What hath been faid ought, in the 1st place, to ferve for reproof to thofe who, fo far from confidering iniquity as more to be dreaded as a greater evil than affliction, will not refrain from their ungodly and vicious practices even when their fin proves their affliction. To many, alas! it feems to be as their meat and drink to obey the commands of fin, by fulfilling the lufts thereof. In vain hath the word of God and providence admonished them, that nought but bitterness is to be found in the path of folly. They ftill pursue that path, in defiance of their own experience, and weary themselves with committing iniquity. They break through all restraints, not only when an angel ftands in the way, but where ruin, mifery, and deftruction, ftare them broadin the face. How many are to be feen bound with the cords of their own fins, from which they have neither the inclination nor power to free themselves? How many wafted and maimed by criminal indulgence? How many brought to poverty and rags by riot and intemperance?" Who hath wo? who hath for66 row? who hath contentions? who hath "wounds without caufe? who hath redness

"of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine, they that go to feek mixed wine." Sin has had its martyrs as well as godliness, who, in premature old age, have been made to poffefs the tranfgreffions of their youth, in all the bitter fruits of a body tortured with diseases, and a spirit wounded with remorfe.

Let us then be warned, ere it be too late, against the fatal error referred to in the text; the preference of the momentary pleasures of fin, to the falutary discipline of affliction Let us never allow ourselves to imagine, that any prefent pleasure or advantage of fin will compenfate the dreadful evils which it carries in its train; but uniformly oppofe, to every fuch fuggeftion of a deceived mind, that important and folemn queftion which our Lord addreffed to the multitude, "What fhall it pro"fit a man, if he fhall gain the whole world, "and lofe his own foul; or what fhall a mangive in exchange for his foul?"

2dly, Let us examine ourfelves carefully, whether our judgment and choice have been rectified on this important point. What is it that affects us with the deepeft concern and forrow; the adverfe events in providence, or

the

the fins by which we have incurred the lofs of the divine favour? When the hand of God lies heavy on us, what do we defire with the greatest earneftnefs; whether is it to have the trial fanctified, or to have it removed? What is the chief object of your ambition is it to grow in grace, and in conformity to the image of God; or is it to become great, and profperous, and powerful in the world? Were God now to put wifdom or riches in our choice, as he once did to Solomon, would we determine as he did; or would we grafp at the riches, leaving it to age and experience to bring wisdom along with them in the ordinary fuppofed courfe of things? In what character does Chrift appear most amiable to us, as a faviour from punishment, or as a faviour from fin? Finally, in what view does heaven appear moft worthy of our defires and wishes; as a place of deliverance from fuffering, or as a ftate of perfect freedom from fin and infirmity of every kind, where we fhall be enabled to ferve God with the entire affections and powers of our whole nature?

By these marks let us try the real state of our characters, that fo we may not pass through life with a lie in our right hands; but knowing that we are of the truth, may affure our hearts before God, looking for his mercy unto eternal life. Amen.

SER

SERMON XIV.

249

II. CORINTHIANS, V. I.

For we know, that if our earthly houfe of this tabernacle were diffolved, we have a building of God, an houfe not made with bands, eternal in the heavens.

HE profpect of a bleffed immortality is

THE

one of the most powerful fupports to the people of God, amidst all the trials of their prefent ftate; and therefore hope is compared to an anchor, which being caft within the vail, keeps the foul firm and unmoved, fo that nothing from without can disturb its inward peace and tranquillity. This was the true foundation of that courage and conftancy, with which the Apoftles and primitive Chriftians endured and overcame the most grievous fufferings. Faith prefented to their view a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, in comparifon of which their pre

fent

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