Vol. I. Watchfulness in Paftors, Integrity in Rulers, Juftice in Traders, Tenderness in Phyficians, and fuch like, and in all, Industry and Diligence: Nor doth it a little import the Honour of our Religion, and the Welfare of human Society, that every Man do faithfully difcharge the particular and diftinct Duty, of his Calling; nor can he neglect it without involving himself in the guilt of trampling under foot the most powerful obligations; for this the abilities God endows him with; this, the truft God commits to him; this, the Dependencies others have reasonably fixt upon him; this, the general Covenant fuppos'd entred into by every Member of a Community, that he will be useful and helpful in his place; this, the Intereft of the Publick, and the glory of God loudly calls and preffes every man to; it being impoffible, that Decency and Order in human Affairs fhould be preferv'd, that the Beauty and Harmony of Divine providence fhould be maintain'd, that the mutual wants and neceffities of Mankind fhould be miniftred to, and supplied, or the Honour of God fupported and upheld in the World, unless Men, be faithful in the discharge of the Duties, of their several Callings and Profeffions: this is that the Apostle

exhorts to, Rom. 12. 6,7,8. Having Serm. 2. then gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us, whether Prophecy, let us Prophefie according to the Proportion of Faith; or miniftry, let us wait on our Miniftring; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or be that exhorteth, on Exhortation: He that ruleth let him do it with diligence. The fame Faithfulness and Diligence Men are elsewhere in Scripture exhorted to, in their fecular and Prophane Callings.

You fee then what the works are which God prescribes us to walk in, namely, the works of our general Callings as we are Men and Chriftians; and the works of our diftinct Profeffions, as we are dedicated to different imployments in Church or State. You difcern in the next place the natural bent and Tendency of these works towards the glorifying God on the Earth. This then, is the Poft which you are to make good; this is the ftation you are to fill; this is the Province you are to adorn; you cannot otherwise acquit your felves with a good Conscience towards God or Man. And hence it follows

§. 2dly. That the Faithful discharge of our Duty is the only Rational ground of our Affurance towards God. 'Tis true and confeffed on all hands, that the Death

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Vol. I. Death and Merits of Chrift is the great cause of our Peace and Reconciliation with God? that through him, through him alone, all Chriftians are to expect the pardon of their Sins, and the acceptance of their performances; That when we have done all, we are unprofitable Servants: And that the moft unblameable and Pious Life that ever was yet led upon Earth (except that of Chrift himself) could never be able to undergo the Teft, the Tryal of God's ftrict Judgment. And therefore our Deceased Friend, notwithftanding the nature and number of his good works not eafily to be parallell'd (though I wish they were) by many Inftances in this Age, gave us this fhort account of his Faith and Hope the day before his Death, I trust in the mercy of God.

'tis all no.

But though all this be true, thing to the point in hand; for though Chrift died for all, yet all have not a like or equal ground of Hope: Tho' the Death of Jefus be fufficient to atone for the fins of all, yet all are not actually pardoned: The Question therefore is, what gives Men a good claim and a just Title to the Benefits of Chrift's paffion; and what is the cleareft proof of the goodness of our Claim; and then nothing

is more evident than that this is a faithful Serm. 2. discharge of the Duties of Life, a finishing the works God gives us to do. These are the proper effects of faving Knowledge, and a faving Faith; Thefe are the very Effentials of Repentance towards God; These are the kindly Operations of Love unfeigned; These are the proper tokens of the Divine prefence, and the Refidence of God's Spirit within us; These laftly are the natural and genuine fruits of an enlightned understanding, and renew'd mind: Thefe therefore are the beft proofs and evidences of our claim to all the Benefits of Chrift's Death and Merits, and confequently the most Rational Foundation of our Peace and Comfort in our Latter end. This is evident from the Examples of all Righteous and good men, whofe Comfort in Death is wont to be proportion'd to the Piety and Sincerity of their Lives; hence (not to multiply Instances) that of St. Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finifht my Courfe, I have kept the Faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the Righteous Fudge fhall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to them alfo that love his appearing. Here we have the confident expectation of a Crown, but

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'tis

Vol. I. 'tis a Crown of Righteoufnefs; and if we examine the ground of this confidence of St. Paul, it is, that War which he profperoufly waged, thofe conflicts which he had fuccessfully maintain'd against the World, the Flesh and the Devil; his Indefatigable Perseverance in the Race of Vertue and Goodness fet before him: And finally, his ftedfast and unfhaken adherence to the Faith of Chrift, in defpight of all the malice and fury, with which he was affaulted.

Thus have I briefly infifted on the words of my Text, as referving room for that which is a moft fair and lively Comment on it, the Life of our deceas'd Friend. And here, in purfuance of my method, I fhould be obliged to begin with an account of his behaviour, in his particular profeffion; but having refolv'd to say nothing, but what I either perfonally know, or have full and unqueftionnable proof of, I will pafs over this part of his Life, as that to which, I am in a great measure a stranger; though I cannot forbear recommending to you two Rules, which he thought neceffary for the Christian Conduct of Trade. First, That Traders fhould carefully avoid the grafping at, and embracing fo much bufinefs, as fhould make their Trade encroach