Gift of God; the diftinguishing Character of his Chofen; the fure Pledge of everlafting Salvation; for it raifes a Man's Affections from Earth to Heaven, and changes him from Flesh to Spirit. And, because these two Principles are acted by fuch different Motives, proceed in fuch different Methods, and pursue fuch differing Ends; therefore, in proportion as Nature is weakened and fubdued, the larger Meafures of Grace are imparted, the more Mens Virtues are improved, and the glorious Image of God renew'd in their Hearts, by holy and heavenly Difpofitions.

CHA P. LX.

The Weakness of Corrupt Nature, and Efficacy of

Difciple.]

Gen.i. 24.

Pet. i.

T

Divine Grace.

Hou haft indeed, my God, created me in thy own Image after thy Likeness, and commanded me to be holy, as thou thy felf art boly. O grant me, I beseech thee, that Favour and Affiftance, which thy own Word hath taught me, is fo important, *fo abfolutely neceffary to Salvation; that I may vanquish my own Nature, whofe Inclinations are now fo degenerate, fo corrupt, that they have a ftrong and conftant tendency to Sin and Death. For I feel and lament a Law of Sin in my Body warring continually against the Law of my Mind, drawing me to Compli ance with the fleshly and fenfual Appetite, and difabling me from any refolute Refiftance against its fatal Motions, except thy Divine Grace, pour in fresh Succours, and help me to ftand in the Day of Battel. Lord, I have need not only of thy Grace, but of very plentiful and powerful Communications of it, to

Rom. vii.

turn the Byafs of Nature, which from my very Infancy, preponderates to Evil. For this Infection is derived from the first Parent of Mankind and the Punishment of his Offence diffufed upon his whole Pofterity; fo that the Human Nature, which came pure and good out of thy creating hand, is tainted and perverted, and all the Motions now remaining draw the wrong way, and bend to Sin and Earth.

The little Power left in us to do good is like a very fmall Spark covered with a huge Heap of Embers: Light of Reafon clouded with a thick noifom Mift of Darkness and Error: And, though by this all the Diftinctions of Good and Evil, of Truth and Falsehood are not utterly loft, yet the Power of performing what our better Senfe approves is gone; the Light of Truth is dim and feeble, and the Integrity of our Minds and Affections is blemished, and diverted from attending to it impartially. Hence it comes to pafs, that, though fometimes I am delighted with thy Law in the inner Man, and fully convinced, that the Commandment is holy, and juft, and good, condemning Wickedness, and warning me of the Rocks and Precipices, which in fteering my Courfe through the Waves of this troublesome World, I must be watchful to avoid ; yet ftill with the Flefh. I ferve the Law of Sin, and find a greater Difpofition to follow Luft and Senfe, than to be governed by Reason and Religion. Hence I fo often feel the Will to do well; but how to perform what I thus will, I find not. Hence I often make and repeat good Refolutions with great Sincerity; but, for want of thy Affiftance to counterpoife my Infirmities, quickly fall from my own Stedfaftnefs, and am beaten off with the very approach of Difficulty and Oppofition. Hence I difcern the Way I should walk in; but when I am informed of my Duty, and endeavour to raise my felf above the World and its Temptations, a fatal innate Weight

·S 2

Rom. vii.

draws

draws me down again, and checks my Soul in its intended Flights to Heaven and Thee.

How abfolutely needful then, my God, is thy Grace to help me in beginning, in carrying on, in accomplishing every good Work! fince without it I can do nothing, and yet with it can do even all things; yet not I, Lord, but Thou, who art in me, and ftrengtheneft me. O Gift truly Divine! without which no Defert of Man, no Endowments or Qualifications of Nature, are of any worth or fignificance at all! Sciences and Arts, Riches and Power, Beauty and Strength, Wit and Eloquence, What are they, Lord, or what to be accounted of, if not feconded, affifted, exalted, perfected by Grace? These are Accomplishments diftributed promifcuously to Good and Bad, but Grace is a Gift peculiar to thy Children and Chofen; and fuch as renders the happy Men that have it worthy of Eternal Life and Happiness. A Gift fo fingularly excellent, that neither the Gift of Prophecy, nor the Power of working Miracles, nor the Understanding of fublimeft and most abftrufe Myfteries; nor Faith, nor Hope, nor any other Virtue or Privilege can recommend us to God without it.

O bleffed Efficacy of Grace! which makes the Poor in Spirit rich in Virtue and Good Works; and that Man fo enriched, humble and poor in Spirit! Come, heavenly Gift, defcend from above, fhed thy felf into my Soul, and fill every dark Corner there with Light and Comfort; rouze and shake off my Sloth, moiften the dry Soil, and command Fruitfutnefs out of that barren Ground. Vouchsafe Lord, this

Bleffing; for this alone is fufficient for me, though thou fhouldft think fit to deny or withdraw all, that Nature can either beftow or is mcft fond of acquiring. Give me but this Defence, and no Temptation fhalt confound me, no Calamity difmay or make me afraid. For this alone is Strength and Courage, Wisdom and

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Protection; ftronger than all my Enemies, and wifer than all Human Counfels and Contrivances; the Teacher of Truth, the Mistress of holy Difcipline, the Light of the Soul, the Solace of Troubles, the Refolver of Doubts, the Balm of my Wounds, the Difpeller of Melancholy, the Banifher of Fear, the Cherifher of Devotion, the Parent of Contrition, the Spring of holy Tears, and all thofe Streams that wash and purge Polluted Confciences. What am I without this but dry Stubble, a rotten Trunk, dead to good Works, useless and unprofitable, and fit for nothing but to be trodden under Foot, and caft into the Fire? Let therefore, O my God, I most humbly and hearti ly entreat; O! let this Grace and Favour of thine always prevent and fellow, and make me continually to be given to all good Works; that in all my Actions begun, continued and ended in Thee, I may glorifie thy Holy Name; and finally by thy Merey, obtain Everlasting Life. Amen, Amen.

Collect for

xvii. Sunday Collect after Communion.

after Trinity.

CHAP. LXI.

Self denial enforced from Chrift's Example.

TH

Chrift.] THE more, my Son, thou forfakeft thy felf, the nearer Approaches thou makeft toward Me: As the Defires and intemperate Love of Things without, muft be difcarded in order to the Peace of one's own Breaft; fo even the Love of one's own Self must be laid aside in order to a perfect Union with God. Learn therefore abfolutely to deny thy own Will for mine, without Contradiction or Complaint. Follow Me; I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Without the Way can be no Walking, with

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out the Truth no Knowledge; without the Life no Living: Keep then in thisWay, for it is unalterable; believe in this Truth, for it is infallible; hope for, and afpire to this Life, for it is true, happy and eternal Life. Continue in my Way, and thou fhalt know the Truth, and the Truth fhall make thee free, that thou may'ft inherit Everlafting Life. If thou Matth. xix. wilt enter into Life, keep the Commandments. If thou wilt know the Truth, believe my Words. If thou wilt be perfect, fell that thou haft. If thou wilt fave thy Life hereafter, defpife it here. If thou wilt be exalted in Heaven, abafe thy felf upon Earth. If thou defire to reign with me, take up the Crofs with me. For none but they who imitate my Cross, are in the right Way to Happiness and true Glory.

.

Difciple.] This Way, O Lord, is ftrait and rugged, fuch as the World decline, and cannot endure to think of; therefore I beg, thy Grace would enable me to defpife the World, and diffent from the General Opinion of Men, in compliance with thy Command and Example. For the Servant is not greater than bis Lord, nor the Difciple above his Mafter. Let thy Servant then be guided in thy Steps, for with thee is Life and true Holinefs. And all I read or hear from any other hand, gives me no Refreshment, no true Delight.

John XV.

Chrift.] If thou knowest these things, my Son, happy art thou, if thou do them. For Practice, and not Knowledge,fhall inherit the Bleffing. He that keepeth my Commandments and doth

John xiii.
John xiv.

them, be it is that loveth me, and I will love bim in return, and manifeft my felf to him, and fet him upon a Throne with me in my Father's Kingdom. Difciple.] Lord, make me a Partaker of this Gracious Promife. The Crofs which I have received from thy Hand,I will bear with conftancy even unto Death.

The