[1.] As to persons. Let them, in an especial manner, have a con- tinual regard hereunto, who on any account are great, or high, or nohle in the world, and that because their especial temptation is to be lifted up unto a forgetfulness or regardlessness of this authority of God. The prophet [Jeremiah] distributes incorrigible sinners into two sorts, and gives the different grounds of their impenitency respec- tivel}''. The first are the poor; and it is their folly, stupidity, and sen- sual lusts, that keep them off from attending to the command : chap. v. 3, 4, " They have refused to receive correction : they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are sottish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God." There is a sort of poor incorrigible sinners, whose impenitency ariseth much out of their ignorance, blindness, and folly, Avhich they please themselves in, although they differ but little from the beasts that perish ; and such do Ave abound withal, who will take no pains for, who will admit of no means of, instruction. But there is another sort of sinners to whom the prophet makes his application, and discovers the ground of their incorrigible impenitency also : "I will get me to the gi'eat men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God," verse 5. Great men, by reason of their education and other advantages, do attain unto a knoAvledge of the will of God, or at least may be thought so to have done, and would be esteemed to excel therein. They, therefore, are not likely to be obstinate in sin merely from stupid ignorance and folly. " No," saith the prophet, " they take another course ; ' they
CHAP. III.] THE COMMANDS OF GOD, 615
have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.'" They are like a company of rude beasts of the field, which, having broken their yokes and cords, do run up and down the fields, treadino- down the corn, breaking up the fences, pushing with the horn, and trampling down all before them. This is the course of men, in the pursuit of their lusts, when they have " broken the yoke of the LoKD." And this the prophet declares to be the especial evil of great men, the rich, the mighty, the honourable in the world. Now, this " breaking of the yoke" is the neglecting and despising of the authority of God in the command. Seeing, therefore, that this is the especial temptation of that sort of persons, and things in- numerable there are of all sorts that concur to render that tempta- tion prevalent upon them, let all those who are of that condition, and have the least sincere desire after holiness, watch diligently, as they love and value their souls, to keep always and in all things a due sense of the authority of God in his commands upon their minds and consciences. When you are in the height of your greatness, in the fuhiess of your enjoyments, in the most urgent of your avocations by the things or societies of the world, and those who belong to it, when the variety of public appearances and attendancies are about you, when you are uppermost in the words of others, and it may be in your own thoughts, remember Him who is over all, and consider that you are subject and obnoxious unto his authority, equally with the poorest creature on the earth. Remember that it is your espe- cial temptation to do otherwise. And if you do yet abhor those who by this means are come to be sons of Belial, or such as have alto- gether broken the yoke, and run up and down the world in the pur- suit of their lusts, saying, " Our lips are our own, and who is lord over us?" be you watchful against the least beginnings or entrances of it in yourselves.
[2.] In general, let us all endeavour to carry a constant regard unto the authority of God in his commands into all those seasons, places, societies, occasions, wherein we are apt to be surprised in any sin or a neglect of duty. And I may reduce this instruction or point it unto three heads or occasions, — namely, secrecy, husinesses, and societies. Ist. Carry this along with you into your secret re- tirements and enjoyments. Neglect hereof is the next cause of those secret actual provoking sins which the world swarms with. When no eye sees but the eye of God, men think themselves secure. Here- by have many been surprised into folly, which hath proved the be- ginning of a total apostasy. An awe upon the heart from the autho- rity of God in the command will equally secure us in all places and on all occasions. 2dly. Let us carry it into our businesses, and the exercise of our trades or callings. Most men in these things are
616 HOLINESS NECESSARY FROM [BOOK V.
very apt to be intent on present occasions, and having a certain end before them, do habituate themselves into the ways of its attainment ; and whilst they are so engaged, many things occur which are apt to divert them from the rule of holiness. Whenever, therefore, you enter into your occasions, wherein you may suppose that temptations will arise, call to mind the greatness, power, and authority over you of Him who hath commanded you in all things to be holy. Upon every entrance of a surprisal, make your retreat unto such thoughts, which will prove your relief. Sdl^/. Carry it with you into your companies and societies; for many have frequent occasions of engaging in such societies, as wherein the least forgetfulness of the sovereign authority of God will betray them unto profuseness in vanity and corrupt communication, until they do with delight and hear with pleasure such things as wherewith the Holy Spirit of God is grieved, their own consciences are defiled, and the honour of pro- fession is cast to the ground.