Sermon it with fome Marks of Refpect and Honour? but this is not all

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A Life of Piety can hardly fubfift without fome particular and fet Times of Exa mination and Recollection. Who hath not Sins and Miscarriages to lament, Vertues and Graces to improve? What Chriftian is not bound to fix on his Mind the Life, the Sufferings, and Death of his Saviour? and, Can we have a properer Time for these holy and devout Exercises, than when the Church commands and contributes towards it; than when we follow the Example of the pureft Church? St. Paul's Precept is, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and mourn with them that mourn: What? and will we chufe to mourn when others rejoice? Or never trouble our Heads with these Matters, be never ferious or reflect at all?

How full of Pleasure, of Business, and deep Engagement is the World? And how prudent is the Church in appointing fome Times of Avocation and Retreat, of Thoughtfulness and Retirement, of examining into our spiritual Estate, of imprinting on us the greatest and most momentous Subjects? And how thankfully fhould every Body receive and embrace thefe Opportunities that the Church affords him? An Infenfibility of

this, I doubt is much owing to Want of a Sermon fober and due Senfe of Religion.

The Church of God anciently was esteemed the School of all divine Vertue and Grace, wherein the Souls of Men were trained up, and prepared for everlafting Life; and as other Places were Seminaries of Learning and Philofophy, renowned for the great Men in that Way, that iffued from them; fo the Bufinefs and Profeffion, the Reputa tion and Glory of the Church was, to cure the Disorders of Men's Minds, and fend them forth the moft accomplished in all Vertue; but this could not be without Difcipline. Will a Soldier be hardy, endure great Extremities of Cold and Want, in the Articles of Danger and Engagement, if never inured to thefe Hardships in the Camp, if they are not impofed often on him by his General? So faid an early Father on this very Subject, and at this very Time, and to the Perfons exercifing of this very Vertue. How eafy is Want and Hunger under Perfecution, and Imprisonment for the Cause of CHRIST, which was frequently their Cafe, when you are fo inured to them, and so often practise them in the Church? here is no Change, almoft in your Condition: But on the contrary, in a Life of perpetual, worldly Pleasure, Dalliance, and Enjoyment, How C. 3 will

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Sermon will ye endure fuch Hardships? The Argu ment will not reach us, indeed, in regard to Perfecution; but, Whofe Circumstances are above the Reach of Fortune? Who may not be reduced to Want and Poverty? And if fuch a Turn fhould happen, Will the Church have done amifs in enabling us to bear it? To conclude.

When I fpeak of Fafting, all Men will understand me, as fpeaking to fuch only as are able to bear it; to fuch for whom it is ufeful, and contributes to Recollection, to Piety, and Devotion, which are the Ends of Fafting. To enjoin Mortification of the Bo dy on fuch as, through Sicknefs or, Weak nefs, are fo low already, that their Spirits are uncapable of Attention, or any fpiritual Exercifes, were moft improper, and abfurd; Kather, the Contrary is their Duty, as the ancient Church has declared: But there is a Difference between this, and Pampering and Indulging the Body; the Ufing of it to fuch Excefs, as to put it out of all Reach and Command of the Soul. Who can doubt but perpetual Fulnefs is a Clog upon the Mind and its Operations, is Fuel to many Lufts? And where we find this, Let us pur fue the Methods that the Word, and Church › of God enjoins us: Let us caft out thefet unclean Spirits, by Fafting; Let us abftain! from

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from flefly Lufts, which war against the Soul; Sermon Let us not make Provifion for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lufts thereof: And, to our Fafting and Prayer, add Charity, Mercy, and Forgiveness, as we hope, God, for Chrift's fake, will forgive us,