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himself when he created the world, every day looked over his own works. Surely God had no need to examine his works that were fo exact and perfect; but 'tis written for our inftru Etion, that we should do fo likewife. Therefore for the keeping thy Confcience clear from guilt, it will be very requifite, thou fhouldft take thy felf in private, before thou lieft down to fleep, and coufider thy whole carriage and behaviour that day; that fo thou maift by a serious humi liation, retract and undo whatever has been amiffe, and maift make all ftreight between God and thy foul. If thou findeft out thy fins, when they are but a day old, before they become customary, and have taken root, they will be more eafily removed, by ferious and speedy repentance, and applying thy felf to Chrift for pardon. But for want of this frequent felf-examining, and foul-purging, the heart becomes hardned, fin gets root, the devil gets poffeffion, and the foul is more and more alienated from God.

To conclude this head of Watchfulneffe.

Let it be thy ferious and fixed purpofe every morning (through the affiftance of Grace) not willingly or knowingly to commit any fin, or to do any thing thy Confcience fhill tell thee is difpieafing to God. But if (contrary to thy ferious intention) through infirmity, fudden furprizal, violence of temptation, incogitancy, thou X 2 doft

doft at any time fall; humble thy foul before the Lord, bewail and confeffe thy fault with for row and grief, and speedily recover thy felt by a ferious repentance, and flying to the blood of Chrift for pardon. When thy peace is broken with God at any time, by fin; reft not, till it be made up again: And rife from thy fall with a greater deteftation of fin, a stronger refolution against it, with a greater love to Chrift, and thankfulneffe for his pardoning Grace. And begging help from God, be more watchful for the

future.:

Matth.25.13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Matth.26.41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, the fpirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matth.13.35. Watch ye therefore (for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even,or at midnight or at the cock crowing, or in the morning)

V 36. Left coming fuddenly, he find you fleeping.

V.37. And what I fay unto you, I fay unto alls Watch. Luke 12.37. Blessed are those fervants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Luke 21.34. Take heed to your felves, left at any

time your hearts be overcharged with furfeting and drunkenneffe and the cares of this life, and fo that day come upon you unawares.

V.36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwaies, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all thefe things that fhall come to paffe, and to ftand before the Son of man.

1 Cor. 15.34. Awake to righteousnesse, and fin

not.

Rom.13.11. And knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of fleep, for now is our falvation nearer than when we believed. 2 Tim.4.5. Watch then in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of thy Miniftry.

1 Pet.4.7. The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore fober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Pet. 5.8. Be fober, be vigilant, because your adverfary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, fecking whom he may devour. V.9. Whom refift, ftedfaft in the Faith-I Cor.16.13. Watch ye, ftand fast in the Faith, quit your felves like men, be strong.

Col.4.2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the fame, with thanksgiving.

dg

1 Thef.5 6. Let us not fleep, as do others, but let us watch and be fober. Rev.3.2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for 1 haw not found thy works perfect before God. X 3

V.36

V.3. Remember therefore how thou haft received, and heard, and hold fast, and repent; if thou fhalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Rev.16.15. Behold 1 come as a thief; Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments.;Eph.6.10. Finally my Brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

V.11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the de vil.

V.12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkneß of this world, against spiritual wickedneffe in high places. V.13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to ftand. V.14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breafi-plate righteoufneffe.

of

V.15. And your feet fhod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

V.16. Above all things taking the shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

V.17. And take the helmet of falvation, and ibe Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. 7.18. Praying alwaies with all prayer and fup

plication,

Chap.6. of the obfervation of the Lords dug. 301 plication, in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, &c.

CHAP. VI.

Carefully make ufe of all good means God hath appointed for the begetting, and increafing Saving Knowledge and Grace in thee. Under this head I fhall treat of these five Parti culars.

1. The obfervation of the Lords day.
2. Hearing the Word.

3. Singing Pfalmes.

4. Religious Conference.

5. Retired holy Meditations.

1. Concerning the obfervation of the Lords day.

Be careful religionfly to obferve the Lords day, the Chriftian Sabbath.

The Law of Nature dictates to us that there ought to be a due proportion of time let apart for Gods folemn Worship and Service. God hath in his Word appointed one day in feaven to be kept holy to him; which was the last day of the week, from the beginning of the world to the refurrection of Chrift; and the first day of the week ever fince, and fo to continue to the end of the world; which is the Chriftian Sabbath, and in th:

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