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fter his Paffion, avoided moreover as much, as the concerns of Life will fuffer him, all unneceffary Difcourfe, efpecially Difputes, with wrathful, loud, cross, or fcornful Perfons; has he watched over himself daily at fuch times, and places, and in fuch Business and Company, wherein he was like to meet with Provocations, and particularly refolv'd within himself, not only long before but at those very times, that he will not be transported by them? And above all Laftly, has he made this a conftant Law to himself to forbear fpeaking, or acting any thing fuddenly, when he feels a Paffion ftirr'd in him; but to turn aside, and fay over the Lord's Prayer, or fome devout Ejaculation to himself, which will both gain him time for Confideration, and likewife call God and Goodness into his mind, which will be the most effectual means of all to restrain him? If these or fuch like means have not been used, he has not taken the best ways he can; and if he will fet himself to bridle his Nature in this way, I doubt not, but God will bless him in it, and then let him complain he cannot reftrain himself, if he find reason.

Again, another who has accustomed himself to Oaths, complains that he is convinced he ought, and endeavours to do it, but that he is not able to refrain fwearing. But befides his fervent Prayers to God, has fuch a Complainer labour'd withal to poffefs his Conscience, with a great fenfe and dread of it? Has he particularly call'd to mind, and refolved against it, not only when it was at a distance, but when he was expecting any Disappointment, or coming into the way of any Provocation, which would tempt him to it? And because men fubject to this Vice, fwear oft in eagernels of Spirit, and do not know it, has he defired fome true Friend, to be his Monitor, to warn him of it before, or tell him when 'tis past, that afterwards he may be more careful to prevent it, or to punish himself for it? And in regard men who shun it at other times, are ge nerally push'd on to fwear in hafte, thro the furprize of a Provocation, in the eagernefs of Sport, or thro' the fuddenness of fome crofs Accident and Disappointment: Has he taken Care lastly to speak nothing rafhly, especially whilft he is in heat and eagernefs of Spirit, but to bridle his Tongue, and confider what he

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is about to say before he utter it, that fo if it prove to be ill he may forbear it? These and fuch like ways, are the proper method for curing this Sin; and if a man has labour'd against it, without them, he has fought the end without the means, and purfued the cure without the right Prescriptions. And there fore, if he will correct that Errour, and begin again to labour in right ways, I queftion not, but, that he will fucceed well, and find the effect thro' God's bleffing.

Thus do men, who endeavour in vain for thefe, or for any other Vertues, plainly miscarry, for want of chufing right ways; the Duties are not impoffible to be attain'd, if the right Course were ufed to attain them; but it is their own neglect of means, or mistaken Choice of bad ones, which makes the Difappointment. And therefore, if they would labour to effect, let them be careful to purfue good things, by wife and proper methods. When they are refolved to endeavour after any Vertue, let them learn from good Books, or from their fpiritual Guides, or the advice of any wife or judicious Perfons, what Rules' ferve most to compass it: And if they carefully

carefully and diligently follow them, the Duty which feem'd before impoffible, will prove a very poffible thing. And this again would rid us of the greatest part of those Complainers who fail at laft, but yet endeavour fomething: for most of them, when they endeavour to obey, do not endeavour wifely, or in the ufe of fuch proper and difcreet Methods, a fure fit to work Obedience in them.

But if any complain ftill, that they have taken advice about the best Course and follow'd it; but yet all their labour has been without the defired effect: Yet are they always,

3. Such, as when they use right means, endeavour but by halves, and do not go thro' with them.

A faint Endeavourer, will never go thro' with any work, which requires either length of time, or ftrength of Labour. If he put little ftrength to it, that will not conquer the difficulty of the Task; and if he is foon wearied, he will give over before it comes to an end. So that a man must apply himself to the fame, both earneftly and long, if he would fucceed when he has begun, and go on to finish and compleat it.

Now our obeying God, and amending of our Lives, is a work of this kind. For our fins being many in number, they will require a confiderable space of time, before they are all amended; and our hindrances in leaving them being great, and the Temptations ftrong that daily affault and draw us to them, and our own Lufts, and a treacherous Enemy in our own Bofoms, being always ready to take their parts and ftrike in with them, it requires a great Watchfulness, and a conftant Care, and an earnest vigorous endeavour to overcome them. And this the Scripture tells us plainly we muft ufe, if ever we expect to prevail against them; St. Peter tells us, we must give all diligence, 2 Pet. 1. 5, 10. St. Paul that we must be circumfpect, Eph. 5. 15. Our Bleffed Saviour that we must watch always, and be ever ftanding upon our Guard, Mark 13. 37. and strive to enter in at the ftrait gate, Luk. 13. 24. which ftriving is call'd a warfare, 2 Cor. 10.4.. and a fight, 1 Tim. 6. 12. All which fhow the Greatnefs of that care, and both the Earneftnefs and Conftancy of that endeavour, which we muft lay out upon it.

And this now is the fault of all thofe Strivers, who, pursuing Obedience by