Self-dedication discoursed in the anniversary thanksgiving of a person of honour for a great…

And what is to be done continually is once to be throughly done. The impression ought to be very inward, and strong, which must be so lasting as to govern ⟨image 7⟩a man's life. And were it as fully done as mortality can admit, it needs be more solemnly renewed at set times for that purpose.

And indeed that such a day should not pass you without a fall, nor that fall be without an hurt, and that hurt proceed unto a wound, and that wound not be mortal, but even next to it, looks like an artifice and contrivance of Providence to show you how ⟨image 7⟩near it could go without cutting thorough that slender thread of life, that it might endear to you its accurate superintendency over your life, that there might here be a remarkable juncture in that thread, and that whensoever such a day should revolve in the circle of your year, it might come again, and again, with a note upon it, under your eye, and appear ever to you as another ⟨image 8⟩Birth-day; or as an earlier day of resurrection.

And indeed that such a day should not pass you without a fall, nor that fall be without an hurt, and that hurt proceed unto a wound, and that wound not be mortal, but even next to it, looks like an artifice and contrivance of Providence to shew you how ⟨image 7⟩near it could go without cutting thorough that slender thred of life, that it might indear to you its accurate superintendency over your life, that there might here be a remarkable juncture in that thred, and that whensoever such a day should revolve in the circle of your year, it might come again, and again, with a note upon it, under your eye, and appear ever to you as another ⟨image 8⟩