a well-regulated mind, in its intercourfe with heaven.

THE painful calls of duty should by no means be the only motives to devotion. The foul should fo mingle love with reverence, fo unite the idea of divine mercy with that of divine juftice, that it might feel the most pleasurable fatisfaction, and be difpofed to rejoice; but consistent with the apostle's precept, to " rejoice with trembling."

Be careful, therefore, left you mistake the loose and involuntary emotions of piety, for thofe fettled difpofitions of the mind, and those conftant habits of goodness, which our bleffed religion fo uniformly teaches and requires. There is a wide difference between the imperfect devotion of one whofe courfe of duty is daily interrupted by unruly paffions, though he might not be deficient in the external discharge of it, and the man whose affections do not jar with his principles, and who, therefore, renders

unto

unto God a fervice that is chearful, uniform and willing. The one resembles the lightning flashing fuddenly from the dark cloud the other is like the unremitting funfhine of a clear fummer's-day.

LET us endeavour to keep our duty in this conftant tenor, both in our commerce with the world, and our fervices to God. To acquire consistency of character in every concern of life, let us fix the attention of our minds on the great moral Governor of the universe. His omniprefence, his justice, the uncertainty of our ftate, and his promifes of future judgment, are all powerful motives to constancy in the discharge of duty. To guard ourselves against the many impofitions of pride, vanity and felf-love, let us imitate the example of the meek and penitential publican. Be affured no one is fo perfect, as not to need repentance; no one is fo free from error but that he might fmite upon his bofom, and cry, "God be

"merciful to me a finner."

SER

SERMON X.

ON THE FRAILTY OF HUMAN VIR

TUE, &c.

TH

MA T. xxvi. 22.

Lord, is it I?

HE occafion which gave rise to this queftion was awful and affecting. The hour was now at hand, when the Saviour of the world was to exert the last effort of patient fortitude, and endure the agonies of crucifixion. Previous to this tremendous scene of fuffering and of death, he gave his disciples all the confolation in his power, mingled with wholesome ad

monition and affectionate advice. In the fervency of prayer he implored his heavenly Father's protection for them. In VOL. I.

P

a man

a manner more perfonal and endearing than at any former period, he gave them his laft inftructions. He warned them of the dangers they had to encounter, and the difficulties they had to furmount. They were fent, he told them, as lambs among wolves; they were to be perfecuted by the world, hated, and, at length, destroyed. But while he foretold these their fufferings and calamities, that they might be enabled to endure them, he promised them comfort and support from heaven; nor did they want motives that sprung from the most endearing friendfhip, to render their conduct fteady, and their ministry effectual.

ON the eve of his departure from the world, he had appointed to eat the paffover with his beloved difciples. He brake bread with them and bleffed it for the last time, and was to drink of the fruit of the vine no more, until he drank it new with them in his Father's kingdom. What their fentiments of love and adoration must have been on this folemn occafion, and how

they