at the summon up every notion to which they happen to be related, or whether we will oppose the power of Satan, and resist the peril of unhallowed images: hence, the use of intellectual exertion, and previous habits of labour in the government of the heart, that we are no longer mercy of every dangerous fancy, and every wanton image penciled by the passions; we can fix our eyes steadily upon intellectual objects, and find in the cultivation of our understandings the noblest security for the innocence of our lives. The greater part of our wretchedness, real, and chimerical, of our vices, and of the mistaken views, we are so unfortunately apt to take of human life, proceed from the want of something to do; think we must, and if not of that which is ornamental, or useful; certainly, of that which is pernicious; and let it never be forgotten, that as often as we give ourselves up to the dominion of vicious thoughts, there is never wanting an abundance of ingenious words, which consult "the delicacy of a bashful sinner, and veil the deformity of vice. A weariness of the decent restrictions imposed by society, is warmth of heart, and liberality of senti ment; whatever is licentious is romantic; whatever is base, is prudent; extravagance is generosity; contempt of public virtue, practical good sense; and ignorant scepticism enlightened superiority to prejudice.. ! The important practice I am endeavouring to inculcate, will be powerfully promoted, by cherishing a love of openness, and a detestation of hypocrisy; by living as it were in public; by scorning to maintain one character before the world, and another in the secret places of the heart;—if this slavery of the mind, this necessity of fearing and hiding ourselves from our fellow creatures, were painted in glowing colours to the free, and noble feelings of youth, it would have no small tendency to encourage purity of thought; and would convert the proud defiance, natural to that time of life, to the wisest of all purposes. To feel for the judgment of the world unfeigned respect, is the property of a wise man; but to know that any human being may, eventually, have it in his power to treat us with merited contempt, and infamy; and that we owe our reputation only to the ignorance of those with whom we are in repute, is a feeling which can never exist long in the mind of him who has listened to the advice of my text, and laboured earnestly that his heart should be established aright. There is, above all, for the obtaining of this habit, an awful sense of the ever-during presence of God, and a dread of laying open, to his pure spirit, a carnal, and voluptuous soul: The same God, who dwelleth above, hath his ways upon earth; he numbers the sanctities of Heaven, and knoweth the thoughts of man; he searches where the planets wander; and walketh in the paths of the mind. Remember, also, the pure severity of the gospel, which punishes the adultery of the heart; which resents the malice of the thoughts; and ordains that words of pardon, and of peace, should come from the very springs of the heart. If we can refrain from real vice, we will not lose the reward of our firmness by the poor enjoyments of imaginary gratification; if we have overcome the greater difficulty, we will not yield to the less; if the terrors of an hereafter have made our lives pure, we will not perish, because our thoughts are evil. 1 I have thus endeavoured to impress upon you the importance of establishing the heart, as it renders righteousness more secure, and more easy; those who have ever practised this truly christian discipline, can need no other incentive to its continuation than the immediate pleasure they have derived from it; and that feeling of inviola ble security which must ever be the lot of those in whom outward, and visible virtue is the accurate sign of inward, and spiritual purity. If, by a vigorous exertion of our own powers, and by earnest prayer to God, we can guard, from pollution, this fountain of evil, and of good, we have little to fear from all which the world can inflict; and at the moment when this mortal body is crumbling into dust, the heart, established in upright thoughts, shall animate the dying christian, and strengthen his faith in the mercies of his God. { |