manifeft, that such small matters have opened the have opened the door gradually wider and wider, to the grofs declenfion which has overspread. Tho' many are deceived and darkened by the enemy, to deem them small matters, yet they have great confequences, as they tend to debar us of future happiness, and to center us in justly deferved punishments, for difobeying and difregarding Chrift, who leads into humility and plainness, and preferring that enemy who feduces into pride and worldly conformity.

I often look with pity on the victims to the vanities of the world, who fell their birthright for a mess of pottage; often defiring that they may quit the pursuit of fhadows, wifely to feck, and happily poffefs the most inestimable, and enduring fubftance. Hereby they would give folid joy to their well-wifhing friends, and gain an ample share thereof in themselves; a joy not like the pleafures of fin, which are but for a season, and are followed with a certain and severe fting; a joy which will go beyond the grave, to receive an infinite increase, and an endless duration,

X. In regard to fuch as have not yet much departed from that plainness, (at least in dress) in which they were educated, fome probably may

not be under any strong temptation, to run intó the foolish fafhions of a corrupt age. Yet the enemy feeks to catch them in fome other fnares: and perhaps fome of thefe may be as ignorant, and as void of experience of the divine principle we profess, as fome of the more fashionable. Outward plainness, without inward humility, mercy, justice and charity, is of very little worth. Except we follow after thefe virtues, obvious faults in temper and conduct, will appear, to discover our emptiness, and to ferve fome for an argument against plainness, or for a subject of ridicule; and do more harm to the cause of truth, than greater errors in the conduct of open and profest libertines.

4

How grievously disappointing are they who carry a right appearance, yet when tried are found to be infipid, and dead as to the life of righteouf nefs! Wherefore let noné value themfelves on a plain outside, as if that of itself were sufficient. it is as far from it, as the ftate of thofe formerly complained of, who drew nigh to the Lord with their mouths, and with their lips honoured him, but their hearts were far from him.

Be not deceived: God is not mocked by fair appearances, or empty pretences: but fuch as

every man fows, he must reap. If under the beft appearance, or stricteft form, we fow to the flesh, we shall only reap corruption, and the miserable fruits of hypocrify, profeffing one thing and practising another; when they who have fowed to the fpirit, fhall reap the happy fruits of their fidelity to God.

If we look over our fociety in this nation, and take a view, both of them who are plain in dress, and who are otherwise, how many of both forts, have their minds faft rooted in this prefent world, devoting all their talents to it, rejecting the counfel of Chrift, who directs us "to feek first the kingdom of God," or to live and act, under his government! Hence in fome places, what poor lifeless meetings! How little of the facred fire of divine love burning! How little of the light of the glory of God shining! No living minister left among them, and fcarce one living member of the body of Chrift, to feel for the others, and take fome tender care of them for their good; their lamps gone out, and scarcely any oil retained in afingle veffel; a week-day meeting hardly kept up, and the one meeting on the first day badly attended. Thus have fome meetings died away, and are loft; and others appear to be in a languid,

Z

fickly condition, feeming fcarce likely to live long, except they timely apply to the great and good phyfician, who is both able and willing to restore life, health, foundness and vigour, to raise up and qualify" Judges, as at the first, and counfelors as at the begining." But formerly, when in the body, in fome places, he did none of his mighty works, by reafon of their unbelief: fo now, when his minifters vifit fuch places, they find the gofpel has not a free courfe; they can at best but feebly labour in fuch hard fpots. "The word preached, doth not profit, by reason of not meeting with faith in them that hear.

Great is the mystery of iniquity, in which the fubtle ferpent works in many, to their hurt or ruin, unawares to them, for want of their paying due regard and attention, to that grace of God, which would difcover the hidden fnare, and preferve from it. Hence a wrong spirit ufurps the government due to God, and gradually hardens the heart, till the falvation of the immortal foul becomes a matter of very little concern, the first and great commandment of loving God with the whole heart, being much violated: fuch are in a moft dangerous ftate, except they turn in hafte "to flee from the wrath that is to come." I often earnestly defire, that ye who are of this kind

would do it, left ye be left to your own courfes, in that broad way which leads to destruction, and "the things which belong to your peace be hid "from your eyes."

XI.

"The Lord hath fhewed unto thee, O man, what is good." But many have suffered the good impreffions they have been favoured with, to be like the morning dew, which foon paffeth away. They rush into irreligious company, and felf-indulging liberties, which, like the fowls of the air, carry off all the good feed of the kingdom, which infinite goodness had fowed in their minds.

What need have we then to prize and pursue Chrift's counsel," to watch and pray," not to enter into these temptations, to abstain from all appearance of evil, to avoid fuch company as deadly poison, as there can be no fellowship betwixt light and darkness, or betwixt Chrift and Belial; and as we naturally become like thofe, whom we love and with whom we affociate.

Never go to places of public diversion, fuch as Play-houses, Horfe-races, Cock-fightings, or to Ale-houses, thofe haunts of the licentious, who fear not God. Be watchful and clear from in