418 APPENDIX. 



fore, make haste to seize what remains of the time, 

 and improve it, to let you see, that all I have said 

 hitherto, and the much more I might have said, 

 upon that first head of privileges, signifies nothing 

 at all, is all blank and cypher to them that go not 

 on cheerfully to the second, that of duty. 



II. They that would be safe under God's wings, 

 must not only please themselves with the general 

 speculation, that safety and protection is there to 

 be had : they must also make their refuge there, 

 they must put themselves under the shadow of 

 those wings by their special act and deed ; must 

 deliberately choose and efiectually place their last 

 resort there ; and, if they will partake the benefits, 

 must comply with the obligations of such a state. 

 God is our refuge, and our strength, saith holy 

 David,* most devoutly, and most methodically 

 too : for we must first make him our refuge by 

 flying to him, before we can hope that he will be 

 our strength. In vain do they dream of God's 

 saving protections, that turn their backs upon his 

 precepts, and cast his laws behind them. It is 

 true, God's altars are our sanctuary ; an inviolable 

 asylum in our sufferings, and in our sorrows, in 

 our calamities, and in our dangers, for our igno- 

 rances, and for our infirmities : but are our crimes 

 too privileged and protected there ? That were 

 indeed to turn God's temple into a den of thieves, 

 and murderers, (the notorious abuse of the modern 



^ 1*5-111. Ixvi. J. 



