The last reason to be now mentioned, why men will not come to Christ for life, is

5. That the terms on which God proposeth to save them by the gospel, are such as lay a restraint on their passions, and regulate them in their pursuits of the world. So independent is the spirit of man, that in all cases he would wish to be free of restraint, and act entirely by the direction of his own judgment, or the impulse of his own desires and passions. Be the case ever so difficult or hazardous, he is disposed rather to take his own way, than be guided by another. Nay, he secretly finds fault even with God for not giving him liberty to choose and act on all occasions as he would think proper for himself. This principle is as old as human nature-It began with our first parents in paradise, and has run down through the whole mass of mankind from that time to this. But God has wisely and mercifully thought proper to lay some restraint on mankind, and establish both the principles on which they are to act, and the limits by which they are to be confined. In order to receive the benefits of the gospel, we are bound to submit to Christ, as our law-giver, and take his precepts and example for our guide. In exercising his authority in this character, he has commanded us "to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, &c. and our neighbor as ourselves," "to love our enemy-to bless them

that curse us," &c. "to take no anxious thought for our life-to seek first of all the kingdom of God,” &c. "to take up our cross and follow him"-and in a word, to be entirely subject to his authority and direction, if we would be his disciples and members of his kingdom. Now, there is not one of these, or of the many other precepts he has given us, that does not interfere with some favourite propensity, or interest of the human heart. All men are disposed to love the world in preference to God, and to bestow the chief of their attention and time, to procure such of its advantages as they respectively prefer. All are naturally disposed to return evil for evil, to let their resentments run so high as secretly to wish some kind of revenge. And all are so fond of ease, and of falling in with the corrupt sentiments and customs of the majority, as rather to forfeit the hopes of salvation, than submit to the labours and severities of a religious life, or expose themselves to the derision, insults, or persecution of the enemies of the gospel. As they cannot obtain salvation on their own terms, viz. to reconcile the hope of, and title to heaven, with a supreme love of the world, and the service of their corrupt and vicious inclinations-they will not have it on Christ's terms, and so put themselves out of the way of ever obtaining it at all; from which deplorable end nothing can possibly save them, unless he

who is able to subdue all things to himself, open their eyes; and so make them willing, in a day of

his

tion.

power.

I shall conclude this discourse with one reflec

How deplorable is this state, and how inexcusable are they who stand in the way of their own happiness, by refusing to submit to the only method by which it is possible to be saved! Were there any just ground of complaint against the Gospel, any defect or inconsistency in its doctrines, any jarring or discord in the parts which compose it, any thing exceptionable in the character of its author, any ground to question his sufficiency for the business he undertook, any thing hard or unreasonable in the precepts he delivers, or the conditions he requires of those that would be saved if there were any just reasons to suspect the certainty of salvation to them, who comply with the terms on which it is offered-or, in a word, were there any thing inconsistent with sound reason, with true honor, or any of the great and important duties and interests of human nature, in submitting to Christ as the professed author and giver of life, there would be some plausible excuse for those who should refuse. But, on the contrary, when the gospel has every thing in it to recommend itself to the reason and affections of mankind-every thing sublime, entertaining and astonishing in its

doctrines-every thing clear and intelligible, and full in its precepts-every thing persuasive in its motives-every thing charming and animating in its prospects-every thing lovely and majestic in its author, spotless in his example, meritorious in his death, and faithful to his promise-where there is every thing in his plan of redemption, to remove the fears, and animate the hopes of mankind-every thing to make life comfortable, death safe, and an immortal existence completely happy; and especially, as there is no other method of obtaining salvation if this should be neglected. How absurd, how inconceivable, how fatal at last must such a refusal be! And how inexcusable will they be who perish under such advantages!

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SERMON IV.

PSALM CXiz. 9.

"Wherewithal shall a Young Man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy Word.”

YOUNG MEN,

ACCORDING to my promise, I have prepared an address, to you in particular. And, as I have been induced to pay you this respect, from an affectionate concern for your happiness,. I may the more reasonably hope, that you will hear me with attention, candor, and seriousness. Without this, the great object of my labor will be lost, and my earnest desires painfully disappointed. Oblige me then so far, as to keep your minds open to instruction, and conviction; and then, by the blessing of God, I persuade myself, we shall have reason to rejoice together.

The words I have read contain a very important question directly to my purpose," Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" What course of life shall he pursue, and by what rule shall he be guided, in order to escape those irre

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