Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

SERM. mility, I mean, a just Valuation of a Man's X. ownfelf, and a true Senfe of his own indigent and depending Condition; neither to think better nor worfe of himself, than he deferves, and to bear himself accordingly. This is that Humility of Soul with which God delights to dwell; he Ifa. lvii. dwells in the high and holy Place, and with him alfo that is of a contrite and humble Spirit.

15.

2. In order to gain the divine Affiftance, it is neceffary that we conftantly perform the devotional Parts of Religion. For these are the Means which God has appointed to convey Grace into the Souls of Men; thofe Buckets by which we draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation. Such are Prayer, Hearing the Word of God, Meditation, and Receiving the Sacrament; which whofoever neglects, he cafts off the Fear of God, i. e. he has no Senfe of God's Displeasure, nor is concerned at the Lofs of his Favour; who has ftrictly enjoined us to perform thefe Duties, as being the best Means to increase our fpiritual Strength, and to nourish our Souls with his heavenly Gifts and Graces. Thefe Duties indeed are not the vital and effential Parts of Religion, which confift in the Fear and Love of God, and Charity to our Neighbour; but,

[ocr errors]

how

however, they are of fuch abfolute Ne- SE RM. ceffity, that, without the Practice of X. thofe, no Man can be truly religious. God who made us, and knows our Frame, and all the Springs and Wheels of which it is compofed, has been pleafed to make Use of them, as the most proper Means of converfing with us, and keeping up the Intercourfe between Earth and Heaven: And therefore, whofoever is wanting in the Performance of thefe Duties, whether in public or in private, eftranges himfelf from God, deprives himself of many valuable Bleffings, and starves his Soul.

3. HE, that would make fure of the Divine Affiftance, must trust and rely on God in all his Exigencies and Neceffities; he must make Ufe of his Strength and Diligence, as if all was to be done by his own Power; and yet, when he has done all, he must depend folely upon the good Will and Pleafure of God. He must remember, that the Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong, nor Success to Men of Understanding: That the most likely Means frequently fail, whilst the greatest Events are brought about by Caufes apparently unequal to the Effect; Dan. iv. to teach Men, that the most High ruleth17· over the World, and ordereth the Affairs thereof

SERM.

X.

thereof according to his Divine Will and Pleasure.

4. In order to obtain the Divine Affiftance, it is neceflary frequently to take a View of our Lives, and feriously to confider with ourselves, whether any Sin unrepented of remains upon our Confciences. For, if we regard Iniquity in our Hearts, the Lord will not hear our Prayer, i. e. if we fet our Hearts upon any vile Luft, any evil Thing, God will not grant us our Requests; our Iniquities will feparate between God and us, i. e. they will break off that Correfpondence and fecret Communication, which is kept up between God and the Soul of every good Man, by the Exercises of Devotion; he will withdraw his Holy Spirit from us, and leave us to ourselves; and then it will be to no Purpose for us to work, when God doth not work with us, nor profper the Work of our Hands.

AND now what remains, but that we all of us fet about this great and most neceffary Bufinefs of our Lives, the Making our Calling and Election fure, and Working out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling; that those who have hitherto been carelefs and negligent, and trifled away a great Part of their Lives, do now double their

Diligence,

Diligence, and redeem the Time, becauseSE RM. their Days have been evil; confidering X. that the Day is far pent, and the Night is at Hand when no Man can work. But as for those who have entered upon an holy and religious Life, let them go on to perfect Holiness in the Fear of God, forgetting those Things which are behind, and preffing forward to those which are before let them endeavour to grow in Grace, and to increase in every Virtue, and God will not fail to work with them, and to blefs their pious Endeavours with Succefs, that fo their Labour may not be in vain in the Lord.

;

VOL. II.

R

SER

SERM. IT is true this Tafk is more or lefs difX. ficult, according to the different State and Condition of Men's Souls. Some there are who have had a ftrict and virtuous Education from their very Childhood, and have in a great Measure avoided the Pollutions of this World; and in fuch Perfons as thefe, Converfion proceeds by flow and infenfible Degrees; they never went far out of their Way, nor wilfully and perverfly forfook the right Track, and therefore have not much Trouble to return back; and their great Care ought to be to persevere in the Paths of Righteousness, and to avoid all thofe Snares which the Devil lays in their Way. He will endeavour to puff them up with fpiritual Pride, to tempt them to prefume on their own Strength, and to have a great Conceit of their own Goodness and Righteoufnefs; to entertain an high Opinion of their ownfelves and their Performances, and a mean and contemptible One of other Men; these are dangerous Rocks, upon which fome, otherwise good Men, run on Ground, and hazard their eternal Salvation.

THERE are others who have contracted evil Habits from their very Childhood, and have been accustomed to a loose Way of living; and therefore it must needs be a

:

« ZurückWeiter »