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watchful over themselves, and more careful of their Actions afterward.

But, on the other Side, have they not always found, that when once they began to abate of the Fervour of their Devotions; when once they began to pray feldomer, or with more Coldnefs and Indifference; they then began to live more loosely and carelefly; to be more dull and fluggish towards every good Work? "Till, perhaps, by degrees, the true Senfe of God and Religion hath been in a great measure worn off from their Spirits, and they in a Manner have returned to a worldly and fenfual Life. Nay, have they not often found, that when it has been their Misfortune to break loofe from their Duty, and fink for fome time into a State of Carelefness and Forgetfulness of God, and of their own Vows and Refolutions, (as it hath fometimes happened to very good Men: I fay, have they not often found) that this their going backwards in Goodness, was occafioned purely and folely by the Intermiffion of their Devotions? That there was no visible Reafon or Account to be given of this their Fall, but only, that through Sluggishness, or fome other Caufe, they have neglected to pray to God fo earnestly and fo frequently as they used to do? I am confident, a great many can fay this out of their own Experience: So that it concerns every Man, that is at present in a good Difpofition of Mind, and hath good Hopes towards God; it concerns him, as he loves his Soul; as he would not lofe all the Fruits of his past Labours and Endeavours in the Service of God; by all Means poffible to keep his Heart in a devout Frame: And whatever comes of it, not to grow cold or languid in his Prayers; or to omit or difuse them, either in Publick or Private, upon any Pretence whatsoever.

But, Thirdly and Laftly, To conclude all, there is this farther to be faid for the Encouragement of all Sorts of Perfons, to persevere in the Practice of this

Duty;

Duty; namely, That whoever makes Confcience of faying his Prayers frequently and heartily, and continues fo to do, though he be not good at the prefent, yet it is impoffible for him to continue long bad. He will at laft certainly get the Victory over all his Lufts and evil Habits, and attain to the Favour of God, and the Salvation of his own Soul. This neceffarily follows from what hath been faid. A Courfe of Prayer, and a Courfe of Sin, cannot confift together; One will neceffarily deftroy the other. Praying, will either make a Man leave Sinning (as a pious Man of our own used to fay,) or Sinning will make a Man leave Praying: But this is to be understood of Prayer, that is put up to God with great Serioufnefs, and Heartiness, and out of a Senfe of Duty and Confcience; for as for thofe formal Prayers that are made out of Cuftom, or upon the account of Education, or for the ferving fome worldly Ends of Interest or Reputation, or the like; God refpects them no "more than the impertinent Tattle of Fools.

All thofe of us, therefore, that mean and defign to be Good, though they are not fo already; let us above all Things, take care to mind our Prayers; let us Pray to God in Private; let us Pray to God with our Families; and let us join, as oft as we can, with the Prayers of the Publick Affemblies. This I am fure is the beft Method we can take for the reforming our Lives, and for the growing in all Virtue and Goodnefs. And the more we practise it, the better we fhall like it. And if we perfevere therein, we shall find the Comfort of it, both in the Grace and Affifiance we shall receive from the Holy Spirit, for the vanquishing all our Lufts and Corruptions; and in the Blefings we shall procure from God, both to our Selves and our Families, and all our Affairs and Concernments; and Laftly, in the Everlasting Salvation of our Souls in the Day of the Lord Jefus. To whom, &c.

FINI S.

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