right and proper Methods, do yet mifs of it at laft. They endeavour but by halves, and feek it, either by too fhort, or too fleight Pains. They have not either the Refolution to fet manfully about it, or the Patience to go thorow with it; and fo being either faint in their pursuit, or falling off before they are got to the end, they are not reclaim'd from their fins by all their Pains, but continue fubject, and enslaved to them ftill.

But now when they fail on this account, it is not because they cannot, but because they will not help it. They might become good, if they would be at the trouble of it, and perfevere with Patience, till they have finished it; but if they will use only fleight Endeavours and short Onfets; their miffing of Success, must not be charged upon the impoffibility of God's Laws, but upon their own floth and remifsnefs in performing them; they can and do take great and inceffant Pains to be rich, or great, or compass a worldly Interest: And if they please they can labour as vigorously, and as inceffantly too to be good, and do what God Commands them. And if once they would do this, it would be the best E 2 Demon

Demonstration, how poffible a thing Obedience is; fince lefs Pains than this comes to, will ordinarily fuffice them to that purpose.

And this will stop the mouths of all thofe Complainers, who have not been filenced by the two former Confiderations. If they have not complain'd before they tryed, and if in trying to be good, they took a right method; yet want they one thing ftill, they endeavoured but by halves, and were not vigorous and conftant enough in their endeavours, and that is the reafon why they failed: Whereas, if they will try again, and endeavour not only wifely, but alfo vigorously and inceffantly, they will most certainly be enabled to perform their Duty: And their doing it actually, will be the most effectual Conviction that 'tis poffible to be done.

Having faid this, to remove the prejudice that lies against this poffibility of performing the Laws of God, from the Complaints of thofe, who fay they find it otherwife: I proceed now,

2. To fhew that among Chriftians, there is no caufe for fuch Complaints, and that they will be ftrengthned to the perfor

performance of all Duties, if they are not wanting to themselves.

They must be careful as I have obferv'd, to use their own endeavours, because God that made them, will not alfo fave them without themselves. And these endeavours must be in wife ways, fince we must not expect God fhould give effects to unfuitable means, and be at the expence of Miracles, to fupply for our Follies. And when we endeavour thus wifely, we must do it also vigorously and inceffantly; Obedience being a work of time and Pains, that requires both the earneftness, and the continuance of our Applications. These things are required on our part, and if we take care to perform that, the Grace of Chrift will make up the reft, and most certainly enable us, as he did St. Paul, to do all things which he indifpenfibly requires of us; he will give us fome ftrength at first, and as we employ that, according to that great Rule of Gospel Diftribution, To him that hath shall be given, Matt. 25. 29. he will add more, till at last we perform as much, as is indifpenfibly required, i. e. as I noted, either not finning wilfully, or fincerely repenting, and amending whenfoever we

do. If they are thus careful, I fay, in their own endeavours, this ftrength all Christians fhall furely receive from the Grace of Chrift to thefe performances, as the Apostle in the Text declares of himfelf; I can do, &c.

Now that every wife, earnest, and inceffant Endeavourer,fhall be thus enabled to perform all Duties, will appear from these three things,

First, Because God indifpenfibly requires, and paffionately exhorts us to this performance.

Secondly, Because he has promised this Ability, and Obedience to all who are fo qualified and prepared for the fame. Thirdly, Becaufe all good men heretofore, and at this present time, do themfeives find, and experience it.

1. That they fhall be thus enabled to perform all Duties, appears, because God indifpenfibly requires, and paffionately exhorts us to this performance.

He indifpenfibly requires it. For now as St. Paul lays, God commandeth all men every where to repent, Acts 17. 30. And that of all fins, they being all lyable to the fame Punishment; The wrath of God

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being revealed against all unrighteousness, Rom.1.18. And he that offends in one point being guilty of all, Jam.2.10. And this he requires under the stricteft condition, as ever they hope to avoid the wrath to come, or to obtain everlasting Salvation: If the wicked turn from all his fins, and keep all my Statutes, then says God by Ezekiel, but not before, he shall furely live, Ezek. 18.21. And they only that do bis commandments have right to the tree of life, faith Chrift, Rev. 22. 14.

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Now fince God thus requires us to obey all his Laws, it must needs be poffible for us to obey them; for God never requires an impoffible thing; what Pfal. 5.2. he Commands, he both defires and ex- Matt. 21. pects fhould be performed; and there- 34 t Jam. i. fore, calls men to the † performance of 25. it; to be not only bearers, but doers of Jo. 13.17. the Law, Rom. 2. 13. And 'tis certain they may perform it, fince he is too wife, either to defire, or expect what not to be had.

Nay, he doth not only indifpenfibly require this Obedience, but Friendly and paffionately exhorts us to it; Repent and turn your felves from all your tranfgreffions, fo iniquity fhall not be your ruine. Caft away from you all your tranfgreffions, and E 4 make