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SERM.III. felf.

We seldom have that Charity which covers a Multitude of Faults in our Neighbours ; and we much feldomer want that Self-Love which covers a Multitude of Faults in ourselves. The Truth is, the Bulk of Mankind do not reflect upon what they do There could not be so many unkind Things faid or done, and fo many kind ones omitted by thofe, who are not void of a Sense of Religion; if they took a Survey of every Thing that paffed. What is indeed notorious, extraordinary, and out of the common Road in our Conduct, will engage our Attention: For what is notorious and glaring, forces itself upon our Obfervation : But upon what is common, ordinary, and frequent, in our Intercourfe with one another, we feldom reflect at all, or at leaft very transiently. Single Acts of Sin may be owing to fome violent Sally of Paffion; but a continued Course of Sinning, in any one Inftance, must be owing to SelfDeceit, occafioned by Want of Self-Reflection, or to the delufive Hopes of repenting fome Time or other. For a Man cannot otherwise conftantly allow himself, in the Practice of what he conftantly condemns. Without Self-Reflection, a Man may have

every Vice under the Sun, without knowing SERM.III. he has any; provided he has it not in a high Degree.

Confider not what the World thinks of fuch a Crime, but what it is in itself. For the World, in Matters of Opinion, is swayed more by Authority than Argument; in Matters of Practice, by Example than Rule; and in few Things is governed by pure Reafon only. Are you as apprehenfive of a Mistake, as cautious not to take wrong Measures, as vigilant and circumspect in your grand Concernment, your eternal Welfare ; as you would be in Cafes on which your Life and Fortune depended ? If you are, you will feldom act amifs: If you are not, you shew that a Worldly Temper prevails more with you, than the Hopes of God's Favour, and the Defire of Salvation. Many excellent Books are written, many weekly Lectures are continually founding in our Ears, with all the Strength of Reasoning, and Beauty of Eloquence, to perfuade us to What? one would think it fhould be fomething feemingly hurtful and difadvantageous to us.-No, no fuch Thing. It is only to perfuade us, what, one would think, is no difficult Matter, and yet is the moft

SERM.III. moft difficult of all, that we would not make ourselves eternally miferable, that we would endeavour after Eternal Happiness. For one, that perishes for Want of knowing his Duty, there are Numbers, who are loft for ever, for Want of seriously confidering it, and laying it to Heart. But I am perfuaded better Things of you, my Brethren; you will reflect, that if there be not another World, there is fcarce any Thing worth Living for here; and if there be, our main Concern in This, is to fit, ourselves for That.

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But this brings me, IIIdly, and lastly, To conclude with a fhort Address to you. It fignifies little, what Notions, a Perfon fo obfcure and undistinguished as I am, entertain. But fince feveral Perfons have been, without juft Grounds, fufpected of believing differently from what they profefs, and to have an inward Doctrine, which they reserve to themselves, or communicate only to fome few felect Friends; I here declare, in the Prefence of God, that I am fully perfuaded of the Truth of Christianity, and the important Doctrines thereof, which I have, during the Space of nine Years, oft inculcated

inculcated to you; that I chufe to live, and SERM.III. hope to die in that Perfuafion; that, after having read the moft confiderable Books that have been written againft it, I do not know any Objection, but what has received repeated and fatisfactory Anfwers. A thorough Chriftian in Principle, I wish I was as good a one in my Practice: and then I should, in fome Measure, deserve that Approbation, with which you have honoured

me.

I heartily thank you, that you have candidly overlooked my numerous Defects, kindly accepted my well-meant Endeavours to serve you, both from the Desk and from the Pulpit; and, what is more, generously encouraged them. And, to your other Obligations, which you have conferred on me, be pleased to add this, which will be the greatest Obligation of all, viz. to make Me, in fome Degree, inftrumental to your Salvation, by deliberately weighing what I have laid down.

They are the last Words of a departing, though not a dying Friend; and let them therefore make a fuitable Impreffion. Quit not your Religion, your Truft in God, your Virtue, for any Pleasure or Profit, which

SERM.III. this World can give, for the World itself.

For all the Profit and Pleasure this World can give, this World itself may shortly be nothing to you: But Religion and Virtue will make you happy, when Life's idle Employments, and it's idler Follies, when the World, when Time fhall be no more. Falfe Friends will forfake you, and true Friends may either leave you through neceffary Avocations, or they may be divided from you by Death: Falfe Friends will ftand afar off in the Day of Trouble, and even true Friends can, in fome Cafes, ftand only looking upon your Misery, afflicted indeed in all your Affliction, but without any Power to ease your Calamities: But God is a prefent Friend, infinitely powerful and good, in all Cafes, at all Times, in all Places; He is able to hear us, wherefoever difperfed; and to relieve us, howsoever diftreffed Almost every Thing may feparate us from other Friends; But neither Life nor Death, nor Principalities nor Powers, nothing but Sin, can separate us from Him, and the bleffed Influences of his Prefence.

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Some there have been here, and fome there are here, to whom I am in a parti

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