best plan, therefore, is to let no single sin whatever get dominion over you, but strive to walk in all the commandments of God without blame. Follow, as much as you can, the example of your Saviour, who did no sin, nor was even guile found in his mouth. You have to deal with an all-seeing and heart-searching God.

We learn also from this history the power of conscience. As soon as Herod heard of the mighty works of Jesus, he said, It is John the Baptist, whom I beheaded, and who is risen again. His heart smote him immediately. And so it will be with all sinners. Things may go smoothly with them at first: but the time will come, when their mind, their conscience, that something within us, which God has placed there, will make them feel most miserable at the remembrance of what they have done amiss. I have read of murderers, who have for a long time escaped from

LECTURE XXXIII.

justice, and yet have been made so miserable by their consciences, that they have told upon themselves, and given themselves up to justice. They could not bear a guilty mind. As therefore you would wish for peace of mind, do nothing wrong: for if you do, it will at length stare you in the face, and make you wretched indeed. And all this pain will be only the begin ning of hell for in hell the damned will suffer most from a guilty conscience. Be persuaded then to escape as soon as pos sible from a guilty conscience: and this can only be done, by flying to your Sa viour, who died on the cross to save you from hell. And if you come to him with faith and repentance, he will bid you to be of good cheer and to sin no more, that your former sins may be blotted out, before the great and terrible day of the Lord

come.

This history teaches young women to be

1

modest, and not to put themselves forward too much. The daughter of Herodias should not have danced so publicly it is said, that such a practice was not permitted to young women in those times. It becomes such women to be modest in their behaviour, decent in their carriage, not too seek for too much praise, not to be vain: but to behave themselves with chastity, humility, modesty, and propriety. And how should the example of Herodias teach all women to govern their passions, which if not properly restrained may bring them to shame and to wretchedness. You should be very careful what kind of partners you choose, not to be fickle towards them, not to be leaving those to whom you have pledged yourselves. Would to God that marriage could take place among you all, for that is the only way in which a Christian man and Christian woman should keep company together. But till this can be done, you should live in the same way, as if you were

married, and keep to each other till death parts you.

And let the example of Herod teach all men not to give way to their lusts, as they too frequently do. Herod's adultery led him to commit murder. And many bad things have been done by men, in order to compass their wicked ends. Their bad behaviour to wives has sometimes broken their hearts, or made them miserable dur ing their whole lives.

I have dwelt so long on this history, that I cannot, as I intended, go on with some parts of our Saviour's life and actions. But I think this history will be of great use to you. You can never hear of the wickedness of the world, without seeing the need you have of a Saviour, to wash away those sins you may have committed, when you walked in the light of your own eye, and in the lusts of your own hearts, when

you set little value perhaps on your souls, thought little of Heaven, and knew not that you will answer for all the things done in the body before the judgment-seat of Christ. The times of this ignorance are passing away: and God is now commanding you all to repent and turn unto him. You can never hear of the wickedness of the world without seeing the need you have of the Holy Ghost to sanctify, to make you holy, to save you from sin and wickedness. On all Christians this Holy Spirit is sent by their Saviour Jesus Christ: but it depends upon yourselves, whether he shall remain with you, stirring up your hearts to every good work, or whether he shall leave them to be inhabited by the devil, and to do the deeds of hell.

Oh! try then, leave nothing undone, to make your souls fit places for this Holy Spirit to come to. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. Let your thoughts be frequently