Jer. 17.5.

Pfal. 32. 10.

34.8.

fels that are proposed for our Safety; but that is the greatest Point we gain.

God Almighty will not alter his Methods for any of our foolish Paffions; but there is a way to prevail upon God himself, to do for us all that our own Hearts can defire, provi ded that which we defire be good for us; and that way is, to own Him and his Government; to love him, and to ferve him; to be thankful for his Mercies; to be eafie and chearful under all his Difpenfations to us; and lastly to referr our felves entirely to his Wife Counfels, and to trust in his Mercy for all that is to come.

Great indeed, and wonderful, are the Promises that are made to thofe that put their Trust in God. Curfed (faith the Prophet) be the Man that trufteth in Man, and maketh Flesh his Arm: But, Bleffed is he that trusteth in the Lord, and whofe hope the Lord is. "Many forrows (faith the Pfalmist) fhall be to the wicked: But whofo trufteth in the Lord, mercy fball embrace him on every fide. And again, O tafte and fee, how gracious the Lord is: blef fed is the Man that trufteth in him,

If now we believe these things, (and if we be Chriftians, we do and muft believe them) confider I befeech you, the Use we are to make of them.

What have we all to do? Let our late Dif appointments have put us into never fo bad a Humour; let our prefent Circumstances be entangled with never fo many Difficulties;

yet

yet what have we all to do, but to Rejoyce in GOD, and to Trust in his Mercy?

All is well, and All will be well for ever to them that Love God, and put their Trust in Him,

Sing we therefore unto the Lord a New Song: Let the Congregation of Saints praise him. Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made him: And let the Children of Sion be joyful in their King. God is the King of all the Earth, let us fing praifes with understanding. The Lord hath pleasure in his People: He will for ever help the meek hearted: For his delight is in them that fear him, and that put their trust in his mercy. He is our help and Strength, a very prefent help in Trouble: therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be moved, and though the hills be car ried into the midst of the Sea: Though the Waters thereof rage and fwell, and the Mountains fbake at the tempest of the fame. Even, in that cafe, the Rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the City of God. All the Blusterings and Storms that threaten God's People, fhall turn to their Advantage, and fhall really at length prove matter of rejoycing to them, how terrible and dreadful foever they appeared at firft: For, as it there follows, God is in the midst of her, therefore shall be not be removed: God will help her, and that right early. God will be with his Church, and will deliver his People whenever it is proper and seasonable so to do.

Nay,

Nay, let the Worst come; tho' we were reduced even to the utmost Extremities; which yet, God be thanked, we neither are, nor, I hope, ever fhall be; yet even, in that Cafe, the Confideration that God is our King, ought not only to fupport us, but to fill us with Joy. Even in that Cafe, every Good Man fhould bear his part in the Song of the Prophet Habakkuk, (3. 17.) with which I conclude.

Although the fig-tree fhall not bloffom, neither fball fruit be in the vine: Although the labour of the olive fball fail; and the fields fhall yield no meat: Although the flock fhall be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my falvation.

SER

SERMON XIV.

Preach'd before the

King and Queen

A T

WHITE-HALL

PROV. iv. 23.

- Keep thy Heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iffues of Life.

T

HE Argument with which this Audience was entertained the laft Lord's Day, being the Government of the Tongue; I cannot think it improper or unseasonable for me, who have the Honour to come next, to treat about the Government of the Thoughts: There being a near relation

between

459

between these two, and a neceffary dependance of the one upon the other.

Our Words indeed are more easily governed than our Thoughts, because they are more in our Power. But it will be impoffible either to govern our Words or our Actions, as we should, unless we first bring our Thoughts in fome measure under Government.

I must confefs this Argument of the Government of the Thoughts, though it be a very useful, yet it seems also a very nice and difficult one, through the great variety of Cafes, arifing from Mens different Tempers, which will not come under the fame Rules, and yet ought to be provided for. But however, this fhall not difcourage me from undertaking this Argument; it fhall only make me more careful as to what I fay about it. That is, to have refpect, as much as I can, to all forts of Tempers, and to deliver what I have to fay with fo much Plainness, that every body may go along with me.

The Words, upon which I ground my difcourse, are thofe of Solomon, which I have read unto you, and which contain one of those Precepts that he lays down for the Religious Conduct of our Lives, Keep (faith he) thy Heart with all diligence for out of it are the iffues of Life.

Not to trouble you with what others have faid upon this Text, I take the true Meaning of it to be this.

By