XXX.

Be determined therefore rather to fub- SERM. ject yourselves to the charge of fingularity, and to whatever terms of reproach the unthinking and vicious may caft upon you, than to defert the cause and the practice of truth, of virtue, and of pure religion. Truth, virtue, and religion, are more powerful, more excellent and valuable friends, than vice, folly, and impiety. It will be your honour and your wisdom to stand by them, though you fhould be fingle and alone. Numbers do not affect the truth and nature of things. Numbers, however great, can work no change in the Divine adminiftration, or alter the established confequences of virtue and of vice. God is ever against vice and against all its followers, foever they may how many be. God is ever the friend of virtue and of virtuous perfons, how few foever they may be.

Confider further, that a firm adherence to good principles and virtuous practice, in fpite of all temptations, has a native grace and dignity attending it, which is not diminished, but increafed, by the numbers of the vicious fcorners. How beautiful, how honourable is it for any man, especially for a young

Dd 3

XXX.

SERM. a young man, to make a gallant stand against the corruptions with which he is furrounded; and to walk on steadily in his well-chofen course, though it should be almost a deserted path* ?

To conclude: As one of the chief fecurities against the power of finful paffions, Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Imprefs on your minds an early and deep sense of the first and greatest of Beings, to whom you owe your existence, to whom you are indebted for all your endowments, to whom you are accountable, and on whose favour your happiness in a present and future world abfolutely depends. Frequently lift up your hearts with your hands in the most earneft manner to your

So fpake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithlefs, faithful only He
Among innumerable falfe, unmov'd,
Unfhaken, unfeduc'd, unterrify'd.
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;

Nor number, nor example with him wrought

To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind,
Tho' fingle. From amidst them forth he pass'd
Long way thro' hoftile fcorn, which he sustain'd
Superior; nor of violence feared aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud towers to swift deftruction doom'd.

MILTON.

Almighty

XXX.

Almighty Father, who is the lover and SERM. friend of righteousness, and has commanded us to feek wisdom and aid from him; praying, that he may enlighten your minds, that he may ftrengthen your good refolutions, enable you to gain the victory over your paffions, and over the temptations of life: and that he may lead you forward in those paths of piety, of purity, and all virtue, in which alone you can taste the best enjoyments of this present life, and be fafely conducted to the land of immortality and glory for your eternal abode. Amen.

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SERMON XXXI.

A worthy Plan of Life recommended to

Youth.

SERM.
XXXI.

2 TIMOTHY, ii. 22.

But follow righteoufnefs, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

a former discourse I enforced the Apostle's exhortation in the first part of this verse, to flee youthful lufts. I will now attempt to enforce the fubfequent exhortation which I have just read. He recommends to Timothy, and he plainly considers it as the duty of all who profefs Christianity, to lay down a certain fixed plan for the conduct of life, and to adhere to it with a refolute conftancy. This is a matter of

mighty importance to all men in every period of life. It is peculiarly important and ufeful to fuch as are in the early stages of life; who are called not only to fly from the dangerous paths of vice and folly, but to pursue an uniform course of virtue and piety, along with all the friends and followers of Jefus Chrift,

The plan of life here recommended by the Apoftle is not any of those which are formed for the attainment of particular ends. It is not a plan for forming the statesman, the lawyer, the physician, or the artist of any kind. Wife and juft plans for attaining these particular ends may be very commendable and very neceffary, but they are only fubordinate to that general or univerfal, that master-plan, for a good and worthy life, which ought to be formed and followed by men of all different ranks, conditions, and profeffions. The ftriking point of light in which the New Teftament views mankind is, that of the rational, accountable, and immortal fubjects of the great kingdom of God. The doctrines, the precepts, the motives of the Gofpel, are all addreffed to them in this high character. And indeed

the

SERM.

XXX.