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SERMON XI.
Rom. 8.3.For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son, &c.
FOr what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it, then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment, without some end and purpose; but alace, in this matter of greatest mo∣ment, our going about Divine Ordinances, we have scarce any di∣stinct or deliberat thought of the end and rise of them. Sure I am, we must all confess this, that all other businesses in our life, is al∣most impertinent to the great end, the salvation of our souls, in re∣spect of these, in which God, in a manner, trysts with men, and comes to dwell with them, these have the nearest and most imme∣diat connexion with Gods glory, and our happiness, and yet, so wretched and unhappy are we, that we study, and endeavour a kind of wisdom and diligence in other petty things, which are to perish with the using, and have no great reach to make our condition ei∣ther better or worse; and yet, we have no wisdom nor considera∣tion, or attention, to this great and momentous matter, the salva∣tion of our souls. Is it not high time we were shaken out of our empty, vain, and unreasonable custom, in going about such solemn duties? when the wrath of God is already kindled, and his migh∣ty arm is shaking terribly the earth, and shaking us out of all our nests of quietness and consolation, which we did build in the crea∣ture. God calls for a reasonable service, but I must say, the ser∣vice of the most, is an unreasonable and bruitish kind of work, little or no consideration of what we are about, little or no purpose, or aim at any real soul-advantage. Consider, my beloved, what ye are doing, undoing your selves with ignorance of your own estate, and unacquaintedness with a better; whence it comes, that you live contented in your misery, and have no lively stirrings after this blessed remedy. That for which we meet together, is to learn