than which there is not a more powerful Argument to all Diligence, Sobriety, Watchfulness, and Piety, while we have our Lives continued to us.

And O that this, as well as other Examples of Mortality, may have their due Influence on us all! In particular, may Mr. Hollis's End effectually work upon all the Members of this College, and make them more cautious of fpending their Time, more careful left their Hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting or Drunkenness, and fo the Day of Death overtake them unawares. May it be long confidered and reflected on till it put them all upon a ferious Confideration of their Duties, and make them all answer the End of their Maintenance in College, by conftantly endeavouring, by their Learning and Reli gion, to fet forth God's Glory, and fet forward the Salvation of all Men. And thofe who are defigned for the facred Function, may they labour to fave their own Souls, and the Souls of thofe that hear them. As to my own Advancement, I have Reason to thank God, and acknowlege my Friends Kindness to me, who have without the leaft Recommendation from any other Friend, by their Suffrages obtained this Place for me. And I fincerely beg of the divine Majefty, that as he has hitherto fhewn a very tender, fatherly Care over me, as to fpiritual and temporal Concerns, for which I ought never to forget to blefs and adore his holy Name; and by his Providence and Spirit, has guided me, and kept me hitherto; fo that he would ftill go on to do me good, and to perfect that which concerns me, and not forfake the Work of his own Hands: That he

would keep me from Evil, and in his Fear continually, that I may not grow cold in, or backflide from any Part of my Chriftian Duty, but grow in Grace, and in that practical Knowledge of his Will, as may influence all my Thoughts, Paffions, Defires, Refolutions and Actions. That I may be faithful to the Death, that fo I may at length receive a Crown of Life. Amen! Amen! Bleffed Father!

N.B. It will not be much out of the Order of Time, if I here fubjoin that Sermon, or Common-Place, as we ordinarily call fuch Performances in Colleges, at the Commemoration of our Benefactors at ClareHall, preached December 17, 1698. it being short, and fuitable to the Occafion, and giving accidental Hints at fome Irregularities of our College at that Time, which may supply in Part the Lofs of that fore-mentioned Paper, Emendanda in Collegio.

Clare-Hall,

Clare Hall, Decemb. 17, 1698.

DEUT. VI. 10, 11, 12,

It shall be when the Lord thy God Shall give thee great and goodly Cities which thou buildedft not; and Houfes full of all good Things which thou fille dft not; and Wells digged which thou diggedft not; Vineyards and Olive-trees which thou plantedft not; thou shalt have eaten and be full; then beware left thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the Land of Egypt.

T

when

HESE Words are Part of a ferious Exhortation of the great Legiflator of the Jews to that People, after their Deliverance out of Egypt, and before their Admiffion into the Land of Canaan. In which he takes Occafion to remind them not only of the great Obligations to the Worship of the God of Ifrael, their great Benefactor, from the Confideration of his miraculous Deliverance of them from the Egyptian Bondage already paft; but farther affures them, that

the fame Obligation would be mightily increased hereafter; and that the plentiful Provision he would make for them, at the Coft and Pains of their Enemies, and the Conveniences and Advantages his Providence would fecure to them without their own Care or Trouble, ought to be looked on as the greatest Tye poffible to their Duty and Obedience. As if Mofes had faid, Almighty God, by the Continuance of that merciful Courfe of his gracious Providence which he has already begun, and out of his tender Care of you, his chofen People, will in a fhort Time compleat your Deliverance, and settle you with Peace and Security, with Plenty and Abundance in the Land of Promife. He will, in a little while, bless you, who have hitherto endured the Inconveniences of a Wildernefs, and of a wandring and uncertain State, with Cities and Houses of your own; and those great "and goodly, well furnished and adorned: He will blefs you alfo with Wells of Water for your Neceffities, and with Wine and Oil for your Pleafure and Entertainment: In fhort, he will make every Way fuch Plenty and Abundance round about you, that it will be in your Power to enjoy all the Pleasures of Affluence, and all the Delicacies and Satisfactions of a wealthy and an eafy State of Life. This will foon be your Condition after you arrive at the Land of Canaan : But when this is your Cafe, be not like ungrateful Jefburun, who waxed fat and kicked; who forfook God that made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of bis Salvation, Deut. xxxii. 15. Remember who it is to whom all the Happiness is owing, and

that

that every Bleffing you receive from God is to be returned back in Gratitude and Obedience. Confider the Ends and Intentions of all the divine Goodness to you; to lead you to Repentance; to encourage your religious Services; to take off from

you

M

the Burdens of Poverty, and the Distractions and Interruptions of Want, in order to your enjoying more Time, and employing with greater Alacrity more of your fpare Hours in the Offices of his Worship. Do not forget when you reflect upon your brave Cities, your fine Houses, your handfome Furniture, your Conveniences for Pleafure, as well as Neceffaries for Life, that all thefe Advantages were not originally your own, nor from yourselves; were not the Product of your own Industry or Diligence, but the proper Gifts of Almighty God, and the fole Effects of his Goodness and Love to you. When you think upon your Cities or your Houses, remember withal they were not of your own building, nor enlarged and furnished at your own Coft; but by thofe Enemies whom the Power of God alone has difpoffeffed for you. Whenever you make ufe of the Water of your Wells, or of the Wine and Oil of your Plantations, confider it was others that digged the former, and planted the latter; and that it is only the Title of God's Donation by which you claim a Right to any of thefe Things. Beware therefore left you, who are but Tenants or Stewards, behave yourfelves as if you were Lords and Poffeffors. Take Heed left that abundant Provifion the divine Bounty has made for you, have fo fatal and mischievous an Effect as to encourage your Sloth,