Adam, but the fuper-induced Grace of Christ, which aids and strengthens him. In that forlorn state, wherein Adam's fin left all mankind, subject to strong Lusts, furrounded with numerous and powerful Temptations, and stript of all Divine aids, and super-natural Affiftances, they all lay open to be made a prey, and were eafie to be overcome. But fince Chrift has been the reftorer of the World, and recover'd more Grace and Strength for us than ever Adam forfeited; they are again enabled to withstand Temptations, and perform all Duties unto God, even those which seem to have most hardship in them. I know both how to be abafed, or live meanly, and how to abound in Honour and Plenty; every where, and in all places, I am inftructed both to be full without forgetting God, and to be hungry without repining at him; both to abound, and still be humble and temperate, and to fuffer need, and at the fame time praise and trust God, and rest contented; I can do all things thro' Chrift that ftrengthens me, Verse 12, 13.

By this performance of all Duties, we are not to understand such a perfection of Obedience to them, as is intermixed with no Escapes; for fo Chrift doth not

enable

enable any of his Servants in this World, no not St.Paul himself. To live without all fin is not to be expected from any mortal man, but only from the strength of an Angel, or ajuft Soul made perfect in Heaven. Some fins of ignorance, or forgetfulness, haft and furprize, such as Paul's Speech to Ananias, Acts 23.3. will adhere to the best men whilft they have earthly Bodies about them: And Chrift, who being in our Nature has a fellow-feeling of all our Infirmities, when he comes to fit as our Judge will make fair allowances for them, Heb. 5. 2.

But it implies fuch a perfection of Qbedience, as admits of no damning Sing, that is, of no fins which are wilfully incurred, against knowledge, or it may be against Checks and loud Alarms of Confcience; and which are also perfifted in without true Repentance, and Amendment of the fame. These fins deprive us of the favour of God,and deftroy a Soul; and therefore, Christ must strengthen men against all these, before he proves a Saviour to them. And this ftrength St. Paul fays he found, as all other Chriftians will, who will make the Experiment as he did, and not be wanting to themselves, or fail to make use of it. D 3

Tho'

Tho' they will not be ftrengthned against all involuntary furprizes; yet, if they are as careful to employ this Grace as Chrift is ready to afford it, they will be ftrengthned against all wilful Breaches of any Commandments, or at least against all impenitent continuance in the fame, when at any time they have wilfully broken any. I can do all things thro' Chrift that strengthens me.

My defign from thefe words, is to fhow that the Grace of Chrift is ready to enable all Chriftians to obey his Laws; who are not wanting in their own Care and good Endeavours. He earnestly defires the Obedience of men, and affords them aid fufficient to help it on: So that no Chriftian can ever fail to do his Duty, but thro' his own fault, when he either neglects, or rejects that Help and Grace, which our SaviourChrift holds out to him.

Indeed the great excufe which difobedient men are wont to make for themfelves is, that they would do better if they knew how to do it, and are therefore only ill, because they cannot help it. They would plead impotence in themselves, and impracticable heights, and impoffibilities in God's Commandments. And if this were true as it

it

is moft falfe, it would be a ferviceable Plea indeed, and excuse them both for being ill, and alfo for being idle: for if they cannot avoid being difobedient, why should they be blamed for it? And if they are not able to obey, do what they can, why should they throw away their Pains in vain Attempts,and fruitlefly endeavour after it? There is neither Duty, nor Discretion in attempting impoffibilities, and labouring after that which is not to be done: fo that if Obedience were impoffible, every man might as innocently, and much more wifely, difobey at first, as at laft, when he has ftriven in vain against it; and it ought not to be cenfured as the fault of his Choice, but pitied as his invincible misfortune.

Now as for this impotence,and impoffibility of performing all Duties, it is of ten pleaded by thofe, who feem willing and defirous to perform them. And in regard it gives fome Colour to this complaint, because we hear it from those who have tryed the Hardship, and fo from their own Experience are best able to judge of it, and who express a Goodwill for their Duty, and fo may be prefumed to complain of nothing but what they find.In treating of this Subject, I fhall,

Firft, Remove the prejudice which lies against this Power of obeying, from thefe Complaints, by fhowing what is wanting in these Complainers.

Secondly, Shew that among Chriftians, there is no caufe for fuch Complaints, and that they will be ftrengthned to the performance of all Duties, if they are not wanting to themselves.

Thirdly, That this performance is fo far from being an impoffible Task, that 'tis not extreme Difficult, when men set to it in earnest.

I. To fhew the Power all Christians have, thro' the Grace of Chrift enabling them; of performing all needful Duties, if they are not wanting to themselves; I fhall remove the prejudice which lies against it from thefe Complaints, by fhewing what is wanting in these Complainers.

Now in pursuit of this I obferve, that they who complain of the impoffibility of doing their Duty, are either

First, Such as only complain, but never try and endeavour it. Or,

Secondly, Such as endeavour wrong, without using those fit means, which fhould make them obedient. Or,

Thirdly,