who have lefs Time, yet ought to employ SE RM. fome Part of it, in preparing themselves; VIII. and if they are very much incumbered by their worldly Affairs, and in taking Care for the Neceffaries of Life, yet let them rather deprive themselves of some Part of their natural Reft, than wholly omit this Duty: Even in the Hurry of Business, and in the Midft of their Employments, they may caft up devout Ejaculations to Heaven, and these Darts will not return empty into their Bofoms; nay, let them rather neglect their lefs neceffary Business, than not allow themselves every Day fome Hours for this Duty.

2. LET us confider how fincere and faithful we have been to ourselves, in our Examination: Have we fearched to the Bottom of our Hearts? Have we not fpared our Darling Sins? Is there not one Amalekite left undiscovered, no Bleatings of the Sheep, or Lowings of the Oxen? Is there not one known Sin, which we have not confeffed, and refolved to forfake? Which will be made more plain by confidering,

3. WHAT Effect our Examination hath had upon our Lives and Converfations. Are we convinced, firft, of the Multitude and heinous Nature of our Sins, do O

We

SERM. we not endeavour to extenuate them, and VIII. to fay of them, as Lot did of Zoar, Is it not a little One? Do not we call our wilful Prevarications by the mollifying Names of human Frailties and Infirmities? Are we not apt to extenuate them by fuch pitiful Excufes as thefe, that they are no other but what good Men have been guilty of, and that we find many Saints in Scripture, who have been greater Sinners than we are? And do not we entertain fuch a fond Conceit of our own Righteousness and Perfection, as fometimes wholly to overlook our vileft Enormities, and to glory Luk. xviii. thus with the proud Pharifee: God, I thank thee, that I am not as other Men are, Extortioners, Unjuft, or Adulterers, or even as this Publican? Are we not so full of our own good Qualities, as to overlook our own Faults; and, though we have not Charity fufficient to cover one Trespass of our Neighbours, yet it is fufficient to conceal all our own Faults, and to hide them, at least, from our own Sight? For there is nothing more common, than for Men to dwell so much on those good Qualities, they think they are poffeffed of, as wholly to forget thofe evil Habits, which have taken Hold of them, and to imagine that fome Virtues will make Amends for all

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their Vices. One Man is mightily pleased SE RM. that he is orthodox in Faith, juft in his VIII. Dealings, and charitable to his Neighbour, but does not confider that he is intemperate and loose in his Life, and very remifs in his public and private Devotions. Another is very conftant in the Performance of the Duties of Religion; he fafts often, makes long Prayers, and is very fervent in his Devotions; but then he is given up to spiritual Pride, is of a morofe and malicious Temper and doth good to no Man, but allows himself in Cenforiousness and Uncharitableness, taking every Thing by the wrong Handle, and in the worft Senfe. A third may be very good-natured towards others, but then he is very deficient in his Duty towards God and himself. But if we examine our Hearts and Confciences, as we ought to do, we shall take a View of all our Failings, and come to the Knowledge of all our Imperfections, especially of those we are most inclined to; our Faults will be written in legible Characters, and evident to our View, and we shall be sensible how little Good there is in the beft of us, if compared with the Evil we are guilty of. Are we convinced,

Secondly, How foolish a Thing it is to lead a finful Life, how little Pleasure and Advantage it brings to us, and how preQ 2 judicial

SERM. judicial it is to our Welfare both in this VIII. World and the next; and that all the

9.

Gain, Honours, and Pleasures of this World are not to be put in Competition with the Loss of our precious Souls? Are we fenfible of God's infinite Love and Compaffion to us, in that he is not ready 2 Pet. iii. to mark when we have done amifs, but long-fuffering to us-ward, not willing that any fhould perish, but that all Men Should come to Repentance, and fo obtain everlafting Life? That it is from his wonderful Mercy and Compaffion, that we are not cut off in the Midft of those Acts of damning Sin which we are guilty of; that he gives us more Time, and more Opportunities and Invitations to repent and make our Peace with him?

And Laftly, HAs the Examination of ourfelves had a prefent Influence upon our Lives and Converfations? Do we not only refolve to repent, but do we fet about it presently? Do we not only refolve frequently to practife religious Duties, but do we actually apply ourselves to them? Do we pray to God conftantly in private? Do we bid adieu to our best beloved Sins? Do we forgive our Enemies, and do to our Neighbour all the Good we are able, both in Word and Deed? Are we diligent and induftrious

industrious in our Callings? Is our Dif- SERM. courfe fuch as becomes the Purity of the VIII. Gofpel? Do we put in Practice all Chriftian Virtues? And do we refolve to perfevere in the Practice of them as long as we live? If we do thus, then we have duly prepared ourselves for this Table of the Lord; then we fhall receive the holy Elements with Comfort, and, to our unfpeakable Satisfaction, partake of the Benefits of his Death and Paffion; to whom, with the Father and Holy Ghoft, be all Honour and Glory for evermore.