SHould they that manage the Publick Exhortations, Demand, [ And we do Demand it!] of all our Christian Hearers, to ap­prove themseves Real Christians, it is to be feared, the Demand would not be universally complied withal. W [...] do, in the Name of the Great God, propound unto our Neighbours, all the Faith, and Repentance, and Fruitful­ness, and Watchfulness of Christianity; and there is too little compliance, with the proposals. But that our Ex­hortations may be rendred the more [...]esistible & Ungainsayable, Behold, [Page 4] the Form wherein they now arrive un­to us. Instead of saying, Shew your selves Regenerate Christians, we will only say, Shew your selves Rational Creatures. Let this One Great point be gained, and we shall go a great way to gain every point. It is not more Essential unto MAN, to be Ani­mal Rationale, than to be Animal Re­ligios [...]m. He that is not Religious, is not worthy to be counted Rational. The matter between God and us, is now brought unto those Terms, [...] a Saint or a Bruit. Either be­come a sincere Servant of the Lord Jesus Chri [...] ▪ or else pretend not unto the Name of a MAN; murmur not, O sinful man, if all the Angels in Hea­ven count thee but as a Beast in the shape of a Man; and by so much worse than a Beast, by how much more in the shape of a Man.

The God of Heaven Rebuked the Sottish and Fooli [...]h Idolatry, whereunto the Jewi [...] Nation sometimes Aposta­ [...]ized: And in His Rebukes, having [Page 5] first Exposed the Ridiculous Folly of Idolatry, He thus calls upon them, Now, Shew your selves Men, O ye Transgressors; q. d. Do but [...]act Reasonably, and you will no more▪ be such Transgressors of my Holy Laws. The Blessed God would [...] men out of Irreligion; And [...] does it, from the Topick of Ridiculou [...] ▪ un­reasonableness which Irreligion is to be charged withal. The Hebrew▪ Ori­ginal, is capable of that further Sig­nification, Be Ashamed. And indeed, men acting Reasonably, would be A­shamed of the Folly that is Committed in sinning against the Laws of God▪ The clause next unto our Text, in the French Translation, very agreea­bly confirms our sense of the Text; Return to sense, O [...] Transgressors.

The Great point, which with the countenance of this Text, I under­take to manage, is This: ‘Did men Act Reasonably, they would Live Religiously.’ [Page 6] OR, ‘In sinning against God, the sinner does not act like a Reasonable man.’

[...] to act more like a Beast, than like a Man, for any man to sin a­gainst the God that made him. If men would shew them [...]elves men, they would not allow themselves in those things that are contrary to and condemned by the Religion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed some were once blamed, in [...] Cor. 3. [...]. for Walking as men; but the meaning of it was, Walking as men commonly Walked; not Walking as men should walk, if they would show themselves men: They who Walk as Carnal men, and Sensual men, do not act as Rational men. Sin is an Unmanly sort of a Thing. 'Tis Be­neath a man, to sin against the most High God. By living in Sin, men de­bauch and debase themselves below men. 'Tis Reason, whereby a Man [Page 7] is distingui [...]ed from a Beast; Sin is repugnant unto the principles of that Rea [...]on, by which the Almighty hath given us our Distinction. In Sin men offer violence unto the principles of Reason. Though a man that Errs does like a Man, as man has now un­man [...]d himself, yet men don [...]t show themselves men in their Errors, that is to say, Reasonable men. Peccare est, ins [...]r pecudum Errare.

Now,

In the first place, We have a Rea­sonable Demonstration of this Asserti­on, in the Divine Testimony of The Scripture. We don't shew our selve [...] men, if we don't Receive that Book▪ which we call, The Bible, or, The Scripture, as a Divine Testimony. It [...]ands not with Reason that any but the Holy God, [...]ould be the Author of such an Holy Book. It is highly Reasonable, That the God, who is Good, and who does Good, should by writing teach His good Statutes unto us. But if we shew our selves men; we [Page 8] shall no where find any Book but This, where we shall see Written the Statutes of God. All the Wicked Force of Earth and Hell, hath been Employ'd for the suppression of this Book: If it had not been Gods Book, it could not have been preserved. The Mysteries, the Prophecies, and the Majesty of the Book, are the evident Signatures of a God upon it. We don't shew our selves men, if we don't Entertain this Book of Truth, when we see Incontestable Truth shining in every line of it; a Book, which the more it is examined, the the more the Truth of it is demon­strated. Now one Thing asserted, as a Truth, in this Book, is, That all Sin is an unreasonable Folly. A Sinner is called A Fool, by the only Wise God: In the Book of Wisdom, he is, it may be, an hundred and fifty times over called so. We have Read of a Great Prince, who was overtaken with a sin against the Great God; when he c [...]me to sober Thoughts upon his own sin, [Page 9] he Cried out, in 2 Sam. 24.10. O Lord, I have Sinned, and I have done very Foolishly. Yea, A Sinner is by the Divine Oracles, (as in Eccl. 9.3.) pronounced, A Mad-man. A prodi­gal sinner is in these Oracles, repre­sented as one besides himself. If men would but come to themselves, with the prodigal in the Parable, they would [...]ome into the Service of God. The Service of the Lord Jesus Christ, pre­scribed in the Christian Religion, is called, in Rom. 12.1. A Reasonable Service. A man without serious and practical Religion, is Emphatically compared, in Job 11.12. unto, A [...]ild Asses Colt. What? An Ass, and a [...] wild Ass, and the Colt of a wild Ass! Behold, O Irreligious man, Behold▪ thy picture, how 'tis drawn by the pencils of God. One once, with too much Reason made this Division of Man ▪ The Man, and the Beast. When a man Sins, he puts off the Man, and [...] the Beast. And hence, when man [...] into Sin, 'tis said in Psal. 49. [Page 10] 12. He is like the Beasts [...]hat peris [...] ▪ A man that has been sinning, mu [...] bemoan himself before the God, a [...]gainst whom he hath sinned, like him [...]n Psal. 73.22. Lord, I have been as [...] Beast before thee. Yea, the very Beas [...] may Instruct the Sinner; [Job. 12.7. [...] And will Condemn him at the last.

But we will pass unto a Further and a Treble, Demonstration of ou [...] Assertion; and we will prove it fro [...] Reason, that we cannot lay aside Reli [...]gion, but we lay aside Reason too.

I. 'Tis a most Reasonable Thing, [...] Believe those Things, which oblig [...] all men to Live Religiously. Ther [...] are two Things, which every Reaso [...]nable man must Believe, or else forse [...] his Reason. A man does not she [...] himself a man, if he don't Believ [...] ▪ That there is a God, and, That th [...] Christian Religion is the Truth of God ▪ But then, what follows? It necessari [...]ly follows, That we don't Act Reaso [...]nably, if we don't Live Religiously.

[Page 11]First, That man does not shew himself a man, who does not Believe, That there is a GOD. We read in Psal. 14.1. The Fool ha [...]h said in his heart, there is no God. An Atheist shews himself a Fool, and not a Man. Indeed, the Being of every thing else, may with more of Reason be questi­oned, than the Being of that GOD, who gave Being to every thing else. It was a Reasonable speech of the Noble and Learned, Earl of North­hampton; If I could give any account, how I my self, or any thing else, had a Being without God, or how there came so constant a consent of man-kind about the Being of a God, I could be an Athe [...]st: But it is Impossible, it is Impossible.

First, The Belief of a GOD, Im­printed on the Hearts of all the world, is a sufficient Reason for the Belief of a GOD. Can they shew themselves men, who don't Believe, that which they find, as 'tis said in [Page 12] Rom. 2.15. Written in the [...]r Hearts? I pray, who Writ it there? As there is in the Eye of man, an Innate Fa­culty of seeing▪ by which it will ac­knowledge th [...] Being of the Light, when ever 'tis opened: Even so, there is an [...]nnate Faculty in the Mind of man, which is never in the least o­pened, but it acknowledges the Being of a GOD. This Faculty, whence can it proceed? We don't shew ou [...] selves men, if we suppose it can proceed, from any but that GOD, of whom it is said, in Zech. 12.1▪ He forms the Spirit of man within him. The Belief of a GOD, is not pecu­liar to any One sort of men. All Na­tions are so agreed in This, that rather than have No God, they'l have a Thousand. The Notion of a GOD, is Natural unto the Reason of a man; An Inclination to confess it, is En­graven in the Breast of man, as with the po [...]nt of a Diamond. It is not the meer Tradition of our Fathers, or the meer policy of our Rulers; No▪ [Page 13] They themselves▪ are under as much Apprehensions of a GOD▪ as any of us. Let us but shew our selves men: What R [...]son have we for our Be [...]ief of a GOD? Why our [...]ery Belief is a Reason for our Beli [...]f. One must first cease to be a Man, before he lose his Belief of a GOD▪ It is easier for a man to Expel his own Soul out of his Body, than to Expel▪ and Efface the sense of a GOD, out of his Soul. There is Reason to think, that there never was a Direct and a Downright Atheist among men in the world. Indeed there have been horrid and filthy Swine, looking like men, who have brag'd, that they did not Believe a God; but even these too have Ly'd in their Impious and Infandous▪ [...]rag, Affirmant [...]nterdiu, Nocte tamen dubi­tant. None of these Wretches, have [...]o believed, There is no God, as to be without vehement, and violent, and astonish [...] suspicious of the contrary. These Wretches undergo horrible Twinges in their Souls, awaking out [Page 14] of their d [...]ing Sensualities; and in their Distresses, they Cry to the GOD, whom they have Blasphemed. I remember, [...] Pagan Historian takes notice of it; The Persians being pur­sued by the Grecians, were to venture over the River Strymon; which River had been frozen, but was now begin­ning to T [...]aw; Now, sayes the Histo­rian, those Gallants, who a little before had boldly m [...]intained, there was no God, I my self saw them every one; fall down on their Knees, and lift up their Hands, and Eyes, and Cries to Heaven, Crying O God, Help us, O God Save us, O God, have Mercy on us! Whence is this Im­pression of a GOD on the Souls of men▪ Tis none but a GOD, that could Imprint it.

Again; The Works of GOD com­mend, yea, command, the Belief of His Being, unto the Reason of man▪ Shew your selves men; Was it not Rea­sonably said, in Rom. 1.20. The In­visible Things of GOD, are clearly seen [Page 15] from the Creation of the w [...]rld, even His Eternal Power and God-head. The Works of Creation, are enough to satis­fy the Reason of any m [...], in the Be­ing of a GOD. Let Reason look upon the World, the various Parts of it, the curious Ends of it, the incompa­rable Order of it; it will see a World of Reason to Conclude, That there is a GOD, who made such a World. There are the sensible s [...]amps [...] an Im­mense Power, and Wisdom ▪ and Good­ness, to be seen every where through­out the world; there is no Language, or Creature, where the voice thereof is not heard. It is plain, from the [...] In­vention, & poor Improvement of Arts; and from the gradual Growth of mankind, perhaps not yet increased unto one thousand million; 'tis plain to Reason, that the world had a Be­ginning. But from Whence? Not from a Casual concourse and jumble of Atoms. Were Ten Thousand Wheels Casually thrown together, would they fall so, that Seven or [Page 16] Eight of them, would form a well-contriv'd Watch? A man that views a stately House, or Ship, will not be so void of Reason, as to say, It built it self. Dull ma [...]ter could never pro­duce it self. The matter of the world, is every where in Motion. We must unavoidably come to a First Mover. [...]his First Mover can be no other than a GOD. Yea, if the Pa­gan Galen, could not Read his Ana­tomy-Lectures, without breaking forth into an Hymn of Praise, unto his Ma­ker; it may suffice to say, O man, Shew thy self a man, and look upon Thy self: Say, whether any but a GOD, could be the Maker of a Crea­ture, so surprizingly and wonderfully made! But then, the Works of Pro­vidence, which is Continued Creation, will yet further satisfy the Reason of a man, in the Being of a GOD. The Preservation of the world, like an Army preserved in exact Order, tho' composed of Different and Quarrel­some Nations; Reason sayes, It must [Page 17] be ascribed unto a GOD, whose King­dom Ruleth over all. But there are Extraordinary Occurrences in the world, as well as Ordinary ones, to proclame, That there is a GOD. There have been undoubted Prophecies ▪ We don't shew our selves men, if in them, we don't see a GOD; who shews unto His Servants, the Things that are to [...]me hereafter. There have been stu­ [...]endous Miracles ▪ We don't shew our selves men, if in them we don't see a GOD, who doth wondrous Things. There are signal Mercies granted sometimes, as Answers to Prayer, and Rewards to Vertue: Those men don't [...]ow themselves men, who do not say, These are the do [...]ngs of a GOD, and marvellous in our Eyes. There are such Retaliating Judgments inflicted some­times upon the Wicked, that if we will shew our selves men, we must, upon the sight thereof, Cry out, Ve­rily, There is a GOD, who Judgeth in the Earth.

Well then; Shew your selves men ▪ [Page 18] If there [...]e a GOD, Reason sayes, This GOD, [...] be Feared, and Loved, and Hoped in. Since the [...] is a GOD, there is all the Reason in the world, that every man should Seek this GOD, and Serve Him world without end. In all Ungodliness, there is a practical Atheism. Of Ungodly men 'tis said, They are without God in the world. In­deed, [...] Defy the perfections of God, and they set up the Flesh, the World, & the Devil instead of God: Thus they Ʋnd [...]y the Blessed GOD; as far as they can. Say, Reason, say; Is this to do like a Man? O don't persist in thy A­t [...]s [...]cal Ungodliness, until the GOD, [...]hom thou hast so vilified, make thee [...]eel, in the direful effects of His wrath, a proof of His Eternal Power, and God-head! But then,

Secondly, That man does not shew himself a man, who does not Believe, That the Christian Religion is the Truth of God. A Deist, as the Beast will be called, is worse than a Beast. Men had not been so prone to Deism, [Page 19] as we do with Horror [...] them in the Baptized Nations of [...], if they had [...] f [...]rst [...] by Beastly Debauch [...] ▪ In the Christian Religi­on, we are taught the way to Blessed­ness, in the Enjoyment of God: This Christian Religion is truly and justly called, in 2 Pet. 2.2. Th [...] [...]ay of Truth. And every Religion, any [...] th [...] [...] agrees with the Christian Religion, is truly to be called, [...] way. They do not shew themselves men, who Embrace not the Christian Reli­gion. I cannot but affirm it [...]to you; We have not Stranger proof, that there is a GOD, than we have, Th [...] our Blessed JESUS is the Christ of Go [...] and that His Religion is the Truth of God.

If we shew our selves men, [...] shall perceive, That there is [...] the Christian Religion, unworthy [...] GOD. We read in 1 Tim. 3. [...] ▪ Without Controversy, great is the Myste­ry of Godliness. There are two Thing [...] which render the Religion of our Lord [Page 20] Jesus Christ, without Controversy. One Thing is, Tha [...] it is a Great Mystery. The methods of a sinners Reconcili­ation to God, expressed in the Gospel are Noble, are Charming, are full of Majesty; there is an Exquisite con­trivance in them. The contrivance can be ascribed unto none but a GOD, whose Ʋnderstanding is Infinite. Ano­ther thing is, That it is a Mystery of Godliness. There is nothing in the Gospel, but what has a Tendency to promote what is Holy and Just and Good: No one vice is Countenanced in it: None but the thrice Holy God ▪ could call for such an universal, and self-denying, and flesh-mortifying Sanctity. Every Religion else under the Cope of Heaven, prescribes very silly wayes to obtain the Pardon of Sin, and leaves the professors of it [...] many wayes under the Power of Si [...] ▪ There is no Religion among men, be­sides the Christian, but if men would show themselves men, they would immediately change it for the Chris­tian; [Page 21] there is no Re [...]gion but This, worthy to be maintained by a Rea­sonable man.

Again, Were not all the Ancient Prophecies of the Messiah, compleatly answered in our Blessed JESUS? Our JESUS, not only C [...]m [...] ▪ when the Messiah was to come; He also D [...]d, all the Messiah was to do, according to Prophecies, that God had given to the Church, concerning that Seed, that was to Break the Serpents Head. All fell out, as we are told, in Luk. 1.53. As He spake to our Fathers. We find in many scores of amazing Instan­ces, the Things Foretold of the Messi­ah, Fulfilled in our Saviour. Our Lords Birth, our Lords Life, our Lords Death, and all the Remarkable Cir­cumstances thereof, were but so ma­ny Remarkable Accomplishments, of what had been promised by God, a­bout our Lord-Redeemer. Then, shew your selves men, and say, Cer­tainly the Religion of the Blessed JESƲS, must be the Religion of GOD.

[Page 22]Moreover, Could any but the Mes­siah have been able to Do the Mira­cles that were done by our Blessed JE­SUS? Our JESUS did those very Miracles; which were predicted by the Divine Oracles, to be done by the Messiah; and they were such Divine Miracles, that every Impartial Specta­tor must say, O Lord, There are n [...] works, like thy works. A Learned man said unto our Lord, in Joh. 3.2. N [...] man can do these Miracles that tho [...] dost, except God be with him. Truly, to Help the Blind, and Heal the Lame ▪ and Cure the Sick, and Raise the Dead ▪ and Cast out the Devils, all in His own Name, and Enable His Disciples to Do all these Things, and to Glorify God with Tongues which they never Learn [...] before: and such Things to be don [...] for two hundred years together! N [...] man can do these Miracles, but the Mes­siah of God, who is more than a man▪ The most Inveterate Pagans, in thei [...] Libels against our Saviour, were no [...] able to Deny these Miracles; th [...] [Page 23] Jews own them, in their Talmud, the Turks own them, in their Alcor [...]; So notorious is the matter of Fact ▪ Wherefore, shew your selves [...] ▪ and say, Never could any Religion be more confirmed, than the Religion of [...] Blessed JESƲS.

Finally; Is not the Blessed JESUS Risen from the Dead? Yes; And [...] His Apostle tells us upon it, in Rom. 1.4· He is declared the Son of God, [...] [...]wer, by the Resurrect [...]on from the Dead. That our Lord Rose from the Dead, hath been made apparent▪ by many Infallible proofs. After His Re­surrection, He exhibited Himself, [...] [...]hose Good men, who Saw Him, and Heard Him, and Felt Him, and con­ [...]nced all their Senses, that it [...] [...]e: This He did, no less than [...] several Times, and unto no less than five Hundred at a Time; and the Witnesses thereof, who [...] a Spirit, that could not [...] [...]ny other than the Spirit of God ▪ [...]hese [...] [Page 24] of it, yea, suffering for it, in such a manner, that the mo [...] Judici­ous Examiners could not but see, They were neither Deceivers, nor Deceived, in what they Witnessed. Yea, our Lord, since His Ascension into the Heavens, as a Proof, and a Fru [...]t of His Ascension, hath sent unto us a Letter The Book, of, The Revelation, wherein He fore-signified a Thousand Things, both about the Romish Aposta­cy, and the Mahometan Imposture, which are since most exactly come to pass. They do not shew them [...]elve [...] men, who harbour any suspicion o [...] a Religion, having such Broad-Seals o [...] Heaven unto it. But, come then▪ shew your selves men: If the Christian Religion be the Truth of God, Reaso [...] sayes, That our Lord Jesus Christ should be our very Life, and that we should Obey Him, as the Author of E­ternal Salvation for us. Is the Christi­an Religion the Truth of God? There is then all the Reason imaginable, That we should conform our selves to th [...] [Page 25] Directions of that Blessed Religion; and Deny all Ʋngodliness and worldly Lusts, and live Soberly, and Righteously, and Godlily, as that Religion teacheth us. Man, to be content without an Ʋnion to Christ, and an [...]terest in His Righteousness; To be content with an Earthly portion, and without the Blessedness of the Heavenly City, that Christ hath purchased and prepared for us; To make light of the Wor­ship, and Church-state, and Sacraments, that Christ hath Instituted; Or, to Study no conformity unto the Exem­ple of the Blessed JESUS: Alas, Thou dost not shew thy self a man, in all this Unchristian Behaviour.

II. The Follies of Sin, are so many, so obvious, and so very Brutish, worse than Brutish, as abundantly to con­vict those, of not acting Reasonably, who do not live Religiously. In Sin­ning against God, there appears no­thing but Folly: Shew your selves men, and you'l see the Folly of sin­ning. [Page 26] No man in his wits, would ever do the Things that we all do, whenever we Sin. An Irreligious Action must be charged, with Folly, whoever [...] it; it cannot be vindi­cated.

For,

First; The Law of the Only wise God, must needs be a very wise Law ▪ But Sin against-God, is a Transgressio [...] of that Law; Hence there must need [...] be Folly in the Transgression. Doe [...] that man shew himself a man, who will not consent, that the God who made him, should give Law unto him▪ for that the Law of God, concerning al [...]things is Right? We are, with in­finite Reason told, in Psal. 111.10▪ The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom, a Good Understanding hav [...] all they who do those things. Ther [...] is then an extream want of Wisdom in them who do not live in the Fea [...] of the Lord; they want Ʋnderstand [...]ing exceedingly, who do not suc [...] Things. To do Irreligiously, [...] [Page 27] act just contrary to the Rule of Wis­dom; and is this to act Reasonably? No, there is no way of Sinning espoused by the Children of men, but the Rule of Wisdom sayes upon it, This their way is their Folly!

Secondly; To Act Inconsiderately, is to Act Ʋnreasonably: Now there is no Sinner but what is monstrously In­considerate, and therefore shamefully Ʋnreasonable. 'Tis complained of them that sin, in Isa. 1.3. They do not Consider. It is the property of unrea­sonable Animals, That they never Think. And, I pray, how much does a sinner Think, when he is going to Sin? Does the sinner Think, That the Eye of God is upon all his wickedness? Does he Think, That God will call him to an Account, for all his wickedness? Does he Think, That Sin will be Bitterness in the latter End? Or, Does that man [...]ew himself a man, who never Con­siders, That there is a God, and Why God made him, and How God is to [...]e served? Or that man, who never [Page 28] Considers, If I Dy in my present Condi­tion, what will become of me throughout Eternal Ages? This is the Guise, This the Crime, of the [...]rreligious. The Psalmist could say, in Psal. 119.59. I thought on my ways, and I turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies. Tis very sure, That the men who don't walk in the wayes of God, are men that little Think on their wayes. But if we don't Think like Men, how can we Think that we Act like Men?

Thirdly, When a man Sins against God, he makes very Foolish Bargains. A Sinner may be impleaded for an Ideot; he does worse than part with a peice of Gold, for an Apple or a Counter. Does he shew himself a man, that for the sake of a sordid Lust, will part with a precious Christ, and all His peerless Benefits? 'Tis done by all the Irreligious. Does he shew him­self a man, that prefers Temporal Things, above Eternal? He that for the sake of the Criminal pleasures of [Page 29] Sin, which are but for a season, will forfeit the pleasures which are at the Right Hand of God forevermore! He that for the sake of the Deceitful Riches, which take themselves wings, and flee away, will forego the Durable Riches of the Heavenly Substance? The Devil is daily solliciting men into his Cur­sed Bargains: He sayes to the sinner, Let me have thy Soul, to be a Companion with me, in my Everlasting Torments, & I'l accommodate thee for it with a sow Momentany Delights. Does he show himself a man, that will be betray'd into such a wretched Bargain? The Sinner is that man, and therefore not a Man. He spoke like a Man, that refused a costly Sin, saying, Nolo tan­ti emere paenitentiam, I will not Buy Repentance at so dear a rate. A sin­ner parts with God, and parts with Life, and parts with Heavenly Hap­piness; and what gets he by the Bar­gain? Oh, Tis all to Buy nothing but a sad Repentance. Is this to play the Man? 'Tis to play the Fool.

[Page 30]Fourthly; When a man Sins against God, he runs very Foolish Ventures. Is it not a Non-sensical Thing, for a man, to dash himself, against what he knows will be too hard for him? The Sinner does dash himself against [...] Omnipotent God, who is able to crush him in a moment. He does not shew himself a man, that shall go to contend with God; Man, Feeble man, Sorry man, is no fit match for the Almighty God. But all the Irre­ligious are found Fighters against God; even against that God, against whom no man ever hardened himself and pros­pered. By sin, a man does as it were▪ beat a Challenge unto the infinite God; It may be said of him, He stretch­eth out his Hand against God, and strengthneth himself against the Almigh­ty. Now, what is this, but the Fierce­ness of a Devil, rather than of a Man? A sinner madly runs the Venture, of undergoing the Anger of that God, who overturns the Mountains in [...] [Page 31] Anger. He runs the Venture, of be­ing siezed by the wrath of God, and Broken by that wrath in the place of Dragons. He runs the Venture of be­ing made an Object, for the dreadful Revenges of God, in the Fires of Hell, till the Heavens be no more. Is this to do like a Man? A meer Sensitive Thing, will not run into the Fire. Where are the Senses of the Sinner then? He sees the Fire of the Eternal Vengeance of God before him; and yet when he sins, he runs and leaps into that formidable Fire! Oh! If men would shew themselves men, they would not be so desperately Ven­turesome. Stop, Sinner, Stop, and shew thy self a man, Go not on still in thy Trespasses.

III. When men come to themselves, they Cry out of themselves, as not having Acted Reasonably, when they have not Lived Religiously. The fa­mous Prince Henry would say, I know not what you call Puritan Preaching, but [Page 32] I am sure, I love that Preaching that goes to my Heart. Give me leave; If we will shew our selves men, the Things now to be Preached, will go to the Heart! There is a Time, when men come to themselves; and that is, when they see themselves going from every thing else. Never do men see so clearly, as when they have the shadow of Death sitting on their Eye­lids. Men do most shew themselves men, when they be Dying men. When the Children of men see themselves likely to live no longer in the world, the Spells which the world laid upon them, are expiring; and they then make the Truest Reflections upon the past Actions of their lives. It was a Great Question which a Person of Quality once put unto a Wise person, How may I most wisely Order my life? And it was a wise Answer then given to the Question, So Think, so Do, so Live, as you would have Chosen to have done, a while ago, when you thought your self a Dying. Truly when men think [Page 33] themselves a Dying, Then, Then, they come to Right Thoughts, about the Wisest way of ordering a Life. Men come to Judge Reasonably, when they feel themselves going to appear be­fore the dreadful Judgment-seat of God. But they then do Judge, that they have not Liv'd Reasonably, if they have not Liv'd Religiously. All Dying men ordinarily, when they look back upon their Actions, they look upon their Sinful Actions, as very Fool­ish Actions, and Brutish ones. Irreligious persons, are forewarned, in Prov. 5.11.12. Thou wilt mourn at the Last, and say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised Reproof? Even so, these persons do mourn at the last over all their Irreligious Actions, and say, How have I play'd the Fool, in what I have done! As the Apostle speaks, in Rom. 6.21. What Fruit had ye then, in those things, whereof ye are now A­shamed? For the End of those things is Death: When men see themselves near to that End, they are miserably [Page 34] Ashamed of those things, wherein the [...] have done amiss.

More particularly.

First; When a man comes to himsel [...] and his Death, he pronounces nothing to be so Reasonable, as for a man to be Religious. A Dying man, will no [...] only [...] with him, in Numb. 23.10▪ [...] the Death of the Righteous ▪ But he will also say, I have been [...] Fool▪ that I have not Lived the Life of the Righteous! That Great Scholar▪ and Great States-man, Grotius, when he [...]rew near his Death, professed▪ He would gladly now give all hi [...] Learning and Honour, for the Reli­gion of a certain poor Mechanic in his Neighbourhood, that spent some Hours every day, in his Devotions▪ and he Cryed out, I wish all the world saw so much Reason in Religion as I do ▪ and being asked the best Counsel that a man of his Great Attainments could give, he only said, Be Serious. Truly There is no Scoffing at Religion, ordi­narily in the mouth of a Dying [...] [Page 35] Death will make a man Serious: They [...] once Laugh'd at Serious Religion, [...] they come to Dy, they don't [...] indeed, no, but they G [...]esh at [...] own Folly for doing so: In their [...] Day men grow Serious ▪ and with a Deadly Groan they will▪ Oh! that I had been more serious in m [...] [...]ife, and more seriously pursued the [...] of my life! A Renowned Privy-Counsellor, to several Monarchs▪ in the English Nation, at the end of his Life, gave this as the Result of his [...] Experience; Now, sayes he, I [...], that Seriousness is the greatest Wisd [...]m; I find, that a due Temperance [...] the best Physick; I find, that a Good [...]onscience is the best Estate. Such, [...] such are the Attestations, which men in all Ages have given to the Reasonableness of Religion, in those [...] of their lives, when they [...] most shewn themselves men ▪ That Great Emperor, Charles V. one of the Greatest men that ever lived [...] face of the Earth, Resigned [Page 36] his vast possessions before he dy'd and Retir'd wholly to his Devotions and Solemnly declared, The sincer [...] profession of the Christian Religion, hath in it Sweets & Joyes, that are not know [...] in the Courts of Princes! Truly, [...] Hearers, you never heard of any man [...]n a Death-bed, Repenting that he ha [...] lived Religiously and Seriously: But you continually hear of Dying men, full of Repentance, that they have had so little of Religion in thei [...] lives; and Crying out, as a Grea [...] man, well known in the English Na [...]tion did: when taking his Farewe [...] of his most considerable Friends, [...] did it in those words, Remember▪ Sirs, I Repent of all my life, but that part of it, which I spent in Communion with God, and in doing of Good. Then, even at such a Time as That, the Celebrated Selden, who had survey [...] almost all the Learning under Heaven could say to his Friends, The five la [...]t Verses in the second Chapter to Titus, now do me more Good, than all the [...] [Page 37] in the world. Will you Believe [...] Si [...]s? When men are [...] to [...]ve, they then Judge it a Reasonable Thing for men to Pray without ceasing while they Live. When men are going to the House Appointed for all the living, they then Judge it a Reasonable thing, to count an Hour spent [...] the House of God, better than a thousand elsewhere. Hence I infer, men don't shew themselves men, till they make such a Judgment.

Secondly; When a man comes [...] [...]imself, and his Death, he confesses, that in Sin he was beside himself [...] Sin seems a profitable, and a sati [...]ying, [...] at least an excusable [...] of [...] Thing, while a sinner is under his pre­sent Enchantments; and as 'tis said▪ [...] Psal. 36. [...] He flatters himself in his [...] Eyes, until his In [...]quity be found to [...] ▪ Sin seeems a light Thing [...], while he is Enchanted and, [...] with it; but ask a Dying [...], What is the heaviest load that [...] [Page 38] upon you? He will say, My Sin, my Sin! Oh, my Iniquities, they are as a [...] heavy Burden, too heavy for me! What saith Solomon, about the Sin of Drunken­ness? At the last, it bites like a Serpent▪ and stings like an Adder. A Dying man, feels a Deadly Sting of Sin upon his mind, and wishes, Oh, that I had never meddled with it. The Dying Drunkard sayes, I had better had swal­low'd any Gall, than so many Excessive Cups. The Dying. Wanton finds he had better have been shot through with any Fiery Darts, than with those of Unchastity. The Dying Swearer, finds he had better have taken so many Coals, than so many Oathes into his mouth. The Dying Cheater, finds he had as good have drunk down so much melted Silver, as have Rob'd his Neighbour. A man that has mispent his Hours, with vain and lewd Company; he can't keep from the [...] for his life: When this Idle man comes to Dye, his old Companion [...] coming about him, appear like so m [...]ny [Page 39] horrid Rattle-Snakes; he Cryes out, O Lord, Gather not my Soul with such Sinners; Lord, Let me go to the Company of them, that led a Religious life. I say then, Those men, don't shew themselves men, who have not now the same Opinion of Irreligious Actions that they will have when they come to Dye; and who do not choose to be with Religious company, rather than to sit with vain persons. Briefly, The Cry of Dying men is, My sin, it has undone me! it has undone me! And we don't shew our selves men, if we don't see this, before we fall into our Dying Hours.

THus, you have seen irrefragable Demonstration, That men do not Act Reasonably, if they do not Live [...] Religiously. That I may my self [...] Reasonably, I must now turn this Demon­stration, into an Exhortation unto all my Hearers, to Live Religiously. [Page 40] Sirs, if any of you walk in the wayes of Irreligion, I Summon you to the Bar of your own Reason; certain I am, that you will be dreadfully Condemn­ed at that Bar: But then, Oh, shew your selves men, and Think, what a Condemnation you must expect from the more dreadful Bar of Hea­ven: For, God is greater than our Con­science.

Many Hearers do much admire, that which they call, Rational Preach­ing; but when they have opposed it [...]nto Scriptural Preaching, they have but betrayed a sufficient want of Rea­son. The most shallow Divines, and the most empty Harangues, have most unjustly [...] sometimes distinguished by the Name of Rational. Where­ [...]s, the more of Gospel there is in our Preaching, the more of Reason there [...] in it. Scripture is Reason, in it's [...]ighest elevation. I am now accord­ingly to set before you, diverse Lessons of Scripture, in such Terms, that you shall horribly Sin against Reason, i [...] you sleight them.

[Page 41]I. Shew your selves men, and be not so Brutish, as to commit any of the Faults, for which the Bruits them­selves may Reproach us. A wicked man, is called in Psal. 92.6. A Brutish man. Most Reasonably may that man be called so, that shall be so Ʋnreasonable as to do the vile things, which the very Bruits, by the meer Instinct of Nature a­void. God has implanted a Natural In­stinct, into the Ʋnreasonable Creatur [...], partly that so the Reasonable Ones, may be by them Hieroglyphically [...] and Instructed in many points of Discretion; and He has furni [...]hed us with Reason, partly for this purpos [...] that we may apprehend those [...] Many Things there [...] if we do amiss, the Bruits, though they are Mutes, will very Loudly and as very Justly cast Reproach upon us. As now, shew your selves men, and Thankfully Consider ▪ and Acknowledge, the Benefits which the Good God is [Page 42] daily conferring upon you, and Love and Serve, and Seek your Benefactor. If you do it not, the Ox and the Ass, will Reproach your Ingratitude; we read it, in Isa. 1.3. Hear, O Heavens, and give Ear, O Earth; The Ox knowes his Owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib; but Israel doth not Know, My people doth not Consider: Ah, sinful Nation. [...] show your selves men, and let [...] slip the Seasons of Grace, but Seaso­nably apply your selves, to Do the Serv [...] ▪ and G [...]t the Blessing of God. If you do it not, the Stork, & the Tur­tle, the Crane and the Swallow, will Reproach your Sleepiness We read it▪ in [...]er. 8.6. The Stork in Heaven [...] T [...]mes, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow, observe the Time of their coming, but my People know not the Judgment of the Lord. Once more; show your selves men, a [...]d mind the Business of your Part [...]cular Vocatio [...]s, with Honesty and Industry. If you do it not, the Ant will Reproach your Slothfulness: [Page 43] We read it; in Prov. 6.6. Go to the Ant, thou Sluggard, consider her wayes, and be wise, — she provideth her meat in the Summer. Yet again; Are there among you any Children Undutiful un­to their Parents? Oh▪ more show your selves men, lest the young Ra­vens, and the young Eagles Reproach you for your Undutifulness: We read in Prov. 30.17. The Eye that mocks at his Father, and despiseth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out, and the young Eagles shall eat it. When the Old Ravens are sick and spent with Age, the Young ones will keep with them, and be marvel­lously kind unto them. When the Old Eagles, are so impaired with Age, that they can't Feed themselves, the Young ones Feed them, and Help them with a marveilous Tenderness. Be­hold, the Birds of Heaven, ready to fly in thy Face, and scratch out thine Eyes, if thy Parent be ill requited. Furthermore; It was an Admonition which our Lord gave unto His Disci­ples, [Page 44] in Mat. 10.16. Be wise as Ser­pents, & harmless as Doves. A Serpent perceiving himself to be much hated, keeps himself out of Harms way as much as ever he can; he does not throw himself into Dangers, he affronts no body, assaults no body, provokes no body, that will not first meddle with him. Christians, show yoor selves men, and Remembring that an Evil world hates you, do you prudently decline all needless provo­cations of other men; Else the Wis­dom of the Serpent will Reproach you. A Dove, is Innocent, and Patient, Cheats no body, Hurts no body, Damnifies no body, Revenges no In­jury▪ Christians, show your selves men, and be Injurious to none, but Serviceable to all, as far as we law­fully may, in all their Interests: Else the Goodness of the Dove will Reproah you. Moreover the Sins of [...]ntempe­rance, I was going to say, They are Beastly S [...]ns: But I should wrong the Beasts, to call them so; the Beasts do [Page 45] but Reproach our Intemperance. Oh, shew your selves men. It was with too much of Reason said by Chrysostom, An Ass is miser than a Drunkard. When Glareanus was urged unto the Drinking of more than was for his Good, his Answer was, Num isto caene insipientiorem, me vultis? Would you have me show less wit than a Dog? One who had spent a Night in drink­ing of Healths, Riding home, at a Brook in the Road, bad his Horse to drink the Health of a person he named unto him; the Horse not feeling any Need of Drink took no notice of it; whereupon the Disguised Master had so much Reason left him, as to make this Reflection, Alas, This poor Horse has more of Reason tha [...] his Drunken Master.

I'll have done, when I have noted this one thing more. Do we Indulge in the Town, a considerable Number of Drones; people that might work for their living, but can give no tole­rable account of any work by which [Page 46] they live? Sirs, There is not one Hive of Bees, in any of our Gardens, but what Reproaches us for our Al­lowing of any Drones among us. The Exemple of the well-governed Bees, may▪ Sting us, with shame for our Negligence. One writing of these curious Animals, very truly sayes, Reason, as abused by us, is as much our Condemnation as our Prerogative.

II. Shew your selves men, and Never Do any of those things, which you plainly See and Feel, bring no Good, but much Harm, to those who do them. Will a Man do that, which he sensibly finds do him all manner of Harm, and no manner of Good▪ No, the very Beasts themselves will shun such Things as those.

The Sin of profane Swearing, I wonder, what shadow of Good, any man can think to get by it. In every other Sin, a man aims at Pleasure, or [...]rofit, or Honour; but the Swear­er, as the Christian Poet Sings;

For a man, to cast Contempt on his Almighty and Eternal Maker, and this, without the prospect of making any of the least advantage to himself! To incur the displeasure of the Infinite God, for nothing but a sottish cust [...] of having the Bold Sound of a Big Word, in your Language! Wretches, Do but show your selves men, and you'l talk no more so exceedingly Pro­ [...]ely, nor let such Blasphemy come [...] of your mouthes.

But there are some Sins, wherein the Si [...]ers themselves have already found a Sensible Detriment. Now, [...] your selves men, and no more [...] Things that have already Poisoned you. We say, A Burnt Child will dread the Fire. Sirs, can you tell [Page 48] of no Sins, that have already Burnt your Fingers? You have Evidently done your selves a mischief, by what you have done. Oh, shew your selves men, and not worse than Chil­dren: Say, I have done that which hath not profited me, and I will therefore do it no more. Certainly, a Drun [...]d here­in does not shew himself a man, when, as in Prov. 23.29. Who hath Wo? They that carry long at the Wine: — Yet [...] they, I will seek it yet again. Man, [if at least we may call thee, A man!] Hast thou not paid very dear, for thy keeping such and such lewd Company? Thy Company, and thy Drinking, and Gaming, and Filthiness, with such Com­pany, dost thou not plainly feel, that thou art the worse for it? Thy Health decayed, thy Name disgraced▪ thy Purse wasted? shew thy self a man, and, Oh, don't play the Fool at the old rate any more. Come away, for shame come, away; And my Son, if Sinners Entice, answer them, No, I have alwayes got more Harm than [Page 49] Good, by being with you; Depart from me ye Evil-d [...]ers, that I may keep the Commandments of God.

OF, I will suppose, that you have never yet, in your own Experience▪ met with Evil Effects of these and those Evil Actions. Neverthelels, Have you not seen the Ev [...]l Consequence of such Actions in other men? The Judgments of God upon others, will be Warnings unto us, if we shew [...] selves men. Have not you Seen [...] men, terribly Destroy [...]d by the Judg­ments of God upon them, for their wickedness▪ Then shew your selves men, & as an Argument against all such wickedness, [...] say, Destruction from God is a Terror to me. Seen I'l tell you what you have See [...]. You have Seen, the Judgments of God cuting off whole Nations, for their Despising and Re­fu [...]ing the Glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have Seen the Judgments of God, upon the Rash wishes of men, bringing upon them the very Things that they have [...]. [Page 50] You have Seen the Judgments of God, puni [...]hing Drunkenness, with Poverty, with Sickli [...]ess, with Ignominy, and with Tragical Death. You have Seen the Judgments of God, leaving Sabbath-breakers, to Break all the Laws of Heaven, and hasten their Falls into that place of Torment where they see no Rest. You have Seen the Judments of God, heavily Cursing the Children [...] [...]ight by Father and Mother, and causing them to Dy before their Time, yea, to D [...] upon the Gallows. You have Seen the Judgments of God, upon Whoremongers and Adulterers, making them to mourn at the last ▪ when their Flesh and their Body hath been Consumed. You have Seen the Judgments of God, strangely Consuming the Estates got by Gaming, and Cheating, and Stealing, and Robbing, and Pyracy, and Burning Coals carried into the Nests, that have been Feathered by Dishonesty. You, my young Folks, have Seen the fear­ful Judgments of God, casting the Fierce­ness of His Anger, upon the Young Folks [Page 51] of our Land, that have Cast off Fear, and Restrained Prayer before Him. Now, if you shew your selves men, you will take these awful Warnings of Heaven. Oh shew your selves men, and by abandoning these Transgressi­ons, declare, Lord, I am afraid of thy Judments.

III. Shew your selves men, and Reflecting on your Errand into the world, make due Reflections also on what you have done concerning it. A Man is a creature capable of Re­fl [...]x Acts, and there is none but Man in the visible Creation so. Every man comes into the world, by the Order of God, and on an Errand for Him. He that would shew himself a man, must Reflect, Why am I in the world? And, What have I to do in the world? Our Errand hither is, ex­pressed in those words, Isa. 43.21. This people have I formed for my self, they shall shew forth my praise. It is, to Observe and Adore the perfections [Page 52] of the Infinite God, and bear a Testi­mony to the Truths and Wayes, and yield Obedience to the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, in this world, and so to prepare for a Blessed state in a­nother. In short, Our Errand hither, is, To Glorify God and the Lord Je­sus Christ, in Conforming to the Rules and Hopes of His Holy Religion. That man does not shew himself a man, who counts himself Born for a­ny meaner purposes. He that Lives only to Eat and Drink, and Play, and Sleep, and by some labour to purchase him­self conveniences for all of those, what I pray, does that man shew himself a man? But then, Oh, shew your selves men, by Examining your selves, how far you have done what you were Born to do. Sayes the A­postle, 1 Cor. 11.28. Let a man Ex­amine himself. He that would shew himself a man, let him do it, by Self-examination. Of what? The Prophet has thus answerd▪ That; Thus sait [...] the Lord of Hosts, Consider your wayes. [Page 53] It was a sad Complaint, Jer. 8.6. No man said, what have I done? Let there be no such thing by Heaven Com­plained over us: But, shew your selves men, and Retire from the Noise of secular Business, and ponder with your selves; Well, How many years have I been in the world? And what have I been a doing in all these years? Have I minded any thing yet, but vain Diversions from the main Business of my Life? What progress have I made in the Knowledge of God, and of the Lord Je­sus Christ? And what Service have I done for His Glorious Name? And what Good preparation have I made, for a Better world? Reflect on the Conduct of your Lives, and shew your selves men, by Examining your selves, whether you have Lived like men!

IV. Shew your selves men, and seek not your Happiness, in those poor and Low Enjoyments, that never can make any Ratio [...]al Creatures Happy. Unsanctified Men, will dream of an [Page 54] Happiness to be found, in the Enjoy­ments of this world; but if we would Shew our selves men, we must away with so vain a Dream. The Ever-blessed God, made Man for Himself, and gave all these inferiour things to M [...]n, as only Helps and Means to bring him to Himself. Such are the Faculties, and such the Appetites of Man, that nothing but a God can sa­tisfy him. Come then, O man, shew th6y self a man, and say with him, in Psal. 73.25. — Lord, whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is nothing on the Earth, that I desire besides thee: God is my portion forever. Let men, shew themselves men, and not fancy, that Happiness and Contentment is to be found in those worldly things, which flatter the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the [...]ride of Life. The Enjoyments of this life, are Courted by the most of men, as their Sove­reign Happiness: It may be said of them, as in Amos 2.7. They pa [...]t after the Dust of the earth▪ [...] Happiness, [Page 55] for a Snake or a Toad, rather than a Man! Men pursue after nothing, but that they may have their [...]enses Gra­tified, and their Estates Flourishing, and their Neighbours putting a value upon them. Whereas, if we would indeed shew our selves men, we should see, That all these things are Miserable Comforters, and Broken Cisterns, and Lying Va [...]ities: and that for to seek Happiness in them is to Rejoyce [...]n a thing of nought. Luther did therefore shew himself a man, when upon some worldy Enjoyments that flowed in upon him, he thus Addressed the God of Heaven, O my God, I earnestly protest unto thee, that I will not be put off with such things as these. As the Apostle said, in 1 Cor. 15.19 If we have Hope onl [...] in this Life, we are of all men the most miserable▪ So may all men Say, If we have our Happiness only in the Things of this Life, we are of all Crea­tures the most miserable. Sirs, know you no [...], That never any man did Seek [...] in the Enjoyments [Page 56] of this world, but he lost what he Sought. The Experiment of coming at Happiness in sublunary Things, has been Tryed, and Repeted, and Alter­ed, millions of Times; but after all it has been Cried out, as in Eccl. 1.14. Behold, all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. The Spirit of man still finds, as the sick miser did of the Bags of Gold, he called for, Ah, They will not do! They will not do! Yea, know you not, That if you seek all your Happiness, only in the Enjoyments of this world, then you loose all your Hap [...]yiness, at your leaving this world. As 'tis said, in Psal 49.16. When a Rich man Dyes, he shall carry nothing away. Thus, let a man have never so much of this world about him he shall shortly take his leave of it all. And what is be­come of all his Happiness, when his Eyes are sunk, and his Breath gone, and his Heart stop'd and a Death- [...]ro [...]d, with a few clods of Earth, is all that is left unto him? Oh, shew your selves men, and no longer seek [Page 57] for Happines [...], in these Deceitful Things. Raise up your Thoughts, O Rational Souls, to an Happiness, that shall bewor­thy of you, an Happiness that shall suit your Noble Qualities, an [...] Happiness that will be the Good [...]arp, never to be taken away. If you will do like Men, you [...]l place your only Happiness, in the Enjoyment of God by Christ, through Ete [...]nal Ages.

V. Shew your selves men, and while you are making provision for your Bodies, let your Souls be as well provided for. 'Tis the priviledge of Man to have a Soul, a most valuable and never-dying Soul. He that would shew himself a man, must Remem­ber, That besides his Body and with­in his Body, he hath a wonderful Soul; a Jewel whereof the Body is but the Cabinet; A SOUL, I say, or, A Spi­ritual and Immortal Substance, En­dued with the powers of knowing & willing, and affecting to be vitally United unto an Humane Body. But, if we shew our selves men, that thing, [Page 58] The SOUL, the SOUL, will be of all things, the most Considerable unto us, and we shall often Consider on those words of our Lord, in Matt [...] 16.26. What is a man Profited, if [...] gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul? We are at a world of pains to get our Body well accommodated; for this, we [...]se Early, for this, we Sit up Late, for this, we Eat the Bread of Care [...]lness, that we may get Bread for our Body. We have all this while a [...]oul within us, that makes a lamen­table Cry unto us, When O man, when shall I, thy undone Soul, be look'd after? Thou hast spent many a year in labouring to support, and preserve, and adorn a Body, that yet must seed the worms: When wilt thou do any thing for thy Soul, that is in danger of going down into End­les [...] miseriespunc; Now, shew your selves men, by hearing the Cryes of your own Souls, and using your cares for your Souls. Your Souls are under a Sentence of Everlasting Death: Will you do nothing to get that Sentence [Page 59] off? Your Souls are deprived of the Divine Image: will you do nothing to get that Image Restored? Your Souls are Enslaved unto Satan: will you do nothing to be rescued out of your Slavery? Your Souls are perish­ing in horrible Distempers: will you do nothing that those Distempers may be Cured Alas, you don't Act like Men, in doing so. You Feed your Bodies: but, Shew your selv [...] men, and obtain for your Souls, The [...] of Li [...]e. You Cloath your Bodies [...] Shew your selves men, & obtain [...] your Souls, The Garments of Righteous­ness. Your Bodies are with no little cost, Lodg'd in convenient Houses, for a very little while: but, Shew your selves men, and obtain for your Souls, An House Eternal in the Heaven. Oh! If men would shew themselves men, with what Anguish of Soul, would they lay to heart, the Condition of their own Souls, & pierc [...] the very Heavens with that Cry, in Psal. 1.16.4. O Lord, I beseech thee, Deliver my Soul! And O [Page 60] Parents, Let the Souls of your [...]hildren, be in these Regards unto you, like your own Souls. What▪ Are your Children but the C [...]ildren o [...] [...]wine? Shew your selves men, and be not Regardless of their Souls; do all that you can to Save them out of the wret­chedness▪ which is through your Cor­rupt Nature conveyed unto their Souls? It is well said, by one of the Ancients▪ He that m [...]nds his Childs Body, more [...] his Soul, is like One, that if [...] and his Dog were like to be [...], should be sollicitous to save h [...]s [...], but let hi [...] Ch [...]ld per [...]sh in the water. Is this to do like a Man, think you? No, 'tis like a Dog rather than a Man. Oh, Shew your selves men, & think, I nou [...]sh, adorn the Bodie of my Chil­dren, but their Soul are [...], their Soul are naked, the [...]r Souls are under [...] wrath of God: I am in Agonies to help them, when their Bodies are sick, but their Soul are [...]ning away in the [...]r [...]. Deal with them, Do for them ac­cordingly.

[Page 61]VI. Shew your selves men, and Attend upon the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, with your Eyes upon the End, for which He hath Ordained them. To Act without an [...]nd, is to Act not like a Man. One great Con­cern of our Lives, is to attend on the Natural, & Appointed, worship of God, in the Assemblies of His people▪ If we would shew our selves men, we should be able to give a Reasonable Account of our being at any time in those [...]em­blies. We read of a confused [...] at Ephesus, Act. 19.32. The Assem­bly was confused, & the most part knew not wherefore they were come together. But they did not shew themselves men; I can't say, whether Paul had not then his F [...]ght with the Beasts of Ephesus. 'Tis great pitty that any such Thing should ever be said of any Christian Assembly ▪ And yet such are the Thoughtless, and Careless Dispositions of men, that when they come together, very many of them Think not, wherefore they are com [...] together. Many come, only because [Page 62] 'tis the Custom, & the Fashion to come. Sirs, The very Dogs that follow their Masters, come also upon that Account. Or, perhaps, many come to please their Fancy, [...] to keep their Credit. An Account not much better than the for­mer. Shew your selves men, and when you come to the Christian As­sembly, be able to give a Manlike Ac­count of what you do. When the people [...] out unto the Sermons of that [...]ellent Preacher, John Baptist, [...] Lord thus put them to it, in Mat. [...].8. What went you out for? When we come to a Christian Assembly, if we would shew our selves men, we should be able in a Reasonable manner to an­swer that Question, What is it for? The main Ends, for which our Lord Jesus Christ, hath directed our use of His Ordinances, are summed up, in that Sen­tence, 1 Joh. 1.3. Truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Je­sus Christ. Now let those be your Ends, in the using of these Ordinances. In the Christian Assembly, be able to say, [Page 63] I am here that I may Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, in Obedience to the Com­mandment of that Glorious Lord. Be able to say, I am here, that I may obtain more Accquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Mystery of Salvation by Him. Be able to say, I am here, that I may receive Benefit from the Lord Je­sus Christ, & have my Salvation furthered. Yea, and let the more particular Ends of every Ordinance, have a room in your most awful Thoughts, when you are before God engaged in that Or­dinance. Why do you keep the Lords Day? Shew your selves men; let it be, to Commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and Assist your expectation of, and preparation for, the Great [...]abbatism, that will ar­rive at your own Resurrection. Why do you stand up at the Publick Prayers? Shew your selves men; let it be to implore Heaven for all the Blessings of Peace with Godliness and Honesty, upon your selves and others. Why do you bear part in the Publick Psalms? Shew [Page 64] your selves men; let it be to Admonish your selves, and Magnify your Lord. Why do you give ear to the Publick Preaching? Shew your selves men; let it be, that your Souls may be cast into the Mould of what you Hear, your Minds Enlightned, your Hearts Recti­fied, your Lives Reformed, by what you Hear. Why do you seek Ad­mission into a Church Fellowship? Shew your selves men; let it be, that being built [...]p in your most Holy Faith, you may be found written among the Living of the Mystical Church. Why do you ask Baptism for your selves, and for your Children? Shew your selves men; let it be to Signify, and Testify your Good Answer, to the proposals of the Covenant of Grace, and lay hold on the Promises of that Covenant. Why do you approach to the Sacrament of the Eu­charist? Shew your selves men; let it be, to Revive in your own Souls, the Holy Remembrance of what hath been done for us by our Lord & Saviour; and have your Interest in all the Great [Page 65] Salvation of our Lord Seal'd unto you. Why do you maintain the Ecclesiasti­cal Discipline? Shew your selves men; [...]et it be, to Recover Fallen Sinners unto Repentance, and Represent unto the world, what sort of Sinners will be Ban [...]shed from the Heavenly Kingdom▪ Finally, Why do you cast your Mi [...]e [...], into the Lords-dayes Collections? Shew your selves men; let it be, to pay your Quit-rents unto the Great Lord of all your possessions; and that the [...]e things going up as a Memorial before God in Heaven, you may be fitted for His Heavenly Mercies. This is Ma [...] ­ly Religion.

VII. Shew your selves men, [...] whether God have Dispensed Comforts, or Sorrows unto you, Endeavour to [...] the Calls of those Dispensations. It is the part of a Reasonable man, to think, [...] may be the Reason & the De [...]gn of the Lords Dealings with him, and to com­ply with the Lords Design in all. [...] our God multiplied Comforts unto us? We do not shew our selves [...] we [Page 66] do not now study and contrive, with the Psalmist, What shall [...] render to the Lord, for all His Benefits? It was urged, in Rom. 12.1. I Beseech you, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your Bodies, a Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable to God, which is your Reaso­nable Service. Hath God bestow'd much Mercy on you, 'tis but Reasona­ble that you render all Service to Him. Shew your selves men, and Resolve with your selves; What? Shall I go on in Rebellions against the God, who does continually follow me with His Goodness & Mercy? No, I will not be so Foolish and Ʋnwise as thus Ill to Requite the Lord: But I will fear, and love, and serve my Good God, and Live unto Him, as long as I Live. On the other side; Hath our God inflicted Sorrows upon us? We do not shew our selves men, if we have not the Desire of that afflicted man, Lord, shew me wherefore th [...] Contend­ [...]st with me! It was said in Prov. 27. [...] ▪ Though thou shouldest [...]ray a Fool in [...] Mort [...]r, yet will not his Foolishness de­part [Page 67] from him. For a man to be as Foolish, as Carnal, as Worldly, as Prayerless, after his Afflictions, as he was before; does he do like Man, in that Incorrigible Stupidity? No, he is but a Fool bray'd in a Morter. Shew your selves men, and come to this Resolution with your selves; What? Have I been Scourged by God, and shall I provoke Him to Employ yet more Scourg [...] upon me? No, I will Return to the God that smites me, and I will turn from all my provocations. Lord, befo [...] I was Afflicted I went astray, but if thou make me better by my Afflictions, it will be good for me, that I have been Afflicted. This 'tis▪ to shew our selves men, under the Dispensations of God.

VIII. Shew your selves men, and having the Salvation of the Lord Je­sus Christ, Offered unto you, do not mad [...]y Reject the Gracious Offers of it. He doth not shew himself a man, that Rejects a Good Offer: Quis nisi [...]entis i [...]ops [...] was an Offer that Heaven [...] made unto Solomon, in 2 Chron. [Page 68] 1.7. Ask what I shall give thee. Had Solomon then shewn himself a man, if he had not accepted that Offer? Sirs, This is a wondrous Thing, The Ho­ly One of God appearing to us, as He did unto Solomon, with Length of Dayes in His Right Hand, and in His Left Hand Riches and Honour, makes this Offer now unto us all; Ask what I shall [...] for you. All the things contained in the very Great and Precious Promises of the New Covenant, are Offered unto them, that will but sincerely Acccept thereof. Hearken to the Voice of the Lord of Glory, and be astonished: From the Excellent Glory, there is this Offer made unto us, Man, If thou wilt Accept it, I will by the Imputation of my Righte­ousness, make thee perfectly Righteous be­fore the Judgment-seat of God: If thou wilt Accept it, I will make thee Holy, and by the Influences of my Holy Spirit, Sancti­fying thee throughout, help thee to be dai­ly perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God: If thou wilt Accept it, I will [...] thee by my Counsel, and bring thee to my Glo­ry. [Page 69] Now, shew your selves men, and Humbly, and Gladly, and Thank­fully Accept this Offer; and Cry [...]o God for the Assistance of His Grace, that you may Accept thereof. Our Lord Jesus Christ, coming to an Im­potent man, in Joh. 5.6. He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? That Blessed Lord seeing us in our deplo­rable state, which by Sin we are fallen into, He demands of us, Wilt thou be Saved out of this miserable [...]? Ah, Condemned Sinner, Art thou willing to be Justifyed & Entitled unto Life Eternal? Slave of Satan, Art thou willing to be made a Free-man in the City of God? Child of Wrath, Art thou willing to be made an Heir of Heaven? Sink of Lust▪ Art thou willing to be made a Temple of the Holy Spirit forever? Now, shew your selves men; Let not the Im­pertinences of this world, cause you to neglect so Great Salvation. Lift u [...] your Hearts, unto your Compassionate Lord, saying, Lord, I am willing▪ Oh, [...] thy Grace make me willing! The man that is not Willing th [...] to be Saved, [Page 70] shall Dy a Beast, and Rise a Devil.

IX Shew your selves men, and being Mortal men, be not unmindful of your own Mortality. Man is Mor­tal: He does not shew himself a man, who does not count himself a Mortal. He that forgets his Mortality, forgets that he is a Man. We have enough, and enough to Convince us of what we read in Psal. 89.48. What man is he that Liveth, and shall not see Death? And in Joh 14.1. Man that is Born of a [...]man, is of few Dayes. Well then; Shew your selves men, by being mindful that you are but Men; and Live not as if you were to Live always in this Dying world. By Dying daily, in Meditating on, and Realizing of our hastning Death, we shall shew our selves men; and prove our selves Wise men, and Go [...] men. 'Tis not the part of a Man, but of a Mad-man, to [...] all Thoughts of the Future Sta [...]e, and pursue the Things of this world, with such Hurry, and Fury, [...] if [...] never to go out of thi [...] world▪ Some Sinful persons will say [Page 71] of a Thing they never thought of, I thought no more of it, than of my Dying da [...]? Lamentable! What a man a [...]t [...], that never thinkest of thy Dying day? Shew your selves men, and when you come into, or go out of your Houses, think, I Shall shortl [...] be carried unto the House appointed for all the Liv [...]ng. When you put off your Cloathes, think, I Shall shortly be shro [...]ded in a W [...]ding-Sheet. When you enter your Beds, think, I Shall shortly ly down in my Grave. Often affect your selves, by thinking, how Certain your Death is, & how Ʋncertain the Time of your Death. And let the affecting Thought thereof, make you afraid of Mispending your Time, in those things, that will be grievous unto you, when you come to Dy. Alas, men do scarce never so little shew themselves men, as when they are at a loss for an odd Thing, they call, Pastime. Ah Pastime; what a word is that! For a man that has but a short Glass of Time, to make ready for a Tremendous Eternity; & for this man to use his wits for the Inventing of [Page 72] Pastime, & S [...]ander away numberless Hours, in meer Pastime; cert [...]y, he forg [...]ts that he is a Man. [...] may be needful, & useful to a [...] in Immoderate Recreations, a [...] not shew himself a man. In Fine, shew thy self a man, by taking the present Time, which is thy only Time, to make ready for the End of all thy Time. Don't leave the Everlasting state of thy Soul at Peradventures. There is no Uncon­verted man, but, for ought he can tell, he may before to morrow morning be thrown down into the place of Dragons; he may this night be irrecoverably siezed by the burning Indignation of God. Sure, That man does not shew himself a man, who can sleep quietly, [...]hen for ought he can tell, he shall w [...]ke in Eternal Torments. Oh, Shew your selves men, by an Immediate Conversion to God, & not procrasti­nating your Endeavours to get into good Terms with Heaven, through pretences, of a more convenient season, whereof no Man, can be assured.