Surprize, will be too ftrong for our weak Faith.

- So much for the fecond Thing we were to confider in the Successfulness of a good Chriftian, his laying the Foundation on a Rock, which is his firm Faith in Christ.

J

III. The third Part of the Successfulness of a good Chriftian, defcribed in my Text, is in the Superftructure of a good Life. This is put here as a Part of his Succefs and Felicity, as well as of his Duty; and it follows very naturally from laying a good Foundation of Faith in Chrift. For all Virtue may be eafily built upon the Belief of Chrift's Doctrine, I mean the Doctrine of this very Sermon on the Mount; the excellent Morals here taught, with the Belief of the Promifes and Threatnings relating to a future State therein contained, and the Means of Grace directed to. And when good Life is built upon this holy Faith, what a ftately Structure and Pile of Building does it make? The good Chriftian has the Comfort to reap the daily Fruits of his Labour, in fubduing his Corruptions, in removing that Rubbish, and then in rearing the comely Fabrick of all Christian Virtues, not only fuch Virtues as are calculated for a Time of Peace and Quiet; for thefe the Hypocrite can likewife feemingly put in Practice; but the other more difficult Virtues, which are neceffary to encounter Perfecution, and all Hardfhips from the World, as well as fome strong evil Habits, fixed in our corrupt Natures, or acquired by long Cuftom. When we thus add to our Faith, Virtue, and make a regular Progrefs, learning one

[SERM, Virtue after another, and one Degree of Virtue after another, it is like making a strong Building of well polished Stones, and other well feafoned Materials, with all the Finishing and Ornaments of the best Artists, both comely to the Sight, and commodious for Habitation.

IV. The fourth Part of the Successfulness of the good Chriftian, in this his spiritual Building, is in the Firmness and Durableness of it, in that it ftood firm against all Shocks and Trials. Now this is not fo to be understood, as if a good Chriftian were altogether impregnable against Sin in this World, or that Temptations never made any Impreffion upon him; but only, that he is not totally overthrown by any Temptations, fo as to become either an Apoftate to the Christian Faith, or totally overcome by vicious Practice; as a well built Houfe may, by Stress of Weather, have fome of its Tyles or Shingles blown off, which may be eafily repaired afterwards, while the House itself ftands; fuch Damages are not like the overthrowing the House itself, when it was built upon a bad Foundation. Now it is no hard Matter to apprehend the Reason of the different Effects of Perfecutions, or other great Temptations, upon the Religion of the Hypocrite; for that all his Religion was built on a flight, fandy Foundation. Such, for Example, is the Principle of being always of that Religion, which is uppermoft in the World, and has the moft fecular Honours and Wealth annexed to it. This being a flippery Foundation, which is only contrived for fair and Summer Weather, must naturally give Way to the great Storms of Perfecution

Perfecution and other Temptations, fet forth here by the exceffive Rains, Floods, and Winds affaulting that Houfe. Some ingenioufly conjecture, that by thefe three, the falling of the Rains, the coming of the Floods, or Frefhes, and the blowing of the Winds, are meant the feveral Ways that Temptations prevail; namely, by their Suddennefs, their Impetuofity, and their Importunity; by which three, the Devil eafily overfets the weak Foundations and flight Buildings of fashionable Religions, outward Civility, imperfect Refolutions, and good, but feeble Defires, which are no more able to abide the Shock of fuch Batteries, than a flight Damm is able to refift a ftrong Fresh or Current.

V. The laft Part of the Successfulness of a good Chriftian is, that his Religion, like a well built House, answered the Ends of a lafting Habitation: It is not to ferve a Turn in this World, as a great many take up a Profeffion, and perhaps drive on violently in it; but it is a Religion fitted for Eternity. And as a well contrived and well built House, after all the Trouble and Expence of building, yields a Man abundance of Eafe, Conveniency, and Accommodation, and fweetly answers all the Defigns of the Builder; fo it is with this Building of Religion, whent it is folidly laid on good Principles, and an handfome Superftructure of all Chriftian Virtues built upon it; and when it hath refifted the various Shocks of Temptation in this World, it will afford a lafting, and quiet Habitation to all Eternity.

VOL. IV.

Z

So

[SERM So much for the Successfulness of the Labours of a good Chriftian, as far as it is described in the Text, by comparing him to a wife Man, who built his House upon a Rock; and the Rain defcended, and the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and beat upon that Houfe; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a Rock.

I find Time will not allow our confidering the Description here given of a bad Chriftian, who is one that heareth Chrift's Sayings, and doth them not, nor the Unfuccefsfulness of his Labour; which I must therefore refer to another Opportunity.

The proper Ufe we are to make of what has been faid, is, to confider feriously the Happiness of that Chriftian, who, to his Knowledge and Faith of Chrift's Doctrine, adds fincere Obedience to his holy Laws. Let us lay the Foundation of our fpiritual Building aright in our Faith in Chrift, that is, in a ferious Belief of his Doctrine; then, upon this Foundation let us fuperftruct all manner of Christian Virtue; and whatever Defects we discover from Time to Time by the Prevalency of Temptations, let us continually repair them by Repentance; and not only fo, but let us always ftudy to add new Ornaments of Chriftian Graces to our Building in Religion, and to keep thofe fhining and bright which we have. For if our Foundation is ever fo well laid, and Chriftian Virtues ever fo well fuperftructed, as Houfes that are not kept clean and sweet by conftant Care and Diligence, will quickly grow noifome, like nafty Prifons; fo it is with our beft Buildings and Labours in Religion; if there is not a conftant, daily Care to

purge

purge out the Filth of Vice, and to brighten our Graces and Virtues, all Things will quickly run into great Disorder. And if the Devil can önce lull us into this Drowfinefs and Security, we fhall quickly be in the Cafe of Solomon's Sluggard with his Houfe. Eccl. x. 18. By much Slothfulness the Building decayeth, and through Idleness of the Hands the Houfe droppeth through. To all other Properties then of a wife Builder, let us add this of a continual Diligence to keep every Thing in good Order and Repair, according to the Advice of the Apostle St. Peter, with which I shall conclude, 2 Pet. i. 5. Giving all Diligence, fays he, add to your Faith, Virtue; and to Virtue, Know ledge; and to Knowledge, Temperance; and to Temperance, Patience; and to Patience, Godlinefs; and to Godliness, Brotherly-kindness; and to Brotherly-kindness, Charity. For if thefe Things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

To him, with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, &c.