RESOLUTION I

I am refolv'd, if poffible, to redeem my Time past, by using a double diligence for the future, to imploy and improve all the Gifts, and Endowments, both of Body, and Mind, to the Glory and Service of my great Creator.

TIme, Health, and Parts, are three precious Talents generally beftow'd upon Men, but feldom improv'd for GOD. To go no further than myfelf, how much Time and Health have I enjoy'd, by GOD's Grace, and how little of it have I laid out for his Honour? On the contrary, How oft have Ioffended, affronted, and provok'd him, even when he has been courting me with his Favours, and daily pouring forth his Benefits upon me? This, alas, is a fad Truth, which whenfoever I seriously reflect upon, I cannot but acknowledge the continuance of my Life as the greatest Inftance of GOD's Mercy and Goodhefs, as well as the greater Motive to my Gratitude and Obedience. In a due fenfe therefore of the

Vanities and Follies of my younger Years, I defire to take Shame to myfelf for what is paft, and do, this Morning, humbly proftrate myself before the Throne of Grace, to implore GOD's Pardon, and to make folemn Promifes and Refolutions, for the future, to Caft off the works of darkness, and to put on the armour of light, And not only fo, but to redeem the precious Minutes I have fquander'd away, by hufbanding thofe that remain to the belt advantage. I will not trifle and fin' away my Time in the Pleafures of Senfe, or the Impertinencies of Bufinefs, but thall always employ it in things that are neceffary and ufeful, and proportion it to the weight and importance of the Work or Bufinefs I engage myself in allotting fuch a part of it for this Bufinefs, and fuch a part for that, fo as to leave no Intervals for unlawful, or unneceffary Actions, to thruft themselves in, and pol lute my Life and Conversation.

For fince it has pleas'd GOD to favour me with the Blefling of Health, and I am not certain how foon I may be de priv'd of it, and thrown upon a Bed of Sickness, which may deprive me of the ufe of my Reafon, or make me uncapable of any thing elfe, but grapling with my Diftemper; it highly concerns me to

make

make a due use of this Bleffing while I have it; to improve thefe Parts and Gifts that GOD has endow'd me with, to the manifestation of his Glory, the Salvation of my Soul, and the publick Good of the Community whereof I am a Member.

To thefe Ends, it will be requifite for me frequently to confider with myself, which way my weak Parts may be the most usefully employ'd, and to bend them to those Studies or Actions which they are naturally the most inclin'd to, and delighted in, with the utmoft vigour and application; more particularly in Spiritual Matters, to make ufe of all opportu nities for the convincing others of GOD's Love to them, and their Sins against GOD, of their Mifery by Nature, and Happinefs by CHRIST; and when the Truth of GOD happens to be any ways traduc'd or oppos'd, to be as Valiant in the defence of it, as its Enemies are violent in their Affaults against it. And as I thus refolve to employ my Inward Gifts and Faculties for the Glory and Service of GOD; fo

RESO

RESOLUTION II.

I am refolv'd, by the Divine Grace, to employ my Riches, the outward Bleffings of Providence, to the fame end; and to obferve fuch a due Medium in the difpenfing of them, as to avoid Frodigality on the one hand, and Covetousness on the other.

His, without doubt, is a neceffary

T Refolution, but it is likewife very,

difficult to put in practice, without a careful obfervance of the following Rules: Firft, Never to lavifh out my Subftance, like the Prodigal, in the Revels of Sin and Vanity, but after a due Provifion for the Neceffities and Conveniencies of Life, to lay up the overplus for the Ads of Love and Charity toward my Indigent Brethren. I muft confider the Ufes and Ends for which GOD has entrufted me with fuch and fuch Poffeflions; that they. were not given me for the pampering iny Body, the feeding my Lufts, or puffing me up with Pride and Ambition, but for advancing his Glory and my own, and

the

the Publick Good. But why do I fay given? When, as I before obferv'd, I have no Propriety in the Riches I poffefs: They are only lent me for a few Years, to be difpens'd and diftributed as my Great Lord and Mafter fees fit to appoint, viz. for the Benefit of the Poor and Neceflitous, which he has made his Deputies, to call for and receive his Money at my Hands. And this indeed is the best use I can put it to, for my own advantage, as well as theirs: For the Money I bestow upon the Poor, I give to GOD to lay up for me, and I have his infallible Word and Promise for it, that it shall be paid me again with unlimited Intereft, out of his Heavenly Treafure, which is Infinite, Eternal, and Inexhauftable. Hence it is, that whenfoever I fee any fit Object of Charity, methinks I hear the Moft High fay unto me, Give this poor Brother fo much of my Stock, which thou haft in thy Hand, and I will place it to thy Ac-, count, as given to myfelf, and Loak what thou layeft out, and it shall be paid thee again.

The fecond Rule is, Never to fpend a Peny, where it can be better fpar'd, nor to fpare it, where it can be better spent. And this will oblige me, whenfoever any occafion offers, of laying out Money, con

fiderately