must go through with, and not turn their backs on the Lord in a ftormy day, but trample on all which they have in the world to follow the Lord. They must not be as those who go to fea for pleafure, but like hardy mariners, who ride out the ftorm.We now proceed,

II. To give the reasons of the point.

Among others, we shall mention the following. 1. Because the change made in regeneration is a real change, though not perfect. Believers are God's "workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works." The new creature, from the time of its birth, is perfect in its parts, though not in degrees. There is fomething a-wanting in every part of the new man, but no part is altogether awanting. Each gracious perfon has all the graces of the Spirit, though fome of them are more eminent than the reft, and are as top-branches. This cannot but produce a following the Lord in a gofpel-fenfe.

2. In clofing with Chrift there is an universal refignation. They give themselves up wholly to the Lord. No exception can be made, but the most difficult duty is undertaken, the dearest luft is given up with. It remains that people's fincerity in clofing with Chrift be evidenced by their walk, in an unlimited refpect to all his commandments, in following the Lord whitherfoever he goes.

3. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, Eph. v. 9. When there is not something of all goodness, there the Spirit dwelleth not. Where the garden is only watered by man's hands, there fome plants thrive, others go back for lack of moisture; but where the fhower comes from heaven, it brings all forward together. So where there is an artificial religion taken up by

H 3

men,

men, there may be fome partial or external appearance of good fruits; but where the Spirit is at work in the foul, real goodness, and righteoufnefs, and truth, will at once be brought forth in the life and practice.

4. True mortification is univerfal. Where death comes, it takes the life out of the whole body, the foul departs from every part. So, Gal. v. 24. "They that are Chrift's have crucified the flefh, with the affections and lufts." Sin keeps its dominion by one luft, as well as by many; therefore where any luft remains unfubdued, there is no genuine mortification there. But where genuine mortification to fin is, the foul will follow the Lord fully.

5. Hypocrites may follow the Lord, but none can fully follow him, but those that are fincere. Judas may be in Chrift's company, but the bag was always dearer to him than his mafter. Demas, because he loved the prefent world, apoftatifed; fo that, unless we follow the Lord fully, we go not beyond the line of hypocrites.-I now go on,

III. To make fome improvement.—And this, 1. In an ufe of warning.

This may ferve to warn one and all of us, to take heed to our ways, and examine well our walk, whether we follow the Lord fully or not. Much depends upon it. None follow the Lord fully in a ftrict fenfe, while out of heaven, but all honeft Chriftians follow him in a gospel-fenfe. Therefore ye may well fufpect your states, if you do not follow the Lord fully. This may ftrike a damp upon the spirits,

(1.) Of the more grofs fort of profeffors, whose religion appears plainly to be but half religion; who, even in the externals of religion, take fome

parts,

parts, and leave others which they know to be duty; like thefe, Zeph. i. 5. " who worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops, and that fwear by the Lord, and that fwear by Malcham ;" that will fometimes be praying, and fometimes curfing, taking parts of religion only here and there.-It may ftrike a damp on the spirits,

(2.) Of the more cleanly fort of profeffors, who go a great length, only lack one thing. There is one thing that is the great make-bate betwixt God and them; and they go through all the rest of religion, but there they are mired, there they stick.' That is the great gulf fixed between heaven and them, through which they can by no means pafs. But pass it we muft, or we follow not the Lord fully. Some do not see it, then it is the more dangerous; but feen it must be, and also overcome, or bid farewell to heaven : Rev. iii. 21. “To him that overcometh, will I grant to fit with me on my throne, even as I alfo overcame, and am ́fet down with my Father on his throne."-Here fome may ftate an

men may

OBJECTION, If following the Lord fully take in all these things, who does it? In ANSWER, Thefe follow the Lord fully, in a gospel-sense, who,

(1.) Obferve the Lord daily, and bear up after him in every step, yet, like the weak child following its mother, their eye follows him, their defire goes out after him, they would be at him, and with him, wherever he goes.-This implies two things. (1.) Their observing all the prints of his feet, they love all his footsteps, they love all the duties of religion for his fake, and defire to perform all his commandments: Pfal. cxix. 5. that my ways were directed to keep thy ftatutes!" Their heart is in fome measure reconciled to every known duty, and at variance with every known

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fin. The spirit is willing, though the flesh be weak. Some fins lie nearer their hearts than others; fome are as right eyes, others only but as left toes; but, O! a right eye plucked out is good in their fight, the contrary grace is beautiful and glorious and the defire of their fouls: Rom. vii. 12. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”—(2.) Their observing himself as the centre of all their defires, All goodness, holiness, and perfection, center in him. That which is scattered here and there in his word, ordinances, and people, they take a view of, as concentered in himself, and so see in him at one view the whole of what they fhould be; they are pleased with it, and fincerely defire to be like him. Thefe follow the Lord fully,

(2.) Who aim after the Lord fully; though they cannot follow him precifely in every point, they aim at, they endeavour it, as the child following its mother, weeping, and making what way it can after her. This implies two things.—(1.) They aim at the performance of all duties, and warring against every fin. They do not give goodly words, and fo fold their hands together, wishing they were better; but they even put their hands to roll up the stone, which yet perhaps may come down and down, over and over again, upon them. They aim at being holy in all manner of converfation, 1 Pet. i. 15. Grace infufes a principle in the heart, that turns the man towards every thing to which God calls. -(2.) They aim at the all of every duty, to get it right as to the manner, as well as to the matter : Phil. iii. 3. "They worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence in the flesh."-I come now,

2. To an ufe of exhortation.

I exhort you to diftinguish yourselves from o thes, by your following the Lord fully. Sirs! haye

have ye a defire for heaven or not? If ye have no defire, you may fit still at ease, time will carry you down the stream to an eternity of woe! If ye have a defire for heaven, then up, follow the Lord, follow him fully. Set your affections that way. You follow duties; that is not enough, follow the Lord in these fully, or you will never fee heaven. I hope you are not for bidding farewell to, and taking your laft fight of heaven. If then you be in earneft to get to heaven, fet yourselves to follow the Lord fully. Before I prefs this upon you by motives, I exhort you to take a folemn, grave, and ferious confideration of what is lacking in your converfation, that you may fill it up by following the Lord. We must see our defects before we can fill them up. To aflift you in this, confider what is wanting,

may

(1.) In your mortification of fin, what right eye remains to be plucked out, left there be fome one leak or other that may fink the ship: Pfal. lxvi. 18. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Self-love prevails much, and hence lufts, beloved lufts, find harbour, and efcape the axe.--Confider,

(2.) What is wanting as to your compliance with known duties, whether ye make conscience of all know or not. Do ye find that you you pray, but do not meditate nor examine yourselves? then fill up that want. Do you pray, but neglect to watch? then fill up this want alfo; and so on.-Confider,

(3.) What is wanting in the duties ye perform. For many times these are but the half of duties, the outward part only, wanting that faith, love, zeal, and livelinefs, that fhould be in all our duties.--Confider,

(4.) What is wanting in your bearing the cross.

Every