tains the character of fome great perfonage; fo the vile perfon, who hath a divided heart and double mind, endeavours to conceal his true character, and oftentatiously pretends to do the good which he never did, and to which he is altogether averfe.And to utter error against the Lord. One fin imperceptibly leads to the commiffion of another. The heart that worketh iniquity wishes to be fcreened from deteftation and contempt; under the cover of hypocrify and deceit, it naturally leads into errors respecting the most important topics, such as the nature, the attributes, the providence, and the word of God; and after errors are prefumptuously adopted, they are propagated with avidity, and every where blazed abroad with bad intention.-To make empty the foul, &c. The word of God is the food and the refreshment which satisfies the defires, invigorates the minds of the faints, and conveys nourifhment, fupport, and confolation to their fouls, in thofe feafons wherein they are moft apt to become feeble and languid. Now the vile perfon aims, by diffimulation and error, to mifreprefent the providence and the oracles of God, and to deprive his people of that spiritual provifion which fatisfies their fouls, and gratifies their defires, which imparts ftrength and comfort to their hearts. For this purpose, he endeavours, in various ways, to raise doubts and fufpicions concerning the truth of the fcriptures, the wifdom and equity of the difpenfations of providence and grace; and confequently to bereave them of the facred fources of all their confolations in adverfity, and to take away what they moft highly value, and experience to be moft neceflary and ufeful. Than fuch conduct hardly any thing can be more flagitious and wicked, more impious and deteftable. 7 The inftruments alfo of the churl are evil; he devifeth wicked devices, to deftroy the เ the poor with lying words, even, when the needy fpeaketh right. The means employed by the niggardly and the covetous, to accomplish their infidious defigns, are truly bad, treacherous, and abominable; deferving to be reprobated in the ftrongest terms. Such are corrupt principles, delufive reafonings, fpecious pretexts, crafty counfels, whereby they difcover criminal contempt of the word and ways of God, and impofe upon the unfufpecting and the credulous. Thefe, all these, are evil and dangerous.-He devifeth wicked devices. To do evil is bad, to devife evil is ftill worfe; for, as faith the proverb, he that 'deviseth to do evil fhall be called a mischievous perfon. This is the name he justly deferves; which will more fully appear, when we confider the defign he hath in view, namely, to defroy the poor, &c. It is a heinous crime to injure any perfon, whatever be his circumftances; but it is a proof of ftill greater depravity, to wrong the poor, who have a juft claim to affiftance. This deteftable fpecies of oppreffion becomes exceedingly aggravated, when it deliberately contrives, not merely to hurt, but to accomplish the deftruction of the needy, and that by means of deceit and falfehood. Above all, the atrocity of this outrageous wickednefs, committed by the churlish man, is greatly increafed by the time and place in which it is perpetrated,-when the needy fpeaketh right, or in judgment, as the Hebrew word fignities; pleading the justice of their caufe: Even then regardlefs of truth and equity, he tries by force or fraud to deprive them of their just rights.-From fuch men, good Lord deliver us! 8 But the liberal devifeth liberal things; and by liberal things fhall he stand. We now turn to contemplate another, a very VOL. III. different F different character, which forms a complete contrast to thofe above defcribed. The liberal man, who poffeffes a generous and bountiful heart, and who thews the benevolence of his temper by good and kind actions, devifeth liberal things concerning God -that he will grant him wisdom and prudence to or der his affairs with discretion, the protection of his providence, the direction of his word, the accomplishment of his promises, the comforts of his prefence, the affiftance of his Spirit, and, in due time, the enjoyment of his glory. He deviseth liberal things concerning his brethren of mankind in every ftation and condition in life-that governors fhall rule in the fear of God; that minifters of the word fhall behave themfelves holily, juftly, and unblameably, fave themselves and them that hear them; that parents fhall be faithful, and children dutiful; that mafters fhall be juft, and fervants obedient; that the rich shall be charitable, and the poor humble and thankful; that peace fhall be within Jerufalem, and profperity within her palaces. He devifeth liberal things concerning his own temporal and fpiritual interefts-that he shall lack no good thing, but have the moderate chearful ufe of all the benefits he receives; that when dejected and dif quieted, he fhall have cause to praise the Lord, who is the health of his countenance; that when in doubt and perplexity, the Lord will be a light to him ;— that he shall be disposed to do good to all as he hath opportunity; in meekness to inftruct those that op pose themselves; to support the weak, to animate the defponding, to comfort the feeble-minded, and relieve the oppreffed; and that goodness and mercy fhall follow him all his days. Such are the liberal things that the liberal man deyifeth; and by thefe Jball be ftand, or be eftabligh ed, as the word is tranflated in the margin of fome bibles. The Moft High himself fhall establish, ftrengthen, and fettle him on the rock of ages, fo that he fhall never be moved. Free from that in conftancy conftancy and inftability, whereby many are perpetually varying and in a state of continual uncertainty, he shall preserve holy ferenity of mind, he shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart being fixed, trufting in the Lord. Having difperfed and given to the poor, his generous difpofition and liberal donations fhall establish his reputation, and fecure him the esteem and good opinion of mankind. Amidft the fluctuations of furrounding objects, he fhall remain stedfaft in his principles, firm in his profeffion and refolutions, unmoved in the faith and obedience of the truth. Thus while the wicked are overthrown, the house of the righteous shall stand.— How greatly diversified are the characters and pur fuits of mankind in every age! How various, how oppofite the tempers and practices of those mentioned in the few verses we have laft confidered! Some of each fort were among the Jewish people, at the period to which our Prophet refers; and are still to be found among those who bear the name of Chrif. tians. Let us carefully diftinguish betwixt the precious, and the vile who are abhorred of good men, and liable to everlasting shame and contempt. Let us cultivate with increafing affiduity the amiable difpofitions and conduct of the liberal, with the pleafing hope that God will establish and profper our humble attempts to advance his glory, and obtain his approbation. 9¶ Rife up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Our Prophet having represented the fuperior felicity of those who trufted in Jehovah, to that of thofe who, defpairing of divine affittance, placed their confidence in man, ftops the farther profecution of this fubject. Aware that finners and hypocrites in Zion might imagine, that, having changed his language, and the topics of difcourfe, they might, with with impunity perfift in their tranfgreffions; he addreffes to them a fharp reproof, and acquaints them with the certain calamities that awaited them. The perfons to whom this part of the prophetic oration is directed, are women at eafe, and careless daughters, The Hebrews were accustomed to give the names of women and daughters to populous cities and large communities, of which many inftances occur in the books of the Old Teftament. We read of the daughter of Babylon, the daughter of Zidon, the daughter of Zion, &c. The defignation fignificantly intimates the beauty, the elegance, the effeminacy, and the fruitfulness of the inhabitants. In this figurative sense the words under confideration must be understood; the women not denoting perfons of the female sex that were married, but the larger and more ancient cities of Judah; and the daughters, not those that were younger and unmarried, but the leffer towns and villages, which were in fome measure under the jurifdiction of the cities of greater extent and antiquity. Thefe places are addreffed, as being at eafe and careless, in a state of tranquillity and fecurity, undisturbed by the profpect of any danger, unalarmed by anxious fears of approaching judgments. This description perfectly agrees with the fituation and temper of the inhabitants of Judah, at the time immediately preceding the invafion of that kingdom by the Affyrians. It is no lefs applicable to not a few among ourfelves, who are naturally poffeffed of an indolent difpofition, whose minds are benumbed by fenfuality, who feem indifferent to matters of the greatest importance, and unconcerned about futurity. Permit me to remind you to whom this character belongs; of what deferves your ferious attention. Care difcomposes and distracts the mind, especially when it is extended to a variety of objects; and therefore it is the will of God, that his people for whom he careth, should be without carefulness, and caft all their cares upon him. As there is a forbidden folicitude and |