ration at first View. We are all on Fire to gain Poffeffion of them; not fuffering ourfelves to confider the Vanity and intrinfic Worthleffness of them; nor what a Weight of Woe and Sorrow we must undergo from the Attainment. The Importunity of fenfual Objects too often overbeareth our Reason; the Hurry of our Paffions carrieth us on in a full Career, to commit all Manner of Wickedness; and we rafhly refolve to take our Fill of Pleasure, and to give a Loose to unbounded Defire, whilft the Interest of our immortal Souls lieth unregarded and unthought of. Our Folly is not more remarkably confpicuous in any one Thing, than in this abfurd and unaccountable Conduct. To what End were the Powers and Faculties of our Souls beftowed upon us, but to reafon and reflect within ourselves upon the Fitness and Unfitness of Things; to deliberate and examine into the Goodnefs and Depravity of our Actions; to compare and find out the Difference betwixt Vice and Virtue; and when we have found out what is good and profitable for

us,

us, to embrace and purfue it with the most steady and fixed Attention, and not permit the false and tricking Appearances of Things to divert us from it? To forfeit our Innocence and Virtue to gratify a deluded Appetite, is to buy Repentance at too dear a Rate. The Welfare of our Souls is a Point of the utmost Concern and Importance. We cannot exprefs too much Care in the Preservation of them. The Rewards of Virtue, and the Punishments of Vice, are not to continue for a fhort Space, and then to cease for ever; but are of endless Duration, fixed by an irrevocable Decree, which nothing can alter. It muft, therefore, be a Piece of Wisdom to confider our Ways, and call them to Remembrance, that we may turn our Feet unto the Teftimonies of the Lord, and thereby fecure to ourselves the bleffings of eternal Life.

Confideration is the first Step towards Repentance. When we look into ourselves, and weigh the Folly and Vanity of those Delights, wherein we have wasted so much of our precious Time, we then perceive

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for what worthless Trifles we have been feduced from the Paths of Virtue. flection quickly fheweth us how dearly we have purchased the short and momentary Enjoyments of this World; when for them we have forfeited our Innocence; are become the Children of Shame and Difgrace, and (without Repentance) Heirs of eternal Condemnation. This awakes us from that Lethargy under which we have been fo long detained; fheweth us what abject Slaves we have been to Sin and the Devil; and fetteth before us our Folly in ferving fuch Mafters, whofe Wages is everlasting Death.

Thefe Reflections indeed have not always that Effect upon us which they ought to have. In our Health and Prosperity we are too apt to throw them afide, and to say with Felix, go for the prefent, and when we have a convenient Opportunity we will call for We abuse the Mercy and Goodness of God, and inftead of fuffering them to lead us to Repentance, make Use of them as Arguments for our further Difobe

you.

dience. Profperity too often tempteth us to forget God; or perhaps, because he be ftoweth good Things upon us, we think ourselves fecure of his Favour; or what is worse, imagine we may with much fafety proceed in our evil Courfes fome Years longer; and that then it will be Time enough to take up and reform. and reform. Fulness of Bread, and Plenty of all Things, caused God's chofen People to rebel against him; and we too often see how Affluence and Plenty difpofe Men to commit thofe Things which God hath condemned, without Senfe of Shame, or Fear of Punishment. But when it pleaseth God to write bitter Things against us, and to make us poffefs our former Iniquities, we then begin to find that we have fed hitherto upon Husks, upon the Shadow and Appearance of Happiness; but never tafted the Subftance, nor knew what real Happiness was. Thus, whilft his Money lafted, the Prodigal Son never thought of returning to his Father; riotous Living was more agreeable to his depraved Temper. He could not bear the Thought of quitting

his

his dear Enjoyments, or putting a Reftraint upon his Lufts, to live foberly in his Father's Houfe. But when the Fountain which fupplied his Extravagance and Luxury was exhausted and fpent, and Poverty and Want came upon him, like an armed Man, then he began to come to himself. His Afflictions taught him Wisdom, and he refolved, if it was poffible, to regain his Father's Love, if not as a Son, yet as a Servant. And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired Servants of my Father have Bread enough and to spare, and I perish with Hunger! I will arife and go to my Father.

Seeing then, that the Want of Confideration layeth us open to fuch great Evils, it may not be amifs to enquire briefly, wherein it confifteth; to fhew how far it is our Duty; and to lay before you the Advantages of it.

When God created Man, he infused into him a reasonable Soul; gave him a Power of calling to Mind his paft Actions, and of paffing Judgment concerning the moral Goodness or Turpitude of them. Co` fide