loft and fallen, is raised and restored to the favour of his Redeemer.

But, without conftant care and vigilance, all may be loft again. Prayer and pious meditation are neceffary to keep the heart from relapfing into its former impurity. The heart is deceitful above all things, and therefore will require to be above all things carefully fuperintended. The fire juft lighted, and scarcely burning, will be again extinguished, without a constant supply of proper fuel, and frequent refufcitation. It will be neceffary, therefore, that he who has made fo valuable a proficiency as to know the ftate of his corrupted heart, and to defire its amendment, should strengthen his refolution by frequently partaking of the holy communion, and by engaging in all other offices of the church, which are wifely established as the means of and to promote edification.

grace,

Our God is a merciful God. If it were not fo, who could abide his judgment? But mercy is the attribute in which he chiefly delights. However bad therefore our hearts have been, if we fincerely turn unto him at laft, he will not be extreme to mark what has been done amifs. He will receive us as the father of the prodigal son in the gospel. But

yet

yet

his juftice is fingular as well as his mercy, and if we neglect fo great falvation, after having frequently been warned of our wickedness and danger, there is every reason to believe that we may be excluded for ever, and that our portion may be among those evil fpirits whom we have imitated and refembled in all our conduct during this state of probation. Turn ye, therefore, without a moment's delay, from the error of your ways. From the gloomy, rugged path that leads to death and deftruction, turn to light, happiness, and glory. Begin to-day, while it is called to-day, and let no worldly business or pleasure erafe from your heart the impreffions you may have now received by the humble inftrumentality of the preacher. Put your hand to the plough, and turn not back.

I will conclude with entreating the younger part of those who hear me, to begin early to keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iffues of life. They cannot yet be habitually corrupt. They may indeed have evil tendencies, but they cannot yet be hardened and confirmed in them. Remember, young man, in thy youth, that it is easier to prevent than to cure. Check the progress of the flightest taint, for you cannot but know

that a speck of rottenness will foon pervade the faireft fruit which Nature has produced. Be conftant and regular in your prayers. Attend to the advice of your parents and instructors, Let no gaiety or schemes of pleasure feduce you from the wing of those whom nature and reason have appointed to foster you, till you shall have arrived at maturity. Love truth, and practise the ftricteft equity in your pecuniary concerns, however trifling they may be. A little leaven leaveneth a great lump, fo a little difhonefty, or evil of any kind, cherished in your heart in early youth, will overfpread it in the age of manhood. Bleffed are ye while ye retain the innocence and fimplicity of children. Fools may call it folly, and the world may defpife and neglect it; but be affured, that infantine fimplicity, and innocence of heart, were the qualities in which our Saviour took delight, and that he will reward these with the kingdom of heaven. To those who err in their hearts, and have not known his ways, through the pride and óbftinacy of human wifdom, however learned, opulent and exalted they may be, however esteemed for abilities and knowledge in this world, he will fay, Depart from me, ye curfed. How different

and how sweet will be the other sentence, Come, ye bleffed children of my Father, ye pure in heart, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world?

Take heed, therefore, brethren, left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day: left any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of fin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence ftedfaft unto the end; while it is faid, To-day, if ye will bear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Heb. iii. 12.

SERMON V.

Against DESPAIR and SUICIDE.

JEREMIAH, xviii. 12.

And they faid, THERE IS NO HOPE; but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil

heart.

SUCH UCH is the fullen and gloomy resolve of minds under the influence of despair; a defpair that often leads to the laft fad catastrophe of human woe, felf-affaffination.

It is faid by foreigners, that our countrymen are peculiarly prone to melancholy, and all its wretched confequences. It is but too true, that inftances of defpair and fuicide abound in the happiest nation in the globe. Defpair and fuicide-difmal fubjects indeed! but when there are hopes of affording relief, what good phyfician is deterred from his duty by the loathsomeness of an object, or

the