deavour to know the State of our Condition with Refpect to the Almighty's Favour, who can crush us in a Moment, who hath Power not only to kill but to cast into Hell. Be not afraid (faith our Saviour) of them, which kill the Body, and, after that, have no more, that they can do. But I will fore-warn you, whom ye shall fear. Fear him, who, after he hath killed, hath Power to caft into Hell. Yea I fay unto you, fear Him. There cannot be a more neceffary Step towards checking the Progress of Vice, and fupplying whatever may be defective in our Conduct, than a regular Method of calling over our Accounts, and examining what. good Ufe we have made of our Time, and what Improvement of the Talents intrufted to us. Confider but one Moment, how many unrepented Sins of O-· miffion, as well as of Tranfgreffion, we may be ftoring up against the Day of Wrath, if we let them pass unnoticed; and what Strength our diforderly Inclinations and

Paffions

Paffions may gain over us for want of being reftrained in due Time, Let us then refolve thus to judge ourselves, best we be judged of the Lord. Let us faithfully endeavour to be well acquainted with the State and Temper of our own Hearts. And let us not be difcouraged by the Appearance of a little extraordinary Labour, which may attend the first Entering upon fuch a Practice, nor by the unpleafing Effect, which may at first arise from a near and impartial View of our own Conduct. But rather let us look forward to the happy Confequence, which will follow of Course ere long. For it will not fail to make us better Men; and thereby lead us to the Poffeffion of that Jewel of great Price, a felf-approving Mind: for which if a Man fhould give all, that he hath in the World, he could not be faid to pay too dear. On this Day particularly we ought to examine ourselves, and recall to our Minds in what Männer

we

we have spent the Week: whether a greeably to our Duty towards God, and confiftently with our Dependence on Him, or in Compliance with our own headstrong Appetites and wilful Inclinations; whether we have conducted ourselves in fuch a Manner, that we may reasonably look on ourselves as in a State of Friendship with our heavenly Father, or we have been fo blind and prefumptious, as to turn our Backs on Him, and provoke Him to withdraw His Bleffing and Favour. And herein we must attentively confider, whether we have done our Duty to our Neighbour: "which is the only Teft of the Sincerity. "of our Love towards God." We muft ftrictly recollect whether we have shown ourselves truly charitable and kind-hearted towards all, that have fallen in our Way: embracing gladly every proper Opportunity of doing Good to them, and also viewing every Part of their Behaviour in the fame favourable Light, as

we should think it right for others to view and judge our Conduct.

It is abfolutely incumbent upon us, to examine ourselves well on every Point of Duty. For, though we may find Means to deceive even our own Confcience for a Time, no one Tranfgreffion can escape the piercing Eye of the Almighty who will reward every Man according to his Deeds. If our Conscience in any Point condemn us, we must humble ourselves before God without Delay. With a truly penitent Heart we must acknowledge our Guilt, and befeech His Pardon for Chrift's fake. We must earnestly implore God's Grace to strengthen us; and faithfully refolve to be more watchful and more guarded for the Time to come.

If we could be perfuaded to be fo much our own true Friends, as "to prepare ourselves diligently by fuch an Exercise

"Exercife as this every Sunday Morn

ing, before we come to join in pub"lic Devotion," our Prayers, not going forth of feigned Lips, would doubtlefs be accepted; and we should foon experience the happy Effects. We should find ourselves free'd from a heavy Clog, which for ever preffes down the Soul, whilft at a Distance from God. And we fhould joyfully advance in the bright Paths of His Laws, "whofe Service is 'perfect Freedom.”

THE E N D.