Reasonable religion. Or, The truth of the Christian religion, demonstrated. The wisdom of its…

III. Show your selves men, and Reflecting on your Errand into the world, make due Reflections also on what you have done concerning it. A Man is a creature capable of Reflex Acts, and there is none but Man in the visible Creation so. Every man comes into the world, by the Order of God, and on an Errand for Him. He that would show himself a man, must Reflect, Why am I in the world? And, What have I to do in the world? Our Errand hither is, expressed in those words, Isa. 43.21. This people have I formed for my self, they shall show forth my praise. It is, to Observe and Adore the perfections ⟨p. 52⟩of the Infinite God, and bear a Testimony to the Truths and Ways, and yield Obedience to the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, in this world, and so to prepare for a Blessed state in another. In short, Our Errand hither, is, To Glorify God and the Lord Jesus Christ, in Conforming to the Rules and Hopes of His Holy Religion. That man does not show himself a man, who counts himself Born for any meaner purposes. He that Lives only to Eat and Drink, and Play, and Sleep, and by some labour to purchase himself conveniences for all of those, what I pray, does that man show himself a man? But then, Oh, show your selves men, by Examining your selves, how far you have done what you were Born to do. Says the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11.28. Let a man Examine himself. He that would show himself a man, let him do it, by Self-examination. Of what? The Prophet has thus answered▪ That; Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Consider your ways. ⟨p. 53⟩It was a sad Complaint, Jer. 8.6. No man said, what have I done? Let there be no such thing by Heaven Complained over us: But, show your selves men, and Retire from the Noise of secular Business, and ponder with your selves; Well, How many years have I been in the world? And what have I been a doing in all these years? Have I minded any thing yet, but vain Diversions from the main Business of my Life? What progress have I made in the Knowledge of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ? And what Service have I done for His Glorious Name? And what Good preparation have I made, for a Better world? Reflect on the Conduct of your Lives, and show your selves men, by Examining your selves, whether you have Lived like men!