Gratitude are of no Confideration in any Cafe, farther than they exprefs the inward Sentiments of the Heart. That Heart cannot be truly grateful, which does not labour, and ftudy, by all proper Means, to approve it felf to the Perfon, whofe Debtor it is. And how this is to be done to Almighty God, his own Word hath informed us; by declaring, that the Man who truly bonours him will order his Conversation Pfal. 1. 23. aright; that they who love him will give Teftimony of their Affection, by keeping John xiv. 15. bis Commandments; that the Goodness and Rom. ii. 4. Forbearance of God does (both in its natural and defigned Tendency) lead to Repentance; that it even conftrains Men to live 2 Cor. v. 15. no longer to themselves, but to him who bath done fo great things for them.

IV. These are Reflections fo felf-evident, fo very obvious and natural to every Man, that feldom are any remarkable Calamities undergone, or Deliverances ob tained, without exciting them in our Minds. Few Wretches are fo hardened in Wickednefs, few fo abandoned, and loft to all Sense of God and Goodness; but, in the Seafons of Sickness and Danger, they fee their paft Follies with Displeasure, and difcern the Reafonableness of forfaking them. But this is the general Unhappiness, this the great Fault of moft Men, that fuch Remorfe quickly wears off, and their good Intentions cool again. The Smart of the Rod ceafes, and the Succefs of the Correction is loft with it. The Health of the Body grows more confirmed, and the Conscience hardens in proportion to the Conftitution. And thus the Man returns to his old Vanities and Vices, with the fame Unconcernednefs, as before.

But, O my Soul, let it not be thus with Me. No! Let me look back with great Serioufnefs, upon the Vows I made, when I was in Trouble; and confider,

that these were not to be tranfient and occafional Re folutions; that they were intended for lafting Obligations, and cannot be fincerely difcharged, unless they influence the Remainder of that Life, fo gracioufly reftored to me. I ought to look upon my felf, as one raised from the Dead, and favoured with Life a second time; that from henceforth I might employ and ufe the Gift to the Honour of the Giver, who hath thus, as it were, created me afresh. He faw it better, upon my Request, to continue me longer in this State of Tryal; and I ought to give the more earnest Heed, that every Day added to my paft Years may prove a higher Advance in Piety and Virtue; that none of my holy Purposes languish or die, as too many have formerly done; that this late Approach to the Grave may perpetually warn me of my Mortality; and that, whenever Death and Judgment fhall actually overtake me, (as overtake me they most certainly will) I may not be found lefs provided to meet my Lord, than this laft Summons left me.

For, can I reflect upon my late Weaknefs, and harbour an Imagination fo vain, as that this Body, in its greatest Vigor, may promise it self an everlasting Continuance? Can I obferve this Youth of mine renewed as the Eagle's, and attribute it to any other Cause, than the Almighty Power and Infinite Goodness of Him, who wounds and heals, who kills and makes alive, af◄ ter the Council of his own Will? Can I acknowledge my present Recovery owing entirely to that Power and Goodnefs, and not discover the indifpenfible Engagements, which lie upon me, to make fome fuitable Return? And what Return is poffible, what fo proper, fo acceptable, as that of a thankful Heart; a diligent Improvement of this Mercy; a Life, in every Part of it, entirely dedicated to Him, who hath ftrengthened his Title now yet more, and made it upon fo many Accounts his own?

V. I will

1

V. I will therefore be frequently acting over again thofe Solemn Exercises of Repentance, performed in the Bitterness of my Soul; and by the Repetition fhew, that the good Thoughts I entertained, continue to be the calm and fettled Senfe of my more compofed Mind. I will strictly examine, what Faults committed, what Duties neglected, or but flightly performed, what Abufes, or what Failures in a right Improvement of Health heretofore, might probably have provoked God, to caft me upon the Bed of Sickness, and reduce me to fuchExtremity of Suffering. I will thank the Lord for giving me warning by this Affliction; but efpecially for touching and foftning my Heart, and infpiring me with godly Sorrow, and holy Purposes. And to my own Endeavours I will add my moft fervent Prayers, that the Continuance of his Grace may, out of this painful Chaftifement, produce the peaceable and bleffed Fruits of Righteousness and faithful Perfeverance. To this end I will not fail, frequently to renew my good Refolutions; to cherish and keep up in my Soul all heavenly Difpofitions, by conftant private Prayer and serious Reflection; by attending duly upon the Publick Worfhip; by reading, and hearing, and confcientiously applying God's Holy Word to my present Circumstances and Neceffities; by letting flip none of the precious Opportunities for ftrengthening my Faith and other Chriftian Virtues, in the Sacrament of my dear Redeemer's Body and Blood. I will take heed to all my Ways, be upon my Guard against all Temptations and Occafions of Sinning, moderate in my moft lawful Pleafures and Enjoyments, and diligent in all the Duties, which the feveral Relations wherein I stand,and theState of Life to which I am appointed by Providence, require of me. I will fet a watch before my Mouth, and keep the Door of my Lips, that I offend not in my Tongue. I will take heed, that I hurt not Pf.cxli.3. xxxix.1.

any

any Man, by Thought, Word, or Deed; but will extend my Charity, as I am able, to all Mankind. To the poor diftreffed Members of my Bleffed Saviour, by fuch Succours, as Their Condition ftands in need of, and Mine qualifies me to give: To others, by my good Advice, and feasonable Instruction; To all, by my Prayers and good Wishes, and the powerful Motive of a pious Example: And even to my Enemies, by Meeknefs and Forgiveness, even as God, for Chrift's fake, hath had Compaflion on Me. I will make it my Business to become every Day more in Love with Religion; and to make all with whom I converfe fo; that I may, in fome Measure give a Check to the Abominations of this degenerate Age in which I live, and adorn the Doctrine of our Lord Jefus Christ, or at least fave my felf from this untoward Generation. In a word, I will be fure that the Senfe of God's Mercies (of this Laft in particular) may never depart out of my Mind; but live, and grow, and bring forth Fruit, and influence me powerfully, to the very last Hour of my Life.

VI. Nor think, my Soul, that any Refolutions can be too ftrict, any Endeavour too much, upon this Occafion. For, after all that is come upon me for my Ezra ix. 13. evil Deeds, and for my great Trespass, feeing that my God hath punished me less than my Iniquities deferve, and bath given me fuch a Deliverance as This 3 Verse 14. Should I again break his Commandments, Would be not then be angry with me till he had consumed me, so that there should be no escaping? O Lord, my God, thou art righteous, for I remain yet Verse 15. efcaped; but let not, I befeech thee, this Mercy, by being forgotten or abufed, turn to my ut→ ter and eternal Condemnation. For, that this must be the fad Confequence of fuch Ingratitude at laft, not only thy Word hath told me, but I can plainly gather it from my own Reafon and Experience. I feel what

Indignation the Unkindness of Perfons, whom I have particularly obliged, kindles in my Breaft; I find, that no Sort of Refentment is more uneafy, no Provocation harder to be born; than that, which arises from the Injuries and Affronts of thofe unworthy People, who prefume upon my Friendship to ufe me ill. And can I fuppofe, That the juft and jealous God will not call Them to a fevere Account, who turn his Grace into Wantonnefs, and, when they live by Miracles of Bounty and Long-fuffering, live fo, as to difhonour Him, and reproach the Patience that fpared them? The more fignal and particular his Goodness hath been, the heavier and more infupportable, no doubt, will be that Wrath, which hardened and impenitent Wretches treasure up to themselves, against the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judg ment of God. So that our Bleffed Lord's Admonition to the impotent Man, is in Effect the Voice of Reason, and every Man's own Conscience. Each Affliction, Each Escape calling out loudly to the Re

Rom. ii.

ceiver, Sin no more, left a worfe thing come John v. 14,

unto thee.

And how indeed can it be expected, that infinitely worse should not come, when neither Severity will drive, nor Compaffion and Kindness lead to Amendment, when neither Correcting, nor Sparing, can do any good? The Circumstances of thofe Men are dangerous, whofe Diftemper only is ftrong: But Theirs muft needs be defperate and mortal, whofe very Remedies feed and inflame their Difeafe. If Pruning and Manuring be both in vain, the next Sentence upon the barren Fig-tree is, Cut it down, why cumbereth it the Ground? The Axe is already Luke xiii. laid to the Root, and if it be lifted up to give the fatal Stroke, the End of every Tree, which bringeth not forth good Fruit, we are exprefly told fhall be, to be burnt with unquenchable Fire. B b

Matth. iii.

VII.