This Deliverance from their Sins then, is that which above all things, we should endeavour to procure for them; and as this should be the great aim of all our Labours for their advantage, fo fhould it be of thofe more especially, which are employ'd for reclaiming them from a falfe Religion, or establishing them in a right one. For Repentance and Reformation are neceffary to Salvation in all Parties, and must carry men (whofe other errours God fhall fee fit to excufe, because of the Pityableness of their ignorance) to Heaven in all the Sects of the Chriftian World. And therefore, if we convert a man to a Party, but not to Obedience, we win a Profelyte but half way, and have not faved a foul from Jam. 5.19, death, till we have reduced him, as from 20. errour, fo from fin too. In all our endeavours therefore of this fort, let us ftrive at leaft as much to win men to the Practice, as to the Profeffion of the truth. Let us feek as much to rectifie their hearts, as their understandings, and to get them over unto an entire Obedience unto Christ, and not only to an external Communion with our felves.

Some indeed instead of endeavouring to fave, and rescue others from their fins;

take

take a pride in inveagling, and infnaring them into fin. They will Glory in making a fober man drunk; or in corrupting a modest Vertue, and drawing it Captive at last to Acts, and places of Debauchery; and fome fet up to ridicule all Religion and Vertue, making them the Topicks of their Jefts and Merryment, this way driving those out of all Profeffions, and open owning thereof, who cannot bear to be laugh'd at.

Now these men, who thus make it their business, to decoy men into fin, are not only unchriftian, but bafe and barbarous. They betray them under a pretence of Kindnefs, and feek eternally to destroy them under a Mask of Friendship. They are vile Wretches and mischievous Inftruments; nay I might fay they are Devils, and Destroyers in the very fame Sence that Chrift is a Saviour: For he faves in refcuing, and delivering men from their fins, and they destroy them in entangling them therein, and making them fubject to them.

And these are the Ufes which I think fit to draw from the foregoing Notion, and Explication of the Christian Salvation.

And

And God grant, that whilst we are all talking and hoping for Salvation, we may not appear at laft, to have been all the while loft men; but that we may all make it our chiefeft care, to get rid of all finful habits and wicked Courses, whilst we are in this World; that fo we may be qualified for the joys of Heaven, and the Converfation of blefled Spirits,and delivered from those eternal Punishments which will be inflicted on all that are irreclamably disobedient, in the World to come, Amen.

D

(35)

DISCOURSE II.

Showing that this Deliverance, and intire Obedience, is neither impoffible, nor extreme difficult, if fincere Chriftians fet about it as they ought.

On Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things thro' Chrift which strengthens me.

T

HE things St. Paul here Glories himself able to perform, are the Duties of a Christian, even those that are the greatest Tryal of a strong, and well fixed mind, and have more than ordinary Temptation in them; fuch as the knowledge of our felves, and ferving God in a profperous, and trusting in him, and being contented in a neceffitous, State. And that which gives him this Ability he confesses, is not any power of Nature derived from D 2

Adam,