that in Scripture God proposes to men several motives to obedience; some proper to work upon their fear, as the threatenings of punishment; some upon their hope, as the promises of reward; others upon their love, as the mercies and forgiveness of God; from whence it is evident he intended they should all work upon us; and accordingly the Scripture gives us instances of the effects of each kind-Noah moved with fear, obeyed God in preparing an ark:Moses had respect unto the recompense of reward: -Mary Magdalen loved much. It is not necessary to determine just how much influence each of these hath upon us; it is well if we be reclaimed by the joint force of all the considerations which God offers to us. Love is undoubtedly the noblest principle of obedience, but fear commonly takes the surest hold of us; and, in times of violent temptation, is perhaps the most powerful argument to keep even the best of men within the bounds of their duty.

4. Another cause of doubting in good men, is, from a sense of their imperfect performance of the duties of religion. They have many wandering thoughts in prayer and other exercises of devotion, and cannot keep their minds continually intent on what they are about. This we should strive against as much as we can; but to cure it wholly is impossible: and no man ought to question his sincerity, because he

cannot do that which it is impossible for men to do.

5. Another cause of these doubts is, that men expect more than ordinary assurance of their good condition; some particular revelation from God, and extraordinary impression upon their minds to that purpose. I cannot say what peculiar favour God may show to some, but I know no such thing, nor ever yet met with any wise and good man that affirmed it of himself; and I fear that it is, in most of those who pretend to it, either mere fancy or gross delusion.

6. As for the case of melancholy, it is not a reasonable case, and therefore does not fall under any certain directions. They who are under the power of it are seldom fit to take the counsel, which alone is fit to be given them; and that is, not to believe themselves concerning themselves, but to trust the judgment of others rather than their own apprehensions; this cause of doubting is much to be pitied, but hard to be removed. One may happen to say something to hit the humour of a melancholy man, and satisfy him for the present; but reason must signify little to those persons, the nature of whose distemper it is to turn every thing that can be said for their comfort into objections against themselves.

Thirdly, Besides those who mistake their condition, either by presuming it to be better,

or fearing it to be worse than it really is; there are likewise others, who upon good grounds are doubtful of their condition, and have reason to be afraid of it; those, I mean, who have some beginnings of goodness, which yet are very imperfect. They have pious inclinations and resolutions, and have made some fair attempts towards goodness; they have begun to refrain from sin, and to resist the occasions and temptations of it; but are often mastered by their old lusts, and carried off from their best resolutions; upon a little consideration they repent and recover themselves again, and after a while are again entangled and overcome. Now the case of these persons is really doubtful; and the proper direction to be given them, is by all means to fortify their good resolutions, to be more watchful over themselves, to strive against sin, and to resist it with all their might. And according to their success in this conflict, the evidence of their good condition will every day become more manifest; for the path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day.

I shall only make two or three inferences from what has been said, and so conclude.

1. From hence we learn the great danger of sins of omission as well as commission; whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God. The mere neglect of any of the great duties of re- ' ligion, of piety towards God, or of kindness.

and charity to men, though we be free from the commission of great sins, is enough to cast us out of the favour of God, and to shut us for ever out of his kingdom; I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat; thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not; therefore depart, ye cursed.

2. It is evident, that nothing can be vainer than for men to live in any course of sin, and yet pretend to be the children of God, and hope for eternal life. The children of God will do the works of God; and whoever hopes to enjoy him hereafter, will endeavour to be like him here; every man that hath this hope in him, purifies himself, even as he is pure.

3. You see the great mark of a man's good or bad condition; whosoever doth righteousness is of God, and whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God. Here is a plain and sensible evidence, by which every man may know his own condition; and then, according as he finds it to be, may take comfort in it, or make haste out of it. And we need not ascend into heaven, nor go down into the deep, to search out the secret counsels and decrees of God; there needs no anxious inquiry, whether we be of the number of God's elect. If we daily mortify our lusts, and grow in goodness, and take care to add to our faith and knowledge, temperance, patience, and charity, and all other Christian graces and virtuès, we certainly take

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the best course in the world to make our calling and election sure. Without this it is impossible that we should have any wellgrounded assurance of our good condition. This one mark of doing righteousness is that into which all other signs and characters given in Scripture of a good man, are finally resolved. It is hereby that we know that we know God, if we keep his commandments :-This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: The righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and his countenance shall behold the upright:--Whosoever is born of God sinneth not :—, -As many as have the Spirit of God are led by the Spirit, and by the Spirit mortify the deeds of the flesh :-They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts thereof :— Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; but if we have our fruit unto holiness, the end will be everlasting life. So that you see at last the Scripture brings all to one mark, holiness and obedience to the laws of God, or a vicious and wicked life. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God.

Let us then deal impartially with ourselves, and bring our lives and actions to this trial; and never be at rest till we have made a deliberate judgment whether we be the children of God or not. And if upon a full and fair examination, our consciences give us this