- ral effect, and may hope to be preserved in safety, by the
stronger aid of Divine protection.
Besides the returns of daily and regular prayer, it will he necessary for most men to assist themselves, from time to time, by some particular and unaccustomed acts of devotion. For this purpose, intervals of retirement may be properly recommended; in which the dust of life may be shaken off, and in which the course of life may be properly reviewed, and its future possibilities estimated. At such times secular temptations are removed, and earthly cares are dismissed; a vain transitory world may be contemplated in its true state; past offences may obtain pardon by repentance; new resolutions may be formed, upon new convictions; the past may supply instruction to the present and to the future; and such preparation may be made for those events, which threaten spiritual danger, that temptation cannot easily come unexpected; and interest and pleasure, whenever they renew their attacks, will find the soul upon its guard, with either caution to avoid, or vigour to repel them.
In these seasons of retreat and recollection, what external helps shall be added, must by every one be discretely and soberly considered. Fasts and other austerities, however they have been brought into disrepute by wild enthusiasm, have been always recommended, and always practised by the sincere believers of revealed religion; and, as they have a natural tendency to disengage the mind from sensuality, they may be of great use, as awakeners of holy fear; and they may assist our progress in a good life, while they are considered only as expressions of our love of God, and are not substituted for the love of our neighbours.
As all those duties are to be practised, lest the heart should be hardened, we are to consider,
Secondly: What is meant by hardness of heart.
It is apparent from the text, that the hardness of heart, which betrays to mischief, is contrary to the fear which secures happiness. The fear of God, is a certain tender-
