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we cannot bring our hearts to suffer, and to do what God would have us to do, but are led away with our own wiUs, we are not as we should be. Our wiUs should be conformable to Christ's in all things. It is our prayer, and therefore we should aim at it. Now, when flesh and blood sets up a pitch of religion, I am well enough ; and yet prays, ' Hallowed be thy name ; thy kingdom come ; thy wall be done,' &c., — such a man is an hypocrite. For his prayer leads him further and further still, till he come to heaven, where is all perfection ; until when, our life is a life of endeavour and progress. Though we be never so perfect, yet Christ may more rule and set up his kingdom yet more in the heart, and further bring our will to his in all things. When flesh and blood sets up cavils against this, we play the hypocrites with God, and cross oiu'selves. Therefore, let us justify a measure of religion beyond our present pitch, whatsoever it is ; justify it more and more still. Think, we are never as we should be till we be in heaven ; and never bless ourselves, but think that we should always be on the growing hand ; and whatsoever excuse comes to hinder us from zeal- ousness and earnestness, though it carry a show of reason in the profession of region, account it to come fi'om our corrupt hearts.
8. Again, remember to do all things to God and not to man, in our callings both of religion and in our particular callings ; and then whatsoever dis- couragement there is from men, we should not be discouraged. We shall hear men continually complain of others, that they are unthankful persons ; and why should we do anything for them ? Why ! do it to God. If it faU within our callings, let us do justice and shew mercy. God wiU accept, though men do not. It cuts off many discouragements in duties. It is best to have God's reward. In this world it is good to meet with naughty unthankful persons, because else we should meet with all our reward here. It is good to do somewhat for God's sake, and for religion, let people be as unthankful as they will ; to say, I did it not to you, but to God. If a man regard the discouragement of the world, he shall never do that which is good, people in the world are so unthankful and regardless to those that wish them best, and that do best to them. But if a man do a thing to God, and do it out of duty and conscience, he may hold on ; have he never so many discouragements in the world, he shall lose nothing. All shall be rewarded, and is regarded.
9. Likewise, be sure to cany this in mind, that sin is the greatest evil, and grace and goodness the best thing in the world. Therefore, there is no excuse for sin, from anything in the world, for it is the worst thing in the world, which stains the soul, and hinders it from comfort. And for grace and goodness in the inward man, it is the best thing in the v/orld. There- fore, purchase this, though with disadvantage. It is best to avoid sin, though with enduring evil ; yea, to avoid the least sin, by endm-ing the greatest evil. It is wisdom to do good with disadvantage, when the disad- vantage is bounded only in this life, the thing that I do being a thing which furthers my reckoning at the day of account. Therefore, have this alway in consideration, whatsoever I sufl'er in this world, I will not sin. This will cut off a world of excuses.
Therefore, let us labom" to cut off all cavils, and to ' arm ourselves.' It is the apostle Peter's exhortation, 1 Pet. iv. 1. As David's worthies brake through the pikes to fetch him water fi-om the well of Bethlehem, 2 Sam. xxiii, 16, so all Christian worthies that look to be crowned, let them be armed inwardly with resolution for good things, take up resolutions that they will do it. As Paul tells his scholar Timothy of his purpose, ' Thou
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knowest my purpose, and manner of living,' 2 Tim. iii. 10. This is the manner of a Christian life : that this, I will not break for all the world. So, there is a purpose of living honestly a manner of life, not by starts, now and then to speak a word, and to do a good deed ; but there is a a purpose and a manner of life for it. He resolves always for the best things.
And to this end beg of God his Spirit, which is above all impediments. The more Spirit, the more strength and courage against impediments. The more we attend upon holy means, the more spiritual and heavenly light and life is set up in the soul. The more spiritual we are, the more we shall tread under foot all those things that stand between us and heaven. Let us therefore labour more and more for the Spirit, and then we shall off'er an holy violence unto good things ; as it was said of John Baptist's time, ' The kingdom of God suffered violence,' Mai. xi. 12. Men were so eager of it, as that they surprised it as a castle, by violence. There is no way to take heaven but by oflering violence to discouragement, corruption, and whatsoever stands in the way. The violent only takes heaven by force.* Now when we are spiritual, we shall not pretend, that ' there is a l^n in the way,' that there are difficulties, as the sluggard doth, that thinks him- self wiser than many men who can render a reason. But we shall go boldly and courageously on ; and know that there are more encouragements for good, and stronger, than the world hath allurements to be naught, which are but for the present life ; but w^e have inward ones, which will hold out in the hour of death and after. Therefore, go on boldly and resolutely in good things, always remembering to beg the Spiiit of God, that may arm our spirits with invincible courage.