and fearful, as not to venture down their hills, for fear of drowning, now have a design to secure themselves against all future attempts from the God of heaven himself. Thus oft we see God's judgments leave such an impression in men's spirits, that for a while they stand aloof from their sins, as they on their hills, afraid to come down to them ; but when they see fair weather con- tinue, and no clouds gather towards another stomi, then they can descend to their old wicked practices, and grow more bold and heaven-daring than ever. But if thou wilt be a Christian indeed, keep on thy watch still, remit not in thy care ; thou hast well run hitherto, O lie not down, like some lazy traveller, by the way-side to sleep, but reserve thy resting-time till thou gettest home out of all danger. Thy God rested not till the last day's work in the creation was finished; neither do thou cease to wake or work, till thou canst say, thy salvation-work is finished.
Secondly, Watch universally. First, watch thy whole man. The honest watchman walks the rounds, and compasseth the whole town. He doth not limit his care to this house or that. So do thou watch over thy whole man. A pore in thy body is a door wide enough to let in a disease, if God command ; and any one faculty of thy soul, or member of thy body, to let in an enemy that may endanger thy spiritual welfare. Alas, how few set the watch round ! some one faculty is not guarded, or member of the body not regarded. He that is scrupulous in one, you shall find him secure in another : may be thou settest a watch at the door of thy lips, that no impure commvmication offends the ears of men; but how is the 'Lord's watch' kept at the temple door of thy heart ? 2 Chron. xxiii. 6. Is not that defiled with lust ? Thou perhaps keepest thy hand out of thy neighbour's pm-se, and foot from going on a thievish errand to thy neighbour's house ; but does not thy envious heart grudge him what God allows him ? When thou prayest, thou art very careful thy outward posture be reverent ; but what eye hast thou on thy soul, that it performs its part in the duty ? Secondly, watch in everything : if the apostle bids 'in everything give thanks,' then it behoves us in everything to watch, that God may not lose his praise, which he doth in most, for want of watching. No action so little, almost, but we may in it do God or the devil some service, and therefore none too little for our care to be bestowed on. He was a holy man indeed, of whom it was said, 'that he ate and drank eternal life.' The meaning is, he kept such holy watch over himself in these things, that he was in heaven while doing them. There is no creature so little among all God's works but his providence watcheth over it, even to a sparrow and a hair. Let there be no word or work of thine over which thou art not watchful. Thou shalt be judged by them, even to thy idle words and thoughts ; and wilt thou not have care of them ?
Thirdly, Watch wisely ; which thou shalt do, if thou knowest where thou shoiddst keep strictest watch, and that must be first in the weightiest duty of the command ; ' tything of cummin and anise ' must not be neglected, but take heed thou dost not neglect the weightiest things of the ' law, judgment, mercy,' and ' faith,' Matt, xxiii. 23, making your preciseness in the less a blind for your horrible wickedness in the greater.
Begin at the i-ight end of your work. Christian, by placing your chief care about those main duties to God and man, in his law and gospel, in his worship, and in thy daily coiuse, which when thou hast done, neglect not the circum- stantials. Should a master, before he goes forth, charge his servant to look to his child, and trim his house up handsomely against he comes home, when he returns will he thank his servant for sweeping his house, and making it trim, as he bid him, if he find his child through his negligence fallen into the fire, and by it kille.i or crijjpled? No, sure, he left his child with him as his chief charge, to which the other should have yielded, if both could not be done. There hath been a great zeal of late among us, about some circumstantials of worship ; but who looks to the little child, the main duties of Christianity, I mean. Was there ever less love, charity, self-denial, heavenly-mindedness, or the power of holiness in any of its several walks, than in this sad age of ours ? Alas ! these, like the child, are in great danger of perishing in the fire of con- tention and division, which a perverse zeal in less things hath kindled among us. Secondly, Be sure thou art watchful more than ordinary over thyself, in
HAVING YOUR LOINS, &c. OQY