than when it is clofely employed in this duty. It has then the best idea of GOD; the trueft notions of itself; the most upright fentiments of earthly things; the clearest conceptions of its own weakness; the deepest sense of its own vileness; and confequently, it is in the most suitable difpofition to receive a true and right knowledge of itself. Could we always think of ourselves in such a manner, as we fometimes do in the fervour of our humiliations before the Throne of Grace, how great a progress fhould we foon make in this important fcience? Which evidently fhows the neceffity of fuch devout and humble engagements of the foul, and how happy a means they are to attain a juft felf-acquaintance. CON ***************** CONCLUSION. ND now, Reader, who ever thou art A who hath taken the pains to perufe these sheets, whatever be thy circumftances or condition in the world, whatever thy capacity or understanding, whatever thy occupation and engagements, whatever thy favourite fentiments and principles, or whatever religious Sector Party thou espousest, know for certain, that thou haft been deeply interested in what thou haft been reading; whether thou haft attended to it or not. For it is of no lefs concern to thee than the security of thy peace and usefulness in this world, and thy happiness in another; and relates to all thy interefts, both as a man and a Chriftian. Perhaps thou haft seen fomething of thine own image in the glass that hath now been held now been held up to thee. And wilt thou go away, and foon forget what manner of perfon thou art? Perhaps, thou haft met with fome things thou doft not well understand or approve. But fhould that take off thine attention from thofe 241 thofe things thou doft understand and approve, and art convinced of the neceffity of? If thou haft received no improvement, no benefit, from this plain practical treatise, thou haft now perused; read it over again. The fame thought, you know, often ftrikes a perfon more at one time, than at another. And we fometimes receive more knowledge and profit by the second perusal of a book, than by the firft. I would fain hope thou wilt find fomething in this that may fet thy thoughts on work, which, by the bleffing of GOD, may make thee more obfervant of thy heart and conduct; and, in confequence of that, a more folid, ferious, wife, established Christian. But will you, after all, deal by this Book you have now read, as you have dealt by many Sermons you have heard? Pafs your judgment upon it according to your received and established set of notions; and condemn or applaud it, only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to them; and commend or cenfure it, only as it fuits or oppofes your particular tafte; without attending to the real weight, imY portance portance and neceffity of the fubject, abstracted from thofe views; or will you be barely content with the entertainment and fatisfaction, which fome parts of it may poffibly have given you; to affent to the importance of the fubject, the juftness of the fentiment, or the propriety of fome of the obfervations you have been reading; and fo difmifs all without any farther concern about the matter? Believe it, O Christian Reader, if this be all the advantage you gain, it were fcarce worth while to have confined yourself so long in its perufal. It has aimed, it has fincerely aimed, to do you a much greater benefit ; to lead you to a better acquaintance with one for whom you exprefs a particular regard, and who is capable of being the best Friend, or the worst Enemy, you have in the world; and that is yourfelf.-It was defigned to convince you, that would you live and act confiftently, either as a man, or Christian, you must know yourself; and to perfuade you under the influence of the foregoing motives, and by the help of the before-mentioned directions, to make or a Self Self-knowledge the great ftudy, and Selfgovernment the great business, of your life: in which refolution may Almighty GoD confirm you; and in which great work may his Grace affift you, against all fudiscouragements and and distractions ! ture With Him I leave the fuccefs of the whole; to whom be glory and praise for ever. Amen. FINI S. |