71. THUS we fee there is a concurrence of all forts of arguments for this Duty: oh that fome (at leaft) of them may prevail! If we are not tractable enough to do it in Obedience, yet let us be fo ingenuous as to do it for Love, for Gratitude; or if for neither of these, let us be at least fo wife as to do it for intereft and advantage. I know people are apt to pretend business, the farm and the oxen muft excufe their coming to the feaft; but alas! what bufinefs can there be of equal neceffity or advantage to this? Yet even that apology is fuperfeded to those I now speak to, who, as I obferv'd before, have leasure more than enough, fo that it would be one part of the benefit, it's taking up fome of their time: let me therefore earneftly befeech them not to grudge a few of their vacant hours to this fo happy an employment.

72. DID any of their near friends and relations invite them to an interview, they would not think him too importunate, tho' he repeated the fummons weekly, nay daily; but would punctually. obferve the meeting and when their Saviour much feldomer entreats their company, fhall he not obtain it? muft he never fee them but at two or three folemn times of the year? And fhall they wonder at any intervening invitation (as the Shunamite's husband did at her going to the Prophet, when it was neither new moon nor Sabbath,

2 Kings

2 Kings 4. 23.) and tell him 'tis not yet Eafter or Christmas: this were not only to be irreligious, but rude; and, methinks, those who stand fo much upon the punctilio's of civility one to another, fhould not then only lay afide their good manners, when they are to treat with their Redeemer. Certainly he is not fo unpleasant company, that they need fhun his converfe; if he do appear fo to any, 'tis that fhunning that is the cause of it. He do's not open his treasures to ftrangers: they that come now and then for form fake, no wonder if their entertainment be as cold as their address. They that would indeed taft how sweet the Lord is, Pfalm 34. 8. muft by the frequency of their coming, fhew the heartiness of it, and then they would indeed find it a feast of fat things, as the Prophet speaks.

"

73. In a word, let them but make experiment, refolve for a certain time (be it a year or thereabouts) to omit no opportunity, (and withall no due preparation) of Communicating; I am a little confident they will afterwards need no other importunity, but that of their own longings: the expiration of that definite time, will prove the beginning of an indefinite, and their refolutions will have no other limit but their lives. For certainly there is not in all the whole myftery of godlinefs, in all the oeconomy

of

of the Gospel, fo expedite, fo infallible a means of growth in grace, as a frequent and worthy participation of this bleffed Sacrament. I cannot therefore more pertinently clofe this Section, than with this exhortation to it, by which they will not only compleat all their devotions, crown and hallow the rest of their oblations to God, but they will be advanc'd alfo in all parts of practi cal Piety. For tho this and other facred of fices be perform'd in the Church's the efficacy of them is not circumfcrib'd within thofe walls, but follows the devout Soul through all the occurrences of human life, one

74 SHE that has intently confider'd the prefence of God in the Sanctuary, has learn'd fo much of his Ubiquity, that he will not cafily forget it in other places, and the that remembers that, will need no other guard to fecure her innocence, no other incentive to animate her endeavours, fince he is view'd by him who is equally powerfull to punish or reward, who regards not the perfons of the mighty, nor can be aw'd into the conni vance of a crime. Indeed a ferious adver- t tence to the divine prefence, is the most cer- i tain curb to all diforderly appetites, as on the contrary, the not having God before their eyes, is in Scripture the most comprehenfive defcription of the moft wretched profligated ftate of fin. It concerns therefore all those

who

who afpire to true Piety, to nourish that awfull fenfe in their hearts, as that which will best enable them to practife the Apostle's advice, 2 Cor. 7. 1. To cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and fpirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God.

75. I am fenfible that this Section is fpun out to a length very unproportionable to the former; but as the principal wheel in an artificial movement, may be allow'd a bulk somewhat answerable to it's ufe, fo upon the fame account, the fize of this is not unjuftifiable; the Piety which this defigns to recommend, being the one neceffary thing, which muft influence all other endowments. We know the coarse refemblance Solomon makes of a fair woman without difcretion, that he is like a jewel of Gold in a wine's fnout, Prov. 11. 22. but even that discretion (if any fuch could be) without Piety, were but the adding one jewel more, expofing another valuable thing to the fame despicable ridiculous ufe. But to fpeak truly, there is no real difcretion, where there is no Religion: and therefore Solomon feems in this place to understand by it that practical wisdom, which in the facred Dialect, (his writings efpecially) is equivalent to the fear of the Lord. 'Tis true, there may be a rallying wit to fcoff and abuse, a ferpentine wilinefs to undermine and deceive; but that fort of wisdom (like that of Achitophel)

of the Gofpel, fo expedite, fo infallible a means of growth in grace, as a frequent and worthy participation of this bleffed Sacrament. I cannot therefore more pertinently close this Section, than with this exhortation to it, by which they will not only compleat all their devotions, crown and hallow the feft of their oblations to God, but they will be advanc'd alfo in all parts of practical Piety. For tho' this and other facred offices be perform'd in the Church, the efficacy of them is not circumfcrib'd within thofe walls, but follows the devout Soul through all the occurrences of human life.

I

4

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74. SHE that has intently confider'd the prefence of God in the Sanctuary, has learn'd fo much of his Ubiquity, that he will not and fhe that remembers that, will need no other guard to fecure her innocence, no other incentive to animate her endeavours, fince fhe is view 'd by him who is equally powerfull to punish or reward, who regards not the perfons of the mighty, nor can be aw'd into the connivance of a crime. Indeed a ferious advertence to the divine prefence, is the most certain curb to all diforderly appetites, as on the contrary, the not having God before their eyes, is in Scripture the most comprehenfive. description of the moft wretched profligated. ftate of fin. It concerns therefore all thofe

eafily forget it in other O ON

who