giveth us the reason of their perdition. This sad experience tells us, the most of the world is guilty of. It is a most lamentable thing, to see how most men do spend their care, their time, their pains, for known vanities, while God and glory are cast aside that he who is all should seem to them as nothing; and that which is nothing should seem to them as good as all: that God should set mankind in such a race where heaven or hell is their certain end, and that they should sit down, and loiter, or run after the childish toys of the world, and so much forget the prize that they should run for. Were it but possible for one of us to see the whole of this business, as the All-seeing God doth to see at one view both heaven and hell, which men are so near, and see what most men in the world are minding, and what they are doing every day, it would be the saddest sight that could be imagined.. O how should we marvel at their madness, and lament their self-delusion! O poor distracted world what is it you run after? and what is it you neglect? If God had never told them what they were sent into the world to do, or whither they were going, or what was before them in another world, then they had been excusable; but he hath told them, over and over, till they were, weary of it. Had he left it doubtful, there had been some excuse; but it is his sealed word, and they profess to believe it, and would take it ill of us, if we should question whether they believe it or not.. „ardgoods 2015 (t

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Beloved, I come not to accuse any of you particularly of this crime; but seeing it is the commonest cause of men's destruction, I suppose you will judge

it the fittest matter for our inquiry, and deserving our greatest care for the cure. To which end I shall, 1. Endeavour the conviction of the guilty. 2. Shall give them such considerations, as may tend to humble and reform them. 3. I shall conclude with such direction, as may help them that are willing, to escape the destroying power of this sin.

First, It is the case of most sinners to think themselves freest from those sins that they are most enslaved to; and one reason why we cannot reform them, is, because we cannot convince them of their guilt. It is the nature of sin, so far to blind and befool the sinner, that he knoweth not what he doth, but thinketh hè is free from it when it reigneth in him, or when he is committing it. They are alive to sin, and dead to all the reason, consideration, and resolution, that should recover them, as if it were only by their sinning that we must know they are alive. May I hope that you that hear me to-day are but willing to know the truth of your case, and then I shall be encouraged to proceed to an inquiry. God will judge impartially; why should not we do so? Let me, therefore, by these following questions, try whether none of you are slighters of Christ and your own salvation. And follow me, I beseech you, by putting them close to your own hearts, and faithfully answering them.

1. Things that men highly value will be remembered, they will be matter of their freest and sweetest thoughts.-Do not those, then, make light of Christ and salvation, that think of them so seldom and coldly, in comparison of other things? Follow thy own heart, man, and observe what it

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daily runneth after; and then judge whether it make not light of Christ. We cannot persuade men to one hour's sober consideration, what they should do for an interest in Christ, or in thankfulness for his love, and yet they will not believe that they make light of him.

2. Things that we highly value will be matter of our discourse; the judgment and heart will command the tongue. Freely and delightfully will our speech run after them.-Do not those, then, make light of Christ and salvation, that shun the mention of his name, unless it be in a vain or sinful use? Those that love not the company where Christ and salvation is much talked of, but think it troublesome, precise discourse; that had rather hear some merry jests, or idle tales, or talk of their riches or business in the world. When you may follow them from morning to night, and scarcely have a savoury word of Christ, but perhaps some slight and weary mention of him sometimes; judge whether these make not light of Christ and salvation. How seriously do they talk of the world, and speak vanity; but how heartlessly do they make mention of Christ and salvation!

3. The things that we highly value, we would secure the possession of; and therefore would take any convenient course to have all doubts and fears about them well resolved.-Do not those men, then, make light of Christ and salvation, that have lived twenty or thirty years in uncertainty whether they have any part in these or not, and yet never seek out for the right resolution of their doubts? Are all that hear me this day certain they shall be saved? O that

they were!

O, had you not made light of salvation, you could not so easily bear such doubtings of it! You could not rest till you had made it sure, or done your best to make it sure. Have you nobody to inquire of, that might help you in such a work? Why, you have ministers that are purposely appointed to that office. Have you gone to them, and told them the doubtfulness of your case, and asked their help in the judging of your condition? Alas! ministers may sit in their studies from one year to another, before ten persons among one thousand will come to them on such an errand! Do not these make light of Christ and salvation? When the Gospel pierceth the heart, indeed, they cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?" Trembling and astonished, Paul cries out, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And so did the convinced Jews to Peter. But when hear we such questions?

4. The things that we value do deeply affect us, and some motions will be in the heart according to our estimation of them. O sirs, if men made not light of these things, what workings would there be in the hearts of all our hearers! What strange affections would it raise in them to hear of the matters of the world to come! How would their hearts melt before the power of the Gospel! What sorrow would be wrought in the discovery of their sins! What astonishment. at the consideration of their misery! What unspeakable joy at the glad tidings of salvation by the blood of Christ! What resolution would be raised in them upon the discovery of their duty! O what hearers should we have, if it

were not for this sin! Whereas, now we are more likely to weary them, or preach them asleep with matters of this unspeakable moment. We talk to them of Christ and salvation, till we make their heads ache little would one think, by their careless carriage, that they heard and regarded what we said, or thought we spoke at all to them..

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5. Our estimation of things will be seen in the diligence of our endeavours. That which we most highly value, we shall think no pains too great to obtain. Do not those men, then, make light of Christ and salvation, that think all too much that they do for them; that murmur at his service, and think it too grievous for them to endure? That ask of his service, as Judas of the ointment, "What need this waste? Cannot men be saved, without so much ado? This is more ado than needs." the world they will labour all the day, and all their lives; but for Christ and salvation they are afraid of doing too much. Let us preach to them as long as we will, we cannot bring them to relish or resolve upon a life of holiness. Follow them to their houses, and you shall not hear them read a chapter, nor call upon God with their families once a day; nor will they allow him that one day in seven, which he hath separated to his service. But pleasure, or worldly business, or idleness, must have a part. And many of them are so far hardened, as to reproach them that will not be as mad as themselves. And is not Christ worth the seeking? Is not everlasting salvation worth more than all this? Doth not that soul make light of all these, that thinks his ease more worth. than they? Let but common sense judge.