               a
               great
               part
               of
               Babylon
               was
               deserted
               in
               his
               time
               ,
            
             and
             so
             it
             might
             well
             be
             ,
             and
             leave
             room
             enough
             for
             a
             Christian
             Church
             to
             be
             there
             notwithstanding
             .
             So
             that
             no
             reason
             appears
             sufficient
             to
             me
             to
             take
             Babylon
             in
             any
             other
             sense
             ,
             than
             for
             the
             City
             generally
             known
             by
             that
             name
             ,
             without
             flying
             to
             any
             Mystical
             sense
             ,
             or
             a
             
               Strong
               place
            
             in
             Egypt
             bearing
             that
             name
             ;
             there
             being
             less
             probability
             of
             a
             Church
             in
             a
             Garrison
             ,
             as
             Strabo
             describes
             it
             ,
             than
             in
             the
             Remainders
             of
             so
             great
             a
             City
             .
          
           
             Pet.
             4.
             19.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             21.
             12.
             
          
           
             Act.
             14.
             22.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             4.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             Nicom
             .
             l.
             7.
             c.
             8.
             
             Inter
             cateramala
             ,
             hoc
             quoque
             habet
             stultitia
             proprium
             ,
             semper
             incipit
             vivere
             .
             Sen.
             Ep.
             13.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             5.
             19
             ,
             20
             ,
             21.
             1
             
             Cor.
             6.
             9
             ,
             10.
             
             Eph.
             5.
             5
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             ●
             .
             15.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             5.
             3.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             14
             ,
             15
             ,
             16.
             
          
           
             2.
             11.
             
          
           
             4.
             2.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             5.
             7.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             3.
             4.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             14.
             
          
           
             4.
             3.
             
          
           
             1.
             18
             ,
             19.
             
          
           
             1.
             3
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             4.
             2.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             3.
             23.