"in the midst of a guilty and feducing "world?" Such reflections might enable us to derive good from evil, and lead us to a more perfect knowledge of our prefumptuous fins," as well as of our more "fecret faults."

BEFORE we indulge ourselves in open condemnation and violent reproach, let us confider whether we are not more indebted for the fmall portion of goodness we may claim, to the guardian care of providence and the kindness of others, than to any acquired ftrength or exertion of our own. Frequently commune with your own hearts on this important fubject, and guard against the delufions of vanity and felf-love. Examine if your virtue be an active principle, capable of combating the ills, and enduring, with patient fortitude, the afflictions of life; or whether it be a fomething dormant in your bofoms, that has never yet been roused by any alarming danger, and of which therefore you neither know the VALUE or the POWER. Do not think

your

felves worthy of being called the disciples and followers of Chrift, till the victory over temptation has been often decided, and till your virtues have, at least, been proved, if not perfected like his, by suffering and calamity. If you contentedly rank yourselves among thofe thoughtless mortals who are fatisfied with good difpofitions only, and take no care to guard them against the deceitfulness and perverfion of fin; if you have no fteady views in your conduct, no principles of action derived from higher authority than this world's good, at once to regulate and fanctify the heart, you will remember, that all is at the mercy of accident; and on nothing can you rely for fafety, but the goodness of divine providence, in ftill guarding you against temptation and shielding you from all evil. Whatever diforder you fee in the world arifing from violence and ungoverned paffions, you may truly suppose yourselves capable of, and afk with fear and anxiety, "Lord, is it I?" unless you are prepared by habits of chriftian duty, previously formed,

formed, to repel the attacks of vice, and to fuffer chearfully in the cause of virtue. If we embark on a wide and troubled ocean without this wifdom for our guide, and this fortitude for our defence, it is in vain to hope for safety; we are fure of being driven from our courfe, bewildered and distressed, if not entirely loft.

SUCH being the difficulty and danger of a chriftian's warfare, let us learn to compaffionate the diftreffes of our fellow-creatures, from whatever cause they might arife, and instead of indulging any uncharitable cenfure, or Pharifaical pride, "let

c

every man, who thinks he ftandeth, take

heed," with the meekness and humility

of our Lord's difciples, " left he fall."

SER

SERMON XI.

ON UNANIMITY IN RELIGION.

ACTS iv. 23.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one foul.

THE words of the text exprefs, with peculiar force, the perfect unanimity that fubfifted between the primitive profeffors of chriftianity. They are no lefs a proof of their zeal and affection for each other. The ftrong and fignificant expreffion of St. Luke, that "they were "of one heart and one foul," gives us the livelieft idea of friendship, harmony and love. Indeed, the perilous fituation in