with Earneftness, and yet with Mildness, to fuch as are deficient in either, how wrong in itself, and how hurtful to the World, their Conduct is; and to be zealous in doing our own Duty, whether They will attend to theirs or not: Perfons of Rank and Influence, by fetting an Example worthy of Imitation, and fhewing different Regards to the Good and the Bad; Perfons intrufted with public Power, by behaving in their several Stations uprightly; Parents and Masters, by the prudent Exercise of their private Authority; and every one, at leaft, by reforming himself. This, if it do nothing farther, will be fecuring his own Happiness: and the more fingle Reformations there are, the nearer will be our Approach to an Univerfal one. We are called indeed perpetually to Repentance: but the present National Call, if it be not hearkened to, will much aggravate the Guilt, not only of the profane Despisers of it, but those alfo, whofe Compliance with it is merely external; who dare to approach the Searcher of Hearts, and mock him by faying to him, without Sincerity, such Things as we have joined in faying this Day.

On the Times appointed for Confeffion of Sins, it hath always been a Rule, as the Word of

God

God plainly shews, for Perfons to abftain in a confiderable Degree from their usual Food: not as thinking it a Duty of any Value in itself, for that were a fuperftitious Imagination; and nothing can be more express against every Superftition, than Scripture is: but partly to make an Acknowledgment of more than ordinary Solemnity, by their Actions as well as Words, of their Unworthiness to partake of the common Bleffings of Heaven; and chiefly to spend thofe Hours in Humility of Spirit, and cool Reflexion for their future Good, which they have spent too frequently in dangerous Levities, or finful Indulgences. It is not then the Abstinence, it is not the outward Humiliation, nor even the real Seriousness of a Day, which God requires of us; but that these Things be made fubfervient to our lafting Benefit: that preferving on our Minds the Impreffion of what we have faid and heard here, we go home and retire into ourselves; think over our feveral Duties, public and private, with refpect to our Maker, our Fellow-creatures, and the Regulation of our own Hearts; and after renewing our Applications for Pardon and Grace, fet right, without Delay, whatever hath been wrong: that we form Resolutions

to

to think often of our own Conduct, to follow fteadily the most effectual Methods for preferving it fuch as we ought, and not to fuffer the Opinions and Cuftoms of an inconfiderate World, to wear out of our Minds the Regard we owe to the Author and End of our Beings.

But befides thefe Obligations, there is yet another, which particularly deferves our Attention at this Time; that when we ask Mercy of God, we fhew it to Man. And accordingly the Scripture joins closely, together Fasting and giving Alms; which therefore we should join too, each according to his Ability: but always remembering, that no one Part of our Duty whatever will be accepted as an Equivalent for tranfgreffing any other; but we must break off our Sins by Righteousness, as well as our Iniquities by fhewing Mercy to the Poor*, if ever we expect that our Charity should avail towards procuring our Pardon.

And now would we but employ the present Sofemnity, in determining confcientioufly to practife thefe Things: befides the good Fruits, it could not fail to produce in each of us fingly; we might hope, on very juft Grounds, to expe

* Dan. iv. 27.

rience nationally the fame happy Effects of it, which we read the Jews did, from making the fame Determination, upon hearing the Admonition of the Text. They gathered themfelves together, and they entered into a Covenant to Seek the Lord God of their Fathers. And they fware unto him with a loud Voice: And all v Judah rejoiced at the Oath. For they had fworn with all their Heart, and fought him with their whole Defire, and he was found of them: And· the Lord gave them Reft round about *.