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not they think fo of themfelves: Bacles! confider, that which is a fufficient gro nother to think well of us, is not a ground for us to think well of or fehui. outward deportment, free from (candam is a fufficient ground for another to thinks us, but we must feel fome in of Grace upon our hearts, before we own condition to be good. · 5. Comparing themselves with find they are not fo bad as many others. fecurity to any mans foul to be better except thofe others be in a fafe conditin

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6. The untroubledneffe of their Conf pard untroubledneß of Confcience is not an clare of a fafe condition. Some peace of Cofins, arifes from ignorance, fecurity, fleepiness fouls neffe, 'Fis one of Gods greatest judgmen bly n ford a man an untroubled Confcience in do re courfe. To be like Fomah, ready to be hear and yet faft afleep. But now the peace how Confcience ufually followes upon humiliant forrow for fin, and closing with Christ, tigh Signing the foul up to him for pardon and heart Such a Confcience does not only not a bri the flambring Confcience of a wicked massage but acquits, and discharges, and comforts pent Gospel grounds.

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7. They thrive and profper well in the min So they may, and yet have all their partin

his life, if they have no other evidence of Gods Favour.

8. God is merciful and ready ta pardon. 'Tis rue, the King of Heaven is a merciful King, pardoning iniquity, tranfgreffion and fin. But upon phat terms hach he promised pardon to finners? or our hope of pardon must have some promise in he Word for its bottom and foundation, or else we Bo but meerly delude our felves. And we must lfo know, that God is just, as well as merciful, and his threatnings are the object of our Faith, s well as his promifes. Try your hopes therefore, efore you trust them. Examine and prove wheher you are fuch to whom God hath promifed pardon, or no? Has God in the Scriptures delared he will pardon fin to any that go on in their ins, that repent not of them, nor betake their ouls to Christ for pardon and Grace? But poffily most ancient people will here tell me, they o repent, they do believe on Chrift with all their earts, and hope to be fav'd by him. But alas! ow miferably do many delude themselves both the nature of Repentance and Faith? never ghtly understanding what a repenting frame of tart means, nor what it is favingly to beleeve in brift. I defire them therefore to read over ace and again those two Chapters concerning Rentance and Faith (which are the fecond and ird in this part of the Treatife) and to exahine themselves thereby; that fo they may not

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think they are true penitents, and tramos. when indeed they are not. And let the pay heed of building their hopes of Heaven Teng deceiving foundations as thefe now mentine yet and VI. Ancient perfons fhould redeem t that yet remaines unto them, for the are of their falvation. They have but als ftay here, and they have a great deal on? to retract the fins of a long life, . their interest in Christ. They fhor tent themselves with a little formal the performance of fome few religi too many old people are apt to do. T rid themselves of worldly employmen neffes, and the cares of this life, () they can) that fo they may have thes to bestow upon their foules. Bernard were a good commodity in Hell, if it were bought. Oh how much would the day for a little time, wherein they might han and power to recover themselves out of ful fate? How much then should all young and old, prize and improve thes allowed us to fettle the great affairs of o before we go hence and be feen no more. VII. If they have not been well infraTM fore, they should think it no difparagr apply themfe'ves to their Minister orti faithfull, spiritual guide to be shewed and what they must do to be faved. If a travel

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most part of the day been travelling out of his way, (though it may trouble and vex him at length to understand his errour and wandring) yet there is no remedy for it, he must enquire and labour to get into the right way at last. Let old perfons confider, knowledge they mult have, or they will die in a fad condition: And therefore let them not ftand upon their terms, and think inftruction only belongs to young people. If the old be ignorant, the old muft be instruct d, or they will die in their fins. And therefore it willbe wifdem in all ancient people to af ociate themfelves with the most knowing and exerienced Chriftians, that they may thereby beefit their foules, and daily grow both in knowedge and Grace.

VIII. They fhould study to bring much honour nd glory to God in their latter daies, Tit.2.1.2. at peak thou the things which become found Dorine. That the aged men be fober, grave, temrate, found in Faith, in Charity, in pati

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1. They should be exemplary in piety and edneß, contrary to other trees, bringing forth oft fruit in their old age, Pfal.92. 14. They ill bring forth fruit in old age, they fhall be fat d flourishing. They fhould like old Noah, be eachers of righteousness to the younger fort, exorting them earnestly, to confecrate their youth d beft daies to God. Multitude of year's fhould teach

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teach wifdom, as tis, Fob 32.7.

2. They should be very charitable to the proportion of their eftates. And too many old covetous mifers do graß ie with a dying hand, Dan.4.27. Wheref let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, br fins by righteousness, and thine iniquities mercy to the poor, &c. Luke give almes of fuch things as you have, all things are clean unto you.

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IX. And Lastly, They fhould ditating on the four last things, an come, and make it their great bufinest! for their dißolution.

Tit.2.1. But speak thou the things wh found Doctrine.

V.2. That the aged men be fober, gr perate, found in Faith, in Charity,

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V.3. The aged women likewife, that behaviour as becometh holineffe, not cufers, nor given to much wine, teacher things.

V.4. That they may teach the young fober, to love their husbands, to children.

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V.5. To be difcreet, chaft, keepers & good, obedient to their own husbands, *. Word of God be not blafphemed.

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