truly pious, in general acts better when afflicted than when successful. David behaved more honourably when persecuted by Saul, and when Absalom rose in rebellion against him, than he did, "When the "LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round "about."-Religion commonly flourishes most under persecution and affliction; and it seems almost an universal rule, that the more Providence indulges, either individuals or collective bodies, the more negligent and ungrateful they become. "When thy riches increase, and when thy gold and thy silver, and all 'thou hast are multiplied, then beware lest thou for

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get the LORD thy God." And is not this undeniable fact an awful demonstration of our extreme depravity? Will any man seriously set himself to excuse such a temper and conduct?

Man's forgetfulness of GoD arises, in no small degree, from his inordinate love of worldly objects. He idolatrously values wealth, pleasure, power, or the honour which cometh from men. I say, idolatrously, for covetousness is idolatry, and sensual indulgence is idolatry. They are so called in Scripture. And he who loves either wealth, pleasure, pomp, or any earthly object more than GOD; is as really an idolater, as if he had formed his gold into an image, and prostrated himself before it in stupid adoration. "Ye have forsaken the Fountain of living waters, and have hewn out to yourselves cisterns, "broken cisterns, which can hold no water."" The "world and the things of the world," are put in the place of GoD and in this way, even innocent and VOL. II. ΑΛ

needful pursuits and employments often become the occasions of great guilt.

Judas sold his LORD for thirty pieces of silver: and the Jews preferred Barabbas, a thief and robber, to CHRIST. We stand astonished at their baseness: but have we not, in some respects, preferred as mean or as vile objects to the infinite GoD, and to the "gracious Saviour of lost sinners ?"

In short, if the human heart were not "deceitful "above all things," as well as "desperately wicked,” our conduct in this respect towards GOD would never have been palliated. The criminality of man consists in rebellion against GoD, and in setting his own will in opposition to that of his Maker: every favour which the LORD bestows, aggravates that criminality: and to endeavour to plead any excuse for such.complicated guilt, renders us still more criminal in his sight, whose "judgment is according unto truth." I proceed therefore,

IV. To prove that this view of the subject brings in many exceedingly guilty, who, on other grounds, would scarcely seem at all so; and this shews men in general their need of the mercy and grace proposed to them in the gospel.

Acts of gross immorality, evidently injurious to society, are sometimes avoided in the habitual tenour of a man's conduct, from prudential and worldly mo tives, and during the whole, or a great proportion, o his life and, when this is by no means the case, they are occasional, and form but a small part of the actua conduct of men in general; if the most abandoned o the human species be excepted. But neglect an

forgetfulness of GOD, ingratitude, and a will opposed to his will, and a violation of all obligations to him, are, in every ungodly man, habitual; they run through every day, and every action of the day; they influessence all his thoughts, words, and deeds; they constitute his selected plan of life; they influence him in the spending of his time and money; and they direct the use made of his talents, property, health, spirits, body, and soul. Every thing is by men of this character arranged and conducted, as it were, by a system of forgetfulness and neglect of GOD; of ingratitude and rebellion, nay, defiance of him. So that where no gross vice is perpetrated, a degree of guilt is constantly contracted, far greater, in total amount, than that of the most atrocious immorality, considered any other light and even where sins are committed, for which the conscience sometimes reproaches a man; the habitual and systematical enmity against God, which the immoral, and even the most moral, may be charged with, is unspeakably the greater part of their guilt.

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Thus, while in respect of society we would give virtuous characters due respect, and reprobate the vicious in the sight of GoD, there is far less difference than is generally supposed. For if men were restrained from immorality, by a regard to the divine authority that principle would influence their whole conduct, and lead them also to every branch of piety. Criminality is not always the greatest, where we judge it to be so: we are not competent to decide on so complicated a question, as the degrees of men's guilt; but must leave it to him, who searches the

very thoughts of the heart. But, "all have sinned, "and come short of the glory of GoD." In this respect, "there is no difference;" and as all are involved under one common sentence of condemnation; all should, with one consent, welcome the gospel of grace. For "it is a faithful saying, and worthy of "all acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the "world to save sinners."

May I not, even now, be addressing some persons, who, if asked, what part of their conduct they would choose to alter, were they persuaded that Christianity was a mere delusion, though not disposed publickly to avow this opinion; would scarcely be able to fix on any particular? Regard to health, character, peace, and interest; the company with which they have been used to associate; and various other considerations, would induce them to persevere nearly in the same tenour of outward conduct, if they were of opinion that no future state of retribution awaited them; if they had in no degree the fear of GOD before their eyes. But the case would be very different, if they attended to even the same things, from a real religious principle.-Surely that must be vastly different from Christianity, which would scarcely be affected, if Christianity were abrogated!

Sins of omission seldom burden the consciences of men in general. If direct violations of some express prohibition are not chargeable upon them, they do not often condemn themselves for neglect of duty. They forget, that there are injunctions as well as prohibitions; and that refusing to hallow the LORD'S

day, or to honour and obey their parents and supesriors, is as really disobedience to GoD, as robbery, = adultery, or murder. For, unless we consider sin, as committed against GOD, sins of omission will almost always be overlooked.

It has pleased our gracious GoD, to give us the holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto eternal salvation; yet how few love and reverence them, and search them daily! Can any man suppose, that the neglect of the sacred oracles, by those who own them to be the word of GOD, is not contempt of him that inspired them?

The holy sabbath affords the spiritual mind the most important and highly valued opportunity of waiting upon GOD, worshipping him, and learning his will. Yet how few, even among moral men, count this holy day their "delight and honourable!" There are not many, who are convinced, that they ought deeply to repent, and have need of mercy, and of the atoning blood, because they have been used to spend part of the LORD's own day in business, sloth, worldly company, or dissipation." Thou shalt not "take my name in vain," says the GoD of infinite majesty and glory: yet how commonly is this great and tremendous name of God, used in common conversation, even such as is frivolous or profligate! But, unless we consider sin as committed against GOD, we shall not be struck with the criminality of so irreverent and contemptuous a profanation, of that which should be adored with the profoundest veneration. This view of the subject is also peculiarly suited to detect the secret enmity of the heart against