not about it, you do not fear left you should fall into it. In a word, he is in Subjection to earthly Lufts, and you are inflaved by fecret Pride. Surely then, when this Matter is fifted, both he and you are the natural Man still, notwithstanding the different Appearance ye make.For the new Creature is humble; and,

·Secondly, His main Bufinefs in Life, is the Care of bis Soul. The new Creature, as his Eyes are open to a right Eftimation of himself and all Things, fo in Confequence hereof, he finds another Employment upon his Hands, from what Men naturally think of, and from what the Interefts of this Life feem to demand. He makes a new and heavenly Ufe of Life and all the Things of it, and engages therein in a peculiar and referved Manner: He is bufied about the one Thing needful, and he will make all other Things fubferve thereto. All that he doth, tends towards Heaven; and every Action of his Life is tinctured with, and hath the Stamp of, Eternity. This one Point he labors above all; by the Grace of the Spirit, to fubdue and mortify more effectually those felfish, earthly, and carnal Difpofitions, which corrupt Nature hath given him; and to confirm and ftrengthen thofe gracious Difpofitions of Soul which will render him qualified for Glory. Being born from above,

he

he feeketh the Things which belong to God and his Righteoufnefs; he lives by Faith; what he fees not, hath a prevailing Influence with him, beyond all which he doth fee. He regards Life as a Pilgrimage, and, like a Stranger from his Home, contends for the Houfe which is eternal. Nor doth he mind any other Thing, in Comparison, but becoming meet for this Inheritance of the Saints. This is the Bufinefs of the humble Man upon Earth. :

BUT the careless Sinner, hath another Sort of Employment. He is for this World; and not an Action of his Life, befpeaks any higher Regard. He knows no Fears, but thofe of Want, Sickness, Difappointment, or Difgrace; and his largest Wishes are laid out after Security and Eafe, Grandeur and Wealth, Reputation and Refpect. To provide for Indulgence, and to preferve his Health, to cover his Head and clothe his Body, to enjoy his Friend, lay up a Store for another Day, and care for his Family: These are the highest and best Things he has in View, the great Concerns he has in Life.

WHAT doth Confcience fay now? Which Way is your Courfe directed? Are you laboring in the Road that leads towards Heaven, or in the beaten Path of the World? Are you entered into the humble and hea

venly

venly Scheme and Bufinefs? And what Evidences can you produce, that you are engaged in this new Work? Surely you cannot be at a Loss to know, which hath most of your Thoughts, Care, and Solicitude; which you prefer, and are in fact moft diligent to obtain, whether earthly or heavenly Things. If your Heart be right, and your Mind renewed, your Sentiments are these. "Mistaken Man that I was (you are thinking) how vainly did I once imagine, there "was no other nor greater Employment of my Days, than to procure the full Supply "of my Wants; that I had no other Enemy "to contend with, but the Confinement, "Dependence, and various Evils of Cir

cumftances too narrow; that I had no "other Good to pursue, than that Enlarge"ment of Fortune, which might render me << my own Master, furnish me with what I "fhould defire, enable me, at a convenient "Time of Life, to fit down at my Ease, " and be under Obligation to none! But "then, GoD was little thought of: Death "and Eternity were far away. Ah! now "that I fee what I am, what lies before me, "and the Work I have to do, in a fhort, and "withal moft uncertain Day'; I am even "oppreffed with the Importance of every "Hour I live, and tremble at every Step I "make, left, in the Midst of surrounding

"Dangers,

"Dangers, I should wander from the right "Way, the fubtle Enemy fhould take Advantage of me, and, caufing me to of "fend fo good and gracious à Father, draw "down upon me his Difpleafure." Are these your Sentiments? Can you truly adopt them, and fay,, "Thus I judge, and thus I "live?" But, where are your Proofs? Have you fhaken off all grofs Sins? Do they not even occafionally gain over your Confent? Are you maintaining the fpiritual War with the Law of Sin which is in your Members, manfully contending to bring every Luft into Subjection to the Law of Chrift? Are you got above the World? And when the Matter is brought to a fair Trial, doth it appear, that you value God's Favor, more than all manner of Reputation, Wealth, Eafe, and worldly Comfort? Can your Diligence and Importunity in all holy Employments witness for you, that you defire the Knowledge of GOD, and labor to walk dutifully and joyfully before him?

IF you are the new Creature, the approving Voice of Confcience makes Anfwer within you, "This is my Study; herein I have

and do exercife myfelf:" And you will be adding too, "But I fadly come fhort herein." This you may. But the Inquiry at present is, whether you are fincerely about this heavenly Bufinefs? And, with a little Attention, you

will

will eafily fee, whether this or the next World doth bear the Sway with you. What think you of St Paul? Doth not every thing you hear of him, his ceaseless Labor, his Patience in Tribulation, his Boldness not to be daunted, and his unfhaken Conftancy; doth not all this convince you, beyond Sufpicion, that he was one of an heavenly Difpofition, that he lived by Faith and not by Sight? You fee St Paul's Courfe and Way, what ageneral Tendency he had towards GOD: And is yours under the fame Direction; are you likeminded with him? But did you read in his Hiftory, that this great Apostle was neglecting his Miniftry, and paid little Regard to the Work he was fent upon; did you find, that he had been very earnest to amafs Wealth, upon all Occafions was forward to Entertainments and Feaftings, affected Mens Favor, wanted nothing fo much as his Ease, and to be beholden to, no one; that he fel dom thought of dying, being unwilling to part from the World? Did you read this of St Paul, inftead of what is told you concerning him; you would take no long Time to determine him a Man, who, caring not for Gop, minded earthly Things. If what hath been now faid of St Paul,may be faid of you; I befeech you to judge of yourself, as you would have done of him, in like Circumftances; And conclude, that fince you are

not