"purifies himself as he is pure," 1 John iii. 3; not as the saints are pure, as Abraham, Noah, Job, Daniel. He that steers himself only by the lower exemplars, will be more subject to an imperfect resemblance, and to fail, than he who endeavours to form his soul and life according to the original. He that sets the best copy to imitate, will exceed others who propose lower patterns, though he may not yet come near the original. The apostle directs us to study Christ much, who is the foundation of our standing: "Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himseif, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds," Heb. xii. 3. Consider him as the author and finisher of your faith, consider him in his patience on the cross, despising the shame, and the success of his heroic temper, and this will inspire you with a holy courage under the contradictions of corruptions and temptations against your grace. This is our duty:

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," Matt. v. 48. Christ himself commands it, when he exhorts them to mount above publicans in their duty, and not to conform themselves to the low patterns of the world. Some translate it, "You shall be perfect ;" enforcing thereby the strength of the command; as men when they would impose anything by the stress of their authority, say, You shall do such a thing, instead of saying, Do such a thing. Be as resolute and vigorous in all your duties to God, as he is in all his notes of mercy and goodness to you.

[5.] Be conscientious in the performance of holy duties. A fire which for a while shoots up to heaven, will faint both in its heat and brightness, without fresh supplies of nourishing matter. Bring

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fresh wood to the altar, morning and evening, as the priests were bound to do for the nourishment of the holy fire, Lev. v. 12. God in all his promises supposeth the use of means. When he promised Hezekiah his life for fifteen years, it cannot be supposed that he should live without eating and exercise. It is both our sin and misery to neglect the means. Therefore let a holy and an humble spirit breathe in all our acts of worship. If we once become listless to duty, we shall quickly become lifeless in it. If we languish in our duties, we shall not long be lively in our graces. The loss of the appetite is a sign of the loss of health. would flourish, we must drink of those waters which spring up to everlasting life. If we desire our leaves should prosper, we should often plant ourselves by the rivers of waters; we must be where the sun shines, the dews drop, and the Spirit blows. If you find yourselves growing into a slothful temper, check it betimes, and recall to your minds the pleasure you have had in your lively and warm converses with God in any duty, and how delightful afterwards, both the beauty and comfort of your graces were. Liveliness in action

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is a sign of the continuance of health; and liveliness in duty, an evidence of the continuance of grace. Let them all be performed in the strength of Christ. It is not means or ordinances which bring judgment to victory, but Christ in them.

Attend upon the word and sacraments. As the word was the seed whence grace did spring, so it is the channel through which strength and nourishment is conveyed. It is the seed whereby we are begotten, 1 Pet. i. 23, and the milk whereby we are nourished, 1 Pet. ii, 2. If the appetite for our

spiritual food grow weak, the vigour of our grace will quickly begin to gasp.

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Be diligent in prayer. This is the chief duty, and that which makes all others more vigorous in their tendency to their end. Our Saviour breathes out strong cries, though he had the strongest assurances of a victorious success, Heb. v. 7. Promises of perseverance should be the guides of our prayers. We may pray most comfortably for that which we are sure to speed in. The Spirit which is sent to comfort us in our fears of miscarrying, is a Spirit of supplication, as well as a Spirit of grace, Zech. xii. 10. Where it is most a Spirit of grace, it will be also most a Spirit of supplication. To talk of a gracious man that neglects prayer, is as great nonsense as to tell us of a living man that doth not breathe. We, in all our distresses, make our application to those that have power in their hands. is God only draws us to Christ, and keeps us with him. It is Christ who is ordered to bring forth judgment unto victory; to him therefore we must be petitioners; he gives us first the grace of desire, that he may with the more honour confer the mercy he intends us. Our Saviour sets us a pattern, in praying to the Father to preserve and keep us, John xvii. We must not therefore be negligent in our desires of it, or distrustful of the success; especially when we have encouragements by Christ's petition for the same thing, who was never denied by his Father any request for his people. You have many arguments to use: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us," Psa. lxviii. 28. Let thy power preserve what thy power did work. It is as much to the glory of thy omnipotent love to second thy own work with thy own strength, as

same success.

it was to begin it. To what purpose, O God, wert thou pleased to work it, if thou wilt not maintain it? The arguments of God's glory are most prevalent. They were so in the mouth of Moses; plead the same believingly, and thou wilt find the It is for the glory of God you should be victorious. "He which establisheth us with is God," 1 Cor. i. 21. Shall we think to you stand without seeking to the Author of our standing? And that you may pray boldly, believe it to be a thing belonging to you by virtue of Christ's purchase as well as your reconciliation and adoption. If you can but pray, you are sure to succeed in the conquest. And you can never want pleas for standing, till God cancel the bond of his everlasting covenant, and depose Christ from his office of an Advocate. Plead these then. God cannot deny his own bond, nor resist the exercise of an office of his own erecting.

[6.] Exercise grace much. Graces, as soldiers well exercised, are more fit to engage an invading enemy. Muster them up often, and see thy strength; but behold it with humility, prayer, and thankfulness. Living bodies grow stronger by moderate exercise; and many things grow rusty and unfit for want of use, Graces are compared to armour, Eph. vi. and armour is the better for use. Frequent blowing up this fire will make it stronger in itself, and more comfortable to us.

Notice the following graces.

Faith. It was by faith that out of weakness the ancient worthies were made stronger, Heb. xi. 24. It was this made Abraham the father of the faithful, and it will make all the children mighty men of valour, Rom. iv. 24. It is a mighty expression :

"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him; in those that hope in his mercy," Psa. cxlvii. 11. As if the delight and content of his being were maintained by this grace. He takes pleasure in relieving, and pleasure in supporting them. Mercy cannot be so hard-hearted, as to deny assistance to that faith which clings about it: should God do so, he would cast off his pleasure. You can never offend him by the straitest clasping, or pain him with too close embraces. The faster you hold him, the less power will in-dwelling sin, or watchful Satan, have to drag you from him; for the more you hold him, the more he holds you; you do not only apprehend him, but are apprehended by him. A sling and stone, with faith in the name of the Lord, will be more successful to pierce the head of Goliath, with his whole army of Philistines, than if you did march clothed with Saul's armour. Faith will do more than all the arms and ammunition of moral philosophy, so much furbished and trimmed up in our day. It is to faith all the victorious acts of a christian, through the whole scriptures, are ascribed. Faith quencheth the fiery darts of the devil, faith purifies the heart from inward corruptions, faith wrestles with principalities and powers, faith gets the victory over the world, faith preserves us by engaging God's power for us, and faith in all this contest never leaves us, till it lands us in heaIt is the prime piece in the christian armour whereby we gain the victory, and therefore there is such an emphasis set upon it, as if though a man had all the rest, and wanted this, he would be foundered in all his attempts: "Above all, taking the shield of faith," Eph. vi. 16. As if all other pieces though very gallant and strong, were nothing to

ven.