ing in the Ways of Wickedness: But, by SER M. a ferious Recollection, and Application to XIII. Divine Mercy, we may yet find a Lantern to our Feet, and a Light unto our Paths. Our evil Habits, thofe Cords that hold us in Captivity to Sin, though we may not be able at once to caft them away from us, yet we may infenfibly weaken, and at laft break afunder, by gradually unravelling the fmaller Lines of their Contexture. Our Inclinations, that may have taken a wrong Bent, we may counteract, and by Degrees recover to their original Rectitude. Where our Nature favours a particular Virtue, there we may second it, and graft upon it; under the Branches whereof other hopeful Seeds may take Root, fpring up, and prof per. After this we may ftill be looking into the Culture of the Soul, and ftudying daily Improvements, by calling forth Vir tues, or feveral Degrees of Virtue, that have not yet made their Appearance, by cherifhing and bringing to Perfection thofe that have. Thus will our Minds resemble thofe Fruit-Trees, in which, while feveral of the Productions are come to Maturity, others are bloffoming, and giving Promises of reaching the fame Degrees of Excellence.

No Man knows what he can do, till he is firmly refolved to do whatever he can. When Men have thought themfelves ob

SERM.
XIII.

liged to fet about any Business in good
Earneft, they have done that which their
Indolence made them fuppofe impoffible.
There are feveral Abilities unknown to the
Poffeffors, which lie hid in the Mind for
Want of an Occafion to call them forth.

Inftead of arming themselves with holy
Refolutions, instead of summoning all the
Courage that ought to infpire every faith-
ful Soldier of Chrift; how apt are Men
to frighten and intimidate themselves by
imaginary Difficulties and Dangers? In
their View of the heavenly Canaan they act
as those who went to fpy out the earthly:
They look
upon themselves to be no more
than Grafhoppers, in Comparison of the
Enemies they are to encounter; and thereby
check and controul that honeft Ambition,
which it is their special Intereft to cherish,
to animate and incite: The Ambition of
ftanding foremost in the Rank of good
Men.

One can scarce have too high an Opi→ nion of the Powers of the human Soul, especially in the Affair of our Salvation; and scarce too low an Opinion of Men's Inclination to exert thofe Powers in that moft important Cafe.

But farther, though God does not dif pense a Measure of Grace equal in itself to every Individual, becaufe fome Men may have greater Difficulties from the Force of Conftitution

Conftitution to ftruggle with than others, or S ER M. for other Reafons unknown to us; yet he has XIII. dispensed to every one a Measure of Grace equal to the Duty he demands from him, equal to the Reward he intends for him. God hath given to no Man irrefiftible Grace; for when he had done all that could be done to his Vineyard, yet it brought forth wild Grapes: But he has given to every Man effectual Grace; fuch Grace, I mean, as in Reason may, and in Fact will, produce the intended Effect, if the Receiver uses his utmost Endeavours; that is, if he takes all the Care that Men customarily and ordinarily do in all other Points, though of less Concern, when they set their Hearts upon them. For God hath promised in Scripture, that he will deal with us in beftowing Grace as an affectionate Parent does in giving his Child a Suftenance. He will not give him fo fparing a Provision as may barely keep him alive; but fuch a Sufficiency as may make Life easy and comfortable to him: Even fo will our heavenly Father beftow the Riches of his Grace to facilitate the Election of those, whofe Hearts are fet upon their eternal Interest, with as much Earneftness as they sometimes are upon their temporal; and who use the fame Industry and Application in the Attainment of the former, as they do in the latter.

SER M. liged to fet about any Business in good
XIII. Earneft, they have done that which their

Indolence made them fuppofe impoffible.
There are several Abilities unknown to the
Poffeffors, which lie hid in the Mind for
Want of an Occafion to call them forth.

Inftead of arming themselves with holy Refolutions, instead of fummoning all the Courage that ought to inspire every faithful Soldier of Chrift; how apt are Men to frighten and intimidate themselves by imaginary Difficulties and Dangers? In their View of the heavenly Canaan they act as those who went to spy out the earthly: They look upon themselves to be no more than Grafhoppers, in Comparison of the Enemies they are to encounter; and thereby check and controul that honeft Ambition, which it is their special Intereft to cherish, to animate and incite: The Ambition of ftanding foremost in the Rank of good Men.

One can scarce have too high an Opi→ nion of the Powers of the human Soul, especially in the Affair of our Salvation; and scarce too low an Opinion of Men's Inclination to exert thofe Powers in that most important Cafe.

But farther, though God does not dif pense a Measure of Grace equal in itself to every Individual, because fome Men may have greater Difficulties from the Force of Conftitution

Conftitution to ftruggle with than others, or SER M. for other Reasons unknown to us; yet he has XIII. dispensed to every one a Measure of Grace equal to the Duty he demands from him, equal to the Reward he intends for him. God hath given to no Man irrefiftible Grace; for when he had done all that could be done to his Vineyard, yet it brought forth wild Grapes: But he has given to every Man effectual Grace; fuch Grace, I mean, as in Reason may, and in Fact will, produce the intended Effect, if the Receiver uses his utmoft Endeavours; that is, if he takes all the Care that Men customarily and ordinarily do in all other Points, though of less Concern, when they fet their Hearts upon them. For God hath promised in Scripture, that he will deal with us in bestowing Grace as an affectionate Parent does in giving his Child a Suftenance. He will not give him fo fparing a Provision as may barely keep him alive; but fuch a Sufficiency as may make Life eafy and comfortable to him: Even fo will our heavenly Father beftow the Riches of his Grace to facilitate the Election of those, whose Hearts are fet upon their eternal Intereft, with as much Earneftness as they fometimes are upon their temporal; and who use the fame Industry and Application in the Attainment of the former, as they do in the latter.