proper, and very good: only you will chufe your own time to practife them. But you can only practise them in the ordinary affairs of life. They were intended for your ufe merely in the ordinary affairs of life; fo that if you do not use them on these common occafions, as far as you are concerned, you may juft as well blot them out of your bible.

Thus then you fee, that all the precepts of the gospel are univerfally intended to be of ufe to us in the common affairs of life: and unless we make this ufe of them, our religion is a farce.We must always therefore remember that they are not given us to improve us in knowledge, but în practice-not to tell us what we should be; but to make us what we fhould be. Without fome attention however people are apt to mistake knowledge for practice. But it is only in matters of religion that we are apt to make thefe miftakes. In the weighty concerns of the world, we are more upon our guard; and can diftinguish very well between knowledge and practice.

Suppofe a man makes himfelf mafter of fome trade; but when he fhould exereife it, and earn his livelihood by it, he never troubles, his head

about

about it; what would his neighbours say?—Another again, lays down rules of prudence, to regulate his expences: but if he never think of these rules, when he spends his money, there is little doubt but his affairs will go wrong.-Again, if the husbandman never ufes his knowledge of hufbandry, when he fows his wheat, or his barley, he cannot furely be surprised if he have a bad harvest.

But these are neglects, which rarely happen. He who has been at the pains of learning a trade, generally chufes, if he can, to make his advantage of it. The cautious man of the world has gene rally his prudent maxims moft ready, when he opens his purfe—and the husbandman employs his beft skill, when he fows his corn.

If then, in all worldly matters we are so careful to bring our knowledge into ufc, and make it anfwer the defign that was intended; whence comes it that we are fo deficient in the exercife of our fpiritual knowledge? How can we think the rules of this life are neceffary to regulate our actions here; and yet take fo little account of those precepts, which are to lead us to happiness hereafter?

The man of learning may ftudy the fcriptures, as much as he pleafe. He may read them in the

!

original Greek, and Hebrew. He may endeavour to folve all the difficulties he finds in them: but if he leave the life-directing precepts of the gospel out of the queftion, how much is he below the honeft labourer, who after his day's work, closes his evening with his teftament. Unlettered, he leaves difficulties behind him. They raife no doubts: they excite no fpeculations. He knows his bible is true, tho he does not understand every part of it. But what he understands he feels; and fhuts his book at the hour of reft; bleffing God for giving him fuch good inftruction, and praying that he may always endeavour to make a right use of it.

Here we have an example, which mere learning cannot give. It fhews (what we should always carefully remember) that religion is feated in the heart, not in the head. As the blood courfes from the heart through all the veins, and gives life, and spirit to every part; fo fhould religion, springing from the fame fountain, mix its precepts through our whole lives, and converfation. Let us then take it with us in all our concerns-whether we are abroad, or at home-whether we are alone, or in company-whether we are dealing with others, or concerting our own affairs, ftill

let

1

let us keep this bleffed monitor as our constant guide; continually afking ourselves, whether this or that action, as we perform it, is agreeable to the rules of religion; and praying fervently to Ak mighty God, that we may conscientiously endeavour to lay every action-even the moft common actions of our lives, under this religious reftraint; fo that whether we eat, or drink, or what, ever we do, we may do all to the glory of God.

SERMON

SERMON XVII.*

PSALM 75. ix. x.

IN THE HAND OF THE LORD THERE IS A CUP; AND

THE WINE IS RED: IT IS FULL-MIXED, AND HE

POURETH OUT OF THE SAME.

AS FOR THE

DREGS THEREOF, THE UNGODLY OF THE EARTH SHALL DRINK THEM, AND SUCK THEM OUT.

HE dispensations of God with regard to this

THE

world, are reprefented in fcripture under various fimilitudes; not fo much with a view to explain them, as to give us fuch conceptions of them only, as are neceffary.-Among these feveral images, that of a cup is very frequent. It occurs in many of the divine writers-in David particularly. He fpeaks of the cup of falvationof the Lord's being the portion of his cup-of his

cup

* This Sermon was once printed on a particular occafion, but never published.