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will be under no fear of his religious fervices being rejected; for the purity of his heart and life will be witneffes of his fincerity in the performance of them, and confequently yield him af furance of their acceptableness to God. Nor will he be afhamed of repofing a hearty truft and confidence in God, who endeavours to approve himself to him by purifying himself even as he is pure.

This purification of ourselves will likewife be of great ufe to us in the dif charge of thofe duties which we owe to our fellow creatures. The more we cleanfe our felves from all filthiness of flesh and fpirit, the better fhall we be difpofed to perform acts of justice and beneficence towards men: for it is an immoderate defire and ufe of fenfual pleafures, which is often the caufe of mens defect in thefe duties. They have fo quick a relifh of thefe pleasures, that, rather than fail of obtaining them, they will renounce all focial virtues, and wage war with mankind. But when thefe impediments are removed, by a purification of the foul from fenfual affections, they are at full liberty to

exercife thofe virtues, and to fulfil all thofe offices, which their feveral characters and relations require of them.

Thus have I confidered thofe precepts which regard our conduct towards our fellow creatures, and those which relate to the government of ourselves; and endeavoured to prove that they are righteous precepts. And after what hath been faid already, I am perfuaded I need not add much by way of exhortation to the performance of them. We shall not act like reasonable creatures, if we refufe obedience to such reasonable laws. If God had given us laws, the goodness whereof we ourfelves could not difcover, it would be our duty to obey them; because, as creatures, we are bound to obey every fignification of the will of our creator: how much more when he hath given us fuch laws as approve themselves to our own reafon and judgment by their intrinfick goodness, and their usefulness in fociety? Can we any longer hesitate and continue unrefolved about the prac tice of religion, when we are fo fully convinced of the juftice and equity of it? Can it be a matter of doubt with

us,

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us, whether we should do that, which upon the nicest inquiry appears fittest to be done; or whether we should bchave ourselves in fuch a manner, as our condition and. circumftances, and the relations wherein we ftand to God and our fellow creatures, require and demand of us? Surely these things cannot admit of difpute with reasonable beings. We must therefore, if we will act like ourselves, refolve with the pfalmift in my text, that we will keep God's righteous judgments. Nor can it bę amifs to confirm our refolution with an oath, as he did. I have fworn, Ways he, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Religion is a thing fo ferious, and of that vaft importance, that it will justify the folemnity of an oath. And as an oath in this affair cannot but be innocent, fo am perfuaded it will be useful; inafmuch as it will be a ftrong guard to our virtue. We fhall not easily be tempted to the violation of any of the divine precepts, when we have fworn obedience to them. This appears from the text to have been one principal motive of the pfalmift's conduct: have fworn, fays he, and I will perform

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it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. He was refolved to perform what he had fworn.

This may be proper to be confidered by thofe, who by word of mouth, or in writing *, or by any folemn act, have dedicated themselves to God, and vowed obedience to his laws. Tho all men are under obligations to keep the commandments of God, yet they are more especially fo, because to the natural justice and equity of them they have added their own approbation and confent. They have voluntarily devoted themselves to the fear of God, and have fworn fidelity and allegiance to him therefore they would be inexcufable to the laft degree, and worthy of the fevereft punishment, if they fhould defert his fervice, and turn rebels against him. I would not diffuade any man from making religious vows and promises for religion is fo excellent and neceffary a thing, that a man cannot lay himself under too ftrong engagements to the practice of it. But let not any one dare to lay himself under fuch engagements, who is not ab

N. B. This the author had done under his own hand.

folutely

folutely determined to fulfil them, in fpight of all oppofition: for our having entred into them, if we should afterwards break them, will but increase our guilt, and aggravate our condem

nation.

I fhall conclude all with the advice of Solomon, in the book of Ecclefiaftes, chap. V. ver. 4, 5. When thou vowest a voie unto God, defer not to pay it; for be bath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou haft vowed: better is it that thou shouldeft not vow, than that thou fhouldeft vow, and not pay.

FINIS.

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