the wicked one, which catcheth away the word sow'n in mens hearts: When that spiritual seed lies loose and scatter'd upon the surface, and is not by deep and serious meditation, harrowed as it were into the ground, it offers it self a ready prey to the devourer, and God knows the event is too ready to attest the truth of the observation: For do we not see many whose childhoods have wanted nothing of Christian nurture, that have had all advantages to the making them wise unto salvation, yet suffer their manhood to wear out and obliterate all those rudiments of their youth; and that not only out of their practice, but even out of their memory too: this (would we be patient to have the experiment made) would, I doubt not, be found too true in divers, and they would appear less able to approve themselves not only to the Confeffor, but even to the Gatechift in their adult age, than they were in their Minority: as having scarce ever thought of the principles of their religion, since they conn'd them to avoid correction; and then 'tis no wonder if they pass into the fame forgetfulness with other the occurrences of that flippery age...

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BUT if with some the memory have been fo invincibly faithful, as not to have resign'd its depofitum: if it do happen obstinately to retain those early impreffions which were made on it. Yet alass that alone will be of little avail : 'tis true that is the store-house, and 'tis good to have that well replenisht; but if its plenty be only within its self uncommunicated, if the granary nary though never so full, be seal'd up, it gives no security against a famine: a mans remembrance of his Creed may tell him there is a God, and that he is Almighty; but if his reason be so much a fleep, as not to inferr from thence the neceffity of reverencing and obeying him who is all powerful to revenge our contempts : he may repeat the Article every day and yet never the less Atheistically. In like manner he may go on to the Birth, Death, and Refurrection of Chrift, but if he weigh not the obligations to gratitude and duty which devolve on him from thence he may remember his Birth, and yet never be regenerate: his Death, and yet not dyeto fin: and his Refurrection, and yet lie rotting in his own corruption, and not rife with him to newness of life. So he may proceed to his coming to Fudge the quick and the dead, but if he reflect not on his own particular concernment in it, if he confider not that for every the secretest thing, Eccl.11. God will bring him, as well as others to judgment: he may talk of Dooms-day as men do of fuch Affizes as they have no trial at, but it will never fet him a trembling, or give him the providence to anticipate his fentence, so judge himself here, that he may not be judged of the Lord. And fo proportionably in all the parts of our Chriftian Faith: he that does not extract from them their proper and just inferences, shall never feel their efficacy. He has indeed in that excellent Systeme, a most infallible Catholicon, against all his spiritual Maladies, but 'tis a Medicine, not a Charm;

Charm; to be taken, not laid by him; and if he fail in application, he will as certainly miss of the cure: and this gives us one too clear a reason, why so many, in the most fatal sense, are weak and fick among us, and faln asleep; are first lethargick, and then stark dead in trespasses and fins. Men do not by fober confideration fuck out the vertue which would heal them: they look on the Creed as Christs badge, and so long as they bear that they think none must question their Chriftianity: whereas 'tis indeed more properly his Military Symbolum, or recognition of the cause, and General they fight for; an engaging them to all the obedience, fidelity and conftancy of refolute souldiers: and to this purpose it is that we stand up at the recital of the Creed, as owing our Baptifmal promise to fight manfully under our Saviours Banner against Sin, the World, and the Devil; and if we do not thus, 'tis not material what profeffions we make, we are the fame defertors whether we stay in our own Camp, or run over to the enemies; throw away our Arms, or not use them; renounce our Christian faith, or not improve it. Sloth is as mifchievous in war as treachery or cowardize, and he that keeps his sword in the sheath, is as unformidable an enemy, as he that brings none into the field.

DAND how many fuch infignificant combatants are there in the Christian Camp: that only lend their Names to fill up the Muster-roll: but never dream of going upon fervice. 'Tis certain there are as many fuch, as there are careless unconfidering Profeffors: and these 'tis to be fear'd make so great a number, that were the Church put to estimate her forces, and examine what effectively her strength is, she would find the deceit of false musters as great among the Spiritual as the Civil Souldiery. It is indeed a most amazing thing to fee, that that which is the one great and important interest of all men, should of all other things meet with the least regard. If we make a proposal of worldly profit, though incumbred with many difficulties and liable to many uncertainties, we shall not only have an attentive hearing, but active care and diligent pursuit of the design, it will be driven to the last glimpse of hope and if the first attempt miscarry, the next occasion is laid hold of; but here where the prize is so rich, the conditions so eafie, the acquest so certain, yet (as if these were deterring, averting qualities) we cannot be got to take the matter into our deliberation. Alas, what stupid folly has poffest men? and by what measures do they make their estimates ? how are their precious Souls become so vile in their eyes, that they are the only part of them, which they think below their regard? In an Epidemick difease every man looks out for Antidote or Medicine for his own peculiar, and does not ac quiefce in that filly confidence that he shall do as well as other men: yet in this greater danger, that is their avowed comfort, and keeps them as cheerful as if they had the most folid grounds of -security.

security. Alas, can numbers out-face damnation, or do men hope that by going in troops to hell they shall master the native inhabitants, fubdue those legions of tormentors, and become comquerors in stead of sufferers? This is sure too wild an imagination for any to entertain, yet what more fober one can any pretend, in favour of so stupendous an improvidence?

BUT 'twill be much more seasonable to reform than Apologize or Rhetoricate; and therefore 'twill import those men, who like the inhabitants of Laish, dwell careless, quiet, and secure, to look about them: to enter into ferious confultation how they may avert that ruine which waits upon such a supine temper, not to suffer themselves to perish in the midst of fuch poffibilities, nay folicitations to be saved: but at last afford an audience to that Embassfie which is sent them from Heaven. Ponder well those eafie terms of reconciliation which are propos'd: the inestimable advantages consequent to the embracing that amity; and the as inestimable detriment of refusing it: in a word, not to please themselves with the empty title, but to penetrate the full purport and significancy of their Christianity, and when they have done this soberly and attentively: having removed this first and most general obstruction to piety, they will find themselves assaulted by such force of reason that they must either be very ill Logicians, or very good Christians.

CHAP.

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