as he tempted Chrift himself, fo he hath ever fince molested Christians; and often suggested the worst of Things to the best of Men. Our Words indeed, notwithstanding fuch Temptations, we may for the most Part restrain: but we can by no Means always prevent Impresfions being made on our Imaginations: and how strongly soever any one may experience them to be made on his, ftill the wicked Thoughts, which he laments all the while, is terrified at, and almost in Agonies about, certainly do not proceed from his own Will and Choice; and for that Reason, far from being unpardonable Sins, they are in Truth no Sins at all; but grievous Afflictions, for which God will hereafter reward him, if he endeavours to fuffer them patiently. This you would immediately perceive, and say, in the Cafe of any other Perfon: and therefore, when Occafion requires, you should say it to yourself. But if you cannot, or if it proves to no great Purpose, nay to fo little that you are driven to the very Borders of Despair, yet Defpair itself, fo far as it is a mere Disease, is not an Offence against God.

But then, how remote foever we are from committing the Sin, which cannot be pardoned; we may too eafily commit fuch, as 04 will

will not be pardoned: for none will, without true Repentance. And every Tranfgreffion either invites or drives us into repeated and worfe Tranfgreffions, which infenfibly fo barden us through their Deceitfulness', that though, while the Day of Salvation continues, we always may repent, it becomes less and lefs likely, that we ever fhall. And even if we do, we shall, notwithstanding, even in this World, ufually be great Sufferers one Way or another: and, unless we become uncommonly zealous in our Duty, fhall attain a much lower Degree of Happiness in the next. Bear in your Minds therefore the Son of Sirach's Words: Flee from Sin, as from the Face of a Serpent: for if thou comeft too near it, it will bite thee: the Teeth thereof are as the Teeth of a Lion, flaying the Souls of Men. All Iniquity is as a two-edged Sword, the Wounds whereof cannot be healed': cannot be healed at all, without Danger and Difficulty and Pain; nor fo perfectly at best, but that still either Weaknefs, or Scars and Deformities however, will be left behind. Let us therefore carefully avoid all Sin: but particularly avoid all Sins relating

q Heb. iii. 13.

9 2 Cor. vi. 2.

Ecclus. xxi. 2, 3.

to

the Holy Ghoft, and practise all Duties relating to him that so, abiding in his Fellowship, being fupported by his Teftimony, and rejoicing in his Comfort, we may at length be fealed with the Spirit of Promife, the Earnest of that Inheritances, to which, &c.

8 Eph. i. 13, 14.

SER

SERMON X.

MATTH. xii. 36.

But I fay unto you,

that every idle Word, that Men fhall fpeak, they shall give Account thereof in the Day of Judgment.

UR bleffed Saviour, whenever his Hearers were Perfons of well-difpofed Minds, and free from Prejudices, taught them the Duties of Religion in the plainest Terms. But Length of Time, and Difference of Language, have made fome of his Expreffions, even on fuch Occafions, hard to be underftood, or liable to be misunderstood: and hence, unless we are both upright and confiderate, may arise Mistakes of great Importance. For if we interpret these Paffages with too much Indulgence to ourselves, as human Nature is very prone to do, we corrupt the Purity of his Precepts, and endanger

our