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Chriftians, which may be refolv'd into these two Propofitions,

Ift. That there is a Work given every one of us to finish, a Duty prefcrib'd each of us by the Conscientious performance of which we may glorifie God on the Earth.

2dly. That a Chriftian's Comfort and Affurance in Death, if rational, ought to flow from the Conscience of a faithful difcharge of this Duty.

S. ft. That there is a work, &c. The Duties of human Life are of two forts; First, fuch as are common to all as Men and Chriftians. Secondly, fuch as are proper and peculiar to fome Men as engag'd in diftinct Callings and Profeffions as Men and Chriftians, Sobriety, Purity, Truth, Justice, Charity, Meeknefs, Long-Suffering, Devotion, Faith, Self-Refignation, Obedience, and fuch like are the works which God hath preordain'd that we fhould walk in: Thefe are Reflections and Raies of the Divine glory, thefe are the Tracts and Characters of the Divine Image, thefe are the Ornaments and true Excellencies of a Chriftian in comparison of which, the Celebrated Exploits of the Heathen Gods, Jupiter, Hercules, Bacchus, &c. are, as Lactantius fpeaks, but childish

braveries, the blind Sallies of an Impo tent paffion, of an Unballafted Impetus: By the conftant and fincere pra. ctice of these, we exalt and perfect our Natures, advancing them into a nearer participation of the Divine Image; by the conftant and fincere practice of these, we procure the peace, the fecurity, the Welfare and Profperity of human Society; And finally, by the conftant and fincere practice of thefe, we adorn the Gospel of Chrift, promote the Honour of God, and fhew forth the praifes of him who called us out of Darkneẞ into his Marvellous Light; for nothing does more convincingly manifeft and publish to the World the Honourable Notions we entertain of God, the Purity and Power of our Chriftian Faith, than a Life employ'd and spent in these works; for by this we openly proclaim to the World, that we do not believe that a Holy and good God can be pleas'd with any thing but Holiness and Goodnefs, or that any Sacrifice can be fo acceptable to him as the Imitation (according to our power) of his Divine Perfections.

Befides thefe Duties common to all Chriftians, there are others which flow from

from our distinct Profeffions and Callings; Every Man's Calling, whether he be a Paftor in the Church or a Ruler or Officer in the State, whether he be a Trader, Phyfician, &c. doth more peculiarly exact fome distinct kind of Vertue; As Watchfulness in Paftors, Integrity in Rulers, Juftice in Traders, Tenderness in Physicians, and fuch like, and in all, Industry and Diligence: Nor doth it a little import the Honour of our Religi on, and the Welfare of human Society, that every Man do faithfully discharge the particular and diftinct Duty, of his Calling; nor can he neglect it without involving himself in the guilt of trampling under foot the most powerfull obligations; for this the abilities God endows him with, this, the truft God commits to him; this, the Dependencies others have reasonably fixt upon him; this, the general Covenant fuppos'd entred into by every Member of a Community, that he will be useful and helpful in his place; this, the Intereft of the publick, and the glory of God loudly calls and preffes every man to; it being impoffible, that Decency and Order in human Affairs fhould be preserv'd, that the Beauty and Harmony of Divine

providence fhould be maintain'd, that the mutual wants and neceffities of Mankind fhould be miniftred to, and supplied, or the Honour of God fupported and upheld in the World, unless Men be faithful in the discharge of the Duties, of their several Callings and Profeffions: This is that the Apostle exhorts to, Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Having then gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us, whether Prophecy, let us Prophefie according to the Proportion of Faith; or Miniftry, let us wait on our Miniftring; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on Exhortation: He that ruleth let him do it, with diligence. The same Faithfulness and Diligence Men are elfewhere in Scripture exhorted to, in their fecular and Prophane Callings.

You fee then what the works are which God prescribes us to walk in, namely, the works of our general Callings as we are Men and Chriftians; and the works of our diftinct Profeffions, as we are dedicated to different imployments in Church or State. You difcern in the next place the natural bent and Tendency of these works towards the glorifying God on the Earth. This, then is the Poft which you are to make good

good; this is the station you are to fill; this is the Province you are to adorn you cannot otherwise acquit your selves with a good Conscience towards God or Man. And hence it follows

S. 2dly. That the Faithful discharge of our Duty is the only Rational ground of our Affurance towards God. 'Tis true and confeffed on all hands, that the Death and Merits of Chrift is the great cause of our Peace and Reconciliation with God? that through him, through him alone, all Chriftians are to expect the pardon of their fins, and the acceptance of their performances; That when we have done all, we are unprofitable Servants: And that the most unblameable and Pious Life that, ever was yet led upon Earth (except that of Chrifts himself) could never be able to undergo the Teft, the Tryal of God's ftrict Judgment. And therefore our Deceased Friend, notwithstanding the nature and number of his good works not easily to be parallell'd (though I wish they were) by many Inftances in this Age, gave us this fhort account of his Faith and Hope the day before his Death, I trust in the mercy of God.

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