vent our doing what we intend, if we put it off to any time beyond the prefent, we fhall find as great or greater hinderances then, as we do now; for that which hinders us from an actual reformation now, is only the uneasiness of the work; and if we take time only to fin more, that (as I have obferved) is the way to increase that uneafinefs, but not at all to leffen or abate it.

We have no exception against the prefent time, but only because it is prefent, and because we would have difficult things always future, and far diftant from us; and that exception will lie equally against all other times, when they come to be present too; nay, it will lie against them much more; because the longer we put off this difficult work, the harder will it be at laft when we come to it; the hardfhips daily growing upon our hands, and increafing by continuance in a courfe of wickedness.

So that when by reafon of the difficulty of an entire reformation, men defer it to a distant time, they will find to their cost, when that time comes, that the fame difficulties

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culties are ftill in force; yea, have more added to them, to make them delay it yet a little longer; and that which hindered them at first, if it be acknowledged a fufficient hinderance, will equally, nay much more hinder them, for ever after.

Thus if men would repent in earnest, and have their holy purposes take any good effects, they muft refolve to do it out of hand, and not delay it till their fick-bed, or fome other time yet diftant.

IN THE FOURTH place, Our penitential purpose and refolution of new life, must not only be upon the duties, but also upon the means and helps; and not only against the fins, but against the occafions and inducements to fin likewife.

The neglect of this refolving upon fit means and helps of living well, and against the occafions of doing ill, makes as many good refolutions miscarry, I believe, as any other thing whatfoever. For under fome great convictions, and fright of mind, men refolve to be good; but at the fame time, they are not careful to refolve upon

the

the right way and means of being fo. They do not refolve in order to it, to ftore. their minds with clear apprehenfions of all particular duties; to think much of heaven and hell, death and judgement, and other motives to obedience; to fhew care in keeping out of temptation, and watchfulness and circumfpection when they are under it; and to call themselves daily to an account of their miscarriages; and be inftant in prayers for God's grace; and to use other wife means and expedients, which may enable them to accomplish what they defign, and effectually perform that good life which they refolve upon; and for want of refolving thus wifely upon the means, as well as upon the end, all thofe good beginnings and holy purposes fall to nothing. For a man may as well refolve to be rich, without refolving to mind his business; or refolve to be learned, without a diligent application to his ftudies; as refolve to be good, without refolving alfo the right way and means of attaining goodness. A bare refolution of it will not do the work; for we must not only firmly refolve, but alfo wifely endeavour it.

upon

LASTLY;

LASTLY; In order to make our refolution ftrong, and perfevering at all times, we must take care, that it be not only a tranfient act, but oftentimes repeated and renewed, through our whole lives.

As for the frequency of this renewal; there can be no fixed bounds fet to all tempers and ftates of penitents, but that muft be determined by the measure of their zeal for God, and the neceffities of their own fouls.

When at any time they relapse into any wilful fin, they must renew their refolution particularly against it, before they come to afk pardon for it; because God will not pardon any wilful fin, till we have particularly repented of it.

And when they come to the holy facrament, which is a renewal of the whole baptifmal covenant; it may be very fit and adviseable, that at fome times through all their lives, but much oftener whilft their falls are more frequent, and their state more doubtful, they renew their vows and penitential engagements, upon all the particular heads of duty, and againft all known fins whatfoever,

And

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And to be prepared every day, against the fins, which they are liable to incur, in the constant course of life and converfation; they may do well to repeat their refolutions against all probable temptations of that day, every morning; and lay wait for the opportunities of performing them, in the day-time; and take a strict account of their performances, every night.

And if repentance is thus made a defigned work, and turned into a daily business; it will be like to go on well, and profper in our hands: we are ftill, in such case, fupplying it where it wants, and renewing it where it fails, and fortifying it where it begins to faulter. And if we persevere in this course, and proceed in it, not only now and then by fits, but always; we shall be in no danger of relapfing, but continue penitents to our lives' end; and our death will be happy, and our refurrection glorious.

SERMON