SERM. Lot, and Daniel, have fo high an EncoXII. mium bestowed on them in Scripture,

and are recommended as Patterns of a ftrict, uncomplying Uprightness, to all fucceeding Ages. Further,

Sixthly, It is no flight Token of our Sincerity in Religion, if we are apt to suspect it, on the Account of little things; which is often the Case of very Devout Chriftians, and who have really the leaft Occafion to mistrust themselves, of any Men. Perfons of a Nice and Tender Confcience, very careful to please God, and very fearful of offending him, are, for that very Reason, prone to imagine that they fall infinitely fhort of their Duty, if they do not, in every refpect, exactly discharge it; and to disquiet themselves on this Account, with many Groundless Scruples and Terrors. Sometimes, the Principle, from whence their Repentance fprang, gives them great Uneafinefs; for they remember, that the Reformation of Heart and Life, in which they are now

well

well advanced, began at firft, not from SERM. a true and ardent Love of God, but XII. from the mere Dread of Punishment. Sometimes their Unequal Performance of Religious Duties dejects, and difpirits them; they find themfelves cold, and unmoved, when they are upon their Knees; in the most Solemn and Raising Parts of the Service, and even at the Reception of the Bleffed Sacrament itfelf, they do not feel an holy Warmth kindling in their Hearts, nor their Mind melting under the Impreffions that are then made upon it: And they conclude therefore, that there is a Vein of Hypocrify running through all these Performances, which makes them Worthless, and Unacceptable. Now thefe, and fuch as thefe, I fay, are, for the most part, the Doubts and Mifgivings of the fincerely Good and Pious; for they are fuch as feldom trouble the Confciences of Men of a different Character: And therefore, thofe very Scruples, which difturb good Chriftians fo much, would, if rightly understood, give them Mat

XII. ment; their

SERM. ter of found Comfort and Encouragevery Doubts concerning the Goodness of their State, are, if they had but the Heart to think fo, a fure Reason why they should not doubt of it. Let not then the true Saints and Servants of God perplex and afflict themselves with fuch Difficulties; let them not give up Religion, by their Means, to the Laughter and Scorn of Prophane Men, who, from a few fuch Inftances as these, take Pleasure to reprefent it, as refiding only in weak Brains, as the Employment of Melancholy, and Difeafed Minds; and who stick not, in the Gayety of their Hearts, to fay, that a strict Piety is good for nothing, but to make the Owners of it troublesome to themfelves, and Ufelefs to the rest of the World. O, let not any one, who wishes well to Goodness, differve the Interest of it more, by his unreasonable Scruples, than he promotes it, by his Exemplary Practice! But let him refolve to fummon up all his Reasoning Powers, and to set them in Array against these infignificant

fignificant Phantafms and Illufions, SERM. which would certainly retire before this XII. fingle Reflection, (had a Man but the Courage to make and to believe it) that fuch Niceties dwell ufually there, where there is least Need of them, and are a real Sign of that Sincere Piety, the Want of which Thofe, who thus unhappily fuffer under them, deplore.

Seventhly, Another fure Token of our Sincerity in Religion, is, when we delight to read the Holy Scriptures, and have a favory Taste and Relifh of them; when we find somewhat more in them than in mere Human Writings, and are apt to settle into a pious Composure of Mind while we are perufing them. When we come to them with Satisfaction and Eagerness, and are uneafy under any long Discontinuance of our Conversation with them. This is the Token and Character, by which the experienced Pfalmift teaches us to know a good Man. His Delight (faith he) is in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law doth

be

Pfal. i. 2.

SERM, he meditate Day and Night. 'Tis true, XII. it may fometimes happen, that a Perfon of a found and fincere Piety fhall read the Holy Scriptures, without being much warmed, or affected with them. He may be under an Indifpofition and Languor of Mind; the Business, or Pleasures of Life, and Worldly Objects may now and then take Poffeffion of his Heart, and shut the Door against Spiritual Impreffions; but then this is not a Common and every Day's Cafe; he is for the most part well difpofed and affected towards this Divine Employment; Pr. cxix. his Appetite is generally awakened, and his Tafte very good; and he rejoiceth in God's Word, as one that findeth great Luk.xxiv Spoils. Did not our Heart burn within us (faid the good Disciples) while he talked with us by the Way, and while be opened to us the Scriptures. But if a Man can frequently perufe thofe facred Pages, without any Degree of fenfible Emotion and Concern, without being touched any ways by the Matter of them, or awed by the Majeftick Man

162.

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