every lamb in their way, will be magnified into a lion. Their families cannot be left. Their cloaths are not fit to appear in. They do not feel themfelves quite well. The weather is fo bad. The distance is fo great. The road is fo dirty. Any thing, however inconfiderable, will furnish them with a plea for the neglect of God. But, invite them to a feaft, a race, or dance, to fome place of excefs, of noife, or merriment, at an expence which will be feverely felt; and, here, nothing will be fufficient to prevent them. Their families will be, fome how or other, taken care of, or left without care; their cloaths, fuch as they are, will be fufficient, or they will beg or borrow, or fometimes even fteal, to provide better. Their health will be good enough for this. Let the weather be never fo bad; the distance never so great; the road never fo dirty; through heat or cold, wet or dry, on the fabbath, or a week day, they haften to their fcenes of feftivity and riot, and too frequently of intemperance. And, what do they fhew themselves in this, but lovers of

pleafures," of earthly pleasures, of pleasures of their own feeking and framing "more than "lovers of God?" I confine myfelf to this fingle inftance; because inftances like this mark the Spirit which influences the whole life; and that, I am forry to fay, of too many; far too many among the lower as well as the higher claffes of focicty. And, if they thus turn their backs upon God, when they feek their joys and fatisfactions, he will affuredly turn away his face from them; nor fuffer the light of his countenance to

Chine

hine on them, and dart comfort into their fouls, and gladnefs into their hearts; without which, all their own attempts after pleasure will end in forrow, gloom, and discontent.

3. There remains to be confidered only the uncharitable; and thefe, alfo, like the former de fcriptions of finners, may be found in every pofli ble fituation of life. The poor man may fhew an equal want of charity, who denies a cruft of bread to his poorer neighbour; who refufes to vifit him in his ficknefs, to comfort him in his affliction, to help him when his firength faileth; who is filled with envy of thofe above him, and arrogance to thofe below him; fecking occafion to fpeak ill of them; with pleafure repeating the tale of flander or fcandal; who is backward to forgive injuries, to reconcile quarrels, to encourage innocent chearfulness and good humour, as ever the rich man can poffibly fhew in the mifufe of his various talents, of wealth, of power, or of learning. God looks to the principles of our actions: "His "Spirit fearcheth all things:" He is a difcerner "of the thoughts and intents of the heart:" He needeth not that any fhould teftify of man; for he knoweth what is in man, and he often difcerns as unfubdued and uncharitable a fpirit concealed under rags, as under purple and ermine; yet, we are all commanded, both rich and poor," to love one "another; to love as brethren; to have fervent "charity among ourfelves." As we are to "love the "Lord our God with all our heart, with all our "foul, with all our mind, and with all our "ftrength;" fo we are to love our neighbour" in

the

the fame manner, at least, if not in the fame degree," as we love ourfelves." It was the command which mankind received at the beginning; andr Saviour gave it additional fanction, as a new commandment, by the peculiar ftrength with which he enforced it. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye alfo love one ano"ther. Hereby fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one to another." And, in like manner, it is made by the apoftle one great test of our love to God; "If any man fay, I love “God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: For he "that loveth not his brother whom he hath feen, "how can be love God whom he hath not feen? "And this commandment have we from him, that

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he who loveth God, love his brother alfo *." And, can we, for an inftant, fuppofe, that God will blefs him, and give him joy and peace, who is acting in oppofition to thefe commandments? "The end of the commandment is charity, out of "a pure heart, and a good confcience, and of faith

unfeigned t." Can we imagine happiness to be compatible with a nature fo entirely oppofite to the divine?" Every one that loveth is born of "God, and knoweth G. He that loveth not, "knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE 4 " A very flight knowledge of what paffes in the breafts of the uncharitable will convince us that their happiness is impoffible, if we confider the jealoufy

1 John iv. 20, 21. † 1 Tim. i. 5. ‡ 1 John iv. 7, 8.

jealoufy and envy, by which they are tormented; their difappointed malice; their ungratified revenge; their hardnefs and infenfibility of heart; their morofenefs, peevifhnefs, and ill temper; all of which are the direct reverfe of peace, comfort, and tranquillity; of joy and gladnefs; becaufe they are all directly the reverfe of the infinitely benevolent, amiable, and affectionate nature of God.

In the preceding reprefentations, I have forborn to notice the many uneafineffes and apprehenfions into which various defcriptions of finners are brought, through their being tempted to tranf grefs the laws of the land in which they live; as well as the pains and penalties to which they are thereby fubjected. Neither have I much dwelt on the numerous difcouragements and hindrances, which they meet with from other men, to their fuccefs in the world, or advancement in life. Neither have I confidered thofe temporal judgments of Almighty God, to which the wicked are, certainly, peculiarly liable; though defigned, in mercy and kindnefs by their heavenly Father, as warnings for them to forfake their fins, and turn to him with repentance. He will try once, yea twice, by afflictions, to foften their hearts, before he finally give them over to their spiritual enemy. But, however merciful these warnings may be in the end; yet, they doubtless occafion much immediate fuffering; which may juftly be reprefented as the fruit of their fin and difobedience. There are, alfo, many other fufferings of the wicked, even in this life, which I C

fhall

fhall leave to be fupplied by your own know ledge and reflexions. If I were to attempt to defcribe them all, my prefent difcourfe would more resemble a volume, than a single fermon. And, I fhall feck, by the reprefentation which I fhall be enabled to give, on other occafions, of the comforts, the joys, and pleasures of the Christian Life, to allure to piety, ás I have now endeavoured to deter from irreligion. Let me hope, that, in the mean time, thofe perfons, who have hitherto walked in the ways of fin and wickedness, will feriously lay to heart the dreadful ftate of uneafinefs, and anxiety, and difappointment, and fuffering, even in this life, into which they have been deluded; and feek peace and happiness where alone they may be found; by turning, in good earneft, unto the Lord, that they may be conformed to his image, who is "the God of all comfort and confolation," which can only be thro Chrift Jefus, the Saviour of mankind. Otherwife, though they may fay to themselves, and to each other," Peace, peace," yet there is no "peace:" no tranquillity, no happiness; but their breasts are like the troubled fea, when it can"not reft, whofe waters caft up mire and dirt. There is no peace faith my God to the wicked."

W. Appleton, Printer, Stockton.]