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and terrifying Apprehenfions concerning the SERM. ftate of our Souls, and what is like to be- XIII. come of them hereafter. These kind of troubles ought by no means to be forgotten. And when they are remembered, our proper Enquiry is, How we got rid of them? For there is a very wrong and dangerous way of getting rid of fuch fpiritual Concern of Mind. If Stupidity and Indolence, Neglect or Worldly-mindedness, carnal Security, or prevailing Vanity, have contributed to over-bear and drown thofe Convictions, and banish that serious Thoughtfulness and religious Sorrow we once had, our State is really worse than it was then; and we have more reason now to be concerned than we had before. But if it hath made us more humble and watchful, more obfervant of GOD and our Duty, in every Branch of it, more dependent on his Grace to ftrengthen us against Sin; and if in this way the Comforts of Religion, Peace of Conscience, the Joys of the Holy Ghoft, and the Hopes of our Sincerity, have been recovered and eftablished; then, to be sure, fuch Providences of GOD ought never to be forgotten, but to be always remembered with the most grate

SERM. grateful Difpofition of Soul to the honour of XIII. his Grace.

Again, have we been afflicted in our Family or Friends, by the Death of fome, or the Sickness and Diftrefs of others, (and O, how deeply does the Heart fometimes feel the force of reflected Sorrows!) let us not foon forget these kind of Afflictions when they are past. It is poffible we may know very well from what immediate Cause they flowed, yet let us not overlook the fovereign Hand of GOD therein. And if they have in any degree been owing to fome neglect or fault in us, they should efpecially be remembered, to humble us, and make us more wife and cautious for the future.

Or have we been involved in a more general Calamity, and fuffered with the Publick; whatever others do let us take care not to forget the Hand of GOD in his judicial Vifitations. For as their Sufferings were no Abatement to ours, fo their forgetfulness of them fhould be no Example

to us.

Or have our Afflictions been long fince paft? why still they ought not to be forgotten. But by a ferious Recollection we

fhould

fhould endeavour to revive the good Impref- SERM. fions they once made, that they may in- XIII. crease our Caution and Gratitude fo long as we live.

2. We fhould likewife remember the merciful Providences of GOD towards us. Which, it is to be feared, we are as apt to forget as his afflicting Difpenfations.

For Instance, our temporal mercies should be frequently remembered. The Health, the Peace, the Profperity, and the worldly Advantages we enjoy above fo many others; which the Diftreffes of the many poor Objects we meet with fhould bring to our minds; especially any fignal or diftinguishing Mercy paft, which laid the Foundation of most of our present Comforts; or any eminent Deliverance from paft Dangers or Evils, which might have made all the future part of Life unhappy.

Again, our fpiritual Mercies and religious Advantages should be thankfully recorded by us; and especially that invaluable one of a good and pious Education: That we were not born among Heathens, or trained up among the most profligate and ignorant fort of Chriftians; but were early inftruct

XIII.

SERM. inftructed in the Knowledge of God and our Duty; and have enjoyed those valuable Advantages for fecuring our future Happinefs which by far the greatest part of Mankind; nay, even of Chriftians, never had. And if, by the Grace of GoD, these Advantages have been improved to the effectual Converfion of our Hearts to GOD, fo that we have a well-grounded Hope of our Intereft in Chrift, and the Acceptance of our Maker, this, the greatest of all Mercies, ought never to be forgotten by us.

Again, Family-mercies fhould be often remembered by us; Family-health, Peace and Profperity; the Comfort of Relations, the Bleffing of Children; efpecially if they be found walking in the way of Truth. And fo fhould publick Mercies: Especially the signal Interpofitions of Providence in preferving us from our Enemies, and reftoring to us the Bleffings of national Profperity and Peace.

And the Bleffings we have long enjoyed fhould no more be forgotten by us than those we have lately received. But upon recollecting the variety and fuitableness of them we should take up the Pfalmift's pi

ous

ous Refolution, Long as I live I will praife SERM. the Lord, I will fing Praifes to my GOD whilft XIII. 1 bave a Being (b).

Thus fhould we remember all the way the Lord our God hath led us fo many Years in this Wilderness; his afflicting and merciful Providences, both temporal and fpiritual, private and publick, and even those which are long fince past. The pious Jews had a way of preferving the Memory of any fignal Providences, whether profperous or afflictive, by giving fuch names to certain Places, or to their Children, as were fignificative of those providential Events which they defired never to forget. Thus fignificant were the names of all the twelve Patriarchs. And most of the proper Names in the Old: Teftament have fome fuch religious Reference. Which fhews the devout regard they had to the Duty recommended in the Text; and how mindful they were of the ways of Gon, of which they thus endeavoured to perpetuate the Memorial. And fo far they are fit to be our Patterns, who are equally obliged to the fame Duty now. But,

II. Let

(6) Pfal. civ. 33.

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