SERMONS. 395 



must do their exercises, too, in gymnasio JiistiticE, 

 be anointed to the Agon, and to the combat (as 

 the champions of old ;) and, if they expect the 

 crown of righteousness, must not only learn 

 righteousness, but learn to do it. 



And therefore (to shut up all, and to enforce it 

 a little upon such topics as the text and the sad 

 face of things amongst us suggest;) let us no 

 longer trifle with God Almighty, now we find to 

 our cost, that He is in good earnest with us. Be 

 not deceived ; God, I am sure, is not mocked. 

 It is not our fasting and looking demure a little, 

 and hanging down the head, like a bullrush, for a 

 day; it is not a few grimaces of sorrow, a sad 

 word or two, or a weeping eye, will serve the 

 turn : — our hearts must bleed, too, our souls must 

 be afllicted, and mourn for our old unrighteous- 

 nesses, and forsake them, too, and renounce them 

 all for ever ; and yet, further, take forth new les- 

 sons of righteousness *in all holy conversations 

 and godlinesses, as St. Peter speaks, even in all 

 the instances of piety, and justice, and charity, 

 ye heard of even now, or all this holy discipline 

 of God is lost and spent in vain upon us. For, 

 I this is all the fruit, saith our Prophet, to take 

 away sin : if that remain still in us, adversity is a 

 bitter cup, indeed. To keep our sins, and hold 

 them fast, even when God's judgments are upon 

 us for them — this is with Copronymus, to pollute 



* 2 Pet. iii. 11. t Cap. xxvii. 9. 



